Light and moisture conditions suitable for establishing cypress and beech seedlings in Patagonia: a nursery approach

CASELLI MARINA; URRETAVIZCAYA M. F.; LOGUERCIO G.; DEFOSSÉ G.E.

FOREST SCIENCE

SOC AMER FORESTERS

Año: 2018

0015-749X

Andean cypressand coihue beech are endemic species of the Patagonian Andean forests ofArgentina. Both species grow in either pure or mixed stands. Some pure cypressstands are affected by a root disease called mal del ciprés, reducing theirpossibilities of being managed for timber production. Coihue beech could beintroduced in pure sick cypress stands to help recover their productivepotential. However, knowledge is limited about how soil moisture and light mayaffect early establishment of seedlings of both species. In this study, wedetermined, under nursery conditions, how survival and growth of cypress andcoihue beech seedlings are affected by the combined effects of different soilmoisture and light conditions. Both species showed similar survival and growthresponses and were susceptible to extreme drought. While similar survivalpercentages were shown between them, low light levels and higher adaptation todrought significantly delayed cypress seedling mortality compared with coihuebeech. Low light and moisture levels negatively affect growth, while thehighest growth was registered at intermediate and high levels of light and soilmoisture. Although coihue beech seedlings grew faster than cypress, both havethe potential for recovering cypress stands affected by mal del ciprés.