Effects of root undercutting, fertilization and thinning on seedling growth and quality of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) seedlings

Abstract

In this study, the effects of root undercutting, fertilization and thinning applications on the morphological characteristics of oriental beech seedlings grown in Karadağ Forest Nursery were investigated. In 2+0 years old seedlings, the effects of treatments including by making root undercutting and thinning (A) and by giving 50 g of ammonium nitrate fertilizer per m2 addition to thinning (B) in July were examined. Moreover, quality classes of seedlings were determined on the basis of treatments. According to the result of this study, significant differences were found between the morphological characteristics of the seedlings depending on the treatments. It was determined that while there is a statistical significance in terms of seedling length, sturdiness quotient, the number of side branches, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight, shoot dry weight/root dry weight, root percentage, Dickson quality index, there is no significance in terms of root collar diameter, fresh seedling weight, dry seedling weight in 2+0 years old seedlings. According to Turkish Standards Institute's deciduous seedling standard (TS 5624/21.03.1988) prepared in March 1988, 48.8% of A treatment and 76.7% of B treatment and 78.9% of the control group were found to be Class I. According to Dickson quality index, the quality index values of seedlings in 2+0 A, 2+0 B and control were determined as and 1.05, 0.74 and 0.68 respectively. In determination of Dickson quality index value, using of important parameters used for determination of seedling quality is important in terms of obtaining more accurate results.