Effects of container cavity size and copper coating on field performance of container-grown longleaf pine seedlings
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Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings were grown for 27 weeks in 3 container cavity sizes [small (S), medium (M), and large (L)], and half the containers were coated with copper (Cu). In November 2004, we planted 144 seedlings from each of 6 container treatments in each of 4 replications in central LA. All plots were burned in February 2006. Cavity size or Cu had no effect on seedling survival after one growing season in field. Small seedlings had a lower survival rate than either M or L seedlings from May through November of the second growing season; and Cu did not affect seedling survival the second year. Seedlings of all treatments had 88 to 98 percent survival after 2 years. More than 40 percent of the Cu-L and L seedlings had heights exceeding 12 cm and were considered coming out of the grass stage, whereas fewer than 5 percent of the Cu-S and S seedlings were coming out of the grass stage. Season, but not container treatments, affected photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll contents.