Nursery growth of conifer seedlings using fertilizers of different solubilities and application time, and their forest growth

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) (Franco) and white spruce (Piceaglauca) (Moench) Voss) seedlings were grown in a bare-root nursery for two growing seasons with one of four fertilizers, Osmocote (17-7-12) (OSM), ammonium phosphate (11-55-0) (AMP), ammonium sulphate (21-0-0) (AMS), or Hi-Sol (20-20-20) (HIS), each supplying one of three levels of N: 0, 210, or 350 kg N ha−1, at two different frequencies throughout the growing seasons. Fertilizers, levels, and frequencies were arranged in a factorial design and replicated in three blocks on each species. Additionally, Douglas-fir seedlings that had been grown for two seasons without fertilization were treated with the same amounts, as supplied over two seasons, of AMP, AMS, and HIS between 1 September and 20 October, as a late-season treatment. After two seasons, mean dry weight differences due to fertilizers were, for Douglas-fir seedlings: AMP > AMS > HIS = OSM, and for white spruce seedlings: AMS = AMP > HIS > OSM. Dry weight was increased by increasing level of fertilizer. Fertilization increased shoot growth compared with root growth and resulted in seedlings having more dry matter in stems and less in needles at the end of two seasons. Dry weight of 2-0 white spruce was correlated with soil pH (r2 = 0.61) NO3 (r2 = 0.57), and P (r2 = 0.34) measured in September of the first growing season, indicating that fertilizers affected growth by their influence on these factors. Measurements made at planting showed late-season fertilized Douglas-fir had higher N and P tissue concentrations than growing-season fertilized trees. On average late-season fertilized trees had 6% higher survival than growing-season fertilized trees after planting in the forest. Survival appeared related to needle N concentration at planting, with maximum survival occurring at about 2.1% N. Height and stem volume relative growth rates were higher for late-season fertilized trees, although growing-season fertilized trees were still 9% taller than late-season fertilized trees after three seasons in the forest. Results suggested that fertilizer solubility was not as important for nursery growth as fertilizer composition, and its effect on soil pH, and that late-season fertilized stock might outperform growing-season fertilized stock in the forest.

1965 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Mullin

Several kinds of seedbed mulch were used in an experiment to study frost heaving of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in a nursery. Treatments consisted of silica gravel (of three sizes), hardwood sawdust, vermiculite, shredded sphagnum, mixed silica and sphagnum, and rye straw (the regular nursery mulch). These were applied to beds sown in the fall of 1958, 1959 and I960. Shading of beds during the winter between the first and second growing seasons was also examined.During the first growing season, several counts were made of the number of trees and weeds. At the beginning of the second growing season a count was made of the trees heaved and the residual stand. At the beginning of the third growing season, samples were taken for laboratory measurements of top length, root length, stem diameter, oven-dry weight and top-root ratio.The sawdust mulch was superior in most respects. It permitted the highest germination and survival, better prevention of heaving than rye straw, and better weed control than rye straw. Although the sawdust mulch treatment produced small and poorly balanced trees this was believed due chiefly to high bed density, and compared favourably with the rye straw. The use of hardwood sawdust as a mulch offered considerable advantage over the presently used rye-straw.Heaving was found to be a minor cause of mortality over the three year period examined. Shading of the beds offered no advantage in reducing this loss.


1996 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.I. Theron ◽  
G. Jacobs

Large Nerine bowdenii bulbs (>14 cm in circumference) were exposed to low ligbt intensities for different periods during two successive growing seasons. The flowering percentage and number of florets in the current season's inflorescence were recorded at anthesis. Small and large bulbs were subjected to continual defoliation starting at different times during the growing season. Bulbs were dissected at planting (26 Sept. 1992) and on 12 Jan. 1993 (nondefoliated control bulbs) to determine growth and developmental stage. At anthesis, inflorescences were harvested and the florets per inflorescence were counted. After anthesis in the fall, all bulbs were dissected and the following variables recorded: 1) percentage flowering, quiescence, or abortion of the current season's inflorescence; 2) developmental stage of quiescent inflorescences; 3) number of florets in the outermost inflorescence; 4) developmental stage of the innermost inflorescence; 5) number of leaves or leaf bases in each growth unit; 6) number of daughter bulbs; and 7) dry weight of new leaf bases. There were three reasons for nonflowering of the bulbs, viz., failure to initiate an inflorescence, inflorescences remaining quiescent, and inflorescence abortion. Individual florets that had not reached stage “Late G” (gynoecium elongated, carpels fused) at the start of rapid inflorescence elongation aborted. The more florets that aborted, the greater the probability that the entire inflorescence aborted. The inflorescence was more vulnerable to stress during the first half of the growing season due to its relatively weak position in the hierarchy of sinks within the bulb.


