Survival and growth of Fagus sylvatica seedlings root-pruned prior to transplanting under competitive conditions

Bare-rooted seedlings are normally root-pruned prior to transplanting to fa cilitate the planting process. This study was designed to determine the eff ect of root-pruning on subsequent survival and growth of transplanted beech under competitive conditions. Two-year-old beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatic a L.) were transplanted in a mixture of grasses with below-ground competiti on for water and nutrients and grown for 2 yrs with no irrigation or fertil ization. Before transplanting, the root systems were pruned to 7, 13 and 19 cm; alternatively, coarse roots ( > 2 mm) or fine roots ( < 2 mm) were rem oved and unpruned plants were used as controls. Survival and growth were co mpared with seedlings grown under standard conditions. Mortality increased in correspondence with severity of pruning. Total plant dry weight (DW) was lower and root:shoot ratio higher in competitive compared with standard co nditions. Removal of fine roots depressed plant DW under both standard and competitive conditions, whereas removal of coarse roots did so only under c ompetitive conditions. The results indicate that roots of beech should not be pruned prior to transplanting, regardless of transplanting conditions. a nd that fine roots are necessary for regrowth in transplanted beech.