Germination, survival, and early growth of red alder seedlings in the central Coast Range of Oregon

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1639-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sybille Haeussler ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
Brian J. Greber

Effects of forest disturbance and soil moisture levels on establishment of red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) seedlings were studied at four sites representing a climatic moisture gradient within the central Coast Range of Oregon. On average, there was no difference in seedling emergence between recent clearcuts and second-growth forests, but emergence was much higher on mineral soil than on organic seedbeds. Emergence, on both types of seedbed, was positively correlated with spring soil moisture conditions (R2 = 0.60). Seedling survival, on the other hand, differed greatly between clearcut and forest. In clearcuts, heat and drought injuries were the primary causes of seedling mortality. In the forest, seedlings had poor vigour and quickly succumbed to pathogens, herbivores, and rain splash. First-year survival rates were strongly correlated with minimum summer soil moisture levels (R2 = 0.71). Height growth of seedlings on clearcuts (2–5 cm after 1 year; 8–23 cm after 2 years) was much slower than rates typically described for red alder. Best establishment occurred on skid trails and landings, suggesting that young seedlings may suffer less from heat or moisture stress on these heavily disturbed microenvironments.

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
JW Morgan

The emergence, survival and growth of seedlings of the endangered Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides F.Muell. were followed in a Themeda triandra grassland during 1991 and 1992. The effect of summer irrigation on seedling survival was also investigated. Seedling emergence occurred in both years within 2 weeks of the 'autumn break' when soil moisture rose above 20%. Ninety percent of emergence was observed within 4 weeks of the onset of germination and 87% of seedlings were within 20 cm of an established plant. No emergence was observed after 8 weeks. Thirteen percent of the 1991 cohort survived for 14 months. Mortality of most seedlings (63%) was attributed to soil moisture stress in summer. Small seedlings (Ͱ4 3 leaves) were no more susceptible to drought than larger seedlings. Seventy two percent of the 1991 cohort produced four leaves before subsequently dying. In 1992, however, most early seedling mortality was amongst cotyledonary seedlings. No seedlings flowered in their first year. Above-ground growth was slow and by 14 months, 60% of surviving seedlings had seven or fewer live leaves. Irrigation in a year of below-average rainfall had no significant effect on the survival and growth of seedlings. This suggests that seedling recruitment is not restricted to climatically favourable years (i.e. is not episodic) but rather, is potentially on-going provided suitable microsites are available for seedling survival.


Author(s):  
Mikko Johannes Kyrö ◽  
Ville Hallikainen ◽  
Sauli Valkonen ◽  
Mikko Hyppönen ◽  
Pasi Puttonen ◽  
...  

Natural regeneration is commonly used forest regeneration method in Northern Finland. It is not known however, what would be the optimal overstory density and ground vegetation composition for seedling emergence and survival, and if site preparation is needed to accompany overstory density manipulation. We studied the effects of overstory density (unthinned control and thinning to 50, 150 and 250 trees ha-1) and ground vegetation removal (mechanical site preparation with disc trenching) on the number of naturally germinated pine seedlings and survival of individual seedlings during 8-11 years. Bare mineral soil was a superior seedbed compared to intact vegetation cover, even though also mortality rate was high on mineral soil. Greater cover of lingonberry, crowberry and slash had a negative effect on seedling number. Seedling mortality was initially high (60% died during the first two years) but decreased throughout the first five years. The mineral soil in the elevated part of disc trencher track showed twice the survival rate in the bottom part of the track. High coverage of small haired mosses was associated with poorer seedling survival. An overstory density of 50-150 trees ha-1 with site preparation seems to be an efficient treatment to promote regeneration under these circumstances.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 2122-2127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jess K. Zimmerman ◽  
I. Michael Weis

