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Applying the target plant concept to nursery stock quality

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The basic tenet of the target plant concept is thatthe quality of nursery stock is determined byoutplanting performance (survival and growth),rather than characteristics or standardsmeasured at the nursery. This means that there isno all-purpose plant, but that each outplantingproject will require different species and stocktypes. In this paper, we discuss the six basicquestions that help define the target plant:

  1. What is the project objective?
  2. Which species is appropriate and should local or genetically-improved seeds be used?
  3. What factors limit survival and growth on the outplanting site?
  4. When will the nursery stock be outplanted?
  5. How will they be outplants?
  6. What is the ideal stocktype?

The target plant concept is a cyclic, continual process as outplanting site performance is usedto update target plant specifications.

Citation

Landis, T.D.; Dumroese, R.K. 2007. Applying the target plant concept to nursery stock quality. Plant quality: a key to success in forest establishment. Proceedings of the COFORD Conference. Dublin, Ireland: National Council for Forest Research and Development. p 1–10.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/27049