QUALIBROAD
QUALIBROAD
Improving the uniformity and quality of broadleaf planting stock
DOWNLOAD 2009 REPORT AS PDF (pdf 327Kb)
DOWNLOAD REPORT IN IRISH (pdf 327Kb)
PROJECT TEAM
Dr Conor O'Reilly, University College Dublin*
Colin Doody, University College Dublin
Ruairi Manktelow, University College Dublin
Farhana Afroze, University College Dublin
Pat Long, Coillte
Pat Doody, Coillte
Dermot O'Leary, Coillte
Prof. Douglass Jacobs, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
Justin Schmal, Purdue University, Indiana, USA
* Email: conor.oreilly@ucd.ie
COMPLETION DATE: December 2009
BACKGROUND
The planting of broadleaf species in Ireland has increased in recent years; they now account for more than 30% of the planting programme. Consequently, there has been a renewed focus on improving the yield and quality of broadleaf planting stock in the nursery. The main focus of the QualiBroad project was to address these issues for broadleaf species of importance in the forestry programme in Ireland. The development of new seed pretreatments and seed storage protocols, and the effects of post germination aspects (cloches, fertilisation, mini-plugs) of nursery culture on seedling growth, yield and quality were examined during the early years of the project. The seed research element of the project focussed on common alder (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.), birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Most of this research was completed in 2007. In 2008, research on ash seeds was continued and new research was initiated on the seeds of spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus L.), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.), most of which are important for the more diverse species mix in new plantings. Research on the use of the exponential fertilisation method as a means of culturing oak seedlings in the nursery was conducted in 2008 and 2009.
OBJECTIVES
PROGRESS
Seed research
The effects of seed moisture content, warm treatment duration and chilling on the germination response of spindle and rowan seeds were investigated. Although the data have not been fully analysed yet, it appears that spindle seeds require very long periods of chilling to effectively release dormancy (much longer periods than recommended in literature). The germination response can be enhanced by using seed moisture content levels lower than the fully imbibed state. Some preliminary work commenced on blackthorn, focussing mainly on developing methods to break dormancy (especially the hard outer 'seed coat'), but no results are available yet.
Nutrition research
In collaboration with Prof. Douglass Jacobs of Purdue University, Indiana, the use of exponential nutrient loading to improve the quality of pedunculate oak seedlings, as well as its impact on the leaching dynamics was examined. Exponential nutrient loading of pedunculate oak seedlings shows potential as a means of producing nutritionally superior seedlings at Ballintemple nursery in one year. The exponential fertilisation technique involves giving seedlings incrementally increasing fertiliser rates that match their growth during nursery production. In addition, loading involves application of high fertiliser rates towards the end of the season (levels that exceed seedling growth demands) and allow them to store nutrients for use after planting. Results of the 2009 study at Ballintemple nursery indicate that exponentially loaded seedlings receiving 1,500 kg N ha-1 during the abnormally wet summer reached final heights near target specifications (40 cm). In addition, these seedlings had superior stem and root nutrition compared to seedlings reared under conventional fertilisation (180 kg N ha-1). These seedlings are likely to perform better after planting than conventionally produced stock. The fact that mean seedling height reached 40 cm during an exceptionally wet summer also indicates that 1-0 oak seedling production is possible in Ireland and that lower exponential rates may provide similar results in drier summers.
OUTPUTS
O'Reilly, C. 2009. Enhancing seed germination in broadleaf species in bare root nurseries. Invited oral presentation at: Innovation and New Horizons in Tree Nursery Stock Production and Forest Restoration - from Research to Business. IUFRO Conference, Rome, 12 March 2009.
O'Reilly, C., De Arip, N., Doody, C., O'Leary, D., Doody, P. and Thompson, B. 2008. Increasing the yield and quality of broadleaf planting stock through higher N fertilisation in the nursery. Irish Forestry 65: 5-16.
Doody, C. and O'Reilly, C. 2009. Long periods of warm pretreatment enhance germination in common ash. Poster presentation at Innovation and New Horizons in Tree Nursery Stock Production and Forest Restoration - from Research to Business. IUFRO Conference, Rome, 12 March 2009.
