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Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2025) | Viewed by 12744

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mohammed S. Lamhamedi

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Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, Abitibi Price Building, Laval University, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: forest nursery; ecophysiology; cultural practices; composting and growing media; environmental stress; vegetative propagation; genetic of ectomycorrhizal fungi; assisted migration; heavy metal tolerance; seedling performance
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Prof. Dr. Steeve Pepin

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Centre de Recherche et d’Innovation sur les Végétaux, Faculté des Sciences de l’Agriculture et de l’Alimentation, Université Laval, 2480 Boul., Hochelaga, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: tree physiology; gas exchange; soil–plant interactions; environmental biophysics; irrigation; microclimate; peat substrate properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Damase P. Khasa

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Centre for Forest Research, Institute for Systems and Integrative Biology, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: biotechnologies of mycorrhizal and nitrogen-fixing symbioses; nursery production; molecular ecology and environmental genomics; agroforestry; mining restoration; invasive plant biology; field performance
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The success of reforestation and restoration programs concerns forest land managers worldwide. With climatic extremes and unpredictable increases in natural disturbances (fires, insect attacks, etc.) across millions of hectares, forest managers are must seek to maintain biodiversity and increase forest productivity by combining the use of reforestation and natural regeneration.

The success of the various reforestation programs (including those aimed at production, protection, recreation, agroforestry, combating desertification, etc.) is a major challenge that requires optimization and control of the various steps in the production chain of seedlings of high morphophysiological quality, from seeds to cuttings and emblings to planting. The establishment, survival, and growth of seedlings in reforestation sites are factors closely linked to the different cultural practices in nurseries and silvicultural techniques in reforestation sites. In the context of climate change, seedlings and plantations are subject to different environmental stresses and a variety of very severe climatic extremes that negatively affect their survival and growth.

Thus, the morphophysiological quality of seedlings is one of the essential components that directly affects the success of reforestation programs. The production of quality seedlings or emblings in forest nurseries and the success of plantations are strongly linked to the selection of genetic sources (provenance, families, clones) adapted to the plantation sites, to the different cultural practices applied in the nursery, to the handling, transportation, and storage of seedlings or emblings before their plantation on a reforestation site, to site preparation, and to silvicultural techniques.

In addition to reforestation (artificial regeneration), it is necessary to understand natural regeneration patterns as well as the development of methods, silvicultural techniques, and tools to improve the success of the renewal of the stands in response to increasing biotic and abiotic stresses (drought, fires, insect and fungal attacks, etc.).

This Special Issue will integrate original research, practical strategies, and reviews related to, but not limited to, the following potential topics:

(a) Genetic material and seed quality, growth and physiology of seedlings produced by somatic embryogenesis, cutting, seeds, and other propagation techniques;

(b) Production in forest nurseries and effects of different practical techniques on the morphophysiological quality of tree and agroforestry seedlings or emblings: containers, and seedling size, physicochemical properties of different growing media, management of water and fertilizers, mineral nutrient leaching, water stress preconditioning, ecophysiology of seedlings or stecklings, frost and water stress tolerance, short-day treatment, hardening and dehardening; seedling or embling storage; mycorrhizal fungi and other symbioses, etc.;

(c) Field performance of tree and agroforestry seedlings or emblings under different site conditions, handling and transportation, assignment of the genetic characteristics of seedlings to the conditions of the planting site and the current and future climate, assisted migration, competing vegetation, site preparation techniques and silvicultural treatments, growth and physiology of seedlings or emblings in response to different environmental stress conditions (drought, salinity, heavy metal, frost, etc.);

(d) The development of operational research and development programs adapted to the production chain of tree seedlings and the transfer of knowledge to practitioners in developed and developing countries;

(e) Natural regeneration in response to increasing biotic and abiotic stresses (drought, fires, insect and fungal attacks, etc.), factors affecting natural regeneration, ecophysiology of natural regeneration, silvicultal, silvicultural techniques to facilitate and improve the establishment, survival and growth of natural regeneration, etc.

