Depth of seed cover in relation to emergence, survival and growth of seedlings in a radiata pine nursery.  G. Minko and L. A. Stephens.  December 1984.  5 pp. (unpubl.)

SUMMARY

An experiment was conducted in the Benalla Regional Nursery, North-eastern Victoria, to study the influence of a washed, granitic-sand seed cover of various depths on production of Pinus radiata D. Don (radiata pine) seedlings. A seed cover of 1.0 cm of sand resulted in the best seedling emergence (79% of seeds sown) and the highest proportion of plantable seedlings (75.4% of seeds sown). Although the final size of seedlings differed little between treatments, the results suggest that with each additional cm of sand cover to 4.0 cm, final seedling production as a percentage of seeds sown declined by about 16%.

The results strongly indicate that the depth of this washed granitic sand used as a seed cover should ideally be 1.0 cm and should not exceed 2.0 cm if substantial seedling losses are to be avoided. Further research is needed to identify alternative seed cover materials that reduce the influence of cover depth on seedling production. This work is in progress.

Also published:

Minko, G. (1985)  Seed cover depth and emergence, survival and growth of radiata pine seedlings. Dep. Conserv., For. and Lands, State For. and Lands Serv., For. Tech. Pap. 30: 45-8.