The beech provenance trial at the “Goc” Teaching Base: A basis for assessing the adaptive and productive potential of 14 Serbian provenances

Lianas have a huge influence on forest structure and function. However, it is unclear how the surrounding environment affects the establishment of liana seedlings in temperate forests. We addressed the following questions: (1) Can current-year seedlings persist under a closed canopy? (2) Do current-year seedlings form aggregated distribution and how has their spatial distribution varied over the years? (3) How does the light condition, soil moisture content, forest floor litter, understory vegetation, and the distance from the conspecific adults affect the establishment and survival of seedlings? We examined the distribution pattern and survivorship of current-year seedlings of the temperate liana species, Wisteria floribunda, across a heterogeneous environment for 6years using 1m2 sub-quadrats (n = 651) in a 6ha plot within the Ogawa Forest Reserve, an old-growth, temperate, deciduous forest in central Japan. In total, 908 current-year seedlings were observed during the study period, 87% of which emerged in 2014. Over half (56%) of these seedlings survived until 1year after germination, which was relatively high compared with other tree species in this forest. The seedlings formed significantly aggregated distribution, but the degree of aggregation decreased over time. The number of emerged seedlings was negatively associated with the presence of dwarf bamboo (Sasa borealis) and the distance from the nearest conspecific adult. However, the survival rate of the seedlings was negatively associated with the presence of dwarf bamboo and soil moisture content and was positively associated with the openness of the canopy and the distance from the nearest conspecific adult. An enhanced survival rate under more intense light conditions and the ability to persist within the shaded understory may be important for the survival of this species in the earlier stage of the life history.

Low rainfall during the wheat growing season in Mediterranean climates leads to variation in growth period and this may constrain yield. Low seedling survival is among the factors that can limit yield in the Western Cape. Seedling survival rates of 50-70% are expected with conventional tillage, necessitating high sowing rates. Conservation tillage practices which can help to improve seedling survival have been readily adopted in the Winter Rainfall production region of South Africa, but require wider row widths than previously used in conventional tillage and seeding systems to facilitate stubble handling. Replicated, factorial experiments with spilt-split plot arrangements were established in commercial wheat fields during the 2005 and 2006 seasons at five localities. Treatments included three cultivars, split into row widths (250-350 mm) which were split into different planting densities. Seedling counts (3-4 weeks after planting) were used to determine seedling emergence and survival rates. Results indicated that seedling establishment was significantly reduced by increasing row widths (RW), higher planting densities (PD) and in PD × RW interactions in some trials, but that seedling survival of more than 80% were obtained when planting conditions were favourable. The lowest seedling survival of 63% occurred when dry conditions prevailed after planting at one locality in 2005. Anecdotally the no-till planting method as used in this region, can improve on the 50-70% seedling survival of previously used conventional planting methods.

Aims Seedling is the fundament of vegetation restoration succession and plays a very important role in ecosystems. The objective of this paper was to explore the characteristics of seedling survival in habitats of hill and gully slopes in a hill-gully Loess Plateau region. Methods Fifteen permanent plots in Zhifanggou and Songjiagou watershed in Ansai County were established for sentinel dynamic monitoring, and one-way ANOVA and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to analyze seedling density and survival rate in different habitats. Important findings There were significant differences in the characteristics of seedling survival among different habitats, with smaller seedling density and higher survival rates observed on the sunny slopes and larger seedling density but lower survival rate found on the shady slopes. In competition for survival, Artemisia gmelinii, Potentilla tanacetifolia, and Heteropappus altaicus etc. took advantage of quality and were characterized by a higher seedling survival rate, while Artemisia scoparia, Ixeris chinensis, Siphonostegia chinensis etc. adopted a strategy of "quantity" and characterized by a higher seedling density. The same species in different habitats had different survival curves, and the same survival curves in different habitats applied to different species. The seedlings of Artemisia gmelinii, Potentilla tanacetifolia, Stipa bungeana, Heteropappus altaicus, and Lespedeza davurica etc. had a strong survival capability in the rainy season and were easy to overwinter successfully, whereas the seedling survival capability in Artemisia scoparia, Dracocephalum moldavica, and Artemisia hedinii etc. was strong priorto the rainy season but weak in winter. The characteristics of seedling survival in different micro-environments also differed. A change in micro-environment affected seedling growth, survival, and overwintering to some extent. Thus, a proper tending for seedlings according to the survival characteristics of species is conducive to the seedling establishment and vegetation succession in the hill-gully Loess Plateau region.

