Stocktype impact on survival and growth of one-year old <i>Quercus pubescens</i> seedlings on the edge of Panonnian basin

Abstract

Querqus pubescens has relatively wide distribution in Europe, but dominated forests are quite common in South Europe, while they are confined to warm microclimatic conditions in central Europe. On the edge of the Panonnian basin Q. pubescens is mainly found on the edge of its native range, in isolated populations which have an important role in examining the adaptive potential, especially considering that the forest-steppe and sub-mediterranean climate is predicted to be the dominant climate in some regions of Central Europe in future. There are very limit knowledge about Q. pubescens forest establishment and restoration in continental climate today. This study provides information about stocktype effect on seedlings success after outplanting in very competitive conditions. Although bareroot seedlings were larger in the nursery, container seedlings had better survival and growth on the field. Generally, low survival rate for both stocktypes (mean survival 47.60 %; container seedlings 55.41%; bareroot seedlings 41.41%) can be assessed as consequence of uncompetitive seedlings and lack of vegetation control.