Silver Birch Seedlings Research Articles

Open geospatial data can predict the early field performance of Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch seedlings in Nordic boreal forests

ABSTRACT Accurate knowledge of site conditions and their effects on regeneration establishment is important for selecting the most appropriate tree species and regeneration methods for a given regeneration site. This study examined the response of the first-year field performance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) seedlings in boreal forests to variables available in open forest and natural resources datasets. Survival, height increment and damage of planted tree seedlings and the success of direct seeding of pine were analysed on a total of 284 plots (1000 m2) in 18 regeneration experiments established in 2020–2022 in southern and central Finland. The height increment of silver birch was higher than that of conifers, while the lowest mortality rate was found for spruce. In the generalised linear mixed models, topographic wetness index, soil texture, site type and growing stock at clearcut explained the species-specific survival and height increment of planted seedlings and the success of pine seeding. Low-cost, open geospatial data effectively provide useful details on the site conditions suitable for diversifying tree species composition in boreal forests instead of monocultures.

Seed Treatment with Electromagnetic Field Induces Different Effects on Emergence, Growth and Profiles of Biochemical Compounds in Seven Half-Sib Families of Silver Birch.

In the context of climate change, strategies aimed at enhancing trees' resistance to biotic and abiotic stress are particularly relevant. We applied an electromagnetic field (EMF) seed treatment to observe changes in the establishment and content of biochemical compounds in silver birch seedlings induced by a short (1 min) seed exposure to a physical stressor. The impact of EMF treatment was evaluated on seedling emergence and growth of one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings from seven half-sib families of silver birch. The effects on numerous biochemical parameters in seedling leaves, such as total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), amounts of photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars (TSS), level of lipid peroxidation level, antioxidant activity and activity of antioxidant enzymes, were compared using spectrophotometric methods. The results indicated that, in one-year-old seedlings, two of seven (60th and 73rd) half-sib families exhibited a positive response to seed treatment with EMFs in nearly all analyzed parameters. For example, in the 60th family, seed treatment with EMFs increased the percentage of emergence by 3 times, one-year-old seedling height by 71%, leaf TPC by 47%, antioxidant activity by 2 times and amount of chlorophyll a by 4.6 times. Meanwhile, the other two (86th and 179th) families exhibited a more obvious positive response to EMF in two-year-old seedlings as compared to one-year-old seedling controls. The results revealed that short-term EMF treatment of silver birch seeds can potentially be used to improve seedling emergence and growth and increase the content of secondary metabolites, antioxidant capacity and photosynthetic pigments. Understanding of the impact of EMFs as well as the influence of genetic differences on tree responses can be significant for practical applications in forestry. Genetic selection of plant genotypes that exhibit positive response trends can open the way to improve the quality of forest stands.

Within-site adaptation: Growth and mortality of Norway spruce, Scots pine and Silver birch seedlings in different planting positions across a soil moisture gradient

Adapting to site conditions is a central part of forest regeneration and can be done through selection of different planting positions. Requirements are tree species specific, and the use of soil moisture maps could be a way to support decision making in forest regeneration planning. At two experimental sites with varying soil moisture conditions in southern Sweden Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings were planted in four different planting positions following mounding site preparation; Depression, Hinge, Mound and Unscarified. Soil moisture estimates were obtained from a high-resolution depth-to-water raster for each planting spot. The effect of soil moisture, planting position and their interactions on mortality, height and diameter was evaluated for each tree species. In wet conditions mounds proved to be the best option to minimize seedling mortality for conifers, but with decreasing soil moisture, differences between the planting positions decreased. Birch on the other hand had the greatest survival in the hinge. The coniferous species displayed increased height and diameter when planted in mounds independent of the soil moisture conditions, whereas silver birch was less dependent on a specific planting position. Results from this study shows that a soil moisture map can explain mortality, height and diameter and thus can be a useful tool when choosing planting position in different soil moisture conditions.

Separating the effects of air and soil temperature on silver birch. Part I. Does soil temperature or resource competition determine the timing of root growth?

The aboveground parts of boreal forest trees mostly grow earlier, and the roots later, in the growing season. We aimed to experimentally test whether the extrinsic driver of soil temperature or the intrinsic driver (resource competition between plant parts) is a more important control for the root and shoot growth of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings. Sixteen two-year-old seedlings were grown in controlled environment rooms for two simulated growing seasons (GS1, GS2). In GS1, all the seedlings were acclimatized under the same conditions, but in GS2, the soil temperature treatments were: (i) constant 10°C (Cool); (ii) constant 18°C (Warm); (iii) early growing season at 10°C, switched to 18°C later (Early Cool Late Warm, ECLW) and (iv) early growing season 18°C, switched to 10°C later (Early Warm Late Cool, EWLC). The treatments did not affect growth allocation between shoots and roots. Warm soil benefitted shoot elongation as it slowed down in EWLC and accelerated in ECLW after the soil temperature switch. However, whole-tree biomasses were similar to Cool and the seedlings grew largest in Warm. Phenology was not strongly affected by soil temperature, and root and shoot growth did not usually peak simultaneously. Short root mortality increased strongly in ECLW and decreased in EWLC after the soil temperature switch. Long root longevity was not significantly affected but long root growth ceased earliest in ECLW. Soil warming increased foliar nutrient contents. Growth dynamics were not solely driven by soil temperature, but resource competition also played a significant role. The study showed the importance of soil temperature for fine root dynamics not only through root growth but also via root mortality, as soil warming increased mortality even more than growth. Soil temperature has complex effects on tree and soil functioning, which further affects carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems that have a climate feedback.

Comparative characteristics of planting material of silver birch grown from seeds of autumn and spring sowing

Annual seedlings of silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth.), grown from seeds of autumn and spring sowing period, were analyzed. Planting material was kept in protected ground. Before sowing, various growth substances were incorporated into the soil - mineral and organic fertilizers, forest soil. It was revealed that autumn sowing increased the height of seedlings 1.031.66-fold in the variants compared to the control, except for the variants with the use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, where the largest number of plants per unit area was observed. In the variants with Humatophosphate, boric acid, Trichocin, humus and forest soil, from 60 to 100 % of seedlings reached standard values in a year. A similar experiment with the same growth substances, but spring sowing of seeds, showed a significant lag in seedling growth. The use of nitrogen fertilizer in spring, in contrast to the autumn period, had a positive effect on plant height, annual seedlings had the highest height in the experiment - 14.1 cm. Seedlings in variants with humus and forest soil also had good indicators. All variants overtook the control seedlings in height by 1.062.68 times. Therefore, the time of sowing seeds is important - all indicators of autumn seedlings significantly exceed the similar ones of spring seedlings. This fact is explained by several reasons: during the autumn period, the seeds are sown freshly harvested, they undergo pre-sowing preparation (snowing and stratification) in natural conditions, the seeds are not stored, in case of violation of which the seeds significantly lose their germination capacity. In addition, the seeds begin to germinate and shoots begin to grow much earlier than if they were sown in the spring. Shoots are not exposed to late spring frosts, as they are protected by covering material.

Responses in growth and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds in Scots pine, Norway spruce and silver birch seedlings to different warming treatments in a controlled field experiment

We investigated the responses in growth and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings to a simulated climate warming of +2 °C (T2) and +4 °C (T4), compared to the ambient conditions, during two growing seasons (2019–2020) in a controlled field experiment in central Finland. In all seedlings, height was measured weekly. Diameter was measured continuously for one seedling from each tree species per plot. For shoot and root biomass measurements, half of the seedlings were harvested at end of the first growing season and the rest at the end of the second growing season. Foliage BVOC emission rates were measured at the end of the second growing season. Biomass, height, and diameter growth of silver birch did benefit the most from warming in both growing seasons. In the Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings, height and diameter growth increased with increasing temperature in the second growing season, more so in Scots pine. Overall, the shoot and root biomass of conifer seedlings increased with increasing temperature. In the conifer seedlings, warming increased biomass and diameter growth more than height growth, due to their predetermined height growth pattern. The warming increased BVOC emissions more clearly in silver birch, whilst the BVOC emissions were in conifers less sensitive to temperature variation. Based on our findings, silver birch seedlings could be expected to benefit the most from warmer growing conditions and Norway spruce the least.