Dry mulch, as soil moisture conservation techniques, is seldom practiced for growth and survival of transplanted tree seedlings in dry period in Eritrea. Field experiment was conducted at Halhale, Eritrea with Dry Hyparrhenia rufa, as a mulch, on a flat basin for growth and survival of seedlings of Grevillea robusta and Acacia polyacantha subspecies Campylacantha by involving four management practices: 1) mulching and watering basins (MW); 2) no-mulching but watering basins (NMW); 3) mulching but no-watering basins (MNW); 4) no-mulching and no-watering basins (NMNW). The experimental design was CRD with three replications. MW and NMW were watered 180 litters (20 litters/month) but MNW and NMNW were not watered at all. Parameters such as soil moisture content of the basin, early growth performance of seedling and survival rate of the seedlings were studied. The result indicated that there were statistically significant differences (p 0.05) among the treatment for soil moisture content and early growth performance of the seedlings. The average volumetric water content (VWC%) on 0 - 20 cm soil depth at the end of dry period of MW, NMW, MNW, and NMNW were 10.08%, 7.7%, 6.3% and 3.9% respectively. Mean height increment of seedlings of G. robusta of MW (100 cm), NMW (83.3 cm), MNW (31.5 cm) and NMNW (9 cm) were recorded, while the mean height increments of seedlings of A. polyacantha subsp. Campylacantha of MW (48 cm), NMW (25 cm), MNW (4.5 cm) and NMNW (3 cm) were recorded. The mean survival rate of G. robusta was 91.8% of which the highest (100%) survival rate was recorded under MW, NMW and MNW, but the lowest (66.7%) was recorded by NMNW. All seedlings of A. polyacanth subsp. Campylacantha were survived, irrespective of the treatments. The study concluded that soil moisture content, early growth performance of seedlings, and survival rate of transplanted tree seedling was improved by application of mulch.

毛乌素沙地优势灌丛对两种松树幼苗的保育作用

Two-hundred and nineteen recently germinated jojoba seedlings were located in October and November 1974 and observed monthly for 12 months thereafter. Total seedling survival was 12%. Seedlings in a protected situation (associated with adult jojoba shrubs, other woody perennials, or rocks) had a significantly higher survival rate (22%), by December 1975, than seedlings growing in exposed sites (6%). Seedling mortality appeared to be related to both climatic (drought and freezing) and biotic (rodent) factors. Periods of vegetative growth and seedling germination were noted. Seedling establishment (germination plus seedling survival) of perennial is difficult in the Sonoran Desert. This is probably attributable to temporal variability of harsh climatic conditions, especially just above and below the soil surface, and biotic factors. The first 12 months of seedling life are particularly critical to seedling establishment (Shreve 1911, 1917). Until we have a much better understanding of seedling establishment patterns in desert perennial plants, it will remain difficult to interpret the evolutionary significance of their life history phenomena. Jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis [Link] Schneider, is a dioecious evergreen perennial shrub widely distributed in the Sonoran Desert (Gentry 1958; Sherbrooke and Haase 1974). This study of seedling establishment success, conducted under natural conditions during a 12month period following germination, was undertaken to determine the rate of jojoba seedling survival, factors contributing to seedling mortality, and time of germination and seedling growth. Of particular concern was an evaluation of the hypothesis that jojoba seedlings germinating under shrubs and trees, or associated with shading rocks, have a higher survival rate than seedlings germinating in more exposed sites. Several investigators have found that saguaro seedlings (Cereus giganteus Engelm.) may depend on association with nurse plants

Two-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvstris var.mongolica) seedlings were treated with Pt mycorrhiza powder, ABT root-growing powder, HRC water-absorbing agent and high-yield powder, and planted on the sandy land in Balinyouqi, Inner Mongolia (180°12′13″E and 43°13′05″N). The effect and function of these biological agents on survival rate of seedlings were tested and analyzed by measuring the fine root growth and gross root growth. The results showed that the survival rates of the seedlings treated with Pt3, ABT, and HRC biological agents increased by 29.3%, 23.6%, and 16%, respectively. The regression analysis revealed that the length of fine roots (<2 mm) was positively correlated with seedling survival rate, which means that the Pt3 powder, ABT foot-growing powder and HRC water-absorbing powder increased the survival rates of the seedlings by promoting the growth of fine roots.

