Survival and growth of outplanted seedlings of selected tree species on the High Tatra Mts. windthrow area after the first growing season

Abstract

Bareroot and containerized seedlings (seedling type) of Norway spruce, Scots pine, European larch, European beech, and sycamore maple were outplanted in autumn 2008 and in spring 2009. Roots of a half of the seedlings were dipped into the commercial fungal product Ectovit prior to spring outplanting. Fifty seedlings were planted for each tree species and seedling type in each of 3 treatments (Autumn, Spring, Spring+Ectovit) and 3 replications (4,500 seedlings in total). Eighty-one per cent of containerized and 75% of bareroot seedlings (most - 89% of bareroot spruce, least - 59% of bareroot pine seedlings) survived after the first growing season. Planting time and Ectovit did not have a marked effect on survival, with the exception of the lower survival of containerized beech and spruce in autumn than in spring. The most extensive damage caused by game and mechanical weed control was found out in both broadleaves; most of the dry leading shoots occurred in beech. Besides beech, higher annual height increment of seedlings was observed in autumn than in spring planting time. Effect of Ectovit on seedling growth was not obvious.