Effects of bareroot nursery practices on tree seedling root development: an evolution of cultural practices at J. Herbert Stone nursery

摘要

Bareroot nursery practices that maximize root development and growth have been studied and documented over a number of years. Each nursery, however, has its own unique combination of climate, soils, species, and stocktypes for which site specific cultural practices are necessary. J. Herbert Stone Nursery, a USDA Forest Service nursery, located in Central Point, OR, has completed a variety of production trials to adapt general cultural practices to its site. These trials resulted in changes which include: developing a strategy to maintain a high soil porosity through the application of organic matter and tillage measures; sowing seed earlier in the winter for 1 + 0 stocktypes; lowering seedbed densities from 267 seedlings/m2 (25 seedlings/ft2) to between 161 and 195 seedlings/m2 (15 and 18 seedlings/ft2); transplanting seedlings in early fall instead of spring; and developing a miniplug + 1 stocktype.