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Malaysia

SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Malaysia - International Tropical Timber Organisation Joint Project:

Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia

PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase II

A MANUAL ON GRADING OF NURSERY SEEDLINGS

Malaysia

···1·//·) ···.;~.,:fl'{ International Tropical Timber Organisation

A MANUAL ON GRADING OF NURSERY SEEDLINGS

Malaysia - International Tropical Timber Organisation Joint Project:

PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase 11

By:

Sheikh Ibrahim bin Sheikh Ali (Forestry Consultant)

Published By:

Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia

Printed By:

AG Network Sdn. Bhd.

A Manual on Grading of Nursery Seedlings

Malaysian - ITTO Project on Sustainable Forest Management and Development in Peninsular Malaysia: PD 185/91 Rev.2(F) - Phase 11

© 2006 Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur/lnternational Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO)

All rights reserved. Printed in Malaysia. No Part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or

retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher except in the fair dealings of doing research.

LTTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase n

TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

CONTENTS i

LIST OF TABLES ii

LIST OF APPENDIX 11

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

2.0 DEVELOPMENT OF GRADING STANDARDS 2

2.1 Morphological Grading 2

3.0 DEVELOPMENT OF GRADING STANDARD FOR THE DIPTEROCARP SPECIES 3

3.1 Relationships Between Morphological Characteristics 5

4.0 NURSERY GRADING PROCEDURE 7

5.0 COLLECTION OF DATA 8

6.0 REFERENCES 9

Sustainable Forest Management and Development in Peninsular Malaysia

ITTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase Il

LIST OF TABLES page

Table 1. Results of Grading Study on SeedlingsIWildings of Four Dipterocarp Species 4

Table 2 Correlations Between Seedling Heights and Seedling Diameters Using Data from the Four Species Investigated 5

Table 3 Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea ovalis 6

Table 4 Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea macroptera 6

Table 5 Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea assamica 6

Table 6 Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea leprosula 6

LIST OF APPENDIX page

Appendix 1 Nursery Stock Evaluation Form Grading of Planting Stock 10


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MANUAL ON GRADING OF NURSERY SEEDLINGS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Production of planting stocks in the nursery generally aims at preparing quality seedlings that will establish and grow well after outplanting. Planting stock quality generally carries the implication of the seedling inherent performance potential. Performance potential is integrated effect of genotype, phenology, and nursery cultural practices. The main factors which affect seedling quality up to the time of lifting are: the nursery site (soil, fertility, moisture, weather), genetic make-up of the stock, seed (size, variability, germination, treatments), methods of production (bare-rooted, rooted cuttings, container-seedlings), the space occupied by the seedlings in the nursery beds; time of sowing and length of growing period; age of seedlings; weed control methods and effectiveness; seedling nutrition; method of seedling conditioning; insect attacks and ddiseases.

The quality of planting stock is one of the main factors influencing initial survival and subsequent development in any rehabilitation of forest areas. Even though collection of seed can be carried out from selected so-called elite trees (or mother trees), there is no guarantee that the seedlings will be all of high quality. This is because even so-called elite trees may carry some undesirable genetic makeup and also because of the uncertainty of the pollen parents. Furthermore, seeds collected from selected mother trees may not necessarily perform well when introduced to new planting locations. Hence in the raising of seedling stock for the purpose of using them in replanting of degraded forest areas - as frequently done in enrichment planting - the need for grading the seedlings raised from either the collected seeds or wildings at the nursery becomes a paramount importance.

Ideally, the best measure of quality of nursery-raised seedlings should be based on survival together with rate of growth of the seedlings on the planting site (Dickson et al., 1960). However the difficulties in using actual field tests as a measure of quality of planting stock makes it desirable to base quality judgment upon the seedlings at the time the stock is ready for field planting.

The judgment of nursery stock quality at the time of planting may be based on either physiological or morphological characteristics of the seedlings. Though gross morphology may not be the most accurate measure of seedlings quality it is easier to apply and thus more practical than seedling physiology.

In Peninsular Malaysia, although seedlings can be purchased from private nurseries, reliance on these private nurseries however can prove to be costly in terms of not getting the quality seedlings. Private nurseries normally raise their seedling stock from wildings which are collected indiscriminately from the forest floor without paying any serious attention to the quality of the parent trees. As a result of this practice, the quality of seedlings raised in private nurseries varies widely. Besides, private riurseries


ITTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase IT

usually raise their seedlings in polythene pots containing purely clay soil which is hard when dry and certainly not conducive for the healthy growth of the seedlings. The size of the plastic pots used by the private nurseries is smaller compared to the size used by the Forestry Department. It is therefore very important that Forestry Departments in the states raise their own seedling stocks where the seedling quality can be guaranteed.

To date the seedling grade standard for the Meranti group (Shorea spp.) is based on stem diameter in centimeters at ground level. The preferred standard is 0.6 cm. with a minimum of 0.4 cm. In the Multi-Storey Forest Management Project (FDPM. et al., 1999) implemented and funded by JICA in the state of Perak, the standards for planted seedlings in the field are as follows:

For all species,

Height of seedlings Basal diameter of seedling Root condition

40-60 cm Over 5 mm Good ( not only main root)

2.0 DEVELOPMENT OF GRADING STANDARDS

Grading standards vary for different families and species of forest trees. To be useful, a grade standard must be simple and easy to apply. It should bring all he variables affecting seedling growth into one common element that can be applied to all similar species

Grading, defined in the Society of American Foresters: Forest Terminology, is be seen and another set based on internal ones that cannot be seen. The former are the morphological criteria; the latter, much more difficult to determine, cover such characteristics as "internal constituents and properties" and "inherent growth". Only the former include elements that can be determined instantaneously and that remain virtually unchanged from the time of grading through to outplanting.

2.1 Morphological Grading

Top length and stem diameter are the most commonly used characters, being easily measured, stable, and sometimes well correlated with performance. In a study of the effects of culling and grading of white spruce nursery stock, Mullin and Svaton (1972) found that only top length and stem diameter at outplanting correlated well with survival and growth 10 years later.

Stem diameter is widely used as an indicator of root growth because a linear correlation was obtained, when the root dry weight was plotted against stem diameter at root collar" using logarithmic scales (Switzer and Nelson, 1963; Ritche, 1984; Sasaki & Mori, 1981). In nursery practice, the stem size of the seedlings can also be used as an indicator have higher starch reserves as well as well-developed root systems and strong resistance to desiccation.


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ITTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase II

Seedlings with hardened tissues and well-developed root systems can be produced at high light intensities between 50-75 % open light. These seedlings are short, but have big stems with good root systems. Transplants resume their growth by utilizing the food reserve accumulated in the stems. This food reserve is also important for root development; a stem with a large diameter contains abundant food. For this reason, stem diameter is more important than height when selecting good seedlings (Sasaki & Mori, 1981).

3.0 DEVELOPMENT OF GRADING STANDARD FOR THE DIPTEROCARP SPECIES

A grading standard to be developed for the dipterocarp species will be based mainly on the morphological characteristics of the seedlings. Though gross morphology may not be the most accurate measure of seedling quality, it is easier to apply and thus more practical than seedling physiology. This is to facilitate the nursery staff responsible for the preparation of the planting stocks to carry out the grading exercise with ease and confidence.

Three morphological characteristics of the seedlings-stem form, diameter at root collar and height - will be used as these are easy to be obtained and easily verified by the field and the nursery staff of the department. Sutton (1979) contended that the morphology of a plant is important in relation to its handling properties, i.e. how it fits physically into the lifting, packing, storing, transporting, and out-planting systems into which it is introduced.

Development of grading standards in dipterocarp species is done by taking random samples of three-month old seedlings/wildings of different available dipterocarp tree species. These seedling/wilding samples were closely monitored for their growth in the nursery. Measurements of morphological characteristics, such as seedling heights, number of internodes, number of leaves, stem form and vigor, were taken at weekly intervals for about 36-44 weeks. Measurements of stem diameter at root-collars were also taken at the end of the experimental period (36th- 44th week)

The stem form of the seedlings/wildirigs plays important bearing on the subsequent growth of the field planted seedlings/wildings. Certainly a straight stemmed seedling/wilding that still carries a single dominant leader is more preferred to one that is crooked and has multiple leaders or has its top broken. Stem form should be taken as the first deciding factor. Seedlings/wildings which are straight or almost straight with vigrous apical dominance should therefore be separated first from the rest. Other external defects due to the presence of disease and insect attacks are also considered in grading seedling stocks in the nursery. Seedlings with any of these defectd must be discarded from use in the outplanting as they will unlikely be able to grow satisfactorily and complete successfully with the natural surrounding vegetation of the planting sites. For the selected seedlings/wildings further assessment will be made based on their stem diameter and height parameters. Depending on these parameters they are then separated into either preferred or acceptable grades. Preferred grad seedlings should be those with high stem diameter measurements. Both grades will be used in the field planting. Seedlings/wildings that fail to be in either grade should be culled


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lTTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase n

At the outset will be crucial to know the amount of seedlings that will ultimately have to culled due to such defects in order to arrive at the final quantity of the seedlings that need to be raised. High percentage of culling may also indicate further requirement to improve the nursery practices may be needed.

The following Table 1 is prepared from the results obtained in the sampling study carried out during the project in which 50 seedlings/wildings raised in the nursery were randomly picked from the original populations of the four species. The number of dipterocarp species available for the study was very limited due to unavailability of seed.

Table 1: Results of Grading Study on SeedlingslWildings of Four Dipterocarp Species

Grades

Species Age Preferred Acceptable Number of

(months) defective

Height Diameter Number of Height Diameter Number of plants range (cm) range (cm) plants range (cm) range (cm) plants

Shorea leprosula 11 45-95 0.61-0.92 19 30-45 0.68-0.74 8

23 - multiple leaders, (seedlings) stunted and dead

11 31-61 0.60-0.75 9 31-48 0.54-0.78 17 S. macroptera 24 - multiple leaders,

(seedlings) stunted and diseased

9 41-54 0.61-0.99 23 34-44 0.50-0.81 25 S. assamica 2 - multiple leaders,

(wildings) stunted

S.ovalis 11 34-58 0.60-0.80 19 23-37 0.41-0.58 21 10 - multiple leaders,

(wildings) stunted, insect attacks and dead

TOTAL 70 71 59

The results shown in the above Table 1 give a fair guide in the grading of the seedlings and wildings. The results indicate the likely percentage of seedlings/wildings that can be used in the planting, such as:

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Shorea Ieprosula S. macroptera S. assamica S.ovalis

- 54% only; - 52% only; - 96% only; and - 80% only.


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Seedlings/wildings that fail to achieve the acceptable grade must be culled and not to be used in the planting. From the seedling samples of the four dipterocarp species obtained for the study, the culling percentages of seedlings were found to be as follows:

Species

Shorea Ieprosula S. macroptera S. assamica S.ovalis

Culling %

44 42 04 20

Culling percentages seems very high for Shorea Ieprosula and S. macroptera. These two species have been found to be susceptible to insect attacks.

The grading results should be used as a guide in the collection of seedlings/wildings in order to achieve the planting requirements.

3.1 Relationships Between Morphological Characteristics

Relationships between the measured morphological characteristics were examined in different species in order to find if there were likely to be high correlations between them. In particular, correlations between seedling heights and stem diameters were looked at. The Pearson correlations between seedling heights and seedling diameters were found significant at 0.05 level for all the species under investigation, as shown in the Table 2 below.

Table 2: Correlations between Seedling Heights and Seedling Diameters Using Data from the Four Species Investigated

Seedling height Seedling diameter

Seedling Pearson 1 0.202*

height Correlation

Sig (2-tailed) 0.016

N 143 143

Seedling Pearson 0.202* 1 diameter Correlation

Sig (2-tailed) 0.016

N 143 143 - - - -- -

* Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed)

Correlations between seedling heights and stem diameters for the four species investigated are separetely given below.


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lTTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase n

Table 3: Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea ova lis

Seedling . Seedling height diameter

Seedling height Pearson Correlation I .264 Sig (2-tailed) .104 N 39 39

Seedling diameter Pearson Correlation .264 1 Sig (2-tailed) .104 N 39 39

Table 4: Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea macroptera

Seedling Seedling height diameter

Seedling height Pearson Correlation 1 .483** Sig (2-tailed) .009 N 28 28

Seedling diameter Pearson Correlation .483** 1 Sig (2-tailed) .009 N 28 -~.--~-

** Correlation is significant at the O.Ollevel (2- tailed)

Table 5: Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea assamica



Seedling diameter Pearson Correlation .420** 1 Sig (2-tailed) .003 N 48 48


Table 6: Correlations between Seedling Heights and Stem Diameter in Shorea leprosula



Seedling diameter Pearson Correlation .559** 1 Sig (2-tailed) .002 N 28 28

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It will be important to follow through the growth develoment of these sampled seedlings from the nursery stage to the field performance stage.


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4.0 NURSERY GRADING PROCEDURE

Seedling/wilding grading at the nursery should commence at least 2 to 4 weeks prior to the field outplanting. By this time seedlings/wildings growing in rows in the nursery beds should have been spaced out to allow them to receive sufficient sunlight enabling the process of seedling 'hardening' to take place. It is important to number the nursery beds and the rows where the seedlings/wildings are arranged to facilitate proper data recording.

Depending on their growth rates the nursing period of the dipterocarp species may take between nine months to at least one year to attain minimum stem diameters of 0.60 mm and minimum seedlings heights of 40 cm. Grading should preferably procedd by first rating vigor of the seedlings/ wildings, as shown below:

(i) Very good vigor from all aspects; leaf color, crown arrangement, uniformity of color and limb sizes related to age of limbs;

(ii) Good to fair; lacking the general first impression of health; surface of crown being quite open or patchy appearance due to lack or loss of leaf area; some leaves may lack healthy green color;

(iii) Poor crown area by volume, sporadic grouping of leaves; lack-lustre with overall unhealthy appearance; older leaves may be yellowish or red-brown; and

(iv) Appears to be dying but not dead yet; may have few green leaves but number of these and coloration indicate the plant very unhealthy and is on the border-line of death.

Select seedlings/wildings having vigor ratings 1 and 2 above. Further assesment should then be made on the basis of seedling stem characteristics. The following stem form characterisyics should be used:

(i) Uniform taper, good form, no blemishes and typical bold form for the species;

(ii) Main stem has died from various causes with a new leader becoming established;

(iii) Forked leaders; single or multiple;

(iv) Crooked;

(v) Terminal leader dead with lateral branching alive below but with no new leader appearing yet; and

(vi) Main stem is bent in more or less horizontal posItIon with one or more lateral branches seeking light and creating vertical dominance.

Only stem from characteristics shown in 1 and 2 above should be selected.


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lTTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase 1I

Finally, seedlings/wildings selected on the basis of the vigor (rating 1 & 2) and stem form characteristics (rating 1 & 2) should be graded into preferred and accepted grades on the basis of the seedling stem diameters - those > 0.60 mm should be graded as preferred whilst 0.40 - 0.59 mm the acceptable grades.

