Influence of different nursery container media on rooting of Scots pine and silver birch seedlings after transplanting

Abstract

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) seedlings were grown in containers filled with growth media based on medium-textured sphagnum peat, coarse perlite and fine sand. The seedlings were then planted into fine and coarse sandy soils in 2.2 l pots, which were subjected to two water-content treatments (only one for birch). After the seedlings had grown five weeks in a greenhouse, rooting into the surrounding soil and shoot growth were measured. Addition of perlite and sand to peat medium slightly affected rooting; thus suggesting minor effects on seedling establishment. However, nitrogen concentration of the seedlings varied between growth media and correlated positively with rooting into the soil. The particle size and water content of the soil affected considerably rooting of the seedlings. Seedling height at the time of planting did not affect rooting or shoot growth. The fact that the fewest out-grown roots occurred in the dry fine sandy soil, suggests that dry soil together with high strength and resistance to root penetration reduce rooting and water uptake by container seedlings most and may thus cause water and nutrient stresses to seedlings after outplanting.