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Comparison of hydraulic and aeration properties of peat substrates used to produce containerized white spruce seedlings (1+0) in forest nurseries

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.

Sector(s): 

Forests

Categorie(s): 

Scientific Article

Theme(s): 

Forestry Research, Forests, Seeds and Forest Seedlings Production

Departmental author(s): 

Lamhamedi, Mohammed

Author(s)

BOUDREAULT, Simon, Jean CARON, Mohammed S. LAMHAMEDI and Steeve PEPIN

Year of publication :

2023

Keywords :

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

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