1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Rose ◽  
D. L. Haase ◽  
F. Kroiher ◽  
T. Sabin

Abstract This is the final summary of two studies on the relationship between root volume and seedling growth; early results were published previously. Survival, growth, and stem volume were determined for 2+0 ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings after 8 growing seasons. For each species, seedlings from three seedlots were assigned to one of three root-volume categories [<4.5 cm3 (RV1), 4.5-7 cm3 (RV2), and >7 cm3 (RV3) for ponderosa pine; <9 cm3 (RV1), 9-13 cm3 (RV2), and >13 cm3 (RV3) for Douglas-fir]. On a dry harsh ponderosa pine site on the eastern slopes of Mt. Hood in Oregon, where gopher and cattle damage decreased the number of seedlings, more seedlings in the highest root-volume category survived (70%) than in the smaller root-volume categories (62% and 50%). Douglas-fir on a good site in the Coast Range of Oregon showed significantly greater height and stem volume for the largest root-volume category, whereas annual shoot growth and survival did not differ. Root volume is one of several potentially useful criteria for predicting long-term growth and survival after outplanting. West. J. Appl. For. 12(3):69-73.


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 740-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.), and white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings, each represented by two seed lots, were grown in Styroblock containers in a greenhouse and plastic shelter house from February 1989 to January 1990. The seedlings were exposed to two nitrogen (N) treatments and three potassium (K) treatments arranged factorially within three drought treatments. After winter storage, seedlings from a complete set of treatments were planted into hygric, mesic, and xeric sand beds during 12–14 March. Increasing nursery drought stress increased survival of Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine after planting, and high N treatment level increased survival of lodgepole pine and white spruce. Under xeric conditions, combined nursery drought and high N treatments increased survival of lodgepole pine by 33%, indicating the importance of nursery cultural regime for stock quality. Increase in nursery drought decreased seedling size relatively little, but increase in N increased seedling size one season after planting. A positive relationship between shoot/root ratio and survival in lodgepole pine and white spruce indicated that increase in N increased both shoot growth and drought resistance over the N range investigated. Only Douglas-fir showed an interaction between drought and N treatment and a small response in both survival and dry weight to K. Root growth capacity, measured at the time of planting, showed an approximate doubling in all species due to high N treatment, and was also increased in white spruce by drought stress. Survival and root growth capacity were poorly correlated, but dry-weight growth in sand beds was well correlated with root growth capacity. Shoot dry weight and percent N in shoots measured after nursery growth were correlated with root growth capacity. Manipulation of root growth capacity by changing nursery treatment was apparently possible without altering resistance to drought stress after planting.


1995 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Sutton ◽  
T. P. Weldon

Five-year results of a study to evaluate the relative effectiveness of nine silvicultural treatments for establishing plantations of white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) in boreal Ontario mixed-wood are presented. The experimental design provided three levels of mechanical site preparation (none, disk trenching, and toothed-blading) in all combinations with three kinds of chemical weed control (none, Velpar L© at the time of planting, and Vision© during the second growing season). A randomized block experiment using 0.8-ha plots and two replications was established in Oates Twp. in 1985 and repeated in adjacent Oswald Twp. in 1986. Bareroot white spruce was planted throughout. Four 25-tree sub-plots, located systematically from a random start, were established in each plot. White spruce performance was monitored for five years. Fifth-year survival rates averaged 34% and 84% without and with mechanical site preparation, respectively. Mean total heights after five growing seasons differed significantly (P < 0.01) by category of mechanical site preparation: teeth > trencher > none. Other criteria of performance showed the same pattern. Because of operational exigencies, the herbicide treatments were not applied as scheduled, which might account for the apparent ineffectiveness of those treatments in the particular circumstances of this study. Key words: Site preparation, disk trencher, Young's teeth, herbicides


1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Thies ◽  
E. E. Nelson

Eight treatments involving stump removal by bulldozing in combination with nitrogen fertilization were applied to 0.04-ha circular plots in a clear-cut on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Treatments included stump removal (either all stumps removed or the plot left undisturbed) and broadcast fertilization with ammonium nitrate (0, 336, 672, or 1345 kg N ha−1). Diameter at breast height and height of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings, planted several months after treatment, were recorded five and eight seasons after outplanting. The results showed that either bulldozing stumps from the site or fertilizing with ammonium nitrate increased growth of seedlings through their eighth growing season. After eight growing seasons, bulldozing had increased seedling height by 23% and diameter at breast height by 43%; fertilizing produced increases of 13% in height and 17% in diameter at breast height.


