Seedling height growth: a monitoring technique in nursery soil management
During the past two decades nursery soil management in Ontario's forest tree nurseries has become more sophisticated. To date, however, a convenient, nondestructive and practical technique has not been available that would enable nurserymen to monitor the growth and development of their stock. The purpose of such a technique would be twofold: first, to ensure that seedlings in production are developing to the desired size and quality when shipped; and second, to assess the relative effectiveness of current amendment programs such as irrigation and fertilization. Height is a parameter of seedling growth which is one of the easiest to measure nondestructively. It can be measured accurately and with simple equipment. Also, conifer seedlings of most species show a more or less continuous ability to increase in height during their first growing season if temperature. moisture supply, and fertility are not limiting. Further, although by no means the only measure of seedling size, height is nevertheless a prime attribute in any nurseryman's evaluation of stock.
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Author(s): Keith M. McClain
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 26, Number 2 (1975)
Volume: 26
Number: 2