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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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Series: | Forests |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:05:55Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-107ff7cd870641f7b002bddd00d6773e |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1999-4907 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:05:55Z |
publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Forests |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT rebeccaasheridan characterizingtheutilityoftheroottoshootratioindouglasfirseedlingproduction AT anthonysdavis characterizingtheutilityoftheroottoshootratioindouglasfirseedlingproduction |