Bare-root Seedlings Research Articles

Differences in physiological characteristics of containerized and bare root seedlings of Zelkova tree (Zelkova serrata) planted in regenerated pitch pine plantation

Differences in physiological characteristics of containerized and bare root seedlings of Zelkova tree (Zelkova serrata) planted in regenerated pitch pine plantation

Establishing Chickasaw plum for wildlife in northwestern Oklahoma

AbstractChickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia) provides cover (escape, thermal, nesting, resting) and food (foliage and fruit) for wildlife in the southern Great Plains. Establishing plum may increase abundance of some wildlife species and species diversity on areas deficient in woody cover. To provide recommendations for establishment methods of Chickasaw plum, we tested effects of tillage, planting date, and competition control on survival and growth of bare‐root seedlings (BRS), coppiced transplants (CT), and intact transplants (IT) of Chickasaw plum planted on sandy sites in Woods County, Oklahoma, USA, during 2007–2011. Tillage did not affect survival or growth. After 4 years, BRS had higher survival than CT or IT (83%, 26%, and 18%, respectively). Bare‐root seedlings also outperformed transplants in height and diameter development and coppicing transplants did not have a long‐term negative effect. At the end of 4 years, heights were 70 cm, 55 cm, and 52 cm, while ground line diameters were 14 mm, 9 mm, and 9 mm, for the BRS, IT, and CT propagules, respectively. Based on crown spread and an initial planting density of 60 × 60 cm, stands should be fully established by age 6. Planting in mid‐spring increased survival of CT by >33% compared to late‐winter or early spring planting. Competition control using weed‐barrier cloth increased plum survival by 13%. Overall, BRS performed well, but if seedlings are not available, local transplants can be taken and planted at higher densities to achieve similar results. If using local transplants, we recommend coppicing to increase survival and hasten establishment. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

Morphological and physiological differences between bareroot and container Juniperus excelsa seedlings

The effects of stock type on morphological and physiological characteristics were compared in 1 + 0 Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.) seedlings. In October 2010, the morphological characteristics of both stock types were determined. The physiological condition of both stock types was evaluated by measuring water relation, root growth potential (RGP), and root electrolyte leakage (REL) parameters in seedlings at periodic intervals from October 2010 to April 2011. Container seedlings had greater root collar diameter, higher height, and greater shoot dry weight than bareroot seedlings, but these differences were not significant. However, the shoot-to-root ratios of the container seedlings were significantly lower than those of the bareroot seedlings, but their root dry weights were higher. In both stock types, osmotic potential at turgor loss point, osmotic potential at full turgor, relative water at turgor loss point, apoplastic water fraction, symplastic water at saturated point per dry weight, dry weight fraction, RGP, and REL showed a seasonal variation. The differences between stock types in terms of the water relation parameters were not generally significant. The RGP values of the bareroot seedlings were higher than those of the container seedlings in January, February, and March, but their REL values were generally lower than those of the container seedlings on most lifting dates. For each type of stock, seedlings lifted in January and February had greater stress resistance than seedlings lifted in the autumn or spring. If the weather conditions are suitable, the safe period for lifting and planting is mid-January to mid-March.

Large Planting Stock Type and Mechanical Release Effects on the Establishment Success ofPicea glaucaPlantations in Quebec, Canada

We established four experimental plantations to evaluate the main and interaction effects of timing (year of application) of mechanical release and stock type (containerized or bareroot) on the establishment success of largePicea glaucaseedlings eight years after outplanting on high-competition sites in Quebec (Canada). We also monitored percent cover and height of target vegetation groups as well as the amount of photosynthetically active radiation available to crop trees. Our results indicate that the use of large containerized or bareroot stock had limited effects on seedling growth, although bareroot seedlings presented higher mortality than containerized seedlings. Mechanical release enhanced seedling growth, compared to the control. Delaying treatment by two years impacted crop tree dimensions, although differences were minimal. Survival was not affected. We conclude that large containerized seedlings should be favoured over bareroot stock for reforestation on high-competition sites and that the release guidelines developed for standard size seedlings are applicable to the large dimensionP. glaucastock tested in this study.

