Emergence of balsam fir seedlings under increasing broadleaf litter thickness

Abstract

Balsam fir (Abies balsames (L.) Mill.) seeds dispersed in autumn–winter can be covered by many layers of broadleaves when they germinate under deciduous trees during the following growing season. Our goal was to test the effect of seed density, broadleaf litter thickness, and substrate type on emergence, morphology, and dry mass allocation of balsam fir. The greenhouse experiment included three seeding densities, four litter thicknesses covering the seeds, and two substrate types. The broadleaf mixture was composed of white birch (Betula payrifera Marsh.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), and pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.f.) collected on the forest floor of a 30-year-old postfire stand. Seed density had no effect on emergence from under broadleaf litter. Emergence was lower on the litter substrate than on potting soil. Seedling emergence and vigor declined as broadleaf thickness increased. Depending on substrate type, emergence was reduced by 20% (leaf litter substrate) to 28% (potting soil) when seeds were covered by 1.4–2.0 cm of broadleaves. An overtopping layer of 2.5–3.0 cm reduced emergence by 57%. Balsam firs emerging from under broadleaf litter allocated more dry mass to longer and thinner hypocotyls at the expense of cotyledon and root growth, albeit seeded on potting soil. This study identifies biomechanical constraints that severely reduce early seedling vigour suggesting that in situ survival under broadleaf litter is very low.