1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.), and white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings were grown in Styroblock containers in a container nursery from February to July 1988 and then exposed to three temperatures and three levels of drought stress applied factorially during 18 July to 29 September 1988. Mean temperatures of 13, 16, and 20 °C were imposed in growth chambers, in a cooled plastic house, and in an ambient plastic house, respectively. Control, medium, and severe levels of drought stress were imposed in a series of eight cycles, resulting in mean xylem pressure potentials of −0.32, −0.50, and −0.99 MPa, respectively. Seedlings were kept in the ambient plastic house until January, when they were lifted and cold-stored until planting. Between 11 and 18 April 1989, seedlings were planted in 0.5 m deep sand beds, which provided hygric, mesic, and xeric conditions for testing all species and treatments. At the end of nursery growth, increase in nursery temperature increased height and height:diameter ratio in all species and shoot:root dry weight ratio in Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine. Increase in temperature also increased the number of seedlings with large well-formed buds in white spruce, but reduced the number in Douglas-fir. Drought stress reduced height and dry weight in all species and bud length in lodgepole pine. After 9 weeks in sand beds, low nursery temperature increased survival (19% for lodgepole pine and white spruce grown in the xeric bed), except for Douglas-fir grown in the xeric bed. Nursery drought stress also increased survival (16% for Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine in the xeric bed), but had little effect on white spruce. Low temperature and drought stress treatments that increased survival also reduced height and dry weight of lodgepole pine and white spruce after one growing season in sand beds. Survival showed significant negative correlations with height, dry weight, and height:diameter and shoot:root weight ratios. Low nursery temperature continued to affect growth after planting, increasing relative growth rate and allometric ratio (K) of Douglas-fir and decreasing K of white spruce.


1988 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-45
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Robert D. Wright

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) were potted and solution fed once weekly during 2 growing seasons with 5 levels of N in the irrigation water: 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm. Leaders were treated with 750 ppm 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) in late June of the first year. The higher N levels resulted in greater stem diameter, greater foliage dry weight, longer and heavier needle fascicles, better foliage color, greater budset after application of BA, and more and longer branches on the BA-treated leader the second growing season. BA should be applied to trees with N concentration ≥ 1.5% in one-year-old foliage.


1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hsiung Tung ◽  
Luci Wisniewski ◽  
David R. DeYoe

Survival, phenology, and growth performance of 2 + 0 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and noble fir (Abiesprocera Rehd.) seedlings planted at 1500 m in the Oregon Cascade Range were determined following a lifting on November 7 with 7 months of cold storage or lifting on March 1 with 3 months of cold storage. Storage temperature remained between 1 and 2 °C. There was no difference in Douglas-fir survival attributable to the lifting – cold-storage treatments during the first two growing seasons. The first-season survival of noble fir stored for 7 months was superior to that of those stored for 3 months, but no difference was evident after the second growing season. Timing of bud burst did not differ significantly among treatments for either species. However, the rate of bud burst was significantly greater for noble fir seedlings lifted in November and stored 7 months than for those lifted in March and stored 3 months. No difference in the rate of bud burst was observed between treatments for Douglas-fir. Shoot/root ratio for both species and treatments decreased significantly in the first growing season, but did not change significantly in the second growing season. Regardless of species, no differences were found in height growth or diameter increment between the two lifting – cold-storage treatments for the two consecutive growing seasons. The results suggest that Douglas-fir and noble fir seedlings originating from high-elevation seed sources can be lifted in fall and cold stored for 7 months without adverse effects on seedling performance.


1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan P. Drew

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsitgamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were grown outdoors in pots under 71% of full light the first growing season and full light the second. Another group of seedlings was given full light continuously for 2 years. At the end of the 1st year, seedlings given initial shade had grown larger in total weight (root + shoot) than those grown under full light. With removal of shading, the larger plants with lower shoot/root ratios began to allocate increased dry matter to root development relative to their shoots. By the end of 2 years, shoot/root ratios for the two groups were no different, yet the plants shaded in their 1st year were 69% larger in dry weight. By proper use of shading during development, larger 2-0 planting stock having good root development may be produced. Such stock, grown without the use of costly fertilizer, may be better suited to regeneration of droughty sites in the Northwest than the usual 2-0 planting stock, nursery grown under full light.


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