Acorn size is more important than nursery fertilization for outplanting performance of Quercus variabilis container seedlings

Abstract

Small acorns are usually discarded for seedling cultivation because they reduce plant quality. This,however, can potentially reduce genetic diversity of plantations. The use of small acorns will result in the production ofa higher proportion of small seedlings containing low nutrient levels and having poor outplanting performance in oakcontainer seedlings. Nursery fertilization partially offsets the negative effect of small acorns on seedling attributes in thenursery but not on outplanting performance.Small acorns result in low-quality seedlings and so are usually discarded in artificial regeneration programs of oakspecies. This can potentially reduce genetic diversity of plantations. Nursery fertilization may compensate for the low quality of small-acorn seedlings.To assess whether nursery fertilization interacts with Quercus variabilis acorn size to determine seedling morphology and nutrition in the nursery and outplanting performance.Methods Acorns of three size classes were used to cultivate seedlings with or without fertilization. Seedling emergence, nursery morphology and nutrient status, and outplanting survival and growth were measured.