For each species, carry out grading of the seedlings/wildings each nursery bed at a time. Record the number of seedlings/wildings selected on the basis of vigor and stem form from the total number of seedlings/wildings on each nursery bed. This will indicate the percentage of graded seedlings (preferred plus acceptable).

Seedlings/wildings which are not selected should be removed from the nursery beds and kept at a separate location in the nursery. If need be, those that fall in the vigor rating 3 can still be salvaged after sometime if they recover from further nursery cultural practise and used for other purposes. The rest should be strictly culled.

5.0 COLLECTION OF DATA

Implementation of planting stock grading should be accompanied by careful recording of important data. To facilitate this, a nursery stock evaluation form should be used by the personnel doing the grading exercise. An example of the nursery stock evaluation form is shown in Appendix 1.


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REFERENCES

Dickson, A; Leaf, A.L. and Hosner, J.P. (1960). Quality appraisal o.fwhite spruce and white pine seedling sock in nurseries. For Chronicle 36(1): 10-13

Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, Perak State Forestry Department & Japan International Cooperation Agency UICA) (1999). Silviculture Manual For Multi-Storied Forest Management

Mullin, R. E. and J. Svaston (1972). A grading study with white spruce nursery stock. Comm. For. Review 51 :62-69

Ritchie, G. A (1984). Assessing seedling quality. In Duryea, M.L. & Landis, T. D. (Eds) Forestry Nursery Manual: Production of Bareroot Seedlings. Martinus Nijhoftl Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague/Boston/Lancaster

Sasaki, S. and Mori, T. (1981). Growth response of dipterocarp seedlings to light. Mal. For. 44 (2-3): 319-345

Sutton. R.P. (1979). Planting stock quality and grading. Forest Ecology and Management: 2:123-132

Switzer, G.L. and Nelson, L.E. (1963). Effects of nursery fertility and density on seedling characteristics, yield andfield performance of Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 27:461-464

Tang H.T and H.E. Wadley (1976). A Guide To Artificial Regeneration With Particular Reference To Line Planting In Peninsular Malaysia. Research Pamphlet No. 68 FRI, Kepong


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lTTO Project PD 185/91 Rev.2 (F) - Phase 1I

Appendix 1

NURSERY STOCK EVALUATION FORM GRADING OF PLANTING STOCK

State : _________ _ Forest district: __________ _ Nursery: __________ _

Tree species: ___________ _ Seedling/Wilding Stock:

Date Of sowinglwilding collection: Date Of grading: __________ _

Nursery Bed No: __________ _ Name of officer:

Row Seedlingl Vigor Stem Stem SeedlinglWilding Grade

No. wilding rating* form height Preferred Acceptable No. rating** (cm) (diam > 0.60mm) _J (diam.0.40-0.59mm)

Number of seedlings/wildings in the preferred grade Number of seedlings/wildings in the acceptable grade Total number of seedlings/wildings in Ca) and Cb) grades Percentage of seedlings/wildings in Cc)

=


10

Ca) Cb) Cc)


Appendix 1

Note:

* vigor rating:- (i) very good vigor from all aspects; (leaf color, crown arrangement, uniformity of color and limb sizes)

* *Stemform rating

(ii) Good to fair; (lacking the general first impression of health; surface of crown being quite open or patchy appearance, some leaves may lack healthy green color);

(iii) Poor crown area by volume, sporadic grouping of leaves; lack-lustre with overall unhealthy appearance; older leaves may be yellowish or red-brown); and

(iv) Appears to be dying but not dead yet; (may have a few green leaves)

(i) uniform taper, good form, no blemishes and typical bold form of the species;

(ii) main stem has died from various causes with a new leader becoming established;

(iii) Forked leaders;( single or multiple;)

(iv) Crooked;

(v) Terminal leader dead with lateral branching alive below but with no new leader appearing yet; and

(vi) Main stem is bent in more or less horizontal position with one or more lateral branches seeking light and creating vertical dominance.


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