Abstract
Propagation of native species in local nurseries is an important activity in reforestation and forest restoration programs. A requisite for successful plantation is that nursery produced plants are of a size and quality that allows optimal establishment under field conditions. Manipulation of edaphic processes through the combined use of the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus, Mucuna pruriens and inorganic fertilizers may promote faster biomass gain. This study assessed the activity of P. corethrurus, its association with M. pruriens (green manure) and inorganic fertilizers, on the growth of Quercus insignis seedlings under greenhouse conditions. Measured variables were basal diameter, height, biomass and foliar nitrogen content. Growth rates of basal diameter (F = 5.33; P F = 2.84; P P. corethrurus-M. pruriens-inorganic fertilizer, relative to the control. Also, leaf biomass and total biomass of the seedlings were greater in the treatment of P. corethrurus-fertilizer (F = 2.32; P F = 3.71; P Foliar nitrogen content <span style=font-family:Verdana;font-siz
Highlights
Cloud forest hosts around 6790 plant species (Villaseñor, 2010)
Basal diameter growth rate of the Q. insignis was significantly higher in the treatment PMF (F = 5.33; P < 0.0001) than in all the other treatments (Figure 1)
Significantly higher values in all plant growth variables were found between P. corethrurus-M. pruriens-fertilizer (PMF) treatment versus the control treatment
Summary
This diversity is in decline due to several factors of disturbance, most of which are anthropogenic (Ramírez-Marcial et al, 2001; Lamb et al, 2005) This situation affects the population dynamics of plant species that are endangered, threatened or susceptible to forest fragmentation (Saunders et al, 1991; Cayuela et al, 2006). A potential mechanism to reverse this situation and restore degraded areas is the establishment of forest plantations, or the reintroduction of locally extinct species (Vázquez-Yanes & Cervantes, 1993; Meli, 2003; Pedraza & Williams-Linera, 2003; Lamb et al, 2005) This process must be complemented by the production of native species in nurseries (Benítez et al, 2002). Novel propagation techniques are required in order to improve seedling quality in nurseries (Benítez et al, 2002), as well as complementary strategies with which to facilitate the future field establishment in the field
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