PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Davis, Anthony S
AU  - Jacobs, Douglass F
AU  - Overton, Ronald P
AU  - Dumroese, R Kasten
TI  - Influence of Irrigation Method and Container Type on Northern Red Oak Seedling Growth and Media Electrical Conductivity
AID  - 10.2979/NPJ.2008.9.1.4
DP  - 2008 Mar 20
TA  - Native Plants Journal
PG  - 4--12
VI  - 9
IP  - 1
4099  - http://npj.uwpress.org/content/9/1/4.short
4100  - http://npj.uwpress.org/content/9/1/4.full
SO  - NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL2008 Mar 20; 9
AB  - Container production of hardwood seedlings has not been extensively practiced. Efficient nursery production of hardwood seedlings in containers can be limited by formation of a broad foliar canopy, which limits irrigation uniformity. This study was established to investigate suitability of subirrigation, a method of irrigating seedlings from the container base that relies on rise of water through capillary action, for production of broad-leaved hardwood seedlings. Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L. [Fagaceae]) seeds were sown into 4 container types, and seedlings were grown in a controlled greenhouse environment under either traditional overhead irrigation or subirrigation. Media electrical conductivity (EC) was measured at container depths of 1, 5, and 10 cm (0.4, 2, and 4 in) after 57 d. Subirrigated seedlings had significantly higher EC at each depth compared with overhead irrigated seedlings, with a trend of decreasing EC with increasing measurement depth. A significant container type x irrigation method interaction suggested potential for toxic EC levels in some subirrigated containers, which can be alleviated by periodic leaching using clear water to dissipate salts from the top 1 cm (0.4 in). At the end of the growing period, seedling height and root-collar diameter were not influenced by irrigation method or container type, indicating that subirrigation is suitable for hardwood seedling production.