Soil preparation is a common practice that precedes outplanting of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) in boreal forests. It has been proven to enhance the survival and early growth of seedlings. Containerized P. abies and P. sylvestris saplings were excavated 1-3 years after outplanting in clear cut forests across Latvia. The excavated saplings were grown in forests that had been prepared either using site mounding or disc trenching soil preparation method. The aim was to determine the effects of soil preparation method used on the root depth, dry mass and orientation. Saplings are forming deeper root system that expand evenly when planted on mounds, yet the root dry mass was not affected by soil preparation method or soil type. Seedlings planted in trenched sites formed two-sided root system, parallel to the furrow. No correlation between roots growing direction and cardinal points was found.
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