Growth and gas exchange of different ponderosa pine stock types on dry sites

Abstract

Successful seedling establishment following outplanting relies heavily on a seedling's ability to access soil moisture. In the Inland Northwest USA, the summer season brings drought conditions causing low soil moisture in the upper soil profile - a potentially large barrier to seedling establishment. During the 2007 growing season, three studies examined the survival, growth, and gas exchange attributes of several ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws.) stock types on two forest sites and on a drought stress experimental plot. These studies examined the advantages of seedling container type and their relationship to overcoming site limiting factors, such as soil moisture. The studies were unique in that they used seedlings cultured specifically to their container types to achieve uniformity in nutrition and water use efficiency, something previous studies failed to address.

Citation

Pinto, Jeremiah Ray. 2009. Growth and gas exchange of different ponderosa pine stock types on dry sites. Boise, ID: University of Idaho. Dissertation. 78 p.