Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Field performance of Pinus halepensis planted in Mediterranean arid conditions: relative influence of seedling morphology and mineral nutrition

  • Published:
New Forests Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In Mediterranean arid regions, relatively small planting stock has traditionally been used in an attempt to reduce drought susceptibility, though few studies have examined influences of initial seedling morphology and nutrition on long-term plantation establishment. We fertilized Pinus halepensis Mill. seedlings in the nursery with controlled release fertilizer (CRF) varying in formulations and rates; 9-13-18 and 17-10-10 (N-P-K) formulations at 3, 5 and 7 g l−1 substrate plus an unfertilized control and we evaluated growth and survival 7 years after planting in arid conditions in Almería province, southeast Spain. Interactions between initial height and fertilizer treatments occurred during the first 3 years; initial size advantages of specific fertilizer treatments (7 g l−1 of 9-13-18 and 17-10-10 at 3 g l−1) persisted after 7 years. The largest and most nutrient-rich seedlings from 9-13-18 at 7 g l−1 (41.0 cm tall, 4.4 mg of P per g of root tissue at time of planting) exhibited the highest survival after 7 years (79%), while survival declined to 42% for non-fertilized plants (12.9 cm tall and 0.6 mg of P per g of root tissue). Initial seedling morphological parameters were most consistently correlated with field performance. Root P concentration was the nutrient variable most closely related to survival. Our data emphasizes importance of longer-term experiments to accurately assess influences of nursery treatments on field responses, particularly in arid areas. We suggest that larger seedlings with greater nutrient reserves than are currently being used should be incorporated into Mediterranean plantations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barbera GG, Martinez-Fernandez F, Alvarez-Rogel J, Albaladejo J, Castillo V (2005) Short- and intermediate-term effects of site and plant preparation techniques on reforestation of a Mediterranean semiarid ecosystem with Pinus halepensis Mill. New For 29(2):177–198. doi:10.1007/s11056-005-0248-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigg WL, Schalau JW (1990) Mineral nutrition and the target seedling. In: Target seedling symposium. General Technical Report USDA Forest Service, pp 139–158

  • Birchler T, Rose R, Royo A, Pardos M (1998) La planta ideal: revisión del concepto, parámetros definitorios e implementación práctica. Invest Agr Sist Recur For 7(1–2):109–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Cain MD, Barnett JP (1996) An 8-year field comparison of naturally seeded to planted container Pinus taeda, with and without release. Can J Res 26(7):1237–1247. doi:10.1139/x26-138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelissen JHC, Werger MJA, Castro-Díez P, Van Rheenen JWA, Rowland AP (1997) Foliar nutrients in relation to growth, allocation and leaf traits in seedlings of a wide range of woody plant species and types. Oecologia 111(4):460–469. doi:10.1007/s004420050259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doménech JM (1999) Análisis multivariante: modelos de regresión. UD 10 Análisis de la supervivencia. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Laboratori d’Estadídtica Aplicada i de Modelització. Ed. Signo, Barcelona

    Google Scholar 

  • European Community Council (2000) DIRECTIVA 1999/105/CE DEL CONSEJO de 22 de diciembre de 1999 sobre la comercialización de materiales forestales de reproducción Diario Oficial de las Comunidades Europeas de 15.1.2000, pp 17–40

  • Folk RS, Grossnickle S (2000) Stock-type patterns of phosphorus uptake, retranslocation, net photosynthesis and morphological development in interior spruce seedlings. New For 19(1):27–49. doi:10.1023/A:1006618312161

    Google Scholar 

  • Gil L, Díaz-Fernández PM, Jiménez MP, Roldán M, Alía R, Agúndez D, de Miguel y del Angel J, Martín S, de Tuero y Reina M (1996) Las regiones de procedencia de Pinus halepensis Mill. en España. Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales

  • Green TH, Mitchell RJ (1992) Effects of nitrogen on the response of loblolly pine to water stress. I. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. New Phytol 122:627–633