Nursery response of container Pinus palustris seedlings to nitrogen supply and subsequent effects on outplanting performance

Container longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris) seedlings often survive and grow better after outplanting than bareroot seedlings. Because of this, most longleaf pine are now produced in containers. Little is known about nursery fertilization effects on the quality of container longleaf pine seedlings and how that influences outplanting performance. We compared various fertilization rates (0.5, 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg nitrogen (N) per week for 20 weeks) for two crops (2004 and 2005) of container longleaf pine, grown inside a fully-controlled greenhouse (2004 and 2005) or in an outdoor compound (2005). Seedlings grew larger in the nursery with increasing amounts of N. After 20 weeks of fertilizer treatment, seedlings received two additional fertigations at the same treatment rate to promote hardening, N concentrations declined sharply, and seedlings shifted biomass production toward roots. Overall, shoots showed more plasticity to N rate than did roots. Survival of either crop after outplanting was unaffected by nursery N rate. For both crops, no seedlings emerged from the grass stage during the first year after outplanting, and during the second year, more seedlings exited the grass stage and were taller as N rate increased up to 3 mg per week. By the third field season, nearly all seedlings in the 2004 crop had exited the grass stage, whereas 44% of 2005 crop grown at 1 mg N had yet to initiate height growth, either because of differences in seed source between the two crop years or because of droughty conditions. Our data suggests that an application rate of about 3 mg N per week for 20 weeks plus two additional applications during hardening yields satisfactory nursery growth as well as field response for the container type we used. The potential for improving field performance by using more robust fall fertilization during nursery production should be investigated.

Propagating Commiphora planifrons: An Exercise in Patience and Experimentation

We were introduced to the elusive Commiphora planifrons, in the form of modest four inch bare root seedling, generously provided by John Lavranos in the summer of 2003. Along with the seedling came the directive, “see what you can do with it”. At that time this plant was little known outside of the Yemeni island of Soqotra. The seedling prospered under attentive care, and in 2005 and 2006 the same donor provided us with semi-hardwood cuttings. From the start, our goal was to investigate the dynamics of both vegetative and sexual propagation. Like many of the endemics of that island, specimens were scarce. Then and now, they are highly desired by collectors. In habitat, dioecious C. planifrons is found in the croton shrubland of the western plateau (a lowland plain, elevation 500m). It is also found in the hilly Qatariyah (600m) and the Firmihin (750m) woodlands, not far from the Haggeher Mountains (figures 1, 2), often among the Dracaena (figure 3). The soils are typically limestone or granitic. The microclimate is likely intermittently moist. Certain highland regions of Soqotra are known for clouds and fogs, a detail that may have significance in terms of techniques that we eventually employed in order to achieve successful sexual propagation of the species. By contrast, Soqotra is also described as a windswept and arid environment. From an evolutionary standpoint, this may be contributory to the characteristic flat or umbrella-like form of habitat specimens. The leaflets are distinctively revolute and organized in imparipinnate fashion, with about ten pairs plus the terminal leaflet, being typical (figure 4). After a brief stint in a high humidity propagation house, the seedling came to life and exhibited healthy and vigorous growth. By early 2005 it had attained sufficient size for us to attempt to root cuttings. Employing Dip-N-Gro rooting hormone, bottom heat, a relatively light mix, reduced light exposure, and a misted propagation house environment, the six inch semi-hardwood wood cuttings prospered, and after about a year’s passage had attained 12 to 14 inches in height with healthy branching (figure 5). In 2005 and 2006 our benefactor, responding to reports of our initial success, surprised us, providing additional clones in the way of more semi-hardwood cuttings. The same techniques succeeded again, and by the summer of 2006, we had five very healthy plants. (Note: our normal procedure was to establish the plants in the propagation environment, and then to transfer them to a greenhouse with better lighting and a less humid environment.)

Deep Planting Has No Short- or Long-Term Effect on the Survival and Growth of White Spruce, Black Spruce, and Jack Pine

Abstract Although studies in the past have reported that the deeper planting of conifers has no effect on seedling performance, most planting guidelines in use today still recommend that seedlings be planted to the rootcollar. Past studies were mostly observational, used bareroot seedlings, and often reported early results from just one or two depths of planting treatments. Most of the results available regarding planting depth for boreal species are anecdotal, although they are planted by the hundreds of millions every year. The present study reports no short-term (1 year) or long-term (15 to 19 years) negative effect of planting depth on the survival and height and diameter growth of black spruce, white spruce, and jack pine seedlings over three large, replicated experiments in the boreal forest of eastern and northern Quebec (eastern Canada). Four different depth treatments were compared, from manual planting at the rootcollar to the deepest mechanical planting treatment at 10 cm or more, making this the largest, longest-lasting study of its kind. Although, as expected, important differences in growth were present between species, all three commonly planted conifers reacted similarly to the planting depth treatments (no effect). This result can in part be attributed to an almost perfect control of frost heaving in the deepest two treatments. Planting depth effects were assessed using analysis of variance, multiple Tukey honestly significant difference, and uncorrected pairwise one-tailed t-tests to increase the probability of detecting a negative effect. Absolute differences and effect sizes (generally small and often positive with greater depths) were also analyzed.

Survival and growth of outplanted seedlingsof selected tree species on the High Tatra Mts. windthrow area after the first growing season

Bareroot and containerized seedlings (seedling type) of Norway spruce, Scots pine, European larch, European beech, and sycamore maple were outplanted in autumn 2008 and in spring 2009. Roots of a half of the seedlings were dipped into the commercial fungal product Ectovit prior to spring outplanting. Fifty seedlings were planted for each tree species and seedling type in each of 3 treatments (Autumn, Spring, Spring+Ectovit) and 3 replications (4,500 seedlings in total). Eighty-one per cent of containerized and 75% of bareroot seedlings (most – 89% of bareroot spruce, least – 59% of bareroot pine seedlings) survived after the first growing season. Planting time and Ectovit did not have a marked effect on survival, with the exception of the lower survival of containerized beech and spruce in autumn than in spring. The most extensive damage caused by game and mechanical weed control was found out in both broadleaves; most of the dry leading shoots occurred in beech. Besides beech, higher annual height increment of seedlings was observed in autumn than in spring planting time. Effect of Ectovit on seedling growth was not obvious.  

Sobrevivência e crescimento inicial de mudas de <i>Pinus taeda</i> L. com diferentes diâmetros do colo

Com o objetivo de avaliar a sobrevivência e o crescimento de mudas de Pinus taeda produzidas em recipientes e em raiz nua com diferentes diâmetros do colo (DC) inicial, foram estabelecidos dois experimentos em solo de drenagem deficiente localizados na província de Corrientes, Argentina. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, com três repetições por tratamento, sendo cada unidade experimental composta por 64 plantas e bordadura perimetral dupla. Os tratamentos avaliados, no experimento 1, foram mudas de recipientes com DC de 1,6 mm; 2 mm; 3 mm e 4 mm, e no experimento 2, foram mudas de raiz nua com DC de 3 mm; 4 mm; 5 mm e 6 mm. Aos 4 anos de idade, as mudas de recipientes não apresentaram diferenças significativas em sobrevivência e crescimento; enquanto que nas mudas de raiz nua, a sobrevivência foi maior nos tratamentos de 4 e 5 mm não se encontrando diferença significativa em crescimento entre os tratamentos. Para os dois tipos de produção de mudas, o diâmetro do colo não teve influência significativa no crescimento a campo.

Survival of southern pine seedlings after inoculations with Pythium and cold storage in the presence of peat moss

SummaryCold storing bareroot pine (Pinus spp.) seedlings grown in the southern U.S. for as little as 1 week in a cooler (just above freezing) in the fall (November to mid‐December) has been shown to reduce seedling survival after outplanting. In contrast, survival of container‐grown seedling is typically not affected when stored for 4 weeks in coolers in November and December. Wounds sustained by seedlings as they are lifted from nursery beds may allow Pythium spp. to infect bareroot seedling roots. Once in the cool, moist storage environment, Pythium multiplies and may result in seedling mortality after outplanting. Bareroot loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and container‐grown loblolly, longleaf (Pinus palustris), slash (Pinus elliottii) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) seedlings were inoculated with either Pythium dimorphum or Pythium irregulare, cold stored with or without peat moss and monitored for survival after outplanting. Peat moss did not increase bareroot loblolly pine survival or reduce Pythium populations when seedlings were inoculated with Pythium prior to storage. Pythium irregulare reduced survival of longleaf and shortleaf pine grown in peat moss and perlite, respectively. Pythium did not affect loblolly or slash pine, but wounding their roots did reduce seedling survival when grown in containers.

