Effects of shortleaf pine seedling stock (bareroot vs containerized) on growth and survival in the absence and presence of fire
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2019-07
Authors
Advisors
Journal Title
Series/Report No.
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The survival and growth of containerized and bareroot shortleaf pine seedlings were compared in this study at 3 and 4 years of age (2 years and 3 years in the ground respectively). The following questions were the focus of this study:
1. Which stock type has higher survival in the absence of fire?
2. Which stock type has higher survival in the presence of fire?
3. Which stock type has greater ground-line diameter in the absence of fire?
4. Which stock type has greater ground-line diameter in the presence of fire?
5. Which stock type has greater height in the absence of fire?
6. Which stock type has greater height in the presence of fire?
7. Which stock type has the greater volume in the absence of fire?
8. Which stock type has the greater volume in the presence of fire?
9. Which stock type has the greater growth in ground-line diameter between the time of planting and the burn?
10. Which stock type has the greater growth in height between the time of planting and the burn?
11. Which stock type has the greater growth in volume between the time of planting and the burn?
From this study, containerized had the higher survival at 93% in the absence of fire. The bareroot seedlings had a survival of 87% in the absence of fire. When fire was introduced to the site, the bareroot seedlings had the higher survival at 70%. The containerized seedlings had a survival rate of 61% after the end of the first growing season following the prescribed burn. The average ground level diameter (GLD) for containerized was 11.3 mm and 14.5 mm for bareroot before the burn. The p-value was <0.00001. The average GLD after the burn was 5.1 mm for containerized and 6.1 mm for bareroot. The p-value was 0.000257. The average height before the burn was 62.1 cm for containerized and 73.5 cm for bareroot. The p-value was <0.00001. The average height after the burn was 42.0 cm for containerized and 46.6 cm for bareroot. The p-value was 0.000407. The average volume before the burn was 107.7 cm3 for containerized and 205.2 cm3 for bareroot. The p-value was 0.000798. The average volume after the burn was 17.1 cm3 for containerized and 40.0 cm3 for bareroot. The p-value was 0.008943. Before the burn, containerized seedlings had a
3
higher survival, likely due to the lack of root disturbance at time of planting. The bareroot seedlings had a greater average GLD, height, and volume. After the burn, the bareroot seedlings had the higher survival and average GLD, height, and volume. The higher survival of bareroot seedlings after the burn is likely explained by their larger diameters, heights, and biomass volume.
