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Forests
Volume 16
Issue 5
10.3390/f16050830
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Article

Impact of Soil Preparation Method and Stock Type on Root Architecture of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Silver Birch and Black Alder

by
Kārlis Dūmiņš
,
Sindija Žīgure
,
Santa Celma
*,
Toms Artūrs Štāls
,
Viktorija Vendiņa
,
Austra Zuševica
and
Dagnija Lazdiņa
Latvian State Forest Research Institute SILAVA, LV 2169 Salaspils, Latvia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Forests 2025, 16(5), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050830
Submission received: 2 April 2025 / Revised: 6 May 2025 / Accepted: 15 May 2025 / Published: 16 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study examines the spatial root development patterns of bareroot, containerized, and plug plus (plug+) saplings in hemiboreal forests of Latvia, focusing on the effects of two common soil preparation methods: mounding and disc trenching. In northern Europe, forest regeneration after clearcutting often involves planting, with soil preparation aimed at enhancing sapling survival and productivity. This study included four tree species: Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula, and Alnus glutinosa. The results reveal that saplings planted in mounded sites developed more radially symmetrical root systems, while roots in trenched sites predominantly grew parallel to the furrow. This spatial root distribution was consistent across all forest types and did not show significant variation between stock types (containerized, bareroot, or plug+) or treatments (control or fertilized). Additionally, the number of main roots did not differ significantly between the soil preparation methods. These findings align with previous research and raise important questions regarding the impact of early root architecture on stand resilience at a mature stage, particularly in relation to windthrow, heavy snowfall, drought, and flooding resistance. The study underscores the need to consider root system development as a key factor in forest management practices aimed at ensuring long-term forest stability.
Keywords: bucket mounding; disc trenching; site preparation; forest regeneration; containerized seedlings; bareroot; plug plus; arGrow bucket mounding; disc trenching; site preparation; forest regeneration; containerized seedlings; bareroot; plug plus; arGrow

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dūmiņš, K.; Žīgure, S.; Celma, S.; Štāls, T.A.; Vendiņa, V.; Zuševica, A.; Lazdiņa, D. Impact of Soil Preparation Method and Stock Type on Root Architecture of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Silver Birch and Black Alder. Forests 2025, 16, 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050830

AMA Style

Dūmiņš K, Žīgure S, Celma S, Štāls TA, Vendiņa V, Zuševica A, Lazdiņa D. Impact of Soil Preparation Method and Stock Type on Root Architecture of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Silver Birch and Black Alder. Forests. 2025; 16(5):830. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050830

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dūmiņš, Kārlis, Sindija Žīgure, Santa Celma, Toms Artūrs Štāls, Viktorija Vendiņa, Austra Zuševica, and Dagnija Lazdiņa. 2025. "Impact of Soil Preparation Method and Stock Type on Root Architecture of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Silver Birch and Black Alder" Forests 16, no. 5: 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050830

APA Style

Dūmiņš, K., Žīgure, S., Celma, S., Štāls, T. A., Vendiņa, V., Zuševica, A., & Lazdiņa, D. (2025). Impact of Soil Preparation Method and Stock Type on Root Architecture of Scots Pine, Norway Spruce, Silver Birch and Black Alder. Forests, 16(5), 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16050830

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