EFECTO DEL TAMAÑO DE ENVASE EN EL CRECIMIENTO DE Pinus engelmannii Carr. EN VIVERO

Abstract

Many aspects influence the process of plant production. Therefore, it is essential to understand and properly use techniques to foster survival and growth of seedlings in the nursery and in the field. Because the container is one of the key elements directly affecting such processes, the definition of the most adequate size helps optima! yield and mínima! productíon costs. As such, in INIFAP's Valle del Guadiana Experimental Station nursery at Durango, Mexico, three container sizes: 80, 170 and 260 cm3, were studied in order to assess the effect of container size on the growth of Pinus engelmannii, during six months in the greenhouse. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with three treatments and four replications per treatment. The evaluated variables were: height, diameter, main root length and total biomass (expressed as dry weight). After 24 weeks of evaluation, the 260 cm3 and 170 cm3 containers proved to be the most appropriate in terms of improving the growth of nursery seedlings. Based on these results the latter container is concluded to be the best because seedling quality was not different from that of seedlings produced in the 260 cm3 container, that is more expensive.