Four nursery experiments were carried out between 1984 and 1989 to inv
estigate ways of improving the germination and growth of Pinus peuce s
eedlings. In each of three germination experiments, the highest germin
ation percentage was achieved with the longest duration of stratificat
ion. In the same experiments, better germination was usually achieved
using alternating warm (c. 20 degrees C) and cold (2 degrees C) pretre
atments rather than cold pretreatment alone. The treatments that gave
the best germination were generally those which provided the best heig
ht growth. In an experiment examining the effect of different nutrient
s upon the growth of 1-year-old seedlings, height and root collar diam
eter were increased in the presence of nitrogen. However, these parame
ters were depressed by the presence of phosphate, potassium and magnes
ium.