Effect of desiccation on the root system of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) seedlings and a possibility of using hydrogel STOCKOSORB^®for its protection

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aims of this study were: 1. to determine the effect of desiccation treatment on the physiological quality of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) seedlings by measurements of electrolyte leakage from the root system; b) to test the use of hydrogel STOCKOSORB ® for protection of the root system of spruce seedlings during their transplanting. The results showed that desiccation treatment significantly affected the rate of electrolyte leakage (34% leakage for control seedlings and 53% in contrast with seedlings after 5 hours of desiccation). Likewise, significant differences were found in height and root collar increments after the first vegetation period that decreased with the duration of desiccation treatment. The values of electrolyte leakage also increased with the duration of desiccation treatment for seedlings treated with hydrogel. On the other hand, the rate of electrolyte leakage was lower after 5 hours of stress factor than in untreated seedlings. The height and root collar increments were higher in seedlings treated with hydrogel for all variants. The obtained results showed a possibility of using the measurement of electrolyte leakage from the root system to determine the physiological quality of Norway spruce seedlings. The rate of electrolyte leakage over 40% signals the physiological damage to the root system of spruce seedlings. Next, the results confirmed the need of protection of seedling roots during handling. The seedlings without hydrogel had 35% height and 26% root collar diameter increment after two-hour desiccation stress. On the other hand, the same seedlings with STOCKOSORB had 42% height and 48% root collar increment.Keywords: desiccation; electrolyte leakage; hydrogel STOCKOSORB ® ; root system; spruce seedlings JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, 49, 2003 (11) and store up to 400 times their own weight of water, and therefore they reduce the water stress for trees. These hydrogels are frequently used for afforestation in semi-arid areas (ROLDAN et al. 1996;TOGNETTI et al. 1997). On the other hand, there is little available information about the use of these hydrogels in the environmental conditions in Central Europe.:The aims of this study were: -to determine the effect of desiccation on the physiological quality of spruce seedlings by measurements of electrolyte leakage from the root system, -to test the use of these hydrogels STOCKOSORB ® for protection of the root system of spruce seedlings during transplanting. MATERIAL AND METHODS Assessment of desiccation effect on the physiological quality of seedlingsNorway spruce (Picea abies [L]. Karst.) three-year bare-rooted seedlings that were cultivated in a forest nursery of Forest Research Institute in Zvolen were used in this study.On the 25 th March 2002 the seedlings were lifted from nursery beds and biometrical traits were measured (height 19.2 cm; diameter of root collar 3.2 mm). The seedlings did not show any visual marks of physiological activity (bud break). Directly after lifting, a desiccation test was carried out. The ...

Using hydrogel and clay to improve the water status of seedlings for dryland restoration

“…This result was closely dependent on the concentration of hydrogel (Hüttermann et al 1999 (80:20) amended with 0.4% hydrogel showed a significantly higher survival rate than seedlings grown in a control substrate, i.e., 67% and 33% respectively (Arbona et al 2005). Other studies have also reported positive results, e.g., the use of hydrogel to protect the root system of Picea abies seedlings during transplanting (Sarvaš 2003), the coating of seeds with hydrogel to increase seedling emergence and field performance in Agropyron cristatum (Mangold and Sheley 2007), and the immersing of the root plug in a saturated hydrogel solution to increase survival in Eucalyptus pilularis and Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata (Thomas 2008).…”

Effets de l’hydrogel sur la survie et la croissance des plantules d’arganier sur une parcelle de régénération en climat aride.

“…Quoique statistiquement non significatif (P = 0,080), un gain de 8,08 % sur le taux de survie a été observé pour les plants en sol amendé par rapport au témoin. Certains travaux ont conclu que l'application du PSA n'a eu aucun effet sur la survie de plusieurs essences forestières en climat tempéré (Sarvas, 2003 ;Böhlenius et Övergaard, 2014). D'autres études, ont montré que l'amendement du sol en PSA a permis de prolonger la survie des plantules de 9 essences forestières sur différents de sols et dans des conditions de stress hydrique (Agaba et al, 2010).…”

“…Neuf mois après la plantation, l'amendement du sol en PSA a permis de multiplier par 2,1 fois le diamètre au collet moyen des arganiers par rapport à sa valeur initiale contre seulement 1,5 fois pour le témoin (Fig.3). Ces résultats confirment les tendances observées pour la croissance en hauteur décrites précédemment et sont conformes à ceux trouvés par Sarvas (2003)…”

Effects of Direct Application of Fertilizers and Hydrogel on the Establishment of Poplar Cuttings

“…Our results do not correspond to other studies on hydrogel during plant establishment. It has earlier been demonstrated that the use of a water-holding gel during the establishment enhanced survival by promoting contact with the transplant roots and the soil or by retaining soil water near the newly planted seedling [22][23][24]. Moreover, application of a hydrogel to eucalyptus seedling root balls proved sufficient to prolong seedling health and survival [18] and during drought conditions, application of a hydrogel improved the growth performance of eucalyptus [25] and citrus [26].…”