Summary
Published in Land 10(7): 661. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10070661
Growing Picea glauca seedlings poses many challenges for forest nursery managers, including reaching the target height at the end of the first growing season (1 + 0) and the homogeneity and uniformity of seedling growth. To increase growth and morphophysiological quality of white spruce seedlings (1 + 0), emphasis was placed on improving the physicochemistry of the acidic peat substrate by replacing silica with granular calcite as a covering material. The objective of our study is to compare the effects of silica and calcite on the physicochemistry of the peat substrate, as well as on growth and mineral nutrition of white spruce seedlings (1 + 0) under forest nursery conditions. Three treatments were used to cover the cavities of large white spruce seedlings produced in containers: silica (29 g/cavity; control treatment), calcite (24 g/cavity) and calcite + (31 g/cavity). At the end of the first growing season, the two calcite treatments significantly increased the total dry mass (28%), roots (27%) and shoot (29%) dry masses and height (24%) compared to silica treatments. Average calcium concentration and content of calcite treatments were significantly higher than that of silica treatment.
File
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forest Genetics, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
LAMHAMEDI, M.S., M. RENAUD and I. AUGER
Year of publication :
2021
Format :
How to get the publication :
Keywords :
Picea glauca, peat substrate, granular calcite, physicochemical parameters, growth, logistical models, mineral nutrition, forest nursery
