Forestry Technology #2
Essentials of Good Planting stock
The extent of the world land base that is being reforested or afforested is significant and is growing still. Unfortunately, several of these efforts are wasted in planting poor quality trees. While some problems are beyond the forester's control--poor weather, insect attacks, disease outbreaks, animal browse, and the like--others fall within the forester's influence. Two such areas are seed collection (which was dealt with in Forestry Technology #1 -- the previous issue of this Bulletin) and planting stock preparation and selection. Measures outlined in this bulletin provide basic guidelines that will help the forester ensure a cost-effective means of producing high quality seedlings.
The basic goal of having quality seedlings is to achieve the best growth possible and
have the highest amount of desired outputs. Outputs can be timber, food, fuel, fodder or
other uses such as site improvement. Seedling quality is gauged by two factors: one, by
the genetic make-up of the parent stock and secondly by the physical growth, which is
influenced by the seedling's immediate environment (i.e., nursery conditions and
practices).
Selection for desirable genetic traits takes place in the field at seed collection sites.
When done properly, field selection will provide the best possible seeds, containing the
desired inherent traits seen in the parent stock. Care in seed selection and collection
will also reduce the amount of undesirable stock coming from physically poor or damaged
seed. Aside from genetic traits, a seedling also displays physical traits including
sturdiness, good form, health and vigor. Many of these traits, which are affected by
nursery practices, are within the forester's control.
Nursery-grown stock requires investment in infrastructure, staff training and skilled
management. The level of these costs relate to the type of nursery stock produced, species
growth responses and the number of trees produced. But, the potential benefits of good
nursery practices far outweigh their costs. For instance, properly developed seedlings
stand a better chance of survival both in the nursery and when replanted in the field.
In the long term, quality stock will also produce a faster, higher return for the desired
outputs. These outputs may include products such as fuelwood, building materials,
industrial cellulose, animal fodder, erosion control, and soil and microclimate
improvement. Given these benefits, seedling costs are a small portion of the end-product
value of plantations. Conversely, slackened efforts at ensuring stock quality will result
in lost opportunity throughout the life of the plantation. Low-quality seedlings will
experience slow growth after transplanting and add to weeding and maintenance costs. In
addition, the trees will be less able to resist disease and insects and will have smaller
product yields.
Poor plant quality will result in uneven development throughout the nursery and increase
costs through excessive culling needs. In addition, suboptimal quality will increase the
risk of losing the seedlings, requiring a renewed effort or, at worse, cancel the project
due to lack of adequate seedlings.
Regardless of the size of the tree planting effort, several common techniques can be
applied to ensure the best planting stock quality possible. The techniques are applicable
across a wide range of climate and soil variations.
The application of good practices must begin when the project, large or small, is planned
and must continue through to outplanting in the field. In all cases, everything that can
be done, should be done, within reasonable limits of time and capital constraints.
To ensure quality stock, a series of steps must be followed beginning with the planning
stages and carrying through to outplanting in the field. Oftentimes foresters or nursery
managers focus their efforts on only a few steps of the process. Under such circumstances,
nursery stock may still grow. But the omission of any steps will slow the seedlings'
progress and produce stock of suboptimum quality.
Such marginal results are unacceptable in light of the time and costs required to produce
a forest crop. In fact, the best nursery managers take the trouble to visit field
plantations and take pride in the way their plants have responded to the harshness of the
real world. To ensure quality stock, a series of steps must be followed, beginning with
the planning stages and carrying through to outplanting in the field.
Lack of knowledge may be the greatest hindrance to producing consistent quality in growing stock. Indeed, due to the rapidly expanding planting programs, many foresters have never seen a truly high-quality seedling population. Small-scale projects that have minimal resources are particularly vulnerable to lack of proper information for nursery planning, management, operations, and problem solving. Such information voids may be further compounded by inexperienced labor or lack of supervisory skills. Again, because of the lengthy time frame involved between field planting and harvesting, there is little room for error or omission in nurseries.
The forester must keep the primary objective in mind: to grow the best possible uniform
seedlings, for the highest plantation outputs, for the least possible cost. Of course,
cost and seedling quality must be carefully balanced. The best plants are derived from
consistent nursery practices that produce uniform growth throughout the seedling crop.
Such practices include all the elements involved in nursery operations--watering, soil
mixes, root pruning, weeding, and the like. The demands of planting schedules alone leave
little room for inconsistencies. For example, if seedling growth is not carefully
monitored, so that abnormalities can be detected and corrected, seedling development may
vary widely.
As a result, some stock may be underdeveloped when planting season arrives and the
opportunity for using the stock will be lost. Moreover, it is a fallacy to believe
increased watering or fertilization schedules can correct the inadequacies of genetically
poor stock that appears underdeveloped. A nursery manager can compound the problem
if he keeps these underdeveloped seedlings for later use when "they are big
enough." This is wrong. Never plant seedlings which have been held back for extra
time.
What does good planting stock look like?
The prime targets are plant uniformity and health. Uniformity means there are few
differences from plant to plant in height, stem thickness, the number and relative size of
leaves. Health refers to both color and damage. Leaf and stem colors are often
characteristic for a species and damage should be easily identified because parts may be
eaten by insects or discolored by fungi.
To be successful, nursery establishment and operations must be well coordinated efforts
that flow smoothly from one step to the next. Each step relates to the plants' needs in
order for them to produce the best possible growth when outplanted. Proper planning and
plant monitoring are vital to that effort. Without a clear plan to guide him, the forester
can quickly fall behind schedule if unforeseen factors demand his immediate attention.
The following sections detail a three-part planning guide to raising quality seedling
stock. The sections review container types, planning the nursery, and organizing its
operations.
For decades tree nursery managers and organizations worldwide have relied heavily on
plastic pots or poly-bags because of their low cost, apparent simplicity and convenience.
However, this simplicity can be deceiving because management of poly-bag plants requires
intensive supervision and care. Such containers have inherent problems, which may not
appear in out-planted trees until several years after a plantation has been established.
Most notably, poly-bags hinder proper root development, including lateral roots, and tend
to produce spiraled roots. The result is restricted growth, poor resistance to stress and
windthrow and, in some cases, early demise due to ensnarled root masses or pathogens. Poor
management practices, such as improper potting mediums, uneven watering and lack of root
pruning, further stress the plants.
One corrective measure is the use of root trainer systems. These systems use rigid or
semi-rigid containers with internal vertical ribs, which direct root growth straight down
rather than permitting spiral growth. The containerized plants are set on frames above the
ground resulting in air-pruning of roots as they emerge from the containers. Equally
important, the latest containers are designed to encourage lateral root development. The
lateral roots exit the container and are controlled either by air or chemical pruning.
Studies have shown that root trainer-grown seedlings have more vigorous and rapid root
growth than seedlings grown in poly-bags. Outplanting survival is greatly increased and,
more important, long-term survival is ensured. Root trainer systems produce further
benefits in simplifying nursery operations such as disease and insect control,
transportation and handling, and monitoring and sampling. Also, the reusability of root
trainer containers offsets their initial higher costs when compared to poly-bags. But
note, when considering the root trainer system, the nursery manager should recognize that
all nursery practices may need to be redeveloped to meet the container's use requirements.
Root trainers are not simply a different type of container, but an entire cultural system
that must be adhered to for success.
Depending on the type and duration of the project, tree nurseries may be either
temporary or permanent. Temporary sites are preferred for small, short-term projects, such
as establishing erosion control in a limited area or planting windbreaks for a set of
fields. In this case, nursery construction can be done on a small scale using such
disposable materials as cut thorn bushes for protective fencing. However, the same level
of attention is required for the plants' needs regardless of nursery size.
Permanent nurseries supply seedlings for ongoing programs like area reforestation,
commercial plantations, village shade trees, fuelwood plantations, or agroforestry. In
either case, the forester or nursery manager must consider where the nursery will be
located in relation to the total planting area. Ideally, the nursery should be built in a
central location with easy access to the desired project sites. Other factors include
access to roads for transportation of seedlings, people and supplies. An ample, reliable
and consistent water source must be located nearby. And, if possible, the site should be
near a settled area to have a source of workers, materials and for security.
The area should be level, or have a slight slope for water drainage. Basins or other low
areas should be avoided as these will collect water at the low points and inhibit proper
growth. Low areas also tend to have more insect and disease problems.
Different types of nurseries require different site selection factors. Bare-root
nurseries need to be carefully located in suitable soils to provide for optimum root
development and growth. Loose, deep sandy clay loam soils are preferred. Also, a system
for proper drainage is essential in preventing root growth stagnation due to standing
water. When faced with growing bare-root stock in poor soil areas, some measures can be
taken. Poor soils may be too hard for water to penetrate, too sandy to retain water, or
are nutrient poor.
Soil improvement includes loosening the soil either manually or mechanically to allow for
better water penetration and absorption. Additionally, compost materials made from
decaying vegetation and animal manure will provide nutrients and help keep the soil loose
and aerated.
In comparison, containerized nurseries are easier to locate because the potting medium can
be brought in from a number of sources. It can be either mixed on or off-site with the
required ingredients.
A simple test for hand texturing soils
To identify soils, a simple test can be done using just a small soil sample that is
squeezed between the thumb and forefinger.
A sandy loam soil contains much sand, but has enough silt and clay to make it somewhat
cohesive. Individual sand grains can be felt and seen. Squeezed when dry, the sample will
form a cast that readily falls apart. Squeezed when moist, a cast can be formed that will
bear careful handling without breaking.
A loam soil contains a relatively even mixture of different grades of sand, silt and clay.
It is somewhat gritty yet fairly smooth to the feel. Squeezed when dry, it will form a
cast that can be handled quite freely without breaking.
When moist, clay soils can be squeezed into ribbons that are long and flexible. Such soils
must be avoided as they will inhibit proper root development and moisture absorption.
Essential parts of the nursery layout include a water storage source and location with
siltation facilities if needed, shade for young seedlings (and nursery workers), adequate
space for nursery beds and pathways, driveways and turnaround areas, storage areas for
tools and equipment, soil mix stockpiles, fencing, gates, fire buffers and clear areas.
When planning any nursery it is important to have a "materials-flow-chart" or
plan indicating how materials enter the nursery, how they move within the nursery and how
they leave the nursery. Basic materials are: water, tools, seed, containers, potting
mixture ingredients, etc. In addition, the site should also have additional areas set
aside for expansion if demand increases and for cutting orchards if vegetatively
propagated planting stock is to be raised. For containerized nurseries, pots are best
arranged on raised beds with side supports for the plants. However, if ground-level beds
are chosen they should be of gravel or some free-draining material. Pots can be placed in
rows of 12 to 15 pots wide, depending on pot diameter, or an easy arm's reach to the
center of the bed to facilitate weeding and other operations.
However, as discussed in the previous section, the use of plastic pots, or poly-bags, is
highly discouraged as several serious problems may arise. Such problems could place any
project in jeopardy at the nursery stage or even a much later date. For best results, root
trainers are the preferred method. Root trainers are more than just a simple container,
but include an entire system that promotes proper root development and growth. When root
trainers are used the beds can be raised well above the ground to facilitate aerial root
pruning and easier growth monitoring.