Questions: (1) What is the water threshold for shrub seedling establishment in arid scrubland? (2) How do seedling root growth morphological traits affect the water threshold required for seedling establishment? Location: Arid scrubland, Atacama Desert, north-central Chile. Methods: We conducted a field experiment with nine native shrub species under a gradient of simulated rainfall to test if species with deep root architecture have higher seedling survival rates and establish more successfully during water pulses. Results: Seedling survival rate was very low; only 2% of the 12150 planted seedlings survived the first summer drought. Seedling survival required at least 206mm of water, which is twice the average rainfall and roughly equivalent to the precipitation during an ENSO (El Ni˜ no Southern Oscillation) event in this region. Seedling survival at the onset of the summer drought was best explained by leaf habit, root length and initial seedling size. However, only Senna cumingii seedlings survived through the first year. S. cumingii seedlings had distinctively longer roots than the other shrub species, enabling them to reach moister soil layers. Conclusions: Water conditions resembling rainy years enhance shrub seedling establishment in the Atacama Desert, but the effects of higher water availability are strongly dependent on the shrub species. Rapid and deep rooting appears to be a very important functional trait for successful first-year survival in this arid system where water availability is highly episodic.

Forest encroachment into savanna is occurring at an unprecedented rate across tropical Africa, leading to a loss of valuable savanna habitat. One of the first stages of forest encroachment is the establishment of tree seedlings at the forest–savanna transition. This study examines the demographic bottleneck in the seedlings of five species of tropical forest pioneer trees in a forest–savanna transition zone in West Africa. Five species of tropical pioneer forest tree seedlings were planted in savanna, mixed/transition, and forest vegetation types and grown for 12 months, during which time fire occurred in the area. We examined seedling survival rates, height, and stem diameter before and after fire; and seedling biomass and starch allocation patterns after fire. Seedling survival rates were significantly affected by fire, drought, and vegetation type. Seedlings that preferentially allocated more resources to increasing root and leaf starch (starch storage helps recovery from fire) survived better in savanna environments (frequently burnt), while seedlings that allocated more resources to growth and resource‐capture traits (height, the number of leaves, stem diameter, specific leaf area, specific root length, root‐to‐shoot ratio) survived better in mixed/transition and forest environments. Larger (taller with a greater stem diameter) seedlings survived burning better than smaller seedlings. However, larger seedlings survived better than smaller ones even in the absence of fire. Bombax buonopozense was the forest species that survived best in the savanna environment, likely as a result of increased access to light allowing greater investment in belowground starch storage capacity and therefore a greater ability to cope with fire. Synthesis: Forest pioneer tree species survived best through fire and drought in the savanna compared to the other two vegetation types. This was likely a result of the open‐canopied savanna providing greater access to light, thereby releasing seedlings from light limitation and enabling them to make and store more starch. Fire can be used as a management tool for controlling forest encroachment into savanna as it significantly affects seedling survival. However, if rainfall increases as a result of global change factors, encroachment may be more difficult to control as seedling survival ostensibly increases when the pressure of drought is lifted. We propose B. buonopozense as an indicator species for forest encroachment into savanna in West African forest–savanna transitions.

To identify potential constraints on willow (Salix spp.) seedling establishment in montane riparian communities in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA we established a controlled experiment to examine the effects of soil texture and elevation above river stage on willow seedling survival. We followed seedling survival rates over two summers in paired course- and fine-textured plots established at three elevations on study area point bars. Patterns of seedling survival changed over the course of the study, and after two growing seasons, greater seedling survival rates were observed in fine-textured plots and plots occurring at high and intermediate elevations. Our results indicate that both soil water availability and scour by spring floods influence the spatial and temporal patterns of willow seedling survival on point bars along small-order montane streams.

Ecosystems are transformed by changes in disturbance regimes including wildfire and herbivory. Rodent consumers can have strong top-down effects on plant community assembly through seed predation, but their impacts on post-germination seedling establishment via seedling herbivory need better characterization, particularly in deserts. To test the legacy effects of fire history, and native rodent consumers on seedling establishment, we evaluated factorial combinations of experimental exclusion of rodents and fire history (burned vs. unburned) on seedling survival of 14 native plant species that vary in their life history strategies and growth form in the Mojave Desert. Seedlings were placed into the experimental plots, and seedling survival was monitored daily for 8days. The legacy effects of fire history had minimal effects on seedling survival, but rodent exclusion, year, and their interaction were strongly significant. Seedling survival rates were nearly sixfold greater in rodent exclusion plots compared to control plots in 2012 (53 vs. 9%) and 17-fold greater in 2013 (17 vs. 1%). The dramatic increase in seedling mortality from 2012 to 2013 was likely driven by an increase in rodent abundance and an outbreak of grasshoppers that appears to have intensified the rodent effect. There was strong variability in plant species survival in response to rodent herbivory with annual plants and forb species showing lower survival than perennial plants and shrub species. These results indicate that rodent consumers can strongly regulate seedling survival of native plant species with potentially strong regulatory effects on plant community development.