Impact of climate change, seedling type and provenance on the risk of damage to Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings in Sweden due to early summer frosts

A model including site-specific microclimate-affecting properties of a forest regeneration area together with seedling characteristics was used to evaluate the accumulated risk of frost damage to Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Climate change in Sweden was simulated on the basis of the regional climate model RCA3. The daily average temperature, the driving factor for bud burst in the model, was adjusted using the difference between the mean of the climate model data for the years 1961–1990 and 2036–2065. The model was run for a highly frost prone, clear-cut site in which bare-rooted Norway spruce seedlings of mid-Swedish provenance were planted. Alternate runs were conducted with data for containerized seedlings and seedlings of Belarusian origin. The study showed that bud burst will occur at earlier dates throughout Sweden in the period 2036–2065 if the climate changes according to either of the climate scenarios examined, compared to the reference period 1961–1990. Furthermore, the risk of damage to Norway spruce seedlings as a result of frost events during summer will increase in southern Sweden and be unaffected or decrease in northern Sweden. The risk of frost damage was exacerbated in containerized seedlings, while the risk was lower for the seedlings of Belarusian provenance when compared with bare-rooted seedlings or seedlings of mid-Swedish origin.

Scalping improves early growth of longleaf pine seedlings

Scalping is a mechanical process whereby the soil is peeled back in a shallow (5 to 10 cm [2 to 4 in]) furrow that is 75 to 90 cm (30 to 35 in) wide. Scalping is often recommended prior to planting longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill. [Pinaceae]) on pastures and land formally occupied with row crops; however, some reports suggest that growth of pines is reduced when seedlings are planted on scalped areas. A study was implemented in southern Alabama to determine the effect of scalping on early survival and growth of bareroot and container longleaf pine. In this study, scalping reduced seedling survival of bareroot stock by an average of 18 percentage points, which is contrary to findings from results on well-drained soils. On this relatively flat site (Greenville Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiudult), I speculate that scalped areas collected water and some seedlings died from waterlogging. This detrimental effect appeared to be greater on bareroot stock than on container stock. In contrast, early height growth at this site was excellent and scalping increased growth by an average of 0.9 m (3 ft). Stocktype affected both survival and growth with bareroot seedlings outperforming container stock.

Growth rates of baldcypress ( Taxodium distichum) seedlings in a treated effluent assimilation marsh

Wetlands have proven effective at improving water quality of treated wastewater effluent, which in turn promotes increased primary productivity and vertical accretion. Baldcypress ( Taxodium distichum) seedlings grown under different conditions (bare root and potted) were planted in four subunits of an effluent assimilation marsh and a control marsh in southeast Louisiana, USA, and basal diameter growth was monitored over one growing season. Mean basal diameter growth for seedlings in the assimilation subunits ranged from 16.1 (±1.4) mm to 9.5 (±0.9) mm, whereas growth for seedlings planted in the control marsh was 6.4 (±0.9) mm. Seedlings planted nearest the outfall experienced greater basal diameter growth (18.1 ± 2.6) compared to those planted 700 m away (8.0 ± 0.9), with growth generally decreasing with distance. Potted seedlings experienced greater growth (19.1 ± 1.0 and 20.6 ± 1.0 for five-month-olds and ten-month olds, respectively) than bare root seedlings (4.6 ± 0.6 and 4.0 ± 0.4 for one-year-olds and two-year olds, respectively). Planting assimilation marshes with baldcypress seedlings can be an effective restoration tool for coastal Louisiana, which will provide hurricane protection and improved surface water quality. Wastewater treatment wetlands may offer an effective tool for restoring coastal baldcypress ( T. distichum)–water tupelo ( Nyssa aquatic) swamps in Louisiana.

