Measuring the response of conifer seedlings to soil compaction stress

Howard G. Halverson; Robert P. Zisa

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-509

Treesearch

Measuring the response of conifer seedlings to soil compaction stress

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Howard G. Halverson, Robert P. Zisa

Year:

1982

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-509

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-509. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiement Station. 6p.

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Abstract

A test of seedling growth response to several levels of soil compaction showed that root penetration depth was best correlated with soil compaction. Shoot biomass, root biomass, root elongation, and seedling height were not well correlated with compaction. The results reveal that most measurements of growth do not give a good indication of seedling response to stresses induced by compaction. In fact, selecting a growth measurement to determine seedling response may require a separate test. There were good partial correlations between mean seedling height and all other measures of growth, but relationships must be developed for each growth response. When the relationships are known, mean seedling height can be used to predict the mean value of any of the other growth variables.

Keywords

urban trees, growth form, soil properties

Citation

Halverson, Howard G.; Zisa, Robert P. 1982. Measuring the response of conifer seedlings to soil compaction stress. Res. Pap. NE-509. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiement Station. 6p.