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grossnickle SC (2000) Ecophysiology of northern spruce species: the performance of planted seedlings. NRC Research Press, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Haase DL, Rose R (1993) Soil moisture stress induces transplant shock in stored and unstored 2 + 0 Douglas-Fir seedlings of varying root volumes. For Sci 39(2):275–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haase DL, Rose R, Trobaugh J (2006) Field performance of three stock sizes of Douglas-Fir container seedlings grown with slow-release fertilizer in the nursery growing medium. New For 31(1):1–24. doi:10.1007/s11056-004-5396-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Imo M, Timmer VR (1999) Vector competition analysis of black spruce seedlings responses to nutrient loading and vegetation control. Can J Res 29(4):474–486. doi:10.1139/cjfr-29-4-474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingestad T, Kahr M (1985) Nutrition and growth of coniferous seedlings at varied relative addition rate. Physiol Plant 65(2):109–116. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1985.tb02368.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin KM, Duryea ML, Stone EL (1998) Fall-applied nitrogen improves performance of 1–0 slash pine nursery seedlings after outplanting. S J Appl For 22:111–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs DF, Ross-Davis AL, Davis AS (2004) Establishment success of conservation tree plantations in relation to silvicultural practices in Indiana, USA. New For 28(1):23–36. doi:10.1023/B:NEFO.0000031329.70631.d0

    Google Scholar 

  • Jose S, Merritt S, Ramsey CL (2003) Growth, nutrition, photosynthesis and transpiration responses of longleaf pine seedlings to light, water and nitrogen. For Ecol Manage 180(1–3):335–344. doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00583-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamhamedi MS, Bernier PY, Hébert C (1997) Effect of shoot size on the gas exchange and growth of containerized Picea mariana seedlings under different watering regimes. New For 13(1–3):209–223. doi:10.1023/A:1006586325524

    Google Scholar 

  • Landis TD (1989) Mineral nutrients and fertilization. In: Landis TD, Tinus RW, McDonald SE, Barnett JP (eds) The container tree nursery manual, vol 4. Agriculture handbook 674. Forest Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture, pp 1–70

  • Landis TD, Van Steenis E (2004) Macronutrients. Phosphorus. In: Forest Nursery Notes. Summer 2004. USDA Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Section. R6-CP-TP-07-04, pp 6–14

  • Larsen HS, South DB, Boyer JM (1986) Root growth potential, seedling morphology and bud dormancy correlate with survival of loblolly pine seedlings. Tree Physiol 1:253–263

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen HS, South DB, Boyer JN (1988) Foliar nitrogen content at lifting correlates with early growth of loblolly pine seedlings from twenty nurseries. S J Appl For 12(3):181–185

    Google Scholar 

  • MAPA (1989) Mapa de suelos. Escala 1:100.000. Carboneras (1046) ICONA. Universidad de Granada

  • Marschner H (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro R, Villar-Salvador P, del Campo A (2006) Morfología y establecimiento de los plantones. In: Cortina J, Peñuelas JL, Puértolas J, Savé J, Vilagrosa A (eds) Calidad de planta forestal para la restauración en ambientes mediterráneos degradados. Estado actual de conocimientos. Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid, pp 67–88

