The influence of Seed Sowing Depth on Performance of Pistacia atlantica
Seedlings in nursery
 

Shaieste Gholami¹, Ehsan Sayad², Seyed Mohsen Hosseini³
 

¹Department of Forestry, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran

² Natural Resource Faculty of Shahid Chamran University, Iran
e mail: ehsansaiad@yahoo.com

³ Natural Resource and Marine Science Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran

Abstract
 

The effect of sowing depth on growth and survival of Pistacia atlantica seedlings was evaluated in nursery conditions. Pistacia atlantica is a deciduous tree species that belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. Different species of Pistacia, especially Pistacia atlantica, as a result of their vigorous root growing ability can adopt with difficult environmental conditions, such as dry and hot summer, low moisture of soil, poor soil and cold winter. It is valuable in soil conservation and so suitable for plantation in dry lands. Regeneration of Pistacia atlantica in western part of Iran due to much destruction to its natural habitats has problems. In order to restoration of this important species, planting and direct seeding are used. Within this scope, producing vigorous seedlings in nursery and having information about suitable factors related to seed sowing are essential. Sowing depth is important factor in producing successful seedlings. Two seeds were sown in poly bags (15 cm in diameter × 20 cm in height) at three different depths (0, 4 and 8 cm) but no seedlings emerged when seeds were sown at 0 sowing depth. At the end of first growing season on September 2004 survival, height above the soil surface, collar diameter, shoot/root length ratio and shoot/root dry weight ratio were measured. Survival was greater at 4 cm than at 8 cm sowing depth. Collar diameter and height were not different among sowing depths. Shoot/root dry weight ratio was lower in 4 cm sowing depth while shoot/root ratio did not showed any difference among sowing depths. In general sowing depth is a factor that can be influence on physical and morphological traits of seedlings.

Keywords: Seedling, Sowing depth, Survival, Growth, Nursery