Pacific Southwest

Title: Douglas-fir in northern California: effects of shade on germination, survival, and growth

Author: Strothmann, Rudolph O.

Date: 1972

Source: Res. Paper PSW-RP-84. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 10 p

Station ID: RP-PSW-084

Description: Effects of four light intensities on germination, survival, and early growth of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were studied on south-facing cutblocks in northwestern California. Tested were four shade intensities: 0, 25, 50, and 75 percent. On seeded spots, 50 percent shade resulted in greatest germination and survival, being significantly better than either no shade or 25 percent shade, but not better than 75 percent-shade. Shade did not significantly improve the survival of planted trees (either 1-0 or 2-0 age class), but growth was generally best on plots with least shade. Good survival on all treatments was probably due to careful planting, excellent stock, periodic weeding, and deep loam soil. An implication of these findings is that for direct-seeding, early shading is desirable, though difficult to achieve. A possible solution is to use a nurse crop converted to dead shade the spring after seeding.

Keywords: Pseudotsuga menziesii, California (northwestern), artificial regeneration, light relations, protective shading, germination, survival, early growth, height increment

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Citation

Strothmann, Rudolph O.  1972.  Douglas-fir in northern California: effects of shade on germination, survival, and growth.   Res. Paper PSW-RP-84. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 10 p.