Evaluation of the anthropogenic black carbon emissions and deposition on Norway spruce and silver birch foliage in the Baltic region

This study investigates potential influence of urban trees on black carbon (BC) removal by Norway spruce and silver birch along with the BC formation, mass concentration in air, and source apportionment. The main sources of BC in urban areas are transport, household and industry. BC concentrations monitored in urban background station in Vilnius (Lithuania) showed that biomass burning was a significant contributor to BC emissions even during warm period of the year. Therefore, BC emission levels were determined for the most common biomass fuels (mixed wood pellets, oak, ash, birch and spruce firewood) and two types of agro-biomass (triticale and rapeseed straw pellets) burned in modern and old heating systems. The highest emissions were obtained for biomass fuels especially birch firewood. BC aerosol particles produced by the condensation mechanism during the combustion processes were found in all samples taken from the leaf surface.The short-term effect of BC exposure on photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b; and carotenoids) in the foliage of one-year-old Norway spruce and silver birch seedlings was evaluated by the experiment carried out in the phytotron greenhouse. The seedlings showed different short-term responses to BC exposure. All treatments applied in the phytotron greenhouse resulted in lower chlorophyll content in spruce foliage compared to natural conditions but not differed for birch seedlings. However, the exposure of BC particles on the spruce and birch seedlings in the phytotron increased the content of photosynthetic pigments compared to the control seedlings in the phytotron.Overall, urban trees can help improve air quality by reducing BC levels through dry deposition on tree foliage, and needle-like trees are more efficient than broad-leaved trees in capturing BC.Nevertheless, a further study could assess the longer-term effects of BC particles on tree biochemical and chemical reactions.

Early Field Performance of Small-Sized Silver Birch and Scots Pine Container Seedlings at Different Planting Depths

Deep planting is recommended in Nordic countries only for normal-sized container seedlings planted on mounds. Its effects on smaller-sized seedlings are poorly understood. We studied the effects of planting depth on the early field performance of small-sized silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) container seedlings. Silver birch seedlings (mean height of 16 cm) were planted to depths of 3, 6 and 8 cm on spot mounds in May 2016. Scots pine seedlings (mean height of 9 cm) were planted to depths of 2, 5 and 8 cm on inverted mounds in September 2018 and May 2019. At the end of the first growing season, the deeper-planted birch seedlings were the tallest, as opposed to the deeper-planted Scots pine seedlings. However, the height differences between the planting depths were not apparent until the end of the second growing season in both tree species. Deeper planting decreased damage in Scots pine seedlings in the first growing season, which was not observed in silver birch. Based on our findings, small-sized Scots pine and silver birch seedlings can be planted safely at 6–8 cm planting depths, if at least 20% and 50% of their shoots, respectively, are above ground.

Long-term effects of prescribed burning, tree retention, and browsing on deciduous tree recruitment in European boreal forests

Silvicultural practices, effective fire suppression, and increased browser densities have profoundly altered structural diversity in boreal forests. Prescribed burning and retention forestry may counteract losses in structural diversity in managed forests by maintaining a higher deciduous admixture. We constructed an experiment on 18 sites with three types of timber harvesting (uncut, cut with retention, and clearcut) and burned half of these sites. Subsequently, we established a herbivore treatment with three compartments (unfenced, fenced excluding moose (Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758)), and fenced excluding moose and hares (Lepus spp.)). In these compartments, we planted rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.), European aspen (Populus tremula L.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings and monitored these for 17 years. Birch and rowan mortality were lower on cut and burned sites, with retention further enhancing birch survival on these sites. Retention without burning did not lower seedling mortality of any tree species. While browsing resulted in greater mortality on cut sites, burning appeared to greatly reduce browsing on birch and rowan. On mature uncut sites, seedlings of all tree species exhibited high mortality. Our findings show that deciduous tree recruitment can be improved through prescribed burning, particularly for birch and rowan, and that browsing impacts on deciduous trees depend on forest age.

Interactions between Phytophthora cactorum, Armillaria gallica and Betula pendula Roth. Seedlings Subjected to Defoliation

The purpose of this study was to better understand the interactive impact of two soil-borne pathogens, Phytophthora cactorum and Armillaria gallica, on seedlings of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) subjected to stress caused by mechanical defoliation, simulating primary insect feeding. This is the first experimental confirmation of silver birch seedling root damage (and in consequence shoot mortality) caused by the additive effect of defoliation stress and P. cactorum inoculation via soil. However, the most severe damage to roots occurred after A. gallica inoculation. One year after treatments, chlorophyll fluorescence measurement, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze the photosynthetic activity in leaves, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the birch leaves, and chemical compounds from the roots. The cumulative effect of the two pathogens and partial defoliation reduced photosynthetic activity, suggesting dysfunction of photosystem PSII due to the applied stresses. In summary, it seems that the main differences in photosynthetic performance could be attributed to Armillaria infection. The birch leaves in seedlings exposed to 50% defoliation, and inoculation with P.cactorum and A. gallica, emitted more aromatic carbonyls and alcohols, as well as half as much aliphatic esters, compared to controls. In infected birch roots, the production of phenols, triterpenes, and fatty alcohols increased, but fatty acids decreased. Higher levels of aromatic carbonyls and alcohols in leaves, as well as phenolic compounds in the roots of stressed birches (compared to control) suggest an activation of plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR).

