Seedling establishment in Iceland

Nutrient loading helps Lutz seedling establishment in Iceland

Forestry in Iceland increased dramatically during the years 1990 – 2007, counting more than 5 million seedlings per year after 2003.

	Tough conditions: Lutz seedling in a field experiment.  Photo: R. Jónsdóttir

However, surveys have shown that seedling mortality often is high the first seasons. Low atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and slow decomposition caused by the cold climate is believed to be the major limiting factors of plantation establishment in Iceland.

An experiment with nutrient loading of Lutz spruce seedlings in the nursery showed that this treatment increased growth the first season, without causing bud break or delay in accumulation of frost hardiness. Also fertilization in the field the first season had positive effects on growth and nitrogen content in the needles.

Read more about Rakel Jónsdóttir's study from Iceland here .

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