Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production

Nursery-grown tree seedlings are a vital component of successful restoration and reforestation programs, useful when calls for increased planting for industrial forest management are made, and a tool for climate change mitigation. One of the most extensively planted and studied trees in Western Nort...

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Main Authors: Rebecca A. Sheridan, Anthony S. Davis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1745
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author Rebecca A. Sheridan
Anthony S. Davis
author_facet Rebecca A. Sheridan
Anthony S. Davis
author_sort Rebecca A. Sheridan
collection DOAJ
description Nursery-grown tree seedlings are a vital component of successful restoration and reforestation programs, useful when calls for increased planting for industrial forest management are made, and a tool for climate change mitigation. One of the most extensively planted and studied trees in Western North America is Douglas-fir. Building on that body of work, this review was conducted to identify if the root-to-shoot ratio (root:shoot, R:S), a commonly referred-to metric in reforestation planning, yields meaningful guidance for producing seedlings that are better able to establish across a variety of field conditions. The results indicated that there is wide variability in R:S of nursery-grown seedlings. The relationship between R:S and subsequent root growth and seedling survival varies depending on Douglas-fir variety, seedling stocktypes, and site conditions. The biological and physiological basis for using R:S remains, and likely could be used to enhance seedling quality; however, there is an ongoing need for planning and collaboration between researchers and practitioners to identify how to best deploy this evaluation tool.
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spelling doaj.art-107ff7cd870641f7b002bddd00d6773e2023-11-23T08:21:49ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-12-011212174510.3390/f12121745Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling ProductionRebecca A. Sheridan0Anthony S. Davis1Department of Forest Resources, Engineering, and Management, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USADepartment of Forest Resources, Engineering, and Management, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USANursery-grown tree seedlings are a vital component of successful restoration and reforestation programs, useful when calls for increased planting for industrial forest management are made, and a tool for climate change mitigation. One of the most extensively planted and studied trees in Western North America is Douglas-fir. Building on that body of work, this review was conducted to identify if the root-to-shoot ratio (root:shoot, R:S), a commonly referred-to metric in reforestation planning, yields meaningful guidance for producing seedlings that are better able to establish across a variety of field conditions. The results indicated that there is wide variability in R:S of nursery-grown seedlings. The relationship between R:S and subsequent root growth and seedling survival varies depending on Douglas-fir variety, seedling stocktypes, and site conditions. The biological and physiological basis for using R:S remains, and likely could be used to enhance seedling quality; however, there is an ongoing need for planning and collaboration between researchers and practitioners to identify how to best deploy this evaluation tool.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1745biomass allocationfield establishmentplant hydraulicsseedling quality
spellingShingle Rebecca A. Sheridan
Anthony S. Davis
Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production
Forests
biomass allocation
field establishment
plant hydraulics
seedling quality
title Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production
title_full Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production
title_fullStr Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production
title_short Characterizing the Utility of the Root-to-Shoot Ratio in Douglas-Fir Seedling Production
title_sort characterizing the utility of the root to shoot ratio in douglas fir seedling production
topic biomass allocation
field establishment
plant hydraulics
seedling quality
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1745
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