Growth Responses of Boreal Scots Pine, Norway Spruce and Silver Birch Seedlings to Simulated Climate Warming over Three Growing Seasons in a Controlled Field Experiment

We studied the growth responses of boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings to simulated climate warming of an average of 1.3 °C over the growing season in a controlled field experiment in central Finland. We had six replicate plots for elevated and ambient temperature for each tree species. The warming treatment lasted for the conifers for three growing seasons and for the birch two growing seasons. We measured the height and diameter growth of all the seedlings weekly during the growing season. The shoot and root biomass and their ratios were measured annually in one-third of seedlings harvested from each plot in autumn. After two growing seasons, the height, diameter and shoot biomass were 45%, 19% and 41% larger in silver birch seedlings under the warming treatment, but the root biomass was clearly less affected. After three growing seasons, the height, diameter, shoot and root biomass were under a warming treatment 39, 47, 189 and 113% greater in Scots pine, but the root:shoot ratio 29% lower, respectively. The corresponding responses of Norway spruce to warming were clearly smaller (e.g., shoot biomass 46% higher under a warming treatment). As a comparison, the relative response of height growth in silver birch was after two growing seasons equal to that measured in Scots pine after three growing seasons. Based on our findings, especially silver birch seedlings, but also Scots pine seedlings benefitted from warming, which should be taken into account in forest regeneration in the future.

Effect of biochar amendment on the properties of growing media and growth of containerized Norway spruce, Scots pine, and silver birch seedlings

Common practices and several studies have demonstrated the positive effect of biochar amendment on climate change mitigation, soil properties, and plant growth. We performed a greenhouse experiment to assess the potential of wood biochar to improve the properties of the growing media and the growth of seedlings in boreal tree species. We added willow biochar (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) to raw peat and measured the growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings. In addition, the co-effect of biochar amendment with 0%, 50%, and 100% fertilization was estimated. We found that using up to 10% of biochar did not reduce the water retention capacity of the growing media significantly. Moreover, biochar amendment significantly increased carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus concentrations and had a significant liming effect on the growing media. The biochar amendment increased the aboveground growth of spruce seedlings and root biomass, as well as the root collar diameter, of birch seedlings. Biochar amendment did not affect the quality of seedlings, estimated by the Dickson’s quality index, for spruce and pine, while the quality of birch increased. Based on our results, biochar has potential in forest seedling production.

EFFECT OF THE SOIL TEMPERATURE AND AIR TEMPERATURE ON THE GROWTH OF SILVER BIRCH SEEDLINGS AND THEIR GASEOUS CO₂ EXCHANGE

Gaseous CO2 exchange and shoot growth over a growing season were studied in 3‑yearold seedlings of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) growing in 10‑litre pots with different soil temperatures. Initially, activation of growth and an increase of CO ₂ exchange were observed in seedlings experiencing higher soil temperatures compared to seedlingsgrowing in colder soil. Also, an increase in stomatal conductance and a higher pigment content were detected. In the seedlings growing in cold soil, a consistent rise of CO ₂ exchange and dark respiration was observed as the air temperature and soil temperature were growing. In the period before intensive growth, the total leaf area in seedlings rooted in warmer soil was more than three times higher than that of seedlings in cold soil. Until July, air temperatures were not high enough to initiate intensive growth. Therefore, a great deal of assimilates in the seedlings growing under higher soil temperature were largely being deposited, particularly in roots and bark. In the absence of powerful attracting points, assimilates were in excess, and photosynthesis was inhibited. A significant difference in CO ₂ exchange and stomatal conductance between the two groups of seedlings was seen at the beginning of the growing season. Later on, as the air temperature was rising, CO ₂ exchange increased insignificantly in seedlings growing in soil of higher temperature. Warming up of the soil smoothed down the difference in CO2 exchange between the two groups of seedlings. In the period of intensive growth in July, CO ₂ exchange in seedlings growing naturally in the field was higher than in pot-grown seedlings. We suppose that the increase in soil temperature early in the growing season results in a rise in the concentration of sucrose in the phloem exudate, and promotes bark thickening. This process is quite pronounced in Karelian (curly) birch – an ecological form of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth var. carelica (Merclin) Hämet Ahti).

