Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1998

Abstract

One-year-old longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings were hand-planted in January 1996 on an east Texas minespoil site. Effects of two seedling stock types and four levels of preplanting fall fertilization on seedling survival were evaluated. Fertilizer treatments consisting of a single application of ammonium nitrate (73 kilograms per hectare N), phosphorus (81 kilograms per hectare P), diammonium phosphate (73 kilograms per hectare N, 81 kilograms per hectare P), or control (no fertilizer) were applied to bare-root and container seedlings in November 1995. Root growth potential, the ability of a seedling to initiate and elongate new roots when placed into a favorable environment, was measured at time of planting. Field survival was surveyed monthly beginning in April 1996. Data were examined using analysis of variance. Container seedlings had significantly higher root growth potential and survival than bare-root. Fertilizer treatment effects, while not significant, tended to decrease both root growth potential and early survival for bare-root seedlings, and to increase root growth potential and decrease survival for container seedlings. Drought conditions during the 1996 growing season probably had a negative effect on survival of both bare-root and container seedlings. Only 2 percent of bare-root and 56 percent of container seedlings survived through the growing season, suggesting that only container stock should be used for reforestation of longleaf on minespoil sites. However, in years with normal precipitation, stock type effects on survival may not be significant and planting bare-root seedlings may be a viable option.

Comments

. In: Proceedings of the ninth biennial southern silvicultural research conference; 1997 February 25-27; Clemson, SC. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-20. Asheville, NC: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,

Southern Research Station

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