Spring Fumigation Using Totally Impermeable Film May Cause Ectomycorrhizal Deficiencies at Sandy Loblolly Pine Nurseries
Stunted 1-0 loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings occurred at two bareroot nurseries in 2017. At both nurseries, soil was spring fumigated and covered with a totally impermeable film (TIF). During the summer, the stunted seedlings contained less than 0.11 percent foliar phosphorus, while normal seedlings had more than 0.12 percent foliar phosphorus. The mosaic pattern of stunting was identical to new-ground syndrome, which occurs from an ectomycorrhizal deficiency on newly established pine seedbeds (i.e., on nursery areas not previously in seedling production). Although new-ground syndrome has occurred at several nurseries in the past, 2017 may be the first time spring-fumigation syndrome has occurred at established loblolly pine nurseries. This phenomenon is due to insufficient airborne spores after fumigation and a lack of soil inoculum due, in part, to a deeper fumigation zone resulting from longer periods of exposure to fumigants under TIF. Suggestions for future research directions are provided.
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Author(s): David B. South, Justin Funk, C. M. Davis
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 61, Number 1 (2018)
Volume: 61
Number: 1