Management of forest nursery soils dominated by calcium salts

Abstract

Soils that contain high levels of calcium salts can affect tree seedling growth in two ways: high total salts can reduce water availability, and excess calcium can affect seedling nutrition. Nutritional problems, such as iron deficiency (“lime-induced chlorosis”) and phosphorus deficiency, can seriously affect forest nursery production through growth losses, stunting, and sometimes seedling mortality. High calcium soils can be diagnosed by visible symptoms, soil tests, and seedling nutrient analysis. Soil management practices that have been used to treat high calcium soils include site selection and soil mapping, species and stock type selection, fertilization, and soil acidification. Cultural practices, including irrigation, mulching, deep ripping, organic matter amendments, and mycorrhizal treatments, have been used to lessen the adverse affects of high calcium soils.