Morphological and molecular characteristics of foliar nematode attacking silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) in Poland

Summary Aphelenchoides fragariae (Ritzema Bos, 1890) Christie, 1932 was isolated from leaves of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings proving that the source of infection was anemones plants. This is the first report to our best knowledge showing that the source of nematode infection of a woody plant could be a perennial plant. A. fragariae was identified by morphometric and molecular analyses. Morphological diagnosis based on the bending shape of the tail of males and pronounced apex and rostrum proved to be the most accurate reliable characteristic. On the opposite, the high variability of the mucron shape in female tails made the identification by microscopic analyses difficult. Identification of the species was confirmed by analysis of 28S rDNA sequences. The morphometric data of adults extracted from silver birch was compared with that of nematodes isolated from Anemone hupehensis (Lemoine) Lemoine. Males body length varied highly in samples collected from both host plant species.

Structural and functional peculiarities of plants from the genus Betula L. at early stages of ontogenesis

The morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), curly birch (B. pendula Roth var. carelica), and downy birch (B. pubescens Ehrh.) at early stages of ontogenesis in natural conditions were investigated. Some intra- and interspecific peculiarities of the morphophysiological properties were determined. Priority development of the underground mass for the seedlings of curly birch and that of the aboveground mass for the seedlings of silver birch and downy birch were found. The leaf of curly birch is developed more actively as compared with those in the other two species under equal potential possibility of the growth of their leaves by elongation. A high similarity of the mineral composition (C, N, P, K) of different forms and species of birches was demonstrated. For silver birch the maximum values of the stomatal conductance, rate of photosynthesis, and transpiration under similar atmospheric and soil conditions were obtained. In downy birch we found a higher efficiency of water use. The highest values of the maximum rate of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase carboxylation were found in curly birch. This may serve as an indicator of its shade tolerance, as compared with silver birch and downy birch.

Response of artificially defoliated Betula pendula seedlings to additional soil nutrient supply

Abstract: The impact of leaf damage on the growth of young silver birch seedlings with and without additional nutrient supply was investigated by simulating leaf-insect damage and applying different levels (25%, 50% and 75%) of artificial defoliation. Based on field-practical and cost-effective methods, we determined how fertilization practices compensate for foliage loss, and the combined effect on silver birch seedling growth. The mineral fertilizers applied to the 25-75%-defoliated silver birch seedlings reduced the growth in aboveground biomass compared to the fertilized but undamaged seedlings. Our results showed that when the birch seedlings received more nutrients they did not compensate for the loss of foliar mass. However, the seedlings loosing part of their foliar mass and receiving no additional fertilizers did compensate for the foliage loss and their root growth was not weakened, using soil nutrients more effectively. Mineral fertilization up to optimal nutritional balance could be a beneficial tool for increasing growth rate and biomass accumulation in the short-term period. However, our study demonstrated that additional fertilization does not necessarily lead to growth compensation of partly defoliated young birch trees.

ACTIVITY OF SUCROSE DISSIMILATING ENZYMES IN EARLY ONTOGENY IN DIFFERENT FORMS OF SILVER BIRCH

The distribution of interchangeable sucrose-cleaving enzymes’ activities in sink organs (stem, root) of silver birch (Betula pendula var. pendula) and Karelian birch (B. pendula var. carelica) seedlings was investigated. It is shown that the dominant sink organ in 1.5‑month-old seedlings is the root, and sucrose cleavage is mainly performed by sucrose synthase. Early in the ontogeny sucrose metabolism in Karelian birch sink organs is more intensive compared to silver birch. As confirmed by the high activity of sucrosecleaving enzymes in the stem, the bulk of metabolites in 5‑month-old silver birch plants were spent on the formation of the stem’s structure. We observed high activity of sucrose synthase in the stem of 5‑month-old silver birch seedlings and high activity cell-wall invertase in Karelian birch. Thus, biochemical and molecular differences between silver birch and Karelian birch originate from the early stages of the plants’ ontogeny, before the traits of abnormal wood structure become visible in Karelian birch. The effect nitrogen availability on the activity of alternative sucrose-cleaving enzymes is shown. Cultivation of experimental plants in nitrogen-deficient media suppressed sucrose metabolism in sink organs: through reduced activity of sucrose synthase in silver birch, and through reduced activity of acid invertase in Karelian birch. This means that low nitrogen availability to silver birch seedlings resulted in inhibition of xylogenesis, and all the plant’s resources were utilized to support root biomass, whereas in Karelian birch it caused a reduction in sucrose cleavage in the apoplast, thus leading to an increase in the amount of parenchyma cells.

Waterlogging in late dormancy and the early growth phase affected root and leaf morphology in Betula pendula and Betula pubescens seedlings.

The warmer winters of the future will increase snow-melt frequency and rainfall, thereby increasing the risk of soil waterlogging and its effects on trees in winter and spring at northern latitudes. We studied the morphology of roots and leaves of 1-year-old silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and pubescent birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) seedlings exposed to waterlogging during dormancy or at the beginning of the growing season in a growth-chamber experiment. The experiment included 4-week dormancy (Weeks 1-4), a 4-week early growing season (Weeks 5-8) and a 4-week late growing season (Weeks 9-12). The treatments were: (i) no waterlogging, throughout the experiment ('NW'); (ii) 4-week waterlogging during dormancy (dormancy waterlogging 'DW'); (iii) 4-week waterlogging during the early growing season (growth waterlogging 'GW'); and (iv) 4-week DW followed by 4-week GW during the early growing season ('DWGW'). Dormancy waterlogging affected the roots of silver birch and GW the roots and leaf characteristics of both species. Leaf area was reduced in both species by GW and DWGW. In pubescent birch, temporarily increased formation of thin roots was seen in root systems of GW seedlings, which suggests an adaptive mechanism with respect to excess soil water. Additionally, the high density of non-glandular trichomes and their increase in DWGW leaves were considered possible morphological adaptations to excess water in the soil, as was the constant density of stem lenticels during stem-diameter growth. The higher density in glandular trichomes of DWGW silver birch suggests morphological acclimation in that species. The naturally low density of non-glandular trichomes, low density of stem lenticels in waterlogged seedlings and decrease in root growth seen in DWGW and DW silver birch seedlings explain, at least partly, why silver birch grows more poorly relative to pubescent birch in wet soils.

Growth of Scots Pine and Silver Birch Seedlings on Different Nursery Container Media

Peat has been the most common growing medium in tree nurseries, either alone or as a component of growing media mixes. However, as a result of increasing costs and decreasing amount of peat, seedling-growers are seeking more local growing medium components. In this study, container seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) were grown in pure peat and peat mixtures containing perlite and zeolite.  Physical parameters (height, shoot diameter, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, total dry weight) were measured along with several morphological parameters (sturdiness quotient, height/diameter, shoot/root ratio). The zeolite additive in peat changed some media properties, and significant relation was established between some morphological attributes of seedlings and some medium properties in both species. On average, the seedlings grew best in pure peat, but zeolite additions to peat did not affect some morphological parameters negatively. The results suggest that zeolite has potential to be used as a component of peat based growing medium mixtures, and addition of zeolite to peat container medium in proportions of 10% by volume in Scots pine and up to 20% in silver birch was shown to be a feasible material for growing Scots pine and silver birch seedlings.

Growth of Scots Pine and Silver Birch Seedlings on Different Nursery Container Media

Peat has been the most common growing medium in tree nurseries, either alone or as a component of growing media mixes. However, as a result of increasing costs and decreasing amount of peat, seedling-growers are seeking more local growing medium components. In this study, container seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) were grown in pure peat and peat mixtures containing perlite and zeolite. Physical parameters (height, shoot diameter, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, total dry weight) were measured along with several morphological parameters (sturdiness quotient, height/diameter, shoot/root ratio). The zeolite additive in peat changed some media properties, and significant relation was established between some morphological attributes of seedlings and some medium properties in both species. On average, the seedlings grew best in pure peat, but zeolite additions to peat did not affect some morphological parameters negatively. The results suggest that zeolite has potential to be used as a component of peat based growing medium mixtures, and addition of zeolite to peat container medium in proportions of 10% by volume in Scots pine and up to 20% in silver birch was shown to be a feasible material for growing Scots pine and silver birch seedlings.