Estimation of the early responses of Siberian larch to the use of biopreparations in forest nurseries of the Sverdlovsk region

Abstract

Reforestation by planting Siberian larch in the Urals is complicated due the difficulty of obtaining seeds and their low sowing qualities. One of the ways to increase the efficiency of growing high-quality planting material is to use biopreparations with growth-stimulating action. In this regard, a study was conducted to determine the effect of preparations from the extract of spruce wood greenery and its components (neutral and acidic) on the growth of 1-year-old seedlings of Siberian larch in two nurseries located in the Sverdlovsk region. It was found that in the Obroshinsky nursery, the survival rate of 1-year-old seedlings in the experimental variants was 16–28% lower than in the control, while in the Berezovsky nursery it exceeded the control values by 11–30%. The developmental features of the root system (length of the main and lateral roots, density of lateral roots, etc.) were also studied. It was shown that the seedlings from the Obroshinsky nursery had a shorter main root and more pronounced lateral root growth in the lateral direction than the plants from the Berezovsky nursery. The morphological parameters of the above-ground part of the seedlings were studied, and differences were identified both between the variants within the same nursery and between different nurseries. The influence of soil conditions on seedling growth was assessed. It was found that the degree of the stimulating effect depended on the type of preparation, its dosage, and plant growth conditions. A conclusion was made about the positive effect of biopreparations on the safety and biometric characteristics of Siberian larch seedlings in the first year of growth in open ground conditions.