Effects of soil nutritional status on seedling nursery performance of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica var arizonica Greene) and Medite cypress (Cupressus sempervirens var. horizantalis (Mill.) Gord)

摘要

The present research was carried out to determine the influence of different combinations of organic matter as growing media on seed germination, survival, growth, biomass and performance of needle-leaved Arizona cypress?(Cupressus arizonica?var arizonica?Greene) and Medite cypress?(C.?sempervirens?var. horizantalis (Mill.) Gord) seedlings in?Koloudeh?nursery, located in Amol city (North of Iran).?Seeds were sown in plastic pots as randomized completely block design (RCBD) with four replications atfour different?soil treatments,?including: T1) nursery common soil (control), T2) control soil: cattle manure (5:1), T3) control soil: decomposed litter (5:1), T4) control soil: cattle manure: decomposed litter (5:1:1). The results after one year showed that?seedlings of both species?grown on T4 obtained?better germination percent, survival, shoot height, collar diameter, seedling vigor index and Quality Index (QI). Greatest relative growth rate (RGR) of height and diameter were achieved on organic matter treatments. In most of the studied attributes, response of?C. arizonica?was?better than?C.?sempervirens, showing the different biological requirements of these species. From the study, it is concluded that the increased of soil nutrient can be useful in seedling production of?both species.