Container and root treatments affect growth and root form of planted ponderosa pine

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Abstract
Field performance and root form of container-grown Pinnsponderosa Laws. seedlings were studied after application of three treatments and compared with untreated bare-root seedlings. One-year-old seedlings grown in 1.9-ℓ milk carton containers were treated by (1) removing the bottom of the container, (2) removing the whole container, and (3) removing the whole container and cutting spiralled roots off at the bottom of the surface of the root ball. Survival was excellent for trees of all treatments. Bare-root seedlings grew most in height the first season, but after 5 years, the average height of container seedlings was greater than for bare-root trees. Seedlings with container removed and roots cut were tallest and had root systems that appeared sturdiest. Most of these had well developed taproots and good outward growth of laterals with little spiralling. Aborted or kinked taproots and spiralled laterals were often found where only the bottom of the container had been removed.

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