Journal of Environmental Biology

Long term survival and growth performance of selected seedling types in Cedar (Cedrus libani) afforestation in Turkey

N. Erkan* and A.C. Aydin

Forest Management and Yield Department, Southwest Anatolian Forest Research Institute, Sedir Mahallesi, Vatan Bulvari, 712 Sokak, Antalya-07010, Turkey

*Corresponding Author E-mail: nesaterkan@yahoo.com           

Key words

Afforestation

Cedar forest

Seedling type

Survival rate 

Publication Data

Paper received : 29.07.2016

Revised received : 05.12.2016

Re-revised received : 31.01.2017

Accepted : 09.03.2017

Abstract

Aim: Three different seedling types that are bare rooted, ENSO and polyethylene containerized seedlings are mainly used for Cedar afforestation in Turkey, however research on long-term field performance of these seedling types is meagre. The present study aims at comparing the survival and growth rate in order to determine the best seedling types for afforestation and also exploring their economic value at different sites.

Methodology: The study was carried out at two different experimental sites in Burdur-Bucak-Urkutlu and Antalya-Korkuteli-Yelten. A randomized block design with six blocks and three seedling types was applied at each site. One-year-old seedlings were planted within the sites and observed for 13 years. Data collected in the last seven years were used for statistical analyses. Analysis of variance was performed at each site and different seedling types were compared through Duncan's multiple range tests. ?        

Results: Results showed that there were significant differences between the seedling types at P<0.05 level for survival and P<0.01 level for growth rate. At both sites, the containerized seedlings had higher survival rates than the other seedling types. At Yelten, the containerized seedlings had 39% and 28% higher growth rates than ENSO and bare rooted seedlings. These rates were 21% and 17% at Urkutlu site, respectively. Afforestation investment costs for the containerized seedlings were also 23.9% and 15.4% higher than for the bare rooted and ENSO stock at Yelten and 27.6% and 20.6%, respectively, in Urkutlu. ?          

Interpretation: The results showed that containerized seedlings can be? suggested for afforestation at similar sites considering their higher growth performance, even if the costs are higher than those of other types.

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