Fertilization in the urban landscape

Urban soils show high variability regarding the content and availability of different nutrients. Nitrogen is usually lower in urban soil than in agricultural soil, because soil sealing in urban areas can have negative consequences for soil fertility and long-term storage of nitrogen. In urban environment nutrient use efficiency (NUE) is a crucial marker for plant growth. The great ecological heterogeneity of urban soils enhances variability in nitrogen content and availability, making difficult the standardization of fertilization management in urban soils. Before planning a fertilization schedule, soil should be analysed to assess nutrient availability or deficiencies. Main parameters to be assessed are: pH, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, major cations and micronutrients. The management of fertilization practices in urban landscape should aim at maintaining trees in an adequate nutritional status to provide the wide variety of benefits that trees can supply in urban settings