Effect of Copper Coating Nursery Containers on Plant Growth and Root Morphology of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Cuttings and Seedlings

Manuel Fernández*¹, José Raúl Tejero**¹, Ignacio Pérez**¹, Francisco Soria***², Federico Ruiz***² and Gustavo López*²

 

*PhD Forest Engineers

**Forest Technical Engineers

***Forest Engineers

¹Departamento de Ciências Agroforestales. Escuela Politécnica Superior. Universidad de Huelva. Campus Universitario de la Rábida, 21819, Palos de la Frontera, HUELVA, Spain

²Grupo Empresarial ENCE, S:A: Centro de Investigación y Tecnología, Carretera Madrid-Huelva, Km 630. Apartado 223, 21080, HUELVA, Spain

 

 

 

Abstract. Plant production in rigid plastic containers is operationally advantageous in nursery eucalyptus production, but root morphology differs from those grown under natural conditions. Root systems deformations resulting from nursery culture can affect post-planting growth performance and mechanical stability, being instability of eucalypts a major problem. Therefore, in order to improve post-planting response of Eucalyptus globulus Labill., we tested the effect of chemical root pruning with CuCO₃xCu(OH)₂ on root architecture and plant growth at the nursery and in the field. The concentration of 25 g/L applied to the interior walls of the containers could be suitable for chemical root pruning in cuttings and seedlings. At the end of the nursery growth period, the root morphology of copper-treated plants differed significantly from the untreated ones, but differences in root or shoot dry weights were not significant. In the field, copper-treated plants performed no better than untreated plants four years after planting, and the differences in root morphology observed in the nursery did not affect plant survival or growth. Therefore, these results do not recommend the use of chemical root pruning with copper in order to improve stability of E. globulus, at least for the first four years after outplanting.

Key words: chemical root-pruning; copper carbonate; out-planting response

 

 

Efeito do Revestimento em Cobre de Contentores de Viveiro sobre o Crescimento e Morfologia Radicular de Plantas Provenientes de Estacas e Sementes de Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

Sumário. A produção de plantas em contentores de plástico rígido é vantajosa na produção de eucaliptos em viveiro, mas a morfologia radicular difere da apresentada por plantas que cresceram em condições naturais. As deformações do sistema radicular resultantes da produção em viveiro podem afectar o comportamento pós-plantação relativamente ao crescimento e estabilidade mecânica, sendo a estabilidade dos eucaliptos uma questão importante. Assim, para melhorar a resposta pós-plantação do Eucalyptus globulus Labill., testámos o efeito da poda química da raiz pelo CuCO₃xCu(OH)₂, sobre a arquitectura da raiz e crescimento da planta em viveiro e no campo. A concentração de 25g/l aplicada nas paredes interiores dos contentores seria apropriada para a poda química da raiz de plantas provenientes de estacas e sementes. No final do período de crescimento em viveiro, a morfologia da raiz de plantas tratadas com cobre diferia significativamente da apresentada por plantas sem tratamento, mas as diferenças em peso seco de raízes e lançamentos não foram significativas. No campo, quatro anos após a plantação, o comportamento das plantas tratadas com cobre não foi melhor do que o das plantas sem tratamento, e as diferenças de morfologia da raiz observadas em viveiro não afectaram a sobrevivência ou o crescimento das plantas. Por conseguinte, estes resultados não recomendam o uso de poda química com cobre para melhorar a estabilidade do E. globulus, pelo menos nos primeiros quatro anos após a plantação.

Palavras-chave: poda química da raiz; carbonato de cobre; resposta à plantação

 

 

Résumé.La production de plantes en pots de plastique rigide a des avantages dans la production d'eucalyptus en pépinière, mais la morphologie racinaire diffère de celle présentée par les plantes qui poussent en milieu naturel. Les déformations du système racinaire résultant de la production en pépinière peuvent avoir des effets sur le comportement post-plantation, en ce qui concerne la pousse et la stabilité mécanique, l'instabilité des eucalyptus étant une question majeure. Donc, dans le but d'améliorer la réponse post-plantation de l'Eucalyptus globulus Labill., nous avons testé l'effet de la taille chimique par le CuCO₃xCu(OH)₂, sur l'architecture du système racinaire et la pousse de la plante en pépinière et dans les champs. La concentration de 25g/l utilisée dans les parois intérieures des pots serait appropriée pour la taille chimique de la racine des plantes provenant de boutures et de graines. À la fin de la période de pousse en pépinière, la morphologie de la racine des plantes traitées avec le cuivre était significativement différente de celle présentée par les plantes sans traitement, mais les différences entre le poids sec des racines et celui des bourgeons n'ont pas été significatives. Quatre années après la plantation définitive, le comportement des plantes traitées avec le cuivre n'était pas supérieur à celui des plantes sans traitement, et les différences de morphologie du système racinaire observées en pépinière n'ont eu aucun effet sur la survie ou la pousse des plantes. Par conséquent, étant donné ces résultats l'utilisation de la taille chimique au cuivre pour améliorer la stabilité de l'E. globulus, du moins les quatre premières années après la plantation n'est pas recommandée.

Mots clés: taille chimique de la racine; carbonate de cuivre; réponse à la plantation

 

 

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Entregue para publicação em Abril de 2006

Aceite para publicação em Outubro de 2007