title: Effect of soil, sowing depth and sowing date on growth and survival of Pistacia atlantica seedlings.
abstract: The effect of soil, sowing depth and sowing date 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. 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. Two levels of soil (Forest and nursery soil) and three levels of sowing date (9 and 29 January, 18 February) were used. In addition, seed were sown 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 significantly affected by sowing date and sowing depth but not by soil. Survival was greater at 4 cm than at 8 cm sowing depth and in 9 January and 29 January than in 18 February sowing dates. Collar diameter and height were significantly greater in nursery soil and 9 January and 29 January sowing date but were not different among sowing depths. Shoot/root ratio and shoot/root dry weight ratio were significantly lower in forest soil but not affected by sowing date. Shoot/root dry weight ratio was lower in 4 cm sowing depth while shoot/root ratio did not showed any difference among sowing depth. In general soil type, sowing date and sowing depth are factors that can be influence on physical and morphological traits of seedlings.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modarres University, Emam St. Noor, 46414 Noor, Mazandaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shayesteh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.forename: Seyed Mohsen
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sayad
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007492:Iran; D027927:Pistacia / Q000254:growth & development*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil