Effects of soil temperature on biomass and carbohydrate allocation in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings at the beginning of the growing season

The seasonal changes in soil temperature and in the frost hardiness of adult Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was studied between September 1991 and February 1993 in a pine forest located in Finnish Lapland. Air and soil (humus layer and 5 cm depth of mineral soil) temperatures were measured continuously every second hour. The frost hardiness of the roots in the humus layer and in the mineral soil (down to 10 cm) was measured by means of the electrolyte-leakage method. The temperature in the humus layer varied between 21.2°C and 3.2°C and in the mineral soil between 21.6°C and 2.4°C. The temperature in the humus layer was continuously slightly colder than in the mineral soil from late August until May. The frost hardiness of the pine roots was lowest (about 5°C) in May and during the first week of September. Frost hardiness stayed at its maximum of about 20°C during November and December and slightly decreased in January and February. During most of the sampling time, the frost hardiness of the roots in the humus layer was greater than in the mineral soil. There was a clear relationship between the soil temperature and the frost hardiness of roots.

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Stimulating the growth of trees with ashes of various biofuels (wood, peat) on a cutaway peatland

Forestry Studies / Metsanduslikud Uurimused ◽

10.2478/v10132-011-0083-9 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 60-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Karin Kikamägi ◽

Katri Ots

Keyword(s):

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Growing Season ◽

Wood Ash ◽

Height Increment ◽

And Control ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Root Collar ◽

Scots Pine Needles

Puittaimede kasvu stimuleerimine erinevate biokütuste (puit, turvas) tuha liikidega ammendatud freesturbaväljalThe aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fertilization on the growth of Silver birchBetula pendulaRoth and Scots pinePinus sylvestrisL. seedlings on a cutaway peatland (Ulila, 58°22'N, 26°26'E). Five treatments were established: wood ash (10 000 and 5000 kg/ha), peat and wood ash mixture (10 000 and 5000 kg/ha) and control (unfertilized field). Results of analysis showed that the pH of peat in the cutaway peatland was before treatment 3.5 and it rose after fertilization by up to 0.7 units by the end of the first growing season. The treatment with 10 000 kg/ha of wood ash gave the best results: the annual height increment of Silver birches during the first growing season after fertilization was 4.5 times higher and that of Scots pines 1.1 times higher than control. In the second growing season after fertilization the increment was respectively 16.3 and 3.3 times higher than control. The root collar diameters of Silver birches were 4.4 time larger these of Scots pines 2.1 times larger than control. Scots pine needles were 2.2 times longer than control and the leaf area of the Silver birches was 6 times larger than control, which also shows a positive effect of fertilization. Peat ash treatment was also favourable, although its effect was much smaller than the effect of wood ash.

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Early Field Performance of Small-Sized Silver Birch and Scots Pine Container Seedlings at Different Planting Depths

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050519 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 519

Author(s):

Laura Pikkarainen ◽

Jaana Luoranen ◽

Heli Peltola

Keyword(s):

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Tree Species ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Field Performance ◽

Growing Season ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Container Seedlings ◽

Betula Pendula Roth ◽

Pine Seedlings

Deep planting is recommended in Nordic countries only for normal-sized container seedlings planted on mounds. Its effects on smaller-sized seedlings are poorly understood. We studied the effects of planting depth on the early field performance of small-sized silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) container seedlings. Silver birch seedlings (mean height of 16 cm) were planted to depths of 3, 6 and 8 cm on spot mounds in May 2016. Scots pine seedlings (mean height of 9 cm) were planted to depths of 2, 5 and 8 cm on inverted mounds in September 2018 and May 2019. At the end of the first growing season, the deeper-planted birch seedlings were the tallest, as opposed to the deeper-planted Scots pine seedlings. However, the height differences between the planting depths were not apparent until the end of the second growing season in both tree species. Deeper planting decreased damage in Scots pine seedlings in the first growing season, which was not observed in silver birch. Based on our findings, small-sized Scots pine and silver birch seedlings can be planted safely at 6–8 cm planting depths, if at least 20% and 50% of their shoots, respectively, are above ground.

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