Effect of light and weed competition on the survival and growth of Abies pindrow seedlings of various ages in different soil media in the moist temperate forests of Pakistan
Effect of light and weed competition on the survival and growth of Abies pindrow seedlings of various ages in different soil media in the moist temperate forests of Pakistan
Raza-ul-Haq
ABSTRACT
Planting stock of silver fir raised in polythene tubes
in common nursery soil and forest soil were kept (in
poly bags) and planted bare-rooted at age 3, 12 and 24
months, under four cover conditions in the experimental
site at Kund. The survival and growth of the seedlings
were monitored over time. Both 3-month-old and
12-month-old plants in polythene tubes gave best
survival rate under shade in all three cover condition.
Under similar condition the survival rate was
comparatively low for the seeding planted directly in
forest soil due to root competition. For older plants
(24-month-old) both shade and root competition are less important. Height growth of young seedling (3-24 month
old) is not significantly affected by shade which is
however highly co-related to seedling age. Significant
growth was observed even under reduced PAR (2-4% of the
open) showing the extreme shade-tolerant nature of the
species. Age of the planting stocks therefore, plays an
important role in the initial survival, establishment
and growth of the seedling in natural forests.
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September 1992
Vol. 42, Iss. 3
