F Ahmadloo, M Tabari, A Rahmani, H Yosefzadeh,
Volume 13, Issue 48 (7-2009)
Abstract
This research was carried out to improve the growth and performance of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica) and Medite cypress (C. sempervirens var. horizantalis) seedlings in different combinations of organic matter in nursery of Koloudeh, located in Amol city (north of Iran). Seeds in plastic pots were sown as a completely randomized design (RCD) with four replications at different soil treatments including: T1) nursery soil (control), T2) control soil: cattle manure (5:1), T3) control soil: decomposited litter (5:1), T4) control soil: cattle manure: decomposited litter (5:1:1). The results after one year showed that the seedlings of both species grown on T4 obtained the greatest shoot height, collar diameter, seedling Vigor Index, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total dry weight and seedling Quality Index (QI) among all the soils examined. The response of most attributes to soil was better in Cupressus arizonica than in C. sempervirens. It is concluded that organic matter caused the increase of growth and biomass of seedlings in both species. It can be proposed that in order to enhance the performance and improvement of Quality Index of seedlings in nurseries, the status of physico-chemical of soil-media should be seriously evaluated.
