Quercus rugosa Née seedling quality in a forest nursery

Abstract

Mexico is the world's richest country in Quercus species, but there is very scarce research on how to produce it in forest nurseries as well as in seedling quality indicators. The objective was to establish seedling morphological, physiological and root growth potential quality indicators, and to determine the best container size to produce the species in the nursery in a randomized blocks experimental design. Were measured morphological, physiological (nutrient concentration, hydric stress) and was performed a root growth potential test. The big containers produced plant with the highest caliper (4.5 mm), height (24.4 cm), total dry weight (4.3 g); as well as Dickson index (0.6) and slenderness coefficient (5.7), without differences with the medium size container but higher than the small one. No differences were found for the shoot/root ratio (average of 1.4). Neither for the foliar nutrient concentration with the following averages: N (1.3 %), P (0.15 %), K (1 %), Ca (0.67 %), Mg (0.45 %), Fe (88.9 ppm), Cu (12 ppm), Zn (104.7 ppm), Mn (102 ppm) and B (55 ppm). There were no differences among treatments for hydric stress, but there were towards time: 0.58 MPa (3 d), 0.89 MPa (7 d) and 2.74 MPa (11 d). The plant from bigger containers emitted more new roots (average of 65.7) and is better for reforestation. The seedling quality indicators obtained in this study may be useful for the studied species and for others of the genus.