Abstract
Quality of produced seedlings relies mainly on the substrate on which it grows and develops. In this study, three common biomaterials – pine bark, carbonized rice husk and mushroom sawdust, were mixed with growing media in two ratios (10% and 20%) to assess their effects on growth and seedling quality of Prunus sargentii seedlings in containerized production system. Generally, 10% pine bark treatment showed the highest results among others in some parameters of seedling growth – height and root collar diameter. For total biomass, 10% rice husk treatment was highest, followed by 10% pine bark treatment. Seedling quality index at 10% rice husk treatment resulted highest (24% increase compared to control) followed by 10% pine bark treatment (20% increase compared to control). Our results suggested that both rice husk and pine bark can be used in 10% mixed ratio to growing media to gain the qualified P. sargentii seedlings in forest nurseries, which in turn, will help to establish successful reforestation in the field.
Highlights
For successful forest restoration in the field, quality seedlings with optimal growth potential are essential
The seedling height of P. sargentii was significantly influenced by treatment; the highest height being observed at 10% pine bark mixed ratio (20% higher in 10% pine bark treatment compared to control), seedling height did not show difference among other treatments
We conducted a greenhouse study in order to investigate the effects of three biomaterials and mixed ratio in containerized seedling production system
Summary
For successful forest restoration in the field, quality seedlings with optimal growth potential are essential. Nurseries need to produce strong and vigorous seedlings that can adapt well to the site they are planted in to ensure successful establishment of the plantations. Seedlings have been produced in mass amount in nurseries by two ways; with containers and with bare root stocks. Production of seedlings by containers has many advantages over bare root stock such as quick production, uniform size, extending planting season, and performing well on adverse sites (Stein et al 1975; Tsakaldimi et al 2005). Container-grown seedlings generally have smaller shoot-toroot ratios and larger fine roots than bare root seedlings, that can adapt certain transplanting stresses such as drought (Miller 1999; Grossnickle and ElKassaby 2016). “Effective growing medium” is very important in order to achieve the goal of better container-grown seedlings. Due to its increasing environmental concerns that peat bogs are being rapidly depleted, researches on peat alternative became the great interest among life scientists (Ingelmo et al 1998; Guerrero et al 2002; Chong 2005; Wilson et al 2006)
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