Abstract
Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] seedlings were evaluated- by three measurements of seedling quality — root growth potential or RGP, vigor, and plant moisture stress or PMS — and the results were correlated with subsequent field performance. Measurements made by each method were significantly (p≤ 0.05) correlated with first- and second-year survival and terminal height growth. Seedlings from lots that grew many new roots during a 28-day interval in a growth room (RGP evaluation) or that survived for 6 weeks in the growth room and initiated rapid budburst (vigor evaluation) or whose plant moisture stress values remained fairly constant during 1 week after potting (PMS evaluation) had the greatest field survival and height growth.
The RGP evaluation was the best predictor of first-year height growth, while the vigor evaluation was the best predictor of first- and second-year survival. All evaluations predicted second-year height growth equally well.
These results demonstrate that all three evaluations can be successfully used to predict field performance of Douglas-fir seedlings. Each has its advantages and limitations, and none can be considered “best”. The one used should be selected on the basis of time constraints, equipment and resources available, and specific objectives, such as whether it is considered more important to estimate field survival or growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burdett, A.N. 1979. New methods for measuring root growth capacity: their value in assessing lodgepole pine stock quality. Can. J. Forest Res. 9: 63–67.
Burdett, A.N., D.G. Simpson & C.F. Thompson. 1983. Root development and plantation establishment success. Plant Soil 71: 103–110.
Cleary, B.D., R.D. Greaves & R.K. Hermann. 1978. Regenerating Oregon's Forests. Oregon State Univ. Ext. Serv., Corvallis.
Feret, P.P. & R.E. Kreh. 1985. Seedling root growth potential as an indicator of loblolly pine field performance. Forest Sci. 32: 1005–1011.
Feret, P.P., R.E. Kreh & L.E. DeWald. 1985. Root growth potential of stored loblolly pine seedlings. In: E. Shoulders (Ed) Proc. of the Third Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference (pp. 18–24) Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 7–8, 1984. USDA Forest Serv., South. Forest Exp. Sta. New Orleans, Louisiana. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-54.
Hermann, R.K., & D.P. Lavender. 1979. Testing the vigor of coniferous planting stock. Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. Res. Note 63.
Kozlowski, T.T., J.H. Torrie & P.E. Marshall. 1973. Predictability of shoot length from bud size in Pinus resinosa Ait. Can. J. Forest Res. 3: 34–38.
Lavender, D.P., R.K. Hermann & P. Hinz. 1980. Controlled environment facilities for predicting vigor in outplanted Douglas-fir seedlings. In: C.A. Hollis & A.E. Squillace (Eds) Proc. of Fifth North American Forest Biology Workshop (pp. 242–244) Gainesville, Florida, March 1978. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville.
Leaf, A.L., P. Rathakette & F.M. Solan. 1978. Nursery seedling quality in relation to plantation performance. In: E. van Eerden & J.M. Kinghorn (Eds) Proc. of the Root Form of Planted Trees Symposium (pp. 45–51) B.C. Min. Forests/Can. Forestry Serv. Joint Report No. 8.
McCreary, D.D. 1984. Using a pressure chamber to detect damage to seedlings accidentally frozen during cold storage. In: The Challenge of Producing Native Plants for the Intermountain Area (pp. 58–60) Proc. Intermountain Nurseryman's Association 1983 Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 8–11, 1983. USDA Forest Serv., Intermountain Forest and Range Exp. Sta., Ogden, Utah. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-168.
McCreary, D.D. & M.L. Duryea. 1985. OSU vigor test: principles, procedures, and predictive ability. In: M.L. Duryea (Ed) Evaluating Seedling Quality: Principles, Procedures, and Predictive Abilities of Major Tests (pp. 85–92) Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis.
Ritchie, G.A. 1985. Root growth potential: principles, procedures, and predictive ability. In: M.L. Duryea (Ed) Evaluating Seedling Quality: Principles, Procedures, and Predictive Abilities of Major Tests (pp. 93–105) Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis.
Ritchie, G.A. & J.R. Dunlap. 1980. Root growth potential: its development and expression in forest tree seedlings. N.Z.J. Forest Sci. 10: 218–248.
Ritchie, G.A. T.M. Hinckley. 1975. The pressure chamber as an instrument for ecological research. Adv. Ecol. Res. 9: 165–254.
Schmidt-Vogt, H. 1981. Morphological and physiological characteristics of planting stock: Present state of research and research tasks for the future (pp. 433–446) In: Proc. IUFRO XVII World Congress. Kyoto, Japan. Smith, J.H.G. & J. Walters. 1963. Planting-check (reduction in height growth) of planted Douglas-fir seedlings. Univ. of British Columbia Research Notes from Files of Faculty of Forestry. No. 42, Vancouver, Canada.
Stone, E.C. 1955. Poor survival and the physiological condition of planting stock. Forest Sci. 1: 90–94.
Stone. E.C., J.L. Jenkinson & S.L. Krugman. 1962. Root regenerating potential of Douglas-fir seedlings lifted at different times of the year. Forest Sci. 8: 288–297.
Stone, E.C., & G.H. Schubert. 1959a. Seasonal periodicity in root regeneration of ponderosa pine transplants — a physiological condition. In: Proc. of the 1958 SAF National Convention (pp. 154–155) Society of American Foresters. Washington, D.C.
Stone, E.C. & G.H. Schubert. 1959b. The physiological condition of ponderose pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) planting stock as it affects survival after cold storage. J. Forestry 57: 837–841.
Sutton, R.F. 1979. Planting stock quality and grading. Forest Ecol. Manage. 2: 123–132.
Sutton, R.F. 1980. Planting stock quality, root growth capacity and field performance of three boreal conifers. N. Z. J. Forest Sci. 10: 218–248.
Thompson, B.E. 1985. Seedling morphological evaluation — what you can tell by looking. In: M.L. Duryea (Ed) Evaluating Seedling Quality: Principles, Procedures, and Predictive Abilities of Major Tests. (pp. 59–71) Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis.
USDA Forest Service. 1974. Seeds of Woody Plants in the United States. Agric. Handb. Washington, D.C.
Von Althen, F.W. & D.P. Webb. 1978. Effects of root regeneration and time of planting on sugar maple plantation establishment. In: P.E. Pope (Ed) Proc., Central Hardwood Conference II (pp. 401–411) Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, Indiana.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
When this research was conducted, both authors were affiliated with the Department of Forest Science, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. Mention of commercial products does not imply endorsement by Oregon State University. This is Paper 2145 of the Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McCreary, D.D., Duryea, M.L. Predicting field performance of Douglas-fir seedlings: comparison of root growth potential, vigor and plant moisture stress. New Forest 1, 153–169 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118754
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118754