In a beach population of Xanthium strumarium, we assessed the effects of density, seedling emergence date, and soil moisture on seedling survivorship, plant growth, and fruit production. Seedling survival was largely density independent, while growth and fruit production declined significantly with increased density. Delayed seedling emergence resulted in significantly lowered survival but exhibited no significant effects on fruit production. Soil moisture was correlated positively with seedling survival, growth, and fruit production. Blowing sand was noted as an important cause of seedling mortality. Increased survival in areas of high soil moisture apparently resulted because of an absence of blowing sand in these areas. Consistent with a lack of density-dependent mortality, the density–yield relationship for the population had a slope near −1 and not −3/2. Hierarchy in fruit production among plants was least developed in areas of high plant density.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Winsa ◽  
Urban Bergsten

Direct seeding of Pinussylvestris L. is a regeneration method, with potential for development considering scarification, microsite preparation, seed invigoration, and seed quality. Three seed lots of different quality concerning seed weight, germination percent, and mean germination time were used on two sites in northern Sweden. Microsite preparation, 2 cm deep pyramidal indentations, of the mineral soil improved seedling emergence on the two sites by 48 and 62%, respectively, compared with seeding without preparation other than removal of the humus layer. Microsite preparation in combination with invigorated seed, i.e., seed incubated at 30% moisture content for 7 days at 15 °C, resulted in seedling emergence of about 85% for the highest and about 50% for the lowest seed quality at both sites. Noninvigorated seed, seeded without microsite preparation, reached about 55% for the highest and 22% at one and 43% at the other for the lowest seed quality. Without microsite preparation there was no, or a negative, effect of seed invigoration on seedling emergence. Seedling survival after the first winter improved significantly with better seed quality. Survival averaged 92 and 72% at the two sites, with frost heaving causing most mortality. Seedlings from invigorated and redried seed survived better than seedlings from untreated seed. Seedlings from the best seed quality had higher values in seedling height, about 35%, shoot length, about 60%, and needle length, about 30%, after two growing seasons than seedlings from lower seed qualities. Invigoration and microsite preparation had no effect on measured growth characteristics.


1986 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Finch-Savage

SummaryThe emergence of seedlings from natural, germinating and selected uniformlygerminated onion seeds was compared in a range of changing patterns of soil moisture. The timing, spread and amount of seedling emergence from seeds in all three treatments were affected by the timing of water availability in the seed bed and these effects differed between treatments.The rate of seedling emergence in all three treatments under non-limiting soil moisture conditions was correlated with mean temperature, but this relationship was obscured in irrigation treatments where water stress occurred. However, if the seed bed was moist at sowing irrespective of subsequent moisture stress the reciprocals of the time to the start, time to 50% and time to the end of seedling emergence from uniformly germinated seeds were correlated with mean temperature (r > 0·87, D.F. 27).The results show that if the seed bed is irrigated prior to sowing and soil moisture is maintained during the first 3 days following sowing high levels of seedling emergence with both predictable timing and uniformity can be achieved by sowing uniformlygerminated seeds. Seedling emergence from natural and germinating seeds was much less predictable.


Silva Fennica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiina Laine ◽  
Ville Kankaanhuhta ◽  
Juho Rantala ◽  
Timo Saksa

In Nordic forests, consistent evidence about better seedling survival rate and increased growth due to site preparation have been obtained in numerous studies. Proper site preparation method can reduce costs of the whole regeneration chain through its effects on survival of planted seedlings, abundance of natural regeneration and competition in early stand development. This study compared the natural regeneration of birches (silver birch ( Roth) and downy birch ( Ehrh.)), amount of exposed mineral soil, and growth of planted seedlings between spot mounding and inverting site preparation methods. Present study was conducted in eight forest stands established in 2012 or 2015. Even though difference was not statistically significant, inverting exposed less mineral soil than spot mounding and thus reduced the natural regeneration of birch seedlings by 6135 seedlings ha compared to spot mounding. However, the variation between regeneration areas was remarkable. There was no difference in seedling mortality or growth between the site preparation methods. In order to achieve high growth of conifers, moderate amount of exposed mineral soil and thus less naturally regenerated birch, inverting should be favored over spot mounding.Betula pendulaB. pubescens–1


2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiebke Niether ◽  
Alexandra Glawe ◽  
Katharina Pfohl ◽  
Noah Adamtey ◽  
Monika Schneider ◽  
...  

