Root System Fibrosity of Sitka Spruce Transplants: Relationship with Root Growth Potential

1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. DEANS ◽  
C. LUNDBERG ◽  
M. G. R. CANNELL ◽  
M. B. MURRAY ◽  
L. J. SHEPPARD
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Root System ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Root Growth Potential

The gravitational forces generated by dropping plants and the response of Sitka spruce seedlings to dropping

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2443-2451 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.M. McKay ◽  
B.A. Gardiner ◽  
W.L. Mason ◽  
D.G. Nelson ◽  
M.K. Hollingsworth
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Electrolyte Leakage ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Total Force ◽  
Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride ◽  
Root Growth Potential ◽  
Tetrazolium Chloride ◽  
Reduction Activity

Two-year-old Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) seedlings were lifted from the nursery at different times of the year and subjected to known forces by dropping bags of plants from a height of 10, 100, or 300 cm onto a concrete floor for a varying number of times (0 to 135). The response of the seedlings to dropping was assessed by their growth and survival in field experiments, root growth potential, root electrolyte leakage, and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction. The forces were measured by attaching an accelerometer linked to an oscilloscope to the root collar of trees in the centre of each bag. Typically the forces generated by a 10-cm drop were about 11 g, while those generated by a 300-cm drop were about 140 g. All seedlings lifted in mid-February and mid-March survived one growing season in a cultivated, weed-free nursery soil, but height growth was significantly reduced by 300-cm drops. The survival of seedlings lifted in August was reduced by 5 and 15 drops particularly from 300 cm. Root growth potential was decreased while electrolyte leakage and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride reduction activity of the fine roots 2 days after dropping were increased by dropping. Growth and physiological differences associated with dropping were more closely and frequently correlated with the maximum force exerted than to the mean or the total force.

Root System Considerations in the Quality of Loblolly Pine Seedlings

1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Root System ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
System Quality ◽  
Root Growth Potential ◽  
Root Volume

Abstract A series of studies was carried out to determine quantitative relationships between root system quality parameters and ability to take up water, and expand the root system into adjacent soil. Root system size, described by displacement of water (i.e., root volume), determines the potential for water uptake prior to new root growth. Seedlings of comparatively high root volume also have superior root growth potential (RGP). After new root growth, the potential for water uptake is proportional to the number of new roots produced. The beginning of rapid root growth after planting is dependent on soil temperature. Root growth potential rank of open-pollinated families can change with soil temperature, which also alters RGP within family. Nursery practices that favor production of seedlings with high root volume and high RGP will increase the quality of seedlings of a given height. South. J. Appl. For. 10:87-92, May 1986.

Rough handling, soil temperature, and root development in outplanted Sitka spruce and Douglas-fir

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1385-1388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul M. Tabbush
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Mechanical Shock ◽  
Root Growth Potential ◽  
Mycorrhizal Development ◽  
Hard Floor ◽  
Root Observation

Sealed bags containing forty 2-year-old Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) transplants were dropped 1–15 times from a height of 3 m onto a hard floor. A single drop reduced root growth potential of the plants as measured by a 10-day test, although after 18 days' growth the effect was no longer detectable. Dropping the bags 5 or 15 times severely decreased root growth potential even in the 18-day test. The 15-drop treatment significantly depressed 1-year survival of samples planted in the nursery. Sitka spruce and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii fMirb.) Franco.) transplants dropped 10 times, together with control plants, were placed in root observation boxes with an air temperature of 8 °C and a soil temperature of 4, 8, 12, or 16 °C. At 4 °C soil temperature, little or no root growth was observed in either species. At the higher temperatures the total numbers of new roots formed in 10 days and the number of new roots greater than 1 cm in length formed in 18 days were generally greater in Sitka spruce than Douglas-fir. In both species, root growth was sharply reduced by the mechanical shock treatment. Dropping the trees also depressed mycorrhizal development and resulted in a significant lowering of predawn water potential in Douglas-fir.

scholarly journals Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 597
Author(s):  
Jacob A. Reely ◽  
Andrew S. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Seedling Quality ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Larix Occidentalis ◽  
Root Growth Potential ◽  
Western Larch ◽  
Neighborhood Conditions ◽  
Seedling Performance ◽  
Survival And Growth

Environmental conditions and seedling quality interact to produce complex patterns of seedling survival and growth. Root growth potential (RGP) is one metric of seedling quality that can be rapidly measured prior to planting, but the correlation of RGP and seedling performance is not consistent across studies. Site factors including microsite objects that cast shade and competing vegetation can also influence seedling performance. We examined the effects of RGP, presence/absence of a microsite object, and competition cover on the survival and growth of three native conifers to the Inland Northwest, USA, over 5 years. We found that RGP had no effect on the survival or growth of western larch (Larix occidentalis), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca), and grand fir (Abies grandis) at a mesic north aspect site and a xeric south aspect site. Comparatively, the presence of a microsite increased the odds of survival by 37% for western larch and 158% for grand fir, while the absence of forb cover increased the odds of survival of western larch by 72% and of grand fir by 26%. Douglas fir was less sensitive to microsites and competition. The strong effects of neighborhood conditions around seedlings help inform silvicultural practices to enhance the establishment of western larch and grand fir, including planting seedlings near shading objects and competition control, while these practices may not be as important for Douglas fir.

Seed spacing and seedling biomass: Effect on root growth potential of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)

New Forests ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. South ◽  
Harry S. Larsen ◽  
James N. Boyer ◽  
Hans M. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Root Growth Potential ◽  
Seedling Biomass ◽  
Seed Spacing
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