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Subject: PRODUCCION DE PLANTULAS ×

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  • Artículo de revista
    Native Plant Production in Chile. Is It Possible to Achieve Restoration Goals by 2035?
    Facing rapid loss of biodiversity as a consequence of climate change, Chile has formally pledged to restore 600,000 ha of native forest by 2035. This effort, however, has not considered the amount and quality of native plants required to meet this pledge. Thus, we examined data collected during the annual, government-conducted census of small- and medium-sized nurseries from central Chile, which account for 78% of the nation’s total plant production, to assess if current production is sufficient to meet Chile´s restoration needs. We coupled this with data collected during our series of ongoing research projects to determine if nurseries are currently meeting minimum seedling quality standards based on morpho-physiological attributes. Our four-year analysis (2016–2019) shows that the number of native seedlings has increased by only 4%, but because only 19% of nursery managers have training, just 29% of all seedlings meet quality criteria for restoration. Thus, under the current rate and quality of plant production, meeting restoration pledges desired by the year 2035 would not be achieved until 2181. This timeline can be accelerated through an urgent expansion of nursery space, implementation of a continuous program for technology and knowledge transference, and strong support through governmental policies.
    Acevedo Tapia, Manuel-Álvarez, Carolina-Dumroese, R. Kasten-Bannister, Jan R.-Cartes Rodríguez, Eduardo-González Ortega, Marta
    2021
  • Artículo de revista
    Fall fertilization during nursery production increases nitrogen status of Purshia tridentata seedlings: implications for outplanting
    During container nursery production of Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush), we found that three fall fertilization applications successfully loaded plants with nitrogen (N) with little effect on plant biomass. Using 15N-labeled fertilizer to track N movements, we observed that N-loaded seedlings attained luxury consumption and ultimately translocated more N toward roots. In trees, such N-loading efforts have been reported to increase seedling survival and growth after outplanting by improving initial root growth. This leads to enhanced access to water and nutrients that increases overall plant competitiveness and performance. Our results add, in general, to the paucity of information concerning fall fertilization of shrubs, and specifically that this technique offers promise to enhance the quality of antelope bitterbrush seedlings. This could improve overall planting success of this important shrub native to western United States rangelands. Increasing the effectiveness of planting antelope bitterbrush, which can often improve restoration trajectories more than direct seeding or reliance on natural regeneration of this species, could accelerate the pace and scope of critical habitat restoration. Restoration is needed as antelope bitterbrush abundance has been reduced across the landscape because of conversion to agriculture, invasion by nonnative annual grasses, and an increase in fire frequency and intensity, among other reasons. In addition, this species provides browse for ungulates and critical habitat for at-risk species, such as Centrocercus urophasianus (greater sage-grouse). Although N loading antelope bitterbrush has potential to improve outplanting performance, the resulting higher nutrient status of this preferred browse species may lead to elevated browsing during seedling establishment.
    Dumroese, R. Kasten-Zhu, Yan-Acevedo Tapia, Manuel-Pinto, Jeremiah R.-Álvarez, Carolina-Liu, Yong
    2023