  • Ne’eman G, Trabaud L (2000) Ecology, biogeography and management of Pinus halepensis and P. brutia forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin. Backhuys Publishers, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliet J, Planelles R, López Arias M, Artero F (1997) Efecto de la fertilización en vivero sobre la supervivencia en plantación de Pinus halepensis. Cuad SECF 4:69–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliet J, Segura ML, Martin F, Blanco E, Serrada R, López Arias M, Artero F (1999) Los fertilizantes de liberación controlada lenta aplicados a la producción de planta forestal de vivero. Efecto de dosis y formulaciones sobre la calidad de Pinus halepensis Mill. Invest Agr Sist Recur For 8(1):207–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliet J, Planelles R, López Arias M, Artero F (2000) Efecto de la fertilización en vivero y del uso de protectores en plantación sobre la supervivencia y el crecimiento durante seis años de una repoblación de Pinus halepensis. Cuad SECF 10:69–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliet J, Planelles R, Segura ML, Artero F, Jacobs DF (2004) Mineral nutrition and growth of containerized Pinus halepensis seedlings under controlled-release fertilization. Sci Hortic (Amsterdam) 103(1):113–129. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2004.04.019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliet J, Planelles R, Artero F, Jacobs D (2005) Nursery fertilization and tree shelters affect long-term field response of Acacia salicina Lindl. Planted in Mediterranean semiarid conditions. For Ecol Manage 215(1–3):339–351. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2005.05.024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peñuelas J, Ocaña L (1996) Cultivo de plantas forestales en contenedor. MAPA. Mundi Prensa, Madrid

  • Puértolas J, Gil L, Pardos JA (2003) Effects of nutritional status and seedling size on field performance of Pinus halepensis planted on former arable land in the Mediterranean basin. Forestry 76(2):159–168. doi:10.1093/forestry/76.2.159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Querejeta JI, Roldán A, Albaladejo J, Castillo V (2001) Soil water availability improved by site preparation in a Pinus halepensis afforestation under semiarid climate. For Ecol Manage 149(1–3):115–128. doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00549-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Querejeta JI, Barberá GG, Granados A, Castillo VM (2008) Afforestation method affects the isotopic composition of planted Pinus halepensis in a semiarid region of Spain. For Ecol Manage 254(1):56–64. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.07.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rook DA (1991) Seedling development and physiology in relation to mineral nutrition. In: van den Driessche R (ed) Mineral nutrition in conifer seedlings. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 86–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose R, Ketchum JS (2003) Interaction of initial seedling diameter, fertilization and weed control on Douglas-Fir growth over the first four years after planting. Ann Sci 60(7):625–635. doi:10.1051/forest:2003055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth BE, Newton M (1996) Survival and growth of Douglas-Fir relating to weeding, fertilization and seed source. West J Appl For 11(2):62–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Royo A, Gil L, Pardos JA (2001) Effect of water stress conditioning on morphology, physiology and field performance of Pinus halepensis Mill. seedlings. New For 21(2):127–140. doi:10.1023/A:1011892732084

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz de la Torre J (1990) Mapa forestal de España. Hoja 6-11 (Almería). Memoria. MAPA-ICONA, Madrid

  • Sit V (1995) Analyzing ANOVA Designs. Biom. Info. Hand. 5. Res. Br., B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C. Work. Pap. 07/1995

  • South DB (2000) Planting morphologically improved pine seedlings to increase survival and growth. Forestry and wildlife series No. 1. Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University

  • South DB, Mitchell RJ (1999) Determining the “optimum” slash pine seedling size for use with four levels of vegetation management on a flatwoods site in Georgia, U.S.A. Can J Res 29(7):1039–1046. doi:10.1139/cjfr-29-7-1039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • South DB, Skinner MF (1998) Nursery stock and field fertiliser application affect early performance of Pinus radiata on a phosphorous deficient site in Northland. N Z J For Sci 28(3):361–372

    Google Scholar 

  • South DB, Zwolinsky JB (1997) Transplant stress index: a proposed method of quantifying planting check. New For 13(1–3):315–328. doi:10.1023/A:1006546627342

    Google Scholar 

  • South DB, Rakestraw JL, Lowerts GA (2001) Early gains from planting large diameter seedlings and intensive management are additive for loblolly pine. New For 22(1–2):97–110. doi:10.1023/A:1012097924355

    Google Scholar 

  • South DB, Harrisa SW, Barnett JP, Hainds MJ, Gjerstad DH (2005) Effect of container type and seedling size on survival and early height growth of Pinus palustris seedlings in Alabama, USA. For Ecol Manage 204(2–3):385–398. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.09.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson B (1985) Seedling morphological evaluation. What can you tell by looking. In: Duryea ML (ed) Evaluating seedling quality: principles, procedures and predictive abilities of major test. Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, pp 59–69

