Is Moss Necessary in All Nursery Stock Packaging?

Abstract

In 1976 a test was started to examine the need for sphagnum moss in Kraft-polyethylene bags containing bare-root nursery stock of white spruce, white pine and red pine. The test involved comparisons of overwinter frozen storage (190 to 201 days at −2 °C), spring cool storage (24 to 26 days at 2 °C) and spring unrefrigerated storage (13 to 16 days at air temperature in shade). A comparison was also made of the Kraft-polyethylene bag and the polybin container for the storage of white spruce. The effects were examined in terms of survival and growth in the second year after outplanting.The results showed that sphagnum moss in the containers was of no benefit under the conditions of the experiment. Overwinter frozen storage and spring cool storage were successful for white spruce and white pine. Red pine did not store successfully overwinter, probably because the stock was of poor quality (off-balance). The polybin was particularly successful for packaging and storage of white spruce.