Growth of Scots Pine and Silver Birch Seedlings on Different Nursery Container Media

Fahrettin Tilki,Tekin Memisoglu

doi:10.15835/nbha4229551

Abstract

Peat has been the most common growing medium in tree nurseries, either alone or as a component of growing media mixes. However, as a result of increasing costs and decreasing amount of peat, seedling-growers are seeking more local growing medium components. In this study, container seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) were grown in pure peat and peat mixtures containing perlite and zeolite. Physical parameters (height, shoot diameter, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, total dry weight) were measured along with several morphological parameters (sturdiness quotient, height/diameter, shoot/root ratio). The zeolite additive in peat changed some media properties, and significant relation was established between some morphological attributes of seedlings and some medium properties in both species. On average, the seedlings grew best in pure peat, but zeolite additions to peat did not affect some morphological parameters negatively. The results suggest that zeolite has potential to be used as a component of peat based growing medium mixtures, and addition of zeolite to peat container medium in proportions of 10% by volume in Scots pine and up to 20% in silver birch was shown to be a feasible material for growing Scots pine and silver birch seedlings.

Highlights

Competing vegetation, transplant shock, low seedling quality or lack of site preparation can reduce outplanting success (Ward et al, 2000; Apholo and Rikala, 2003; Jacobs et al, 2004 and 2012; Wilson and Jacobs, 2006; Pinto et al, 2011; Tsakaldimi et al, 2013)
Sturdiness quotient, the Dickson quality index and shoot/root ratio are common parameters used in the quality classification (Thompson, 1985; Jaenicke, 1999; Apholo and Rikala, 2003; Manas et al, 2009; Tsakaldimi et al, 2013)
Finland peat was used as main additive material in pots and was classified as H1-H3 quality class peat according to Von Post scale, particle size was less than 2 mm

Summary

Introduction

Transplant shock, low seedling quality or lack of site preparation can reduce outplanting success (Ward et al, 2000; Apholo and Rikala, 2003; Jacobs et al, 2004 and 2012; Wilson and Jacobs, 2006; Pinto et al, 2011; Tsakaldimi et al, 2013). Many parameters used to measure seedling quality in relation to field survival and productivity (Dey and Parker, 1997; Stone et al, 2003; Li et al, 2011; Tsakaldimi et al, 2013) Most of these are based on morphological characteristics, which are relatively simple to measure (Thompson, 1985; Pinto et al, 2011; Tsakaladami et al, 2013) and well correlated with field success (Dierauf and Garner, 1996; Dey and Parker, 1997; Apholo and Rikala, 2003; Semerci, 2005). The properties of peat-based media can influence water and air availability and plant growth (Langerud and Sandvik, 1987; Heiskanen, 1993, 1997)

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