Abstract Understanding water stress signaling mechanisms and screening for tolerant cocoa cultivars are major challenges when facing prolonged dry and rainy seasons in cocoa-producing areas. While abscisic acid (ABA) and proline are supposed to enhance drought tolerance in cocoa, the role of polyamines remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical response and phenological adaptation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) on different soil moisture conditions, with a focus on short-term (20 days) and long-term (89 days) stress conditions, and to compare the performance of three cocoa cultivars. In a split plot design with four blocks, cocoa seedlings of an international high-yielding cultivar (TSH-565) and two locally selected cultivars (IIa-22 and III-06) from the drought-exposed Alto Beni region, Bolivia, were arranged in pots under a roof shelter (cultivar: three levels). The seedlings were exposed to strong (VERY DRY) and moderate (DRY) soil moisture deficits, water logging (WET) and regular irrigation (MOIST) that served as a control (moisture: four levels). We examined the growth performance and the levels of ABA, proline, and polyamines in the leaves. Growth was reduced already at a moderate drought, while severe drought enhanced seedling mortality. Severe drought increased the levels of ABA by 453% and of proline by 935%, inducing a short-term stress response; both compounds were degraded over the long-term period. The polyamine concentration was unrelated to soil moisture. The cocoa cultivars did not differ in their biochemical response to soil moisture stress (proline: p-value = 0.5, ABA: p-value = 0.3), but the local cultivar III-06 showed a stronger height growth increment than the international cultivar TSH-565 (237%, p-value = 0.002) under drought conditions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 693 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Fensham ◽  
R. J. Fairfax ◽  
Y. M. Buckley

Eucalyptus melanophloia and E. populnea dominate large areas of savanna in eastern Australia. Under aboriginal management, fires probably occurred under a broad range of conditions, but under pastoral management, burning is avoided when soil moisture is low. This experiment subjected E. melanophloia and E. populnea seedlings to burning and moisture stress, to examine whether this change in burning regime could affect seedling survivorship. The findings suggest survivorship rates are 87–93% for unstressed seedlings with relatively large lignotubers (>12 mm2 plan area) and 56–66% for unstressed seedlings with small lignotubers. There was no substantial interactive effect between moisture stress and burning for E. melanophloia, but such an interaction was apparent for E. populnea, such that moisture stress multiplied the effect of burning. The timing of burning in relation to soil-moisture conditions may have an enduring effect on woodland structure where E. populnea is dominant. E. melanophloia seedlings are more resistant to burning, especially with moisture stress, and fire may not be limiting structural development in woodlands where this species dominates. However, a more detailed understanding of species demography is required, including the conditions required for germination, causes of seedling mortality and the time taken for seedlings to develop fire resistance in the field.


Plant Disease ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 92 (11) ◽  
pp. 1574-1576 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Matusick ◽  
L. G. Eckhardt ◽  
S. A. Enebak

Recently, Leptographium serpens has been recovered from the roots of declining and dead longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) in stands associated with various abiotic stresses. Although most data suggest that L. serpens is pathogenic to various Pinus spp., there is little known of its virulence on longleaf pine or its relationship with abiotic stress in causing disease. These trials examined the effects of L. serpens infection coupled with drought stress. Trials began with wound inoculations of bareroot longleaf pine seedlings in spring 2006 and 2007 at the seedling stress facility at Auburn University. Soon after inoculation, seedlings were also subjected to adequate moisture, moderate drought, or severe drought. Sixteen weeks after inoculation, longleaf pine survival, L. serpens virulence, and seedling growth characteristics were measured. Longleaf pine seedlings inoculated with L. serpens had 33% mortality (138/420) which was significantly greater than nonwounded control seedlings (22%, 47/211). Survival and lesion size on longleaf pine suggests that L. serpens is moderately pathogenic to longleaf pine seedlings. Separately, moisture stress associated with low soil moisture also contributed to seedling mortality. Results suggest that L. serpens infection and moisture stress commonly experienced by southern pines act independently to stress longleaf pine.


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