Dr. Mohammed S. Lamhamedi
Prof. Dr. Steeve Pepin
Prof. Dr. Damase P. Khasa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

seed and seedling quality
cutting
somatic embryogenesis
nursery production
cultural practices
environmental stress
mycorrhizal and bacteria symbioses
field performance
research and development programs adapted to the production chain of tree seedlings
agroforestry products and their valorization
natural regeneration

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4158 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Variation in Cone Scales and Seeds as Drivers of Seedling Germination Dynamics of Co-Occurring Cedar and Fir Species

by María Trujillo-Ríos, Antonio Gazol, José Ignacio Seco and Juan Carlos Linares

Forests 2025, 16(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16020252 - 29 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 680

Abstract

The intraspecific trait variations in the reproductive structures and early growth of seedlings may be critical in determining further regeneration. However, modularly built organisms, such as trees, challenge our notion of the phenotype concept, as the arrays of nonidentical homologous organs, such as seed-bearing cone scales and seeds, depending on the individual capacity to produce phenotypically variable arrangements, but they also reflect abiotic selective effects. We investigated the variability in cone scale morphology, seed traits, and germination dynamics in coexisting fir (Abies marocana) and cedar (Cedrus atlantica) trees from northern Morocco. We quantified the degree of trait overlap in two co-occurring populations of both species, as a measure of population/species functional similarity. Cone scale size and seedling growth rate were species-dependent traits, as 70%–80% of the variance was explained by the species, while only 0%–2% was explained by the population. Conversely, seed weight was a tree-dependent trait, as 70% of the variation was observed among trees, while the species only explained 20% of the variation, and the contribution of the population was negligible. Species and populations showed the same characteristics in the correlations between variables, supporting different magnitudes but a constant relationship. Substantial variations in seed weight and early seedling growth occur concurrently among cones of a single tree, independently of the tree species or population. Further studies should consider both phenotype selection and inheritance of traits’ variance on the establishment, survival, and growth of seedlings in A. marocana and C. atlantica in nurseries and reforestation sites to improve adaptive capacity to changing environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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18 pages, 2452 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morpho-Physiological Adjustment of Swietenia humilis Zucc. Plants to Varied Nutrient and Light Conditions and Their Performance in Nurseries and Fields Under Soils with Different Preparations

by Celi Gloria Calixto-Valencia, Víctor M. Cetina-Alcalá, Pablo Antúnez, Miguel Á. López-López, Gregorio Ángeles-Pérez, Armando Equihua-Martínez and Erickson Basave-Villalobos

Forests 2024, 15(12), 2125; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122125 - 1 Dec 2024

Viewed by 918

Abstract

To enhance the plantation performance of Swietenia humilis Zucc., a threatened precious woody species from the dry tropics of Latin America, this study examined its morpho-physiological responses to variations in nutrient and light availability. We established a nursery trial with factorial treatments: three levels of fertilization (4, 6, and 8 g L⁻¹ of substrate using a controlled-release fertilizer, CRF, 18-6-12) and two shade intensities (60% and 40%), alongside a full sun treatment. The field performance of nursery-raised plants was evaluated under two site conditions (with and without mechanical soil preparation) over 48 months. In the nursery, S. humilis exhibited diverse morpho-physiological characteristics influenced by the studied factors, with optimal growth observed at 6 g of the CRF and 40% shade. Mechanical soil preparation significantly improved plant survival, reducing mortality risk by 99.16% and increasing survival probability to nearly 75%. Height growth was also enhanced, being 2.5 times greater in the prepared site compared to that in the unprepared one. S. humilis showed acclimatization in the field, producing new foliage with high chlorophyll content. In conclusion, nursery management and soil site preparation influence the field performance of S. humilis. These findings have practical implications for improving the management of S. humilis in plantations across the dry tropics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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15 pages, 2774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Live Oak Regeneration to Planting Density, Fertilizer, and Mulch

by Brianne N. Innusa, Owen T. Burney and Douglass F. Jacobs

Forests 2024, 15(9), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091594 - 11 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1380

Abstract

Maritime forests are coastal ecosystems that stabilize coastlines, recharge aquifers, and provide protection against storm surges. The range of these forests has been decreasing due to threats such as urban expansion, clearing for agriculture, climate change, and an influx of native but competitive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) from pine plantations. To restore maritime forests, southern live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) should be established as the dominant canopy species; however, knowledge of how to grow live oak in a restoration setting is limited. We planted southern live oak seedlings into a clearcut experimental site that was formerly a loblolly pine plantation. Our goal was to test how planting density (1, 2, or 3 m), mulch, and fertilization at planting impacted the initial growth of seedlings over the course of four growing seasons. The application of fertilizer had an initial positive effect on seedling diameter (36%) after the first growing season. The application of mulch increased seedling height in years 2 through 4 (25.6% to 22.7%), diameter in years 3 and 4 (20.9% to 19.3%), and crown width in year four (8.5%). Planting density had no consistent effect over the first four years. These results demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating fertilizer and mulch into restoration prescriptions to promote seedling field establishment. Planting density should continue to be monitored through canopy closure for potential effects of plant facilitation. Integrating silvicultural treatments such as planting density, soil amendments, and vegetation control may inform cost-effective management recommendations for maritime forest restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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19 pages, 3811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighborhood Competition and Understory-Associated Vegetation Are Important Factors Influencing the Natural Regeneration of Subtropical Mountain Forests

by Zizhuo Wang, Kunrong Qin, Wen Fang and Haiyang Wang

Forests 2024, 15(6), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15061017 - 12 Jun 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1179

