NEW NURSERY PRODUCTION METHODS LEAD TO TREE ROOT CIRCLING REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION

A method is described for accelerating growth of sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) seedlings for early progeny and provenance evaluation and plantation establishment. Outdoor nursery production methods produced relatively small seedlings, few seed-lot differences, and no provenance differences in seedlings 4 and 16 months of age. In contrast, accelerated seedlings exhibited pronounced seed-lot and provenance differences at both ages and had a 29 and 80% height superiority at 4 and 16 months, respectively. Provenance differences in height, budbreak, nodes, and growth flushes revealed by the accelerated treatment and supplemented by seed characteristics indicate existence of Upper and Lower Peninsula races in Michigan. Accelerated growth techniques may have considerable potential for reducing the time required for genotypic evaluation of sugar maple and possibly other tree species, but results must be substantiated by subsequent field observations.

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Oak Taproot Growth Disruption Differentially Impacts Root Architecture during Nursery Production

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11080798 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 798

Author(s):

Shanon Hankin ◽

Gary Watson

Keyword(s):

Root Development ◽

Lateral Root ◽

Root Architecture ◽

Lateral Roots ◽

Production Methods ◽

Lateral Root Development ◽

Root Regeneration ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Growth Disruption ◽

Taproot Pruning

For urban trees with strong taproots, a shift in root growth towards increased lateral root development could improve tree performance in compacted, poorly drained urban soils. In effort to achieve this desired shift, various propagation and production practices exist within the nursery industry. However, the effectiveness of practices used to disrupt taproot development, as well as their impact on root architecture, has been largely undocumented. To determine how seedling root systems respond to taproot growth disruption, we pruned oak seedling taproots either mechanically at 5 and/or 15 cm, or via air pruning at 15 cm. Taproot regeneration and lateral root development were evaluated after two years. Taproot pruning resulted in multiple regenerated taproots. The location and number of times the taproot(s) was pruned did not appear to alter the ultimate number. Mechanical taproot pruning did not affect lateral root development above the first pruning cut location at 5 or 15 cm, but generally increased the density of lateral roots below the pruning cut, likely due to the multiple taproots present. Most lateral roots were fine roots less than 1 mm in diameter (fine roots), being unlikely to become long-lived components of the root system architecture. The average number of lateral roots on air pruned (AP) seedlings was generally greater than on the same taproot segment of control (C) seedlings. To determine how these seedling changes impact the root regeneration of liner stock, we planted both taproot pruned and taproot air pruned seedlings in in-ground fabric bags filled with field soil (B) or directly into the field without bags (F). Root regeneration potential (RRP) at the bottom and lateral surfaces of the root ball were evaluated. There was less RRP on the lateral surface of the root ball in taproot air pruned, container-grown (CG) compared to taproot pruned, bare root (BR) bur oak liners, and there was no difference in red oak liners. The multiple taproots of mechanically pruned BR seedlings did not result in excessive taproot development as liners. In contrast, CG seedling taproots restricted by air pruning produced more regenerated taproots after transplanting. While seedling taproot growth disruption does disrupt the growth of a dominant single taproot and alters the architecture toward increasing the number of lateral roots, these practices do not result in laterally dominated root architecture at the liner stage of nursery production. Future research should determine how these production methods effect lateral root growth after a tree is established in the landscape and determine appropriate combinations of production methods for different species.

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Fertilization Rate and Irrigation Scheduling in the Nursery Influence Growth, Insect Performance, and Stress Tolerance of `Sutyzam' Crabapple in the Landscape

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.2.442 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 442-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

John E. Lloyd ◽

Daniel A. Herms ◽

Mary Ann Rose ◽

Jennifer Van Wagoner

Keyword(s):

Stress Resistance ◽

Fertilization Rate ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Summer Drought ◽

High Fertility ◽

Insect Performance ◽

Production Methods ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Tent Caterpillar

The objective of this study was to determine if fertilization and irrigation practices in the nursery affect plant growth and stress resistance following outplanting in the landscape. Flowering crabapple (Malus) `Sutyzam', grown in containers under factorial combinations of two irrigations schedules (containers irrigated at 25% or 50% container capacity) and three rates of fertilization (N at 50, 200, 350 mg·L–1) in a nursery in 1997 were outplanted in a low maintenance landscape in 1998. Trees from the high fertility regime grew faster in the landscape the year of transplant. Tree growth in the landscape was positively correlated with N concentration in plants in the nursery and negatively correlated with concentrations of phenolics in the foliage in the landscape. However, the trees showing the greatest amount of diameter growth had the lowest concentrations of foliar phenolics. Trees with low concentrations of phenolics also exhibited a greater potential for herbivory by larvae of the eastern tent caterpillar, gypsy moth, and white-marked tussock moth. Additionally, trees exhibiting rapid growth in the landscape also had reduced photosynthesis during summer drought compared to slower growing trees, suggesting a reduced drought tolerance in the landscape. Differences in growth and stress resistance did not carry beyond the year of transplant. Our results illustrate that irrigation and fertilization methods in the nursery can influence growth post transplant, however fertilization also appears to have a significant impact on stress resistance traits of the trees. These impacts from the nursery production methods had no effect after plants had acclimated to the conditions in the landscape during the year following transplant.

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Comparison of Carbon Footprint and Variable Costs of Selected Nursery Production Systems for a 5-cm-caliper Red Maple

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.51.4.383 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 383-387 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Dewayne L. Ingram ◽

Charles R. Hall

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Production System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cultural Practice ◽

Variable Cost ◽

Total System ◽

Red Maple ◽

Production Methods ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Materials Used

The objective of this study was to examine the differences in global warming potential (GWP) and variable cost structure of a 5-cm-caliper red maple tree grown using two alternative production methods including a traditional field [balled and burlapped (BNB)] production system and a containerized, pot-in-pot (PIP) production system. Feedback from nursery growers was obtained to model each production system including the labor required for each cultural practice, materials used, and the hourly usage of tractors and other equipment. Findings from the study indicate that the total system GWP and variable cost for the PIP tree system is −671.42 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and $250.76, respectively, meaning that the tree sequesters much more carbon during its life than is emitted during its entire life cycle. The same holds true for the BNB tree; however, in this system, the GWP of the tree −666.15 kg CO2e during its life cycle at a total variable cost of $236.13. Thus, the BNB tree costs slightly less to produce than its PIP counterpart but the life cycle GWP is slightly less positive as well.

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Post-transplant Shoot Growth of Trees From Five Different Production Methods is Affected by Site and Species

Arboriculture & Urban Forestry ◽

10.48044/jauf.2013.026 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Levinsson

Keyword(s):

Shoot Growth ◽

Sweet Cherry ◽

Prunus Avium ◽

Visual Analysis ◽

Production Method ◽

Red Oak ◽

Production Methods ◽

Post Transplant ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Time Required

After transplanting, many trees enter a period of reduced growth that may limit their environmental and aesthetic benefits for several years. A number of nursery production methods have been developed in attempt to reduce root disturbance, which is often associated with the reduced growth. The main objective of this study was to investigate how five nursery production methods affect root systems and post-transplant shoot growth. Other objectives were the study of the effect of root structure (i.e., fibrous verses coarse) on trees’ response to different production methods and the effect of the conditions at the transplanting site. Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.) with a stem circumference of 16–18 cm were produced as bare-rooted-, balled-and-burlapped-, root-pruned-, air-potted-, or fabric-container-grown trees, transplanted at two sites and studied for five seasons. Visual analysis showed that the production methods had clear effect on the root balls at transplanting. However, the differences were not clearly related to shoot growth. All transplanted red oaks, regardless of production method, showed significantly reduced shoot growth compared to pre-transplant growth. Balled and burlapped, root-pruned, and fabric-container-grown sweet cherry trees exhibited restored pre-transplant shoot growth three years after transplanting at the more favorable site. The results suggest that the fibrous-rooted sweet cherry was more responsive to production methods designed to reduce transplanting stress than the coarse-rooted red oak, and that site affected the time required for normal shoot growth to be regained. The results do not indicate that different sites require differently produced trees.

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The Effects of Three Nursery Production Methods on Tree Growth Rates

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.3.546a ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 546A-546

Author(s):

Amy Jo Waldo ◽

James E. Klett

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Pinus Nigra ◽

Fraxinus Pennsylvanica ◽

Plastic Container ◽

Quercus Macrocarpa ◽

Production Methods ◽

Growth Increments ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Plastic Containers

Ninety trees are being used and have been in the field since 1994. The three species studied include: Fraxinus pennsylvanica Patmore (Green Ash), Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak), and Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine); 30 of each species. Each species has been harvested in three different nursery production methods including balled and burlapped, plastic container, and fabric container. During the 1996 growing season, the following data was recorded for each tree, growth increments, caliper size, and tree heights. For the two deciduous species, both dry weights and leaf area were recorded. Some sap flow measurements were taken using a non-intrusive stem heat balance method, on the same tree species with varying production methods. All three species showed the greatest growth increments and heights for those trees planted in fabric containers. In regards to trunk caliper size, Pinus nigra showed that the balled and burlapped, and fabric containers had larger calipers than those planted in plastic containers. Fabric container trees were larger in caliper than plastic container trees, which was larger than the balled and burlapped on Quercus macrocarpa. The plastic container and balled and burlapped resulted in greater calipers on Fraxinus pennsylvanica than the fabric containers. Quercus macrocarpa also showed that both leaf area and dry weight were greatest for trees planted in fabric containers, followed by the other production methods. Trees in plastic containers exhibited the greatest leaf area and dry weight for Fraxinus pennsylvanica. Overall, the fabric container trees in all three species illustrated the highest-quality trees, followed by those planted in plastic containers, and then balled and burlapped. Minimal data was recorded for transpiration rates in 1996 and will be further investigated in 1997.

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DETERMINING COST OF PRODUCTION FOR THREE ALTERNATIVE NURSERY PRODUCTION METHODS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.3.439e ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 439e-439

Author(s):

C.C. Montgomery ◽

B.K. Behe ◽

J.L. Adrian ◽

K.M. Tilt

Keyword(s):

Capital Investment ◽

Production Cost ◽

Woody Plant ◽

Production Systems ◽

Production Method ◽

Production Costs ◽

Plant Production ◽

Production Methods ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Container Production

Aboveground container production revolutionized woody plant production. In-ground pot-in-pot container production combines the benefits of container production with traditional field production. Our objective was to determine the specific costs of production for field-grown, aboveground container, and pot-in-pot production methods for Lagerstroemia indica. We found differences in production cost with varying levels of input required by each production method. Pot-in-pot production systems had higher fixed and variable costs and a higher initial capital investment compared to the other two production methods. However, per unit production costs were similar to aboveground container production due to lower labor and equipment requirements.

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