Effect of Container Design on Plant Growth and Root Deformation of Littleleaf Linden and Field Elm

This experiment investigated the effect of different container design on growth and root deformation of littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) and field elm (Ulmus minor Mill.). The trial was carried out over two growing seasons (2008 to 2009). In April 2008, 1-year-old bare-root seedlings of the two species were potted in three types of 1-L containers: Superoots® Air-Cell™ (The Caledonian Tree Company, Pathhead, UK), Quadro fondo rete (Bamaplast, Massa e Cozzile, Italy), and smooth-sided containers. At the beginning of the second growing season, the same plants were repotted in the following 3-L containers: Superoots® Air-Pot™ (The Caledonian Tree Company), Quadro antispiralizzante (Bamaplast), and smooth-sided containers. At the end of each growing season, a subset of the plants from each container type was harvested to determine shoot and root dry mass and root deformation (by dry weight of root deformed mass relative to the whole root mass). Chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf chlorophyll content were measured during the second growing season. For both species, at the end of first growing season, the poorest root architecture was observed in the smooth-sided containers, whereas Superoots® Air-Cell™ and Quadro fondo rete both reduced the percentage of deformed root mass. At the end of the second growing season, plants of both species grown in Superoots® Air-Pot™ showed less deformed root mass, whereas Quadro antispiralizzante provided good results only in littleleaf linden. A reduction of field elm root biomass and littleleaf linden shoot biomass was observed at the end of the trial in plants grown in Superoots® Air-Pot®. Plants grown in these containers showed less leaf chlorophyll content compared with plants grown in smooth-sided containers at the end of the second year.

Nitrogen budgeting and quality of exponentially fertilized Quercus robur seedlings in Ireland

Current policy in Ireland calls for increased quality and quantity of broadleaved seedling plantings. Simultaneously, concerns regarding environmental contamination necessitate development of nursery production methods that minimize impacts. Exponential (E) fertilization has potential for producing high-quality seedlings through nutrient loading, while simultaneously minimizing nitrogen (N) losses during culture. We investigated the effects of a wide range (0.10–1.0 g N seedling−1 year−1) of E fertilization rates on seedling morphology and nutrition of Quercus robur L., as well as soil N status and N budget during one growing season in a bareroot nursery in County Carlow, Ireland. The N budget showed significant N losses, especially in the highest fertilizer treatments, due to high precipitation. Seedlings receiving the 0.5 E rate were morphologically and nutritionally superior to all other treatments. Results indicate that it may be possible to produce 1-0 bareroot seedlings meeting target specifications in Ireland and other countries of similar climate and soils if further manipulations to seedling culture are implemented; however, potential environmental degradation via N leaching must be considered when N loading in wet years.

Humectants as Post-Plant Soil Amendments: Effects on the Wilting Cycle of Drought-Stressed, Container-Grown Tree Seedlings

To test the potential effectiveness of humectant-containing compounds for improving soil moisture availability in the rhizosphere of newly transplanted trees, one-year-old Jiffy Plug™ and bare-root seedlings of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and one-year-old bare-root seedlings of yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were treated with Hydretain ES™ (HydES) and EcoSential™ (EcoS) in greenhouse studies. Both products were applied as a root drench to seedlings in 3.8 L plastic pots containing soilless substrate. Following treatment, water was withheld and days to wilt (DTW) recorded for each seedling. For red maple, HydES at the recommended rate (16 mL/L, X), as well as at 0.75X and 0.5X, was effective in increasing DTW, as was EcoS at 16 mL/L (the recommended rate, X) and at 0.75X. For red oak, the lowest concentration of HydES (0.5X) was ineffective, but the two higher levels (X and 0.75X) increased DTW significantly when compared to untreated controls. For yellow-poplar, DTW was consistently greater in treated than in untreated seedlings, but the differences were not always statistically significant. The data also indicate that for certain species (e.g. red maple), production type (Jiffy Plug or bare root) may influence the degree to which seedlings respond to humectant treatment.

Variation in virulence among four root-inhabiting Ophiostomatoid fungi on Pinus taeda L., P. palustris Mill, and P. elliottii Engelm. seedlings

Ophiostomatoid fungi have been implicated in root disease of pines in the southeastern United States. To understand more about their virulence, inoculation studies were conducted on loblolly (Pinus taeda), longleaf (Pinus palustris), and slash pine (Pinus elliotii). One-year-old bareroot seedlings, after being planted and established for 11 weeks, were wound-inoculated with one of four prominent North American ophiostomatoid fungal species. After three months, a darkened lesion, extending from the point of inoculation was observed for all species. Grosmannia huntii (L. huntii) caused the greatest lesion and occlusion length in loblolly pine and slash pine. Leptographium procerum and L. terebrantis caused similar lesion and occlusion lengths and were the least virulent among the fungi tested. These studies indicate clear virulence differences among the four North American fungi. Grosmannia huntii, previously not known to be pathogenic, was observed causing significant damage compared with other well-known Leptographium species. Finally, lesion and tissue occlusion lengths were significantly smaller in longleaf pine for all fungal species when compared to loblolly and slash pine.

