Research Information System
APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, vol.21, no.3, pp.2477-2492, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Production of high-quality seedling and successful reforestation is the main objective of foresters. Seedbed density and radicle clipping are some of the main factors, which are affecting oak seedling morphology and quality. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) seedlings which were radicle clipped and unclipped, were sown at five different spacings (3-6-9-12-15 cm) by using randomized split parcels design. Radicle clipping had a significant effect on seedling diameter, dry shoot weight, Dixon's quality index, shoot to root ratio, number of fine roots and number of main roots. Decrease of seedbed density had a significant effect on shoot height, Dixon's quality index, root collar diameter, fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, dry root weight, seedling diameter, number of fine roots, sturdiness quotient. Both radicle clipping and seedling spacing together had a significant effect on shoot height, dry root weight, Dixon's quality index, number of fine roots, dry and fresh shoot weight, sturdiness quotient and root collar diameter. If radicle clipping is applied, 9 cm seedbed density can be used, without radicle clipping, 12 cm seedbed density is advised. This study was carried out in Igneada forest nursery Kirklareli Turkey.