Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho
Environmental conditions and seedling quality interact to produce complex patterns of seedling survival and growth. Root growth potential (RGP) is one metric of seedling quality that can be rapidly measured prior to planting, but the correlation of RGP and seedling performance is not consistent acro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/5/597 |
| _version_ | 1797534816948715520 |
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| author | Jacob A. Reely Andrew S. Nelson |
| author_facet | Jacob A. Reely Andrew S. Nelson |
| author_sort | Jacob A. Reely |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Environmental conditions and seedling quality interact to produce complex patterns of seedling survival and growth. Root growth potential (RGP) is one metric of seedling quality that can be rapidly measured prior to planting, but the correlation of RGP and seedling performance is not consistent across studies. Site factors including microsite objects that cast shade and competing vegetation can also influence seedling performance. We examined the effects of RGP, presence/absence of a microsite object, and competition cover on the survival and growth of three native conifers to the Inland Northwest, USA, over 5 years. We found that RGP had no effect on the survival or growth of western larch (<i>Larix occidentalis</i>), Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> var. <i>glauca</i>), and grand fir (<i>Abies grandis</i>) at a mesic north aspect site and a xeric south aspect site. Comparatively, the presence of a microsite increased the odds of survival by 37% for western larch and 158% for grand fir, while the absence of forb cover increased the odds of survival of western larch by 72% and of grand fir by 26%. Douglas fir was less sensitive to microsites and competition. The strong effects of neighborhood conditions around seedlings help inform silvicultural practices to enhance the establishment of western larch and grand fir, including planting seedlings near shading objects and competition control, while these practices may not be as important for Douglas fir. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:34:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4fc09072ca14a01b06df846e14e79b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:34:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4fc09072ca14a01b06df846e14e79b52023-11-21T18:57:10ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-05-0112559710.3390/f12050597Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern IdahoJacob A. Reely0Andrew S. Nelson1Center for Forest Nursery and Seedling Research, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USACenter for Forest Nursery and Seedling Research, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USAEnvironmental conditions and seedling quality interact to produce complex patterns of seedling survival and growth. Root growth potential (RGP) is one metric of seedling quality that can be rapidly measured prior to planting, but the correlation of RGP and seedling performance is not consistent across studies. Site factors including microsite objects that cast shade and competing vegetation can also influence seedling performance. We examined the effects of RGP, presence/absence of a microsite object, and competition cover on the survival and growth of three native conifers to the Inland Northwest, USA, over 5 years. We found that RGP had no effect on the survival or growth of western larch (<i>Larix occidentalis</i>), Douglas fir (<i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> var. <i>glauca</i>), and grand fir (<i>Abies grandis</i>) at a mesic north aspect site and a xeric south aspect site. Comparatively, the presence of a microsite increased the odds of survival by 37% for western larch and 158% for grand fir, while the absence of forb cover increased the odds of survival of western larch by 72% and of grand fir by 26%. Douglas fir was less sensitive to microsites and competition. The strong effects of neighborhood conditions around seedlings help inform silvicultural practices to enhance the establishment of western larch and grand fir, including planting seedlings near shading objects and competition control, while these practices may not be as important for Douglas fir.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/5/597seedling qualitygrowthsurvivalaspectcompetitionsite quality |
| spellingShingle | Jacob A. Reely Andrew S. Nelson Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho Forests seedling quality growth survival aspect competition site quality |
| title | Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho |
| title_full | Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho |
| title_fullStr | Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho |
| title_full_unstemmed | Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho |
| title_short | Root Growth Potential and Microsite Effects on Conifer Seedling Establishment in Northern Idaho |
| title_sort | root growth potential and microsite effects on conifer seedling establishment in northern idaho |
| topic | seedling quality growth survival aspect competition site quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/5/597 |
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