Influence of container nursery regimes on drought resistance of seedlings following planting. I. Survival and growth

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.

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.


1953 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. G. Denyer ◽  
C. G. Riley

1. One hundred and four white spruce were analyzed for decay at the Kananaskis Forest Experiment Station. Lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and alpine fir occurring on the sample plot with the spruce were also analyzed.2. On a board foot basis, cull in white spruce averaged 12.5 per cent. Percentages of cull in other species were: lodgepole pine 41.7, Douglas fir 28.3, and alpine fir 0.4.3. Gross and net volume tables for white spruce in board feet and total cubic feet are presented.4. POLYPORUS CIRCINATUS var. DUALIS Peck and FLAMMULA CONNISSANS Fr. were the most important causes of root rot and were responsible for 30 per cent of the total decay volume.5. FOMES PINI (Thore) Lloyd and STEREUM SANGUINOLENTUM Alb. & Schw. ex Fr. were the most important causes of trunk rot and were responsible for more than 50 per cent of the total decay volume.


1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hocking ◽  
D. L. Mitchell

Seedlings of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss var. albertiana (S. Brown) Sarg.), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were grown in closely packed, extruded peat cylinders (sausages) of different lengths, diameters, and densities within a range practical for operational use. The highest density (0.23 g/cm3) was limiting to all growth parameters for all species in all rooting volumes – espacements. In lower densities, all growth parameters were linearly correlated to rooting volume. In the smaller rooting volumes – seedling espacements, growth restrictions were partially relieved by compression of the peat up to density 0.20 g/cm3.


1984 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 345-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

In three experiments coastal and interior varieties of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn.) were grown at a range of spacings, within drills 15 cm apart, at four nurseries in coastal British Columbia. In a fourth experiment the frequency distribution of seed spacings achieved with three types of precision seeders was examined.A 1 cm increase in spacing increased seedling dry weight by 0.5–1.5 g and root collar diameter by 0.2–0.25 mm. up to a spacing of about 8–10 cm. Above this spacing response was less. Height of two-year old (2-0) seedlings was increased little, or even decreased by wider spacing. Height:diameter ratios decreased sharply and shoot:root dry weight ratios decreased or remained unchanged with wider spacing. The number of needle primorida in 2-0 Douglas-fir buds increased up to a spacing of 2 cm. The number of first and second order branches was also increased in 2-0 seedlings of this species by wider spacing. Needle dry weight and area measurements suggested Douglas-fir from wider spacing had more sun type needles than those from closer spacing, which had more shade type needles. Only small increases in root growth capacity (RGC) were associated with wider spacing. None of the precision seeders tested achieved anything like perfect precision of seed placement. With irregularity added by 10–20% non-viable seed and winter mortality, truly precision spaced stands of 2-0 seedlings could not be achieved under existing conditions. Increased spacing of 2–5 cm between seedlings, depending on species and nursery, was justified by yield of acceptable seedlings when culling standard was increased to a root collar diameter of about 6 mm.Three years after planting, survival of white spruce was increased 11% by wider spacing in the nursery, and the corresponding value for Sitka spruce two years after planting was 13%. Seedlings of both species from wider spacings maintained a height and diameter advantage over those from close spacing.


1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

Three nitrogen (N) levels and six seedling spacings were applied factorially in a randomized block design, of four replications, to coastal and interior varieties of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr), and lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.) in the nursery. After growing for 2 years in the nursery, seedling dimensions, dry weights, and needle N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) concentrations were determined. At the same time, samples of 400 trees per treatment were planted into the forest using the nursery design. Three years after outplanting, survival and height measurements were obtained for all species and, in addition, dry weights and nutrient concentrations for the coastal Douglas-fir. Both an increase in N fertilizer and wider spacing increased 2-year-old (2–0) seedling needle percent N, except in lodgepole pine. Wider spacing also increased percent P in interior Douglas-fir and percent K in lodgepole pine. Within the highest N fertilizer level the amount of variation in needle percent N accounted for by spacing was 75% in coastal Douglas-fir, 78% in interior Douglas-fir, and 92% in Sitka spruce. Needle percent N in 2–0 coastal Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce was positively correlated with survival (r2 = 0.24 and 0.35, respectively), total height (r2 = 0.48 and 0.61, respectively), and current height growth (r2 = 0.31 and 0.51, respectively) after 3 years in the forest. The relationships of spacing to 2–0 seedling percent N, and of 2–0 seedling percent N to outplanting performance indicated that, at least for Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce, spacing influenced outplanting performance through its effect on N nutrition. During 3 years in the forest, coastal Douglas-fir trees had maintained closely similar relative growth rates (RGR) in all treatments. Consequently, relative differences in 2–0 seedling dry weight between treatments of about threefold between 0.6- and 12-cm spacing and twofold between 60 and 235 kg N/ha fertilizer levels, had been maintained. After 3 years in the forest there were no differences in nutrient concentrations between nursery N treatments, indicating that reserves available at lifting had been dissipated, but nutrient concentrations tended to decrease with wider spacing. This suggested some unidentified wide spacing effect was promoting growth and causing nutrient dilution in the tissue.


1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-137
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Jack R. Sutherland ◽  
T. A. D. Woods ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan

Field studies showed that the seed-pathogenic fungus Caloscyphafulgens (Pers.) Boudier was present in squirrel caches in 25% of the white spruce, Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss, stands in an area near Prince George, B.C. and in duff in 17 and 8% of the lodgepole pine, Pinuscontorta Dougl., clear-cuts there and at Williams Lake, respectively. In the laboratory, deer mice (Peromyscusmaniculatus Wagner), chipmunks (Eutamiastownsendii Bachman), and Douglas squirrels (Tamiasciurusdouglasii Bachman) consumed C. fulgens infested seeds of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, lodgepole pine, and white spruce as readily as noninfested seeds. Squirrels also ate C. fulgens ascocarps and passed intact ascospores, but these were not observed to germinate. Red squirrels, T. hudsonicus Erxleben, moved, and ate seeds from, both infested and noninfested Douglas-fir cones in the field. It is proposed that C. fulgens is disseminated by squirrels, and perhaps other rodents, and that the fungus may preserve seeds in caches thereby ensuring squirrel food supplies between cone crops. Caloscyphafulgens may also prevent seed germination in direct seeding trials.


HortScience ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolston St. Hilaire ◽  
William R. Graves

Traits associated with drought resistance vary with provenance of hard maples (Acer sp.), but the stability of differences ex situ and over time is unknown. We compared growth, dry-matter partitioning, leaf anatomy, and water relations of seedlings from central Iowa, eastern Iowa, and the northeastern United States over 2 years. Some seedlings from each of the three provenances were used as well-irrigated controls. The remaining seedlings were drought-stressed and irrigated based on evapotranspiration. Across irrigation treatments, plants from Iowa had shorter stems and higher specific weight of lamina, root: shoot dry-weight ratios, and root: lamina dry-weight ratios than did plants from the northeastern United States when treatments began. Biomass partitioning did not differ based on provenance after irrigation treatment for 2 years, but leaves from central Iowa had a higher specific weight, and their abaxial surfaces had more stomates and trichomes, than did leaves from the Northeast. Drought stress reduced conductance only in plants from central Iowa. Across provenances, drought stress reduced stomatal frequency, surface area of laminae, and dry weights of laminae and roots, and increased root: shoot dry-weight ratio. Leaf water potential of plants subjected to drought was lower at predawn and higher at midday than that of control plants. Drought did not cause osmotic adjustment in leaves. We conclude that the stability of foliar differences among provenances of hard maples validates using these traits as criteria for selecting ecotypes for use in managed landscapes prone to drought.


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.


1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 722-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche

Growth responses of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings to the gibberellin synthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol were examined in sand culture. Shoot and root dry weights and root lengths were reduced at 5 mg (active ingredient) of paclobutrazol per litre, in the nutrient solution, although the proportion of dry matter allocated to roots was increased by 5 mg (active ingredient) of paclobutrazol per litre. Similar effects were observed with triadimefon, although the reduction in height growth was less in triadimefon-treated seedlings than in paclobutrazol-treated seedlings. Stomatal conductance, transpiration, and needle area:weight ratio were reduced by both paclobutrazol and triadimefon treatments of 13.5-week-old seedlings, although paclobutrazol was more effective than triadimefon in reducing needle arear:weight ratio. Treatment of 1-year-old container seedlings of Douglas-fir and white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) by shoot dipping or plug drenching with paclobutrazol, in December or March, reduced height growth and new needle area:weight ratio after 6 weeks growth in a greenhouse. Xylem water potential of paclobutrazol-drenched seedlings was increased by 0.7 MPa above controls (−1.8 MPa) 11 weeks after planting, and stomatal conductance of drenched white spruce increased with paclobutrazol concentration.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Min Li ◽  
Haoyun Wang ◽  
Xizhou Zhao ◽  
Zhongke Lu ◽  
Xueguang Sun ◽  
...  

Masson pine is an important afforestation species in southern China, where seasonal drought is common. The present study focused on the effects of Suillus placidus, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, inoculation on the growth and physiological and biochemical performance of masson pine seedlings under four different watering treatments (well-watered, mild drought, moderate drought, and severe drought) to evaluate the symbiotic relationship between S. placidus and masson pine seedlings. Ectomycorrhizal-inoculated (ECM) and non-inoculated (NM) seedlings were grown in pots and maintained for 60 days using the weighing method. Results showed that seedlings’ growth, dry weight, RWC, chlorophyll content, PSII efficiency, and photosynthesis decreased as drought stress intensified in both ECM and NM plants. This suggests that drought stress significantly limits the growth and photosynthetic performance of masson pine seedlings. Nevertheless, increased An/gs and proline contents in both NM and ECM prevented oxidative damage caused by drought stress. In addition, increased peroxidase (POD) activity is an essential defense mechanism of ECM seedling under drought stress. Compared with NM, ECM seedlings showed faster growth, higher RWC, and photosynthetic performance, and lower lipid peroxidation in cell membranes under drought stress, as indicated by higher POD activity and lower proline and malondialdehyde (MDA). Our experiment found that S. placidus inoculation can enhance the drought resistance of masson pine seedlings by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, water use efficiency, and proline content, thereby enhancing growth under water-deficiency conditions. S. placidus can be used to cultivate high-quality seedlings and improve their survival in regions that experience seasonal droughts.


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