Scientists of FBU “SPbNIILH” have developed recommendations on the technology of growing seedlings with SCS using coated seeds of European spruce and Scots pine
In order to produce high-quality planting material for the creation of forest plantations, as well as to solve the problems of compensatory reforestation and afforestation, scientists of the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Forestry, within the framework of a state assignment, have developed scientifically based recommendations on the technology of growing seedlings with a closed root system using pelleted seeds of European spruce and Scots pine.
The growing volume of reforestation and silvicultural work envisaged by the federal project “Forest Conservation” of the national project “Ecology”, the intensification of forestry activities, requires a large amount of viable planting material with improved hereditary properties and adapted to specific climatic conditions, the introduction of modern technologies for its production.
It is known that the most important condition for the efficiency of growing planting material is a high-quality pre-sowing preparation of seeds. It is essential for protecting against disease and promoting healthy plant growth. Germination, the appearance period, as well as the viability of future seedlings depend on it.
A promising method for pre-sowing seed preparation is pelleting, which is enveloping with a composite polymer composition that absorbs and retains moisture well, containing a sufficient amount of nutrients necessary for seed germination and optimal seedling growth.
Scientists of FBU “SPbNIILH” analyzed the options for recipes of mixtures for pelleting and determined its optimal composition for protective and nutritious coating of seeds from organ-mineral components, micronutrient fertilizers and biologically active additives.
A method for pelleting seeds of European spruce and Scots pine has been developed and tested, which made it possible to unify the defining indicators for more accurate seeding ‒ the mass, shape and size of seeds. Experimental sowing and analysis of the process of germination and growth of seedlings were carried out.
After germination under the conditions of the greenhouse of the Luga SSC, the seedlings were kept in the growing and hardening areas, were planted in open ground for adaptation to ex vitro conditions.
The experiments carried out allowed the experts to develop scientifically grounded recommendations on the technology of growing seedlings using coated seeds of European spruce and Scots pine in order to obtain high-quality planting material with a closed root system.
The creation of forest crops using seedlings with WLW grown using modern technologies will allow in the near future to increase the efficiency of reforestation measures, optimize costs and reduce the costs of forest reproduction.
FBU “SPbNIILH”