Abstract

Natural regeneration is deemed essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Previous studies, however, have primarily concentrated on regions exhibiting limited environmental and climatic variability, overlooking the classification of natural regeneration based on age and source. Research conducted at the mesoscale, characterized by increased environmental variability and the incorporation of neighborhood competition and understory-associated vegetation, enhances our comprehension of the multifaceted influences on natural regeneration. To comprehend this issue, this study implemented 60 plots, each measuring 20 m × 20 m, across five distinct areas of Chongqing, China. Twenty explanatory variables were chosen from five diverse categories: understory vegetation, neighborhood competition, stand structure, climatic factors, and environmental factors. And the naturally regenerated species were classified into seedlings and saplings, as well as endogenous and exogenous species, based on their age and origin. We examined the response of the different categories of natural regeneration to various factors and constructed a structural equation model (SEM) for significant factors to investigate their direct and indirect effects on natural regeneration. A total of 61 regenerated tree species belonging to 29 families and 42 genera were found in the study area, and the naturally regenerating species with high importance values were Quercus fabri, Robinia pseudoacacia, Alangium chinense, Cunninghamia lanceolata, and Ligustrum lucidum. It was found that neighborhood competition and understory-associated vegetation explained the largest proportion (more than 50%) of the variation in the different categories of natural regeneration, and forests with clumped distribution (W), a high mingling index (M) and strong competition (H) had a reduced natural regeneration capacity. Understory-associated herbs significantly reduced natural regeneration and the crowdedness index (C) significantly inhibited the understory-associated herbs, thus indirectly promoting natural regeneration. The shrub cover is significantly and positively correlated with the number of naturally regenerated plants and can be used as an indicator of a forest community’s regeneration potential. Understanding the differences in the importance of various factors at the mesoscale, as well as their direct and indirect impacts, can help us further comprehend the mechanisms of natural regeneration and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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19 pages, 5001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eight-Year Survival and Growth of Sakhalin Fir (Abies sachalinensis) Seedlings with One Weeding Operation: Impact of Mechanical Site Preparation, Vegetation Release, Summer Planting, Stock Type, and Forwarder Trail

by Hisanori Harayama, Ikutaro Tsuyama, Takeshi Yamada, Mitsutoshi Kitao, Naoyuki Furuya, Kenichi Yazaki, Tetsuto Sugai, Akira Uemura, Shozo Sasaki and Hajime Utsugi

Forests 2024, 15(6), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15061012 - 11 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1450

Abstract

In Hokkaido, northern Japan, bareroot Sakhalin fir seedlings are conventionally planted in spring and fall, following strip site preparation that alternates managed and unmanaged strips. However, this method requires seven years of weeding due to encroachment of evergreen dwarf bamboo. Given diminishing forest labor availability, a shortage of workers for planting and weeding operations has become a problem in reforestation following clearcutting. We examined whether comprehensive mechanical site preparation (MSP) could reduce weeding frequency by preventing regrowth of dwarf bamboo and whether container seedlings could extend the planting season into summer. Over eight years, the survival and growth of summer-planted bareroot and container seedlings were examined on a fully MSP-treated site with only one weeding operation in the fifth year. Full-site MSP resulted in a shift of the vegetation from dwarf bamboo to deciduous plants, leading to high survival and growth rates of Sakhalin fir seedlings despite minimal weeding. Container seedlings exhibited superior establishment and maintained higher survival rates over eight years than bareroot seedlings. However, planting on the forwarder trail decreased seedling growth, and ultimately decreased survival under rare summer drought. Our findings indicate that container seedling summer planting and full-site MSP may represent an alternative approach to reforestation of Sakhalin fir, potentially reducing the need for weeding and extending the planting season. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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23 pages, 6883 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seed Propagation of Carapa amorphocarpa W. Palacios Using Various Treatments of Substrates and Mechanical Seed Scarification in a Nursery in the Andean Area of Northwestern Ecuador

by Freddy Hernán Villota-González, Walter Palacios, Edison Javier Villota González, Rosario Marilú Bernaola-Paucar and Belkis Sulbarán-Rangel

Forests 2024, 15(6), 987; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060987 - 5 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1524

Abstract

Carapa amorphocarpa W. Palacios is a forest species known solely from Cerro Golondrinas in northwestern Ecuador. The species is threatened due to illegal exploitation of its wood and the encroachment of the agricultural frontier. Although information on its ecology and forestry was presented in 2012, there is still very little information available. This study investigated the effects of various pre-germinative treatments on the seed germination and early growth of Carapa amorphocarpa in a nursery. The treatments included combinations of substrates (forest soil alone and forest soil mixed with sand), along with pre-germinative mechanical seed scarification. Through these treatments, the seeds’ germination capacity, growth potential, and survival rates were evaluated in a nursery. Seed germination was found to be cryptocotylar hypogeal, commencing at 41 days and achieving an average of 83.13%. Survival of germinated seedlings was 99.23% at 60 days after germination. Furthermore, a high degree of correlation in growth was observed between basal diameter and plant height (R = 0.94). The mean values for the plants’ basal diameter and total height were 0.91 cm and 50.48 cm, respectively, at 60 days. Plant form was straight with excellent health. These insights offer the potential to enhance species populations, mitigate threat risks, and in the long term, foster sustainable use of Carapa amorphocarpa genetic resources. Moreover, this seed propagation information can be leveraged for other species within the genus exploited for oil extraction from their seeds, thereby broadening knowledge and facilitating sustainable forest resource management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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13 pages, 4253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationships between Regeneration of Qinghai Spruce Seedlings and Soil Stoichiometry across Elevations in a Forest in North-Western China

by Xiurong Wu, Peifang Chong, Erwen Xu, Weijun Zhao, Wenmao Jing, Ming Jin, Jingzhong Zhao, Shunli Wang, Rongxin Wang and Xuee Ma

Forests 2024, 15(2), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020267 - 30 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1642

Abstract

Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) is an ecologically important species in the forest ecosystem of the Qilian Mountains region in China. Natural regeneration of this species is critical to maintaining forest ecosystem function. Here, we analyzed several biological indicators among naturally regenerating Qinghai spruce across several elevations in the Pailugou watershed. Specifically, seedling density, basal diameter (BD), and plant height were measured, as were soil physicochemical parameters, at 2700 m, 3000 m, and 3300 m above sea level. Differences in the regeneration indicators and correlations between the indicators and soil parameters were then assessed across elevations. The results showed that soil stoichiometry was more sensitive to changes in elevation than seedling indicators were. Furthermore, seedling density was positively correlated with soil pH, whereas BD was positively correlated with the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), the carbon-to-phosphorus ratio (C/P), and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents. None of the analyzed soil stoichiometry parameters had a significant impact on elevation-specific differences in seedling density. However, soil pH, SOC, and C/N significantly affected variations in seedling basal diameter at different elevations. Finally, soil pH, SOC, C/N, and the carbon-to-phosphorus ratio significantly affected variations in seedlings’ heights at different elevations. This study provides a strong theoretical basis for further understanding of the mechanisms associated with Qinghai spruce regeneration, ultimately contributing to rational protection and management strategies for this important natural resource. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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Review

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21 pages, 3719 KiB

Open AccessReview

Evaluating Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems: A Systematic Review

by Cokou Patrice Kpadé, Lota D. Tamini, Steeve Pepin, Damase P. Khasa, Younes Abbas and Mohammed S. Lamhamedi

Forests 2024, 15(10), 1728; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15101728 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2713

Abstract

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods provide a framework for addressing sustainable forest management challenges, especially under climate change. This study offers a systematic review of MCDM applications in forest management from January 2010 to March 2024. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze trends in MCDM use and geographic distribution. Thematic content analysis investigated the appearance of MCDM indicators supplemented by Natural Language Processing (NLP). Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA) explored correlations between models and publication outlets. We systematically searched Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef, and OpenAlex using terms such as ‘MCDM’, ‘forest management’, and ‘decision support’. We found that the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) were the most commonly used methods, followed by the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE), the Analytic Network Process (ANP), GIS, and Goal Programming (GP). Adoption varied across regions, with advanced models such as AHP and GIS less frequently used in developing countries due to technological constraints. These findings highlight emerging trends and gaps in MCDM application, particularly for argan forests, emphasizing the need for context-specific frameworks to support sustainable management in the face of climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production in Forest Nurseries, Field Performance of Seedlings and Natural Regeneration in the Context of Climate Change)

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