Effect of shade on growth of seedling American chestnut trees.

摘要

In a study in the USA, American chestnut (Castanea dentata) seedlings were grown for three seasons in full sun or under a shade tent (65% shade) that was put in place each spring and removed each fall. Severe winter weather at the end of the second year killed many of the trees to the ground. In early November, after three seasons of growth, the heights and basal diameters of the 72 surviving trees were measured. The mean height of the trees grown in the sun was 160.4 cm (+or-26.3 cm) and the mean basal diameter was 2.3 cm (+or-0.6 cm). The trees that were under shade during the growing season had a mean height of 231.9 cm (+or-46.5 cm) and a mean basal diameter of 2.4 cm (+or-0.8 cm). Results indicate that planting chestnut seedlings in forests after shelterwood cutting might be more successful than planting them in areas that have been clearcut.