Summary:
Published in Forests 14(4): 858. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040858
The physical properties of peat substrates from eight tree nurseries were characterized to determine bulk density, air-filled porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, pore effectiveness, relative gas diffusivity and chemical properties. There were significant variations among nurseries both in growth of white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] seedlings (1+0) and substrate properties. Shoot dry mass and root collar diameter were negatively correlated with air-filled porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, whereas root dry mass was positively correlated with bulk density. Seedling growth increased with increasing substrate bulk density up to ~0.11 g cm−3, above which value conditions may become limiting to plant performance. Our results suggest that there was no growth limitation due to restricted aeration (Ds D0−1 > 0.005 m2 s−1 m−2 s for all substrates except one) and that over-aeration reduced seedling growth under dry irrigation management.
File:
Sector(s):
Forests
Catégorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Seeds and Forest Seedlings Production
Departmental author(s):
Author(s):
BOUDREAULT, Simon, Jean CARON, Mohammed S. LAMHAMEDI and Steeve PEPIN
Year of publication:
2023
Keyword(s):
Picea glauca, forest nurseries, peat growing media;, bulk density, air content, gas diffusivity, pépinières forestières, substrat tourbeux, densité, aération, diffusivité des gaz article scientifique, scientific article, production de semences et de plants, seeds and forest seedlings production