Growth parameters of coniferous planting stock influenced by principal growing technologies in Estonia

The present research is a comparative analysis of how the main quality indices of containerized and barerooted planting stock (plant height, root collar diameter (RCD), and their ratio, above-ground biomass (AGB), below-ground biomass (BGB), and their ratio) conform to the existing planting stock standards in Estonia. Data were collected from nurseries in various state forest regions in 2001–2007. Containerized Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L).Karst.) seedlings were grown in Ecopot containers with 450 and 360 plants m−2, and barerooted pine seedlings and spruce transplants were grown using the traditional field-grown technology, with 400 and 65 plants m−2. The height of Scots pine containerized seedlings exceeded that of barerooted seedlings by 20% (p<0.05). The height of barerooted Norway spruce transplants exceeded that of containerized seedlings by 19% (p<0.05). The RCD of containerized pine stock formed 70% and the corresponding index of containerized spruce stock formed 48% of the RCD of the barerooted plants of the same species. The AGB of containerized spruce stock was on average 5.1 times smaller than that of barerooted transplants. The AGB of containerized pine stock was 1.9 times smaller than that of barerooted seedlings. The proportional development of various plant parts is also essential. It emerged that the BGB of 2-year-old barerooted pine seedlings was relatively small compared with their AGB (ratio 4.61), which may decrease plant establishment in cultivation. The ratio between the height and the RCD of containerized spruce stock was too high (7.9), making plants less resistant to external damage in cultivation.

English

The use of SMCRA approved practices for mined land reclamation has resulted in arrested succession throughout many areas of central Appalachia. The combination of heavily compacted soils and the addition of aggressive, often non- native, grasses and forbs creates an environment characterized by high soil bulk density and aggressive ground-layer competition. This results in a situation where trees are unable to recruit and thus many lands are unable to return to original forest cover through natural processes of succession. Using the basic principles of the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), we report on two experiments conducted in Ohio: one designed to remediate a 30-yr arrested succession and the other designed to encourage immediate reforestation at the time of reclamation. We conducted these experiments using American chestnut (Castanea dentata) to explore the potential for using these sites as part of the national restoration plan under development by the American Chestnut Foundation (ACF). The first experiment utilized deep soil ripping and a combination of plowing and disking treatments. After three years, the results are clear. Simply planting chestnut into untreated existing habitat is ineffective. Some type of surface treatment to reduce soil bulk density and competition is necessary for seedling establishment. The more significant the disturbance, the better the survival and growth of chestnut. The second experiment utilized loose end-dumping at the time of reclamation. Various methods of chestnut deployment and planting were evaluated including direct seeding and bare-root seedlings. Plantings were done with and without protection from predators in different microsites. While survival of seedlings was greater than seeds, the most noticeable enhancement to survival was the addition of a tree shelter, which nearly doubled the survival rate. In summary, American chestnut appears to thrive on mine land reclamation sites—this may prove to be a useful focal point for restoration of the species while aiding in the reforestation of old and new reclamation sites.

Influence of Aldicarb on Growth and Fruiting of Pecan Transplants

This study was established to assess the effect of aldicarb on newly transplanted pecan (Carya illinoinensis) nursery trees. Although labeled for use on pecans for more than 25 years, the aldicarb label for pecans was voluntarily dropped by the manufacturer in 2010. Bare-root seedling, ‘Cape Fear’, ‘Sumner’, and ‘Elliott’ trees were planted in Feb. 2007. Ten trees each were treated with one of the following treatments: aldicarb (0.25 lb at budbreak), aldicarb (0.25 lb applied at budbreak and again in June for a total of 0.5 lb/tree), and a nontreated control. Aldicarb increased shoot length, trunk diameter, leaf chlorophyll index, total dry weight, stem dry weight, and root dry weight of pecan seedlings after 1 year's growth. Aldicarb increased trunk diameter of ‘Cape Fear’, ‘Sumner’, and ‘Elliott’ during the course of the study. Nut production of ‘Cape Fear’ was enhanced in the third year of production. These observations indicate that aldicarb is of value in pecan orchard establishment.