Schmal, J.L. 2009. Exponential Nitrogen Fertililization of Quercus Robur Seedlings in County Carlow, Ireland. M. Sc. (Forestry), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Schmal, J., Jacobs, D.F. and O'Reilly, C. 2009. Exponential fertilisation of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings: quality assessment, nutrient budgeting, and leaching dynamics. Poster presented at Spring Research Symposium, Purdue University, Indiana, April 2009.
2008 report
download 2008 report as pdf (pdf 179Kb)
PROJECT TEAM
Dr Conor O'Reilly, University College Dublin*
Colin Doody, University College Dublin
Ruairi Manktelow, University College Dublin
Farhana Afroze, University College Dublin
Sarah Ryan, University College Dublin
Pat Long, Coillte
Pat Doody, Coillte
Dermot O'Leary, Coillte
Prof. Anders Mattsson, Dalarna University, Sweden
Prof. Douglass Jacobs, Purdue University, USA
Justin Schmal, Purdue University, USA
* Email: conor.oreilly@ucd.ie
COMPLETION DATE: December 2009
BACKGROUND
The planting of broadleaf species in Ireland has increased in recent years, with broadleaves now accounting for more than 30% of the current planting programme. Consequently, there has been a renewed focus on improving the yield and quality of broadleaf planting stock in the nursery. The main focus of the QUALIBROAD project was to address these issues for broadleaf species of importance in the forestry programme in Ireland. The development of new seed pretreatments and seed storage protocols, and the effects of post germination aspects (cloches, fertilization, mini-plugs) of nursery culture on seedling growth, yield and quality were examined over several years. The seed research element of the project conducted in previous years at the laboratory in University College Dublin focussed on common alder (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.), birch (Betula pendula Roth. and Betula pubescens Ehrh.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Most of this research was completed in 2007. In 2008, research on ash seeds was continued and new research commenced on the seeds of spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus L.), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus L.).
OBJECTIVES
PROGRESS
Seed research on spindle tree, rowan and Guelder rose commenced in 2008. Since the seeds of these species require very lengthy pretreatment periods (including a warm phase) to break dormancy, only preliminary work could be completed in 2008. In addition, problems were encountered in conducting seed tests on spindle tree seeds, which delayed progress further. The work in ash focussed on (i) germination temperature responses of pretreated (non-dormant) seeds, and (ii) the impact on the post-storage germination of pretreated seeds.
New research in the area of mini-plug transplanting was completed, in collaboration with Prof. Anders Mattsson of Dalarna University. The mini-plug seedlings were grown in Sweden (using seed supplied by Coillte) and then transplanted into the nursery in early April and early May. The seedlings planted in May performed very well, but those planted in April performed poorly due to the unseasonably cold and windy weather that prevailed soon after planting. Despite these problems, the results were very promising, indicating that alder seedlings could be produced in a single growing season using the mini-plug system.
In another study in collaboration with Prof. Douglass Jacobs of Purdue University, the use of exponential nutrient loading to improve the quality of pedunculate oak seedlings and leaching dynamics in a trial laid down at Ballintemple nursery was investigated. The preliminary results from this study are promising, although all the sampling and data analysis has not been completed yet. In particular, there was evidence that the exponential method reduced nutrient leaching, with consequent environmental benefits.
ACTIVITIES PLANNED
Continue the seed research element and fertilization study in oak (in collaboration with Purdue University).
OUTPUTS
Doody, C. and O'Reilly, C. 2008. Drying and soaking pretreatments affect germination in pedunculate oak. Annals Forest Science 65: 509 p1-7.
Doody, C. and O'Reilly, C. 2008. Long periods of warm pretreatment improve germination in ash seeds. Poster presented at the 9th ISSS Conference on Seed Biology, 6-11 July 2008, Olsztyn, Poland.
O'Reilly, C. The New Forests of Ireland. Invited seminar presentation. Purdue University, Indiana, 22 April 2008.
O'Reilly, C. and Cabral, R., 2008. Lifting and handling stresses can cause shoot dieback in oak. COFORD, Dublin.
Schmal, J., Jacobs, D.F. and O'Reilly, C. 2008. Exponential fertilization of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings: quality assessment, nutrient budgeting, and leaching dynamics. Poster presented at the Society of America Foresters Convention, 5-9 November 2008, Reno, NV, USA.