Abstract
Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) seedlings were raised for 22 weeks in tubes of both plain kraft paper and kraft paper with a thin polyethylene film coating on one side. Some containers of each type were made from paper impregnated with cupric sulfide. Both copper-impregnated and untreated kraft paper decomposed completely within three months. Roots of adjacent seedlings in untreated paper tubes, without a polyethylene coating, became extensively intermeshed and could not be separated without damage. Root intermeshing did not occur among seedlings raised in tubes of untreated polyethylene coated paper, but the polyethylene barrier caused root spiralling. Although impregnating the containers with cupric sulfide did not prevent paper decomposition, it prevented root spiralling in paper tubes with a polyethylene coating, and root intermeshing by adjacent seedlings in paper tubes without a polyethylene coating.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bell, T.I.W. 1978. The effect of seedling container restrictions on the development of Pinus Caribaea roots. pp. 91–95, In E. Van Eerden and J.M. Kinghorn (Eds.) Proc. Root Form of Planted Trees Symposium, Victoria, British Columbia. Ministry of Forests/Canadian Forestry Service Joint Report No. 8, 357 pp.
Barnett J.P. and J.M. McGilivray. 1974. copper screen controls root growth and increases survival of containerized southern pine seedlings. Tree Planters' Notes 25 (12): 11–12.
Burdett A.N. 1978. Control of root morphogenesis for improved mechanical stability in container-grown lodgepole pine. Can. J. For. Res. 8: 483–486.
Burdett A.N. 1979. New methods for measuring root growth capacity: their value in assessing lodgepole pine stock quality. Can. J. For. Res. 9:63–67.
Burdett, A.N., H. Coates, R. Eremco, and P.A.F. Martin. 1986. Toppling in British Columbia lodgepole pine plantations: cause, significance and prevention. The For. Chron. (in press).
Burdett A.N. and P.A.F. Martin. 1982. Chemical root pruning of coniferous seedlings. HortScience 17 (4): 622–624.
Dong, H. 1985. Container nursery methods for producing seedlings of Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) and oriental arborvitae (Thuja orientalis (L.) Franco). M.F. thesis, Univ. of British Columbia, Canada, 151 pp.
Kinghorn, J.M. 1974. Principles and concepts in container planting. pp. 8–18. In Proc. North American containerized forest tree seedling symposium, Great Plains Agric. Council Publ. 68, Denver CO, 458 pp.
McDonald, S.E. 1981. Root development control measures for ponderosa pine seedling growth in containers. Ph.D. thesis, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, 178 pp.
McDonald S.E., R.W. Tinus and C.P.P. Reid. 1984. Modification of ponderosa pine root systems in containers. J. Environ. Hort. 2 (1): 1–5.
Nussbau J.J. 1969. Chemical pinching of roots of container plants. Calif. Agric. 23 (10): 16–18.
Pellet H., M. Litzow and L. Mainquist. 1980. Use of metal compounds as root pruning agents. HortScience 15: 308–309.
Ruehle J.L. 1985. The effect of cupric carbonate on root morphology of containerized mycorrhizal pine seedlings. Can. J. For. Res. 15: 586–592.
Saul G.H. 1968. Copper safely controls roots of tubed seedlings. Tree Planters' Notes 19 (1): 7–9.
Sjoberg, N.E. 1974. The Styroblock container system. pp. 217–228, In Proc. North American containerized forest tree seedling symposium, Great Plains Agric. Council Publ. 68, Denver, CO, 458 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dong, H., Burdett, A.N. Chemical root pruning of Chinese pine seedlings raised in cupric sulfide impregnated paper containers. New Forest 1, 67–73 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028122
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028122