This study was designed to identify the critical life‐history stages and ecological processes responsible for variation in rates of tree invasion in utility rights‐of‐way in the Hudson Valley of New York. We used repeated censuses to estimate natural rates of tree seedling establishment, growth, and survival in the 12 major plant communities found along rights‐of‐way in the region. An individual‐based model was used to integrate our field data and calculate measures of the rate of tree invasion in each plant community. The most common tree invaders were species with large, wind‐dispersed seeds (i.e., Acer rubrum and Fraxinus americana) although these were rarely the most common tree species in the forests bordering the corridors. In narrow (°30‐50 m wide) rights‐of‐way there was little relationship between seedling density and distance to the nearest seed sources; however, in wide corridors, seed dispersal clearly limited tree invasion. Annual variation in seed production in adjacent forests was also a major factor in the high spatial and temporal variability in tree seedling establishment. Growth rates of newly established seedlings did not vary significantly among the different communities; however seedling growth rates increased dramatically once the seedlings emerged above shrub or herb‐dominated canopy. Thus, the duration of competition (i.e., the number of years required by a seedling to emerge above the shrub or herbaceous canopy) appears to have been more important than the initial intensity of competition in determining variation among communities in resistance to tree invasion. As a result, shrub communities generally had high resistance to invasion. Among herbaceous communities, the highest resistance to invasion occurred in communities dominated by the grass Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) on poor soils.

Abstract. Ayer S, Bhandari Y, Gautam A, Gautam J. 2023. Determining the causal factors affecting the survival of young plantations in Udayapur, Nepal. Asian J For 7: 93-99. The plantation is a form of land management and rehabilitation to reverse land degradation, and the survival rate of seedlings is a critical factor for a successful plantation. This study aimed to investigate the survival rate of seedlings in ten plantation sites in Udayapur District, Nepal and identify the major causes of seedling mortality and stunted growth. Planting was done in April/May of 2020 and the total count of the seedlings was done in January/February 2021. Square plots of 5m x 5m each were used for inventory using systematic random sampling with 0.1% sampling intensity. Direct field observation and interviews with officials, heralu, and community forest users were conducted to identify reasons behind seedlings' mortality and stunted growth. The results showed that the overall survival rate of seedlings in the study site was 36.02%. However, site-wise survival rates varied significantly, with Paluwatar CF having the highest survival rate of 87.73% and Sunkoshi CF having the lowest survival rate of 10.76%. Species-wise survival rates also varied, with Syzygium cumini having the highest survival rate of 80% and Cassia siamea having the lowest survival rate of 5.55%. The major causes of seedling mortality were found to be soil composition and quality (38%), drought (27%), and plant diseases (12%). In addition, carelessness during handling, transportation, and after plantation (21%) were identified as the major causes of stunted growth. This study provides valuable insights into the factors affecting seedling survival and growth in a plantation site, which can be used to guide future plantation efforts. However, further research is needed to understand the complex interactions between different factors better and develop effective strategies for improving seedling survival and growth.

Sand burial is an important environmental disturbance which determines seed germination, plant establishment, and plant fitness in sand dune ecosystems. But the critical importance of sand burial for seedling establishment of desert shrubs is rarely explored. We investigated the effects of sand burial at different regimes (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 cm, the main depths of soil seed bank) on the seedling emergence, growth and survival rate of three dominant desert shrubs (Calligonum mongolicum, Nitraria sphaerocarpa and Haloxylon ammodendron) for ecosystem restoration in sand dunes of northwestern China. The results indicated that shallow burial improved the seedling emergence and the subsequent seedling survival rate for the initial establishment period. The optimal burial depths were 2, 4 and 5 cm for H. ammodendron, N. sphaerocarpa and C. mongolicum, respectively; this difference in optimal burial depth may account for observed decreased regeneration of H. ammodendron as compared to the other two species. Beyond the optimal depths, we found that sand burial prevented seedling emergence for H. ammodendron and N. sphaerocarpa. Only a small proportion of seedlings can emerged from deep burial depth by increasing seedling biomass allocation to blow‐ground stem. However, after emergence deep sand burial stimulated growth rate of emerged seedlings, increased the seedling vigor and promoted the seedling establishment. We suggest that sand burial could affect plant regeneration and potentially leaded to shift in species composition. Choice of suitable species for ecosystem restoration needs to account for its ability in term of seed germination and plant establishment/regeneration to adapt to disturbance of sand burial.

Forest litter amendment during nursery stage influence field performance and ectomycorrhizal community of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings outplanted on four different sites