Objectives:

• To determine the relationships between pre-planting root growth capacity (RGC), OSU-vigour test score, and field performance, for the major species planted in British Columbia's southern interior.

Experimental Design:

Treatments

Spruce seedlings from five nursery sources were tested. The seedlings had been subjected to four different handling stresses: low temperature, high temperature, mechanical stress, and no stress (control). Samples from each treatment were tested before shipment to the planting site.

Layout:

There are three blocks (40 m by 20 m) with stock from each treatment randomly assigned to lines in each block.

History:

• 1988 Establishment, assessment at four weeks and fall assessment.
• 1989 - 1991 Fall assessments

Status: Dormant

Reports and Publications:

Simpson, D.G., A. Vyse and C.F. Thompson 1988. Root growth capacity effects on field performance. In Proc. Western For. Nursery Assn's meeting, August 1988, Vernon, B.C. Landis, T.D. (tech. coord.) USDA For. Serv. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-167.

Simpson, D.G., C.F. Thompson and C.D. Sutherland 1993. Field performance potential of interior spruce seedlings: Effects of stress treatments and prediction by root growth potential and needle conductance. Can. J. For. Res. 24:576-586.