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Seedling production and pest problems at a South Georgia nursery

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Pine seedling production and pest problems were evaluated in methyl bromide-fumigated and nonfumigated plots in two fields at a South Georgia nursery. In one field, fumigation increased loblolly pine seedling bed density in only 1 of 4 years. Seedlings were often significantly larger in fumigated than nonfumigated plots. In the other field, no differences were observed between treatments for bed densities or morphological characteristics. The primary pest problem in nonfumigated plots was nutsedge; most other weeds were controlled through the nursery's weed control program. Plant-parasitic nematode populations did not increase over time and were not viewed as a problem. Macrophomina phaseolina was rarely recovered from soil or roots. Although Fusarium spp. and Pythium spp. were more common in soil and on roots in nonfumigated than fumigated plots, evidence of disease was rare. At present, studies have not found isolates of F. oxysporum that are pathogenic to southern pines. A recent study conducted in a fallow field found that single and multiple applications of glyphosate were effective for control of nutsedge.

Parent Publication

Keywords

experimental design, research, bareroot nursery, container nursery, statistics, pest biology, fumigation, herbicides

Citation

Fraedrich, Stephen W.; Dwinell, L. David; Cram, Michelle M. 2002. Seedling production and pest problems at a South Georgia nursery. In: Dumroese, R. K.; Riley, L. E.; Landis, T. D., technical coordinators. National proceedings: forest and conservation nursery associations-1999, 2000, and 2001. Proceedings RMRS-P-24. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 75-83
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/31355