Effects of Seedling Size and Depth of Planting on Early Survival and Growth of Slash Pine
Larger seedlings had the better survival and growth. Seedling growth was increased by deep planting; survival was not. These conclusions are part of the results from a continuing study of the effects of site preparation on seedling performance initiated in southwestern Alabama and southeastern Mississippi in 1959-60 and repeated in 1960-61. The study includes 6,000 slash pine seedlings on 516 permanent sample rows in large areas; the site was prepared and planted by machine (see cover). Sample units, consisting of the seedlings occurring on 100-foot row segments, are located on a wide range of soil and slope conditions in seven counties. Chi-square analyses of the first and second year measurements for the 1959-60 sample units showed that the large- and medium-size seedlings had significantly better survival than the small seedlings, whereas the variation between the large and medium seedlings was not significant (table 1 and figure 1). In like manner, the large and medium seedlings in the 1960-61 planting did not survive significantly different, and the large seedlings performed significantly better than the small. However, the survival difference between the medium and small seedlings was not significant.
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Author(s): J. W. Swearingen
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Issue 58 (1963)