Usually, soil preparation in forest nursery begins with tillage of the nursery area and then building beds with permanent tractor paths. The technology of seedling production with an uncovered root system practiced in traditional field nurseries is similar to that of agricultural production. 2010) and in forest nurseries, which are nothing other than sites where seedlings of trees and bushes are cultivated (Boja and Boja 2010, 2011). This can be observed in both tree stands (Ampoorter et al. Anthropogenic compaction during the process of soil cultivation can be both direct and indirect, as in machines passing over a field (Picchio et al. Soil compaction can occur as a natural process as well as due to the impact of human activity and of animals treading over it (Kozłowski 1999). This is an effect of better contact between the roots and the soil, which improves nutrient and water uptake (Arvidsson 1999). In some cases, especially on skeletal soils, the high density may positively affect plant growth (Brais 2001 Fleming et al. Compaction may negatively affect the growth and the quality of trees however, these effects are not always the same and depend on the type and the level of soil density as well as on climatic factors (Blouin et al. This may affect the length and anatomical structure of the roots, as well as cause sprout shortening, which affects the total length of the plant (Passioura 2002 Ferree et al. Such soil requires higher energy for the plant, which is essential for its root system development. Compaction increases bulk density and resistance during soil penetration by plant roots and decreases the diameter of soil pores, which in turn reduces permeability and water flow, as well as air capacity (Blouin et al. Additionally, it may depend on numerous factors related to soil physics, including its compaction, i.e., an excessive density (Perez-Ramos et al. The growth of forest tree seedlings is conditioned by numerous abiotic factors, especially light, fertilization and water access (Sack 2004). It was confirmed that even a slight increase in soil compaction might negatively result in the growth of young seedlings, impeding root system development. The first to be affected were the smallest roots, i.e., those with diameters up to 0.2 mm, which are responsible for the uptake of mineral components. Besides a decrease in the root system, an increase in soil compaction also resulted in a reduction in the number of roots of a specified diameter. Root system reduction was noted, the size of which determines the proper development of the tree and ensures its stability. It was observed that the dry mass of the root system as well as the area and length of the roots decreased with an increase in soil density. An analysis of the growth of the sessile oak seedlings revealed that a change in soil density significantly affected root system development, total height of seedlings and dry mass. For the purpose of the experiment, 120 acorns were sowed, of which 73 seedlings were cultured. The growth and mass parameters of particular seedlings together with the parameters of the assimilation apparatus and roots were measured, taking into account the share of various diameter roots in the root system. Oak seedlings were cultivated in controlled conditions for 76 days after sowing. The soil for the study was collected from a nursery plot and then compacted into PCV pots in eight different bulk density levels ranging from 0.81 to 1.32 g cm −3. This article presents the results of laboratory examinations concerning the effects of soil bulk density on the growth of sessile oak Quercus petraea Liebl.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |