Size of Cottonwood Nursery Stock Related to Seedbed Density and Row Spacing

In areas susceptible to early-season flooding, cottonwood seedlings are thought to be superior to cuttings as planting material (Maisenhelder and McKnight 1968),2 and most, tree planters prefer seedlings with root-collar diameters between 0.2 and 0.6 inch for these areas. Seedlings in this diameter range are generally of acceptable height. The study reported here indicates that production of suitable seedlings will be near maximum with a bed density of about 16 seedlings per square foot. Results also show that in rows 38 inches apart, within-row spacing should be about eight seedlings per linear foot. The study was done on a silt loam soil at the Southern Hardwoods Laboratory, Stoneville, Miss. Seedbeds were sown at densities of four, nine, and 16 spots per square foot. Rows with centers 38 inches apart were sown at rates of four, six, and eight spots per linear foot. Several seeds were placed in each spot, but seedlings were thinned to one per spot approximately 10 days after germination. Templates were used to obtain the desired spacings. All seeding was done on June 11, 1968. Seeds were covered with 1/2 inch of sawdust mulch. Beds were watered initially with a garden hose overhead sprinklers. Survival (live stems at the end of the study) ranged from 85 to 100 percent.

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Author(s): B. G. Blackmon, John L. Gammage

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 22, Number 4 (1971)

Volume: 22

Number: 4