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Influence of initial age and size on the field performance of Larix olgensis seedlings

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Abstract

Quality of seedlings is important for the success of plantations. The field performance of five stock types of Olga Bay larch (Larix olgensis Henry) seedlings three seasons after planting was evaluated. High survival rates were achieved for all five types of planting stock in the first-year growing season when weeds were controlled. In the second and third-year growing seasons, significant differences were observed in survival rates among different stocktypes. The 1 + 1 type of Olga Bay larch seedling demonstrated better survival than 1 + 0 type of seedlings. 1 + 1 seedlings with diameter larger than 5.0 mm as well as 1 + 0 seedlings with diameter larger than 4.5 mm were suitable for reforestation. The 1 + 1 stocktype with a root collar diameter between 6.0 and 7.5 mm was considered optimal for the establishment of fast-growing and high-yield plantations. The number of lateral roots > 1 cm in length was the best predictor of field performance, however, the number of first order lateral roots with diameter > 1 mm at the tap root junction (FOLR (D > 1 mm)) was more feasible and sufficiently reliable to predict the field performance of the deciduous conifers. The initial height and root collar diameter of seedlings showed a significant correlation with the field performance for both 1 + 1 and 1 + 0 seedlings in the first and second-year growing seasons and thus can be adopted as an indicator for predicting potential field performance of seedlings.

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Acknowledgments

The study was founded by the “11th Five-Year Plan” National Key Technology and R&D Program (Grant No. 2006BAD24B01) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Contract No. BLJD200905). We thank Ms. Qian Qian Zhang for her assistance in data analysis, Mr. Richard R. Faltonson for editing in English, and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, 100083, Beijing, China

    G. L. Li, Y. Liu, Y. Zhu, J. Yang, H. Y. Sun, Z. K. Jia & L. Y. Ma

  2. Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, 100083, Beijing, China

    G. L. Li, Y. Liu, Y. Zhu, J. Yang, H. Y. Sun, Z. K. Jia & L. Y. Ma

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  1. G. L. Li
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  2. Y. Liu
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Correspondence to Y. Liu.

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Li, G.L., Liu, Y., Zhu, Y. et al. Influence of initial age and size on the field performance of Larix olgensis seedlings. New Forests 42, 215–226 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-011-9248-x

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