  • Timmer VR, Armstrong G (1987) Diagnosing nutritional status of containerized tree seedlings: comparative plant analysis. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51:1082–1086

    Google Scholar 

  • Trubat R, Cortina J, Vilagrosa A (2008) Short-term nitrogen deprivation increases field performance in nursery seedlings of Mediterranean woody species. J Arid Environ 72:879–890. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.11.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuttle CL, South DB, Golden MS, Meldahl RS (1988) Initial Pinus taeda seedling height relationships with early survival and growth. Can J Res 18(7):867–871. doi:10.1139/x88-133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Driessche R (1980) Effects of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilization on Douglas-Fir nursery growth and survival after outplanting. Can J Res 10(1):65–70. doi:10.1139/x80-011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Den Driessche R (1985) Late-season fertilization, mineral nutrient reserves, and retranslocation in planted Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings. For Sci 31:485–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Den Driessche R (1987) Importance of current photosyntate to new root growth in planted conifer seedlings. Can J Res 17:776–782. doi:10.1139/x87-124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villar-Salvador P (2003) Importancia de la calidad de planta en los proyectos de revegetación. In: Rey Benayas JM, Espigares T, Nicolau JM (eds) Restauración de ecosistemas mediterráneos. Colección Aula Abierta. Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, pp 65–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar-Salvador P, Ocaña L, Peñuelas JL, Carrasco I (1999) Effects of water stress conditioning on the water relations, root growth capacity, and the nitrogen an non-structural carbohydrate concentration of Pinus halepensis Mill. (Aleppo pine) seedlinds. Ann Sci 56:459–465. doi:10.1051/forest:19990602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villar-Salvador P, Planelles R, Enriquez E, Peñuelas JL (2004) Nursery cultivation regimes, plant functional attributes, and field performance relationships in the Mediterranean oak Quercus ilex L. For Ecol Manage 196(2–3):257–266. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.02.061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villar-Salvador P, Puértolas J, Peñuelas JL, Planelles R (2005) Effect of nitrogen fertilization in the nursery on the drought and frost resistance of Mediterranean forest species. Invest Agr Sist Recur For 14(3):408–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar-Salvador P, Valladares F, Domínguez-Lerena S, Ruiz-Díez B, Fernández-Pascual M, Delgado A, Peñuelas JL (2008) Functional traits related to seedling performance in the Mediterranean leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa: insights from a provenance, fertilization, and rhizobial inoculation study. Environ Exp Bot 64:145–154. doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2008.04.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zas R, Serrada R (2003) Foliar nutrient status and nutritional relationships of young Pinus radiata D. Don plantations in north-west Spain. For Ecol Manage 174(1–3):167–176. doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00027-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA, Spanish Department of Science and Innovation) through the projects SC-94111 and OT98-001. An Associate Editor and two anonymous reviewers helped to considerably improve an earlier version of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ETS, Ingenieros de Montes, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Juan A. Oliet

  2. EUIT Forestal, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Rosa Planelles

  3. Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria, Carretera de La Coruña, km 7.5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco Artero

  4. ETS, Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes, Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Rosario Valverde

  5. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2061, USA

    Douglass F. Jacobs

  6. IFAPA, Centro La Mojonera, Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa. Junta de Andalucía, Camino San Nicolás no. 1, 04745, La Mojonera, Almería, Spain

    Maria L. Segura

Authors
  1. Juan A. Oliet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rosa Planelles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francisco Artero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rosario Valverde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Douglass F. Jacobs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Maria L. Segura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan A. Oliet.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oliet, J.A., Planelles, R., Artero, F. et al. Field performance of Pinus halepensis planted in Mediterranean arid conditions: relative influence of seedling morphology and mineral nutrition. New Forests 37, 313–331 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-008-9126-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-008-9126-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation