Nursery Management
Nursery Management
Nursery Management
YEREVAN, 2005
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
3. SITE CONDITIONS
4. NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT
4.7.1 Greenhouse
4.7.2 Guardhouse (tool house) and equipment
5. NURSERY OPERATIONS
9
10
11
11
12
13
13
14
15
15
18
18
19
19
21
21
21
22
5.5.4 Hardening
24
2
24
25
25
25
26
5.8.1 Prevention
26
27
28
6. APPENDIXES
33
1 INTRODUCTION
This report describes the justification and objectives of the project (chapter 2), the main
conditions of the nursery site (chapter 3), the necessary action to install a well functioning
nursery (chapter 4), the nursery operations to produce high quality seedlings and other types of
planting stock (chapter 5) and the costs to install and manage the nursery (chapter 6). The
report mainly focuses on the nursery establishment and operations necessary to produce high
quality seedlings for reforestation in the semi-arid and dry mountain steppe zones of Armenia.
Readers interested more in the reforestation project should refer to the report Action and
Business Plan to Re-establish Jrvezh Arboretum.
avalanches, torrent regulation, etc.) and the improvement of water household management and
microclimate, though the precise economic value of these benefits has yet to be determined by
scientists.
The objective of Shen NGO is to develop a 3 ha forest-tree and shrub nursery which, in the
third year after establishment, will produce a large quantity of high quality plant stock. The
demand of seedlings for reforestation and initialising the next generation of the
mature/overmature forests is very high. Unfortunately, Armenia has only two acknowledged
local NGOs involved in producing seedlings for reforestation (Armenian Forest NGO) and
other uses (Armenian Tree Project 4). A large number of governmental tree nurseries developed
during the Soviet period are not functioning today or are in poor condition.
The selection of a central location for a tree nursery plays an integral role in fulfilling Shens
goals for reforestation. Approximately 65% of Armenians forests are located in the North-East
and 33% in the South of the country. Only 2% of Armenians forest and shrub vegetation is
located in Central Armenia. Due to this uneven forest distribution Shen has decided to develop
a nursery in the Kotayk region, to supply the central dry parts of Armenia with forest trees and
shrubs. One can argue now, that the operational costs of irrigation will be higher in the drier
areas of Armenia, but on the other hand transportation costs and air pollution are reduced.
Moreover, hardening and natural selection 5 of seedlings can be directly carried out in the
nursery, increasing the success of future reforestation projects.
3 SITE CONDITIONS
The site is located in the Kotayk region approximately 4 km North-North-East of Abovian on
the road heading to Jraber. The site can easily be reached by vehicles during the entire year
(except winters with heavy snow), and there is plenty of labour force available in Abovian.
The average altitude of the site is 1517 masl, and the average slope grade is 6.5% with a
southern exposure. The area was used during the Soviet period as a tree nursery. Therefore,
about 20000 old seedlings of Pyrus, Malus and Fraxinus are scattered in the grass (alfalfa)
vegetation. The site is surrounded to the North, East and West by trees, which have a positive
effect on the microclimate (windbreak; weather extremes are more reduced than on the open
bare surface). Agriculture is carried out in this area and there is an irrigation system supplying
the area with water. The Armenian forest department declared that the water source supply is
sufficient even during the main drought period from July - October. During the Soviet period
water was provided from the 1st of April until the end of October. However, today the supply of
water is shorter in duration, beginning at the end of May and ending earlier in mid October.
Moreover, water is not everyday available. Water is pumped on to the top of the hill (1563
masl) and distributed using gravity. There is still a network of old irrigation pipes. The main
pipe line, which supplies Abovian with water, functions well. In contrast a high number of
pipes, which were used to irrigate the reforested area, are damaged.
The site contains Quaternary and Miocene geological layers. According to the soil atlas from
1990, the nursery-site is located in the mountain-dark-chestnut soil area. Self conducted soil
4
analysis confirms this information. The soil contains a high amount of loam-clay and organic
matter (mull-humus). The pH of the topsoil varies between 7.2-7.3. A sample 40cm lower has a
pH of 7.22. Therefore, the soil is slightly alkaline. The optimum pH value for tree nurseries is
6. The deepness of soil is at least 50 cm. Clay and stone minerals have been highly weathered.
Hardly any large stones were found and the topsoil contains less then 15% of stones. Basalt,
Andezit, Dolerite, Obsidian and limestone are found on this site. Basalt has the highest share of
rocks in the area. Since there is a high quantity of clay, soil-erosion caused by irrigation water
should be less problematic. In contrast water-logging could cause problems, due to the high
amount of clay. However, excess water can runoff (controlled), due to the slight slope. If
water-logging highly affects the site, tilling the furrows and adding sand or shlugh (grained tuff
stone) to the site soil can prevent this unfavourable condition. Biological activity in the soil is
high. A high amount of earthworms (Lumbriciden) were identified. Earthworms have a positive
effect on the soils structure. On the one hand they produce macro-pores, which are important
for air and water exchange in clay-loamy soils and on the other hand they contribute to the
mixture of soil (deposit of nutrients into lower soils horizons).
max
min
Quantity of precipitation
during the vegetation
period (mm)
Absolute air
temperature
(oC)
Annual sum of
precipitation (mm)
Agro-climatic zone
This site is located in the moderate-warm-humid agro-bio-climatic zone. Due to its close
location to the dry continental agro-climatic zone, the values of annual precipitation are not
very high and the absolute minimum temperature not very low as presented in the following
table:
Moderate warm-humid
4-7
-5 to -10
15-19
37
-41
450-800
300-500
Dry continental
8-9
-5 to -7
21-23
38
-34
400-480
250-300
Table 1: Climate characteristics of the Abovian/Jraber site (source: Soil Atlas of Armenia
1990)
The annual sum of precipitation is about 450mm and the quantity of precipitation during the
vegetation period is approximately 300mm. Rainfalls are mainly in spring and a few in autumn.
Summers are very dry.
Unfortunately no exact graph describing evaporation could be obtained for the area. It is only
known that the potential evaporation is approximately 960 mm/year and the effective
evaporation 360mm/year. This site is located in the low frost risk region of Armenia and the
absolute minimal air temperature is not very low as presented in table 1. Snow, which isolates
the seedlings and the shelterbelt should produce a positive microclimate, reducing the risk of
frost damage.
Based on the book Dendroflora of Armenia, this site is located in the mountain steppe of the
Areg-Kotayk region. This book describes the climate as follows:
-30
Frost
days
Absolute
maximum
-----------
January
average
-5.7
Annual
average
187
498
Summer
period
115
Table 2: Climate characteristics of the nursery site (source: Dendroflora of Armenia 1985)
Main differences between the two climate tables are the absolute minimal air temperature. As
mentioned above the site is located at 1500 masl in the low frost risk zone and therefore,
absolute minimal air temperatures are closer to 30oC, than to 40oC. Otherwise the tables are
quite similar. Appendix 18 contains a report concerning how this nursery site was selected.
4 NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT
This chapter describes the layout of the nursery, followed by the necessary cultivation- and
construction activities to establish a permanent forest tree and shrub nursery. It has to be
mentioned that several activities such as fencing, terrain preparation and the partly installation
of the irrigation system have been already carried out during the development of this report.
4.1 NURSERY LAYOUT
The total area allocated to Shen NGO for 10 years by the Forestry Department of the Ministry
of Agriculture is 3 ha. This area was used during the Soviet period as a nursery site and
therefore several conditions are given. The site is protected in the North by forest and in the
East and West by shelterbelts. The 3 ha are already separated into 5 parts by shelterbelts and
nursery management roads. Therefore, there are 5 main sections. Graph 1 illustrates the site at
present time and the perimeter (fence) of the nursery. The average slope grade is 6.5 % 6. The
upper portions of the sections are steeper and the lower portions of the sections are almost flat.
Section 1 is 6050 m2, section 2 is 8050 m2, section 3 is 3775 m2, section 4 is 4540 m2 and
section 5 is 2215 m2. Therefore, the nursery will have an entire propagation surface of 2.46 ha.
Half a hectare will be used for infrastructure such as, tractor paths, shelterbelt, irrigation pipes,
guard house, greenhouse, etc.
Sections one, four, and five will be used to sow seeds and plant cuttings. Section two will be
used as sowing and transplanting beds, depending on the species propagated. Section three will
be used as transplanting beds. Appendix 1 shows the topography of the site and appendix 2
shows the exact layout of the nursery including shelterbelts, roads, buildings, propagation units
and the irrigation layout.
Fence
Section 3
Section 2
Section 1
FOREST
Legend
Section 4
Section 5
Shelterbelt
Road
To clear the vegetation cover, the area has to be cross ploughed 3 times before the seedbeds can be sown the first
time. All 2-3 years the seedbeds need to be renewed, by cross ploughing the area two times. (1st year: 3 times, 3rd
year: 2 times, 6th year: 2 times, 9th year: 2 times = 9 times/10 years)
Heavy rainfall and irrigation will cause soil erosion of the beds. Therefore, it is at the moment
uncertain how close the seeds should be sown to the furrow. Literature recommends to leave a
strip of 8-10 cm unsown. However, Armenian specialists argue that the seeds be far away from
the water source. It is recommended to test out where exactly to sow the seeds. The heavy soil
has the benefits of being more resistant to erosion and a more lateral infiltration movement than
observed in light soils. If seeds are sown near to the furrow they should be sown deeper than
usual to prevent them being washed out by heavy rainfall.
In general one seedbed (unit between two furrows) will contain two rows and the distance
between the seedlings in the row will be 10 8 cm. However, the spacing between the rows is
unknown, due to the problem described above. If the seeds are sown close to the furrows, the
workers can walk easily between the two rows. Walking on the propagation area should be
avoided during irrigation or rainfall because walking on wet soil compacts it, thus increasing
the likelihood of the furrows and beds suffering damage. Every 7 meters a furrow should be
filled with gravel and used as a main path (120cm wide path). Graph 2 shows the layout of the
furrows, propagation area and paths.
This layout makes it possible to produce 700000 plants in 3 years on a total propagation area
of 2.5 ha. A spacing of 20cm would result in 350000 trees.
70 cm
70 cm
70 cm
Propagation area (the closer to the furrow, the higher the risk of erosion and therefore, a
higher risk of seeds getting washed out)
Small paths (120cm wide paths are not shown in the graph)
The furrows are about 15-20cm wide on the upper open part and 7 cm deep. Due to the
problem mentioned above (uncertainty where to sow exactly), the minimal size of the paths
will be 30 cm wide and the maximum width 50 cm. It is very important that Shen NGO
monitors the impact of soil erosion to adapt the seed/seedlings distance from the furrow (see
appendix 7). Also the development of the seedlings in one row has to be monitored (densely
planted seedlings do not grow very fast and are more prune to diseases).
The nursery will contain a network of a few large roads (4m wide) to allow small water trucks
and tractors to service the nursery area. Large trucks will mainly be used every 2-3 years to
transport planting stock to the reforestation site. The minimal radius of the turns should be 5 m
8
If 10cm spacing is too close between the seedlings in one row, the seedlings can also be spaced at 15 or 20 cm.
On the one hand, the larger the spacing, the less seedlings are produced and on the other hand, seedlings with more
space are less vulnerable to diseases and have more space for growth development.
10
young trees to produce the shelterbelt can be taken from the already existing 20000 seedlings
in the nursery area (section 3).
4.6 IRRIGATION SYSTEM
As Shen NGO has limited financial resources, the type of irrigation system will be developed
on a step by step basis. The first stage of construction will be a furrow irrigation system
consisting of a small amount of piping, many earth-channels, and requiring extensive labour.
The second stage will improve the furrow irrigation system by adding more pipes and
siphons/valves to ease the discharge of water from the main pipe line into the furrows. The 3rd
stage will be to transform the furrow irrigation system into a sprinkler system. This report
describes the second stage of establishing the furrow irrigation system.
As mentioned above in chapter 4.3, the furrows (small parallel channels) are constructed with a
ridger-drawbar connected to a tractor, creating furrows 70 cm apart and about 7cm deep. Four
furrows can be drawn simultaneously.
The seeds will be sown in the area, described in chapter 4.3 graph 2. They will not be planted
in the middle of the ridge, even though lateral water movement and capillary rise will
sufficiently supply the propagation area (rooting zone) with enough water. Spring 2005 was
unusual rainy and no water-logging occurred in the nursery due to the slope allowing excess
water runoff. The longest furrows in the nursery will be 125 m long.
The slope is uniform but exceeds the grade recommended by FAO. Therefore, in Section two,
the furrows will be arranged almost perpendicularly to the slope grade to insure that the furrow
grade does not exceed 0.5%. As mentioned above the soil crusts easily and therefore is
especially suited to furrow irrigation because the water can infiltrate through the cracks.
Additionally, the lower soil layers are protected from drying out quickly and erosion is less a
problem for medium-heavy soils than for light soils. It should be mentioned that furrow
irrigation was conducted here in the past in the line of the slope, with an average furrow garde
of about 6.5%. Section one, three, four and five will also be irrigated in the line of the slope,
because the slopes are not steep and section five is usually used as transplanting bed (2-3 year
old seedlings prevent erosion).
The infiltration rate of the site soil is much lower than in sandy soils and therefore, furrows can
be much longer. Additionally, there is much more lateral movement of water in clay soils than
in sandy soils. Therefore, a wide, shallow furrow is desirable to obtain a large wetted area to
encourage infiltration. Normally stream sizes up to 0.5 l/sec will provide an adequate irrigation,
if furrows are not too long. When larger stream sizes are available, water will move rapidly
down the furrows and so generally furrows can be longer. It is not recommended to use stream
sizes larger than 3.0 l/sec.
It is important to maintain the furrows regularly in order to assure their well functioning
(especially after heavy rainfall). Moreover, the stream size per furrow has to be tested out to
minimize water loss and erosion due to excessively large stream sizes. On the other hand too
small stream sizes result in inadequate watering of the propagation area and poor water
distribution along the length of the furrows.
The following table only provides approximate values relating furrow slope, soil type, stream
size and irrigation depth to furrow lengths (m).
11
Furrow
slope (%)
Clay
Loam
Sand
75
50
75
50
75
0.0
3.0
100 150
60
90
30
45
0.1
3.0
120 170
90
125
45
60
0.2
2.5
130 180
110
150
60
95
0.3
2.0
150 200
130
170
75
110
0.5
1.2
150 200
130
170
75
110
To discharge water into the furrows, metal pipes and valves are used. Water is obtained from
the existing main irrigation pipeline (Abovian pipeline), located 10m far from the nursery area.
Additionally, water trucks and a 60 t reservoir are necessary, because water is only available
from the end of May until mid October.
The main metal pipe (15 cm , 160 m long), has been installed this summer (2005). However,
275 m of secondary pipes (5 cm ) still need to be installed and approximately 432 valves are
necessary to discharge water into the furrows. Besides the pipes used to deliver water, 170 m of
halved plastic pipes (10 cm diameter) are required to create a network that collects excess water
runoff in a reservoir at the lowest point of the nursery. Appendix 2 shows the layout of the
irrigation system and table 10, page 31 presents the costs to establish the irrigation system.
4.7 OTHER NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOOLS
A guardhouse, a 300m2 greenhouse 9 and a heating/generator house will be constructed. The
generator house is used to heat the greenhouse and supply the nursery area with electricity. The
main reason to construct a greenhouse is to propagate Junipers polycarpos and Juniperus
foetidissima. Both species are endemic, rare and very important tree species for reforestation in
the dry mountain steppe and semi desert of Armenia. Juniperus spp. is very difficult to
propagate from seeds and cuttings. Therefore, a greenhouse which is humid and containing
heated seed beds will increase the success of propagating these valuable tree species.
4.7.1 Greenhouse
One of the most important factors (besides a good diseases management; see p. 26) for
successful germination of seeds and the development of strong roots from stem cuttings is a
moist environment maintained at a favourable temperature. Water loss is more dangerous for
cuttings than for seedlings because they cannot take up water to replace the water lost through
the leaves (transpiration) and will therefore, dry out if high rates of water loss occur.
Temperature influences the physiological activity of plants. Temperatures between 21oC to
27oC stimulate optimum growth and development for most plants. 24oC is usually
recommended for most plants to produce roots from stem cuttings.
9
The greenhouse will only be constructed, if it is impossible to propagate Juniperus spp. by conventional nursery
operations.
12
Hydroponics, fog, mist and greenhouses are methods used in combination to propagate
cuttings. However, neither hydroponics nor fog are widely used on large scale forestry (quite
expensive). Mist is widely used in nurseries to propagate cuttings because it is an efficient
system to produce large quantities of rooted cuttings. This method aids the rooting of difficult
species and also helps to decrease the rooting time of more easily propagated species.
Intermittent or interrupted misting is superior to continually misting as this procedure causes
cuttings to root faster and develop a better root system. Interrupted mist uses less water which
keeps the propagation medium warmer and closer to the optimum conditions required for good
root development.
Indoor misting is usually combined with bottom heating of the beds, to further decrease the
amount of time required for rooting and enhance the quality of rooted cuttings. It is very
important to maintain adequate ventilation with indoor misting. In general the rooting period is
approximately 8 weeks. However, rooted cuttings should only be transplanted when they have
developed a strong root system.
The greenhouse will be constructed with metal and glass. Plastic coverage is insufficient, due
to snow in winter. Table 11, chapter 6 presents the costs to establish and manage a greenhouse.
Appendix 16 shows the details of the greenhouse.
Commonly used rooting medium in greenhouses is a mixture of equal volumes of peat moss
and coarse perlite. Combinations of other materials such as vermiculite, shredded sphagnum,
and sand also prove satisfactory. It is important that the rooting zone is provided with sufficient
oxygen and moisture. Therefore, the medium should drain freely and be free of pathogens and
weed seeds. The air content of the media should be between 20 - 45 volume %.
The following factors are important to obtain a good propagation media:
The media should be firm enough to hold the stem cuttings throughout their movement
during rooting. The media should not shrink excessively after drying.
The media should be able to hold moisture.
The media should contain sufficient pores for drainage of excessive water and to supply the
rooting zone with adequate oxygen.
The media should not contain weeds, nematodes and other pathogens (e.g. soil borne
fungi).
The media should be capable of being sterilized with steam. However, other methods are
also possible as mentioned below.
The availability of plant nutrients should be adequate.
Besides chemical treatment of soil (e.g. soil fumigation), the media can be sterilized by placing
a 5cm layer of moist medium on a tray in an oven at 104oC for 1 hour. Be aware that the odour
from heated moist media may be offensive. Soil is usually not recommended as a propagation
medium in greenhouses, because it usually contains a variety of infectious organisms and can
drain poorly if the amount of clay is to high. However, if soil is used it has to be sterilized as
described above.
Root promoting hormones can be applied to the basal 1.2cm of cuttings before placement into
the propagation medium to enhance root development of some plants. Root promoting
chemicals are composed of the following auxins:
13
5 NURSERY OPERATIONS
This chapter describes the operational activities necessary to produce high quality planting
stock and to manage a permanent 3 ha forest tree and shrub nursery.
5.1 TREE SELECTION
One of the main factors affecting the success of reforestation projects and tree nurseries is the
selection of suitable trees. Armenia is a highly complex country due to its geographical
location in the South Caucasus. Armenia is the driest of the three Caucasian countries and solar
radiation levels are amongst the highest worldwide and therefore high rates of evaporation
intensely influence forestry and agriculture. Additionally, summer drought and frost complicate
reforestation efforts in Armenia.
90% of Armenias forests contain oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus orientalis) and hornbeam
(Carpinus spp.), and are mainly located in the North. The climate around Yerevan is much
drier than in the Northern regions. One may argue to use intensive irrigation, but water is a
valuable and scarce resource. Lake Sevan lost 40% of its water volume during the Soviet
period. 54% of water loss was due to hydroelectric power stations and agriculture (irrigation).
According to the forecast climate change 10, using forest trees and shrubs that are drought
resistant can be beneficial. Drought resistant plants usually have extensive root systems (tap
root e.g. Pistacia spp.), thick leaf waxes and bark (protects usually also against frost), good
stomata control, and the capacity for leaf cells to function at low water contents. The following
characteristics usually determine the suitability for drought resistance:
Pioneer to mid-successional species versus climax species: The forests in the North of
Armenia containing Oak, Beech and Hornbeam are Climax forests. In the South there
are a few Relict Forests containing Platanus and Juniperus spp. These forest stands
have a microclimate which has a positive effect on plant growth (weather extremes are
smaller in the forest than on a bare surface). Therefore, pioneer and mid-succesional
species should be used on bare reforestation sites. They usually use less water and are
more tolerant against temperature extremes and soil site disturbance. (E.g. Pinus spp.,
Robinia pseudoacacia, Betula spp.)
Multi-layer canopy versus single-layer canopy: Multi-layer 11 trees are usually used in
reforestation in full sun because they are more water efficient than single layer trees.
Monolayer 12 trees are usually used in partly shaded areas. (multilayer trees include
Quercus, Pinus, Carya,, Fraxinus, Juglans, Populus, Betula; monolayer trees include
Fagus, Magnolia, Sassafras, Cercis)
10
Accepted climate scenario predicts that temperature will raise 2-3oC degrees and Armenia will have in future
10-15% less rainfall (for further detail see: Vulnerability of natural ecosystems. A.L. Aghasyan et. al. Climate
information centre of Armenia).
11
Multi-layer canopy contain many living branches with many leaf layers through out a deep crown.
12
Single-layer canopy concentrates leaves in a single layer along the outside of the canopy area.
14
Proper crown shape: In full light reforestation trees should ideally be tall with cylinder
shaped crowns. (E.g. Cupressus sempervirens, Juniperus spp.)
Native versus exotics: Native trees are usually better adapted to local soil, climate and
pathogens than exotics. Additionally, native trees have a much higher value in the
ecosystem than exotics. However, Armenian forests have been highly destroyed and
climate extremes (summer drought, frost and heat) make reforestation with native and
exotic trees very difficult. Due to the long history of Armenia and the former Soviet
Union, a high number of tree and shrub species have been introduced and successfully
established.
Based on the criteria above to select suitable drought and frost resistant trees, literary research,
and the phytogeographical analysis of Jrvezh arboretum, the following trees and shrubs have
been selected to be propagated in the tree nursery:
Ailanthus altissima
Caragana arborescens
Cedrus
libani
var.
stenocoma
Celtis caucasica*
Celtis glabrata*
Crataegus orientalis*
Elaeagnus angustifolia*
Gleditischia triacanthos
Robinia psuedoacacia
Rosa canina*
Sorbus graeca(*)
Juniperus foetidissima*
Juniperus virginiana
Malus orientalis*
Pinus pallasiana
Tamarix ramosissima*
Ulmus elliptica*
Ulmus pinnato-ramosa
Ulmus pupila
Platanus orientalis*
Pyrus salicifolia*
Quercus iberica*
Quercus macranthera*
Table 4: Selected species to be propagated in the tree nursery, for the reforestation project of
Jrvezh arboretum (*: endemic).
Appendix 3 (planting guide) contains detailed information about the species presented in table
4. The planting guides describe the growth requirement of the different species and how to
propagate them.
5.2 SOURCE OF PLANTING MATERIAL
One of the most important factors is to obtain an adequate quantity of high-quality planting
material (seeds, cuttings). It is not easy to obtain high-quality seeds in Armenia, since the break
down of the forestry sector. Shen NGO ordered 300 kg of oak acorns from the Forest
Department. Unfortunately, the acorns were of poor quality and approximately 2/3 had to be
thrown away. Moreover, none of the sown acorns germinated leading to the assumption that the
acorns were improperly stored (loss of humidity). Additionally, no information on the
collection site was given. Therefore, Shen members will collect seeds themselves. The
following factors are of essential importance to seed collection:
Seeds should be collected in a mast year (e.g. oak usually produces good seed crops
every 4 years. Many trees adapted to dry land climate produce good seed crops at
intervals of 2, 3 or 4 years).
Seeds and cuttings should be collected from plus candidate trees (plus candidate trees
are the strongest individuals in a forest stand. The criteria for judging the quality of a
tree are diameter, height, growth-form; neither biotic nor abiotic damage are important
15
criteria for identifying plus candidate trees. Planting material (seeds and cuttings) taken
from strong healthy individuals, produces high quality seedlings (genetic fingerprint).
Seeds should be collected from trees adapted to the site of the reforestation project. If
possible collect seeds from trees growing near the reforestation project or from trees
growing under the same conditions found at the reforestation site. Site conditions are
defined by climate, topography and soil. Topography is an important issue in high
mountain reforestation projects. If the reforestation site is located on a south-facing
slope, seeds should only be collected from trees growing on south-facing slopes at the
same altitude. Never plant seeds from the north slope on the south slope or vice versa.
Altitude is also a very important factor. Never collect seeds from low levels for
reforestation projects at high altitude. Swiss foresters recommend to collect seeds in a
maximum altitudinal variation of 100m from the reforestation site and U.S. foresters
recommend a maximum altitudinal variation of 150m.)
To analyse site conditions Atlases can be helpful. Additionally, field work and local knowledge
are required as well as a data bank. Usually the development of a seed bank is conducted by the
government, due to the large amount of information required. Appendix 8 shows a form to
manage the seed data bank.
It is important to know from where the seeds come and which site conditions are found there.
When seeds are stored the following information must be written on the package:
Date of collection
Tree or shrub species name (Latin and Armenian name)
Site name
Site conditions (soil pH, altitude, slope exposition, agro-bioclimatic zone of Armenia)
Appendices 8, 9, 10, and 11 contain detailed forms for the collection and management of
fruits/seeds.
5.3 SEXUAL PROPAGATION (COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF SEEDS)
Seed handling includes a series of procedures beginning with the selection of the best quality
seed source (see above chapter 5.2), through harvesting, processing, storage, pre-treatment to
germination. The following graph shows which activities are frequently carried out between the
collection and pre-treatment of seeds:
Collection of
8
fruits
Pre-treatment of seed
14
before sowing
Packaging of fruits
Storage of
13
seed
Transportation of fruits
Assessment of
12
seed quality
Drying of
11
seed
Extraction of seeds
9
from fruit
16
Which species must be propagated (see chapter 5.1 and planting guide (appendix 3))
Where to collect the seeds (see chapter 5.2 and appendix 11)
How many seeds should be collected (see appendices 12 and 14)
When to collect the seeds (see appendices 4 and 10)
How to collect the seeds (see chapter 5.3.3)
Stands growing at higher altitude normally flower and fruit later than stands of the same
species growing at lower elevation. For example the seeds of Ulmus spp. were ripe in Yerevan
(1000 masl.) at the end of April 2005, whereas the seeds of Ulmus were ripe around the
nursery site (1500 masl.) at mid-end May 2005. Appendix 4 contains information when
fruits/seeds are mature and the period of collecting them. However, these are average dates of
the collecting period throughout the entire country and can vary depending on the altitude of
the collecting area and the exact location. Appendix 4 can be used as a planning instrument,
when to conduct seed collection. However, Shen should establish more detailed phonological
tables, based on local observations, taking into account the climate (dry, average, wet year),
altitude, slope position, and location (see appendix 10). Moreover, the intervals of seed
production (mast year) have to be determined (e.g. 2004 was not a mast year for oaks).
5.3.2 Seed source
A seed source (e.g. forest stand) should yield a large quantity of high quality seeds which
match reforestation habitat and purpose. In general the seed trees should be of good phenotypeneither juvenile nor over-mature and good seed producers. In other words, seed trees should
have no sign of biotic and abiotic damage and be the strongest individuals in a stand with
superior morphological characteristics (genetic fingerprint). Seeds should never be collected
from inferior parent trees because this affects the performance of the reforestation project.
To estimate the potential quantity of seed crops available, preliminary assessment of flowers
are carried out during the year. The more flowers a tree or forest stand contains, the more fruits
can be expected.
It is important to develop working plans, which include the following factors:
Calculation of seed quantity and labour demand (see appendices 12, 13 and 14)
Preliminary assessment of flower and seed crop (see appendix 10)
Identification of seed sources (see chapter 5.2, appendices 11 and 8)
17
13
The primary aim of maintaining seed sources in Armenia is to protect the valuable plus candidate trees from
being harvested or damaged. However, this is very difficult at the current circumstances. 5000 ha are illegally
clear-cut per year in Armenia.
14
Workers will be trained by Mr. Valashak (Armenian nursery specialist).
15
Will mainly be carried out at Shen office and homes of Shen members.
16
Be aware, that fruits collected from the ground, have a higher risk of being affected by pathogens. A prevention
in pest management is to collect the seeds just before natural seed fall or immediately after. The longer seeds are
on the ground, the more prone they are to predators and diseases.
18
Pre-cleaning, for fruit/seed lots containing larger debris, empty fruit parts, leaves, etc.
Pre-cleaning is carried out to ease further processing steps and to avoid the spread
of pathogens. Soil debris can contain soil born fungi and leaves may carry fungal
spores or other pathogens. Therefore, all non fruit-material, such as soil, leaves
branches, and damaged fruits have to be removed for all species.
Pre-curing, for fruits that must be after-ripened, or where rapid desiccation hampers
extraction (mainly for Conifers).
Pre-curing promotes after-ripening of immature fruits and eases the extraction of
seeds. The duration of after-ripening varies between species and is mainly based on
experience. A few species such as Ginkgo biloba and Fraxinus spp. always require
after-repining because the embryo is not fully developed at the stage of dispersal.
High moisture level (gradually declining), avoidance of drastic increase in
temperature (normal air temperature) and ventilation are necessary conditions
during after-ripening. Only immature fruits should be after-ripened.
To judge when maturity has been reached cutting test of the seed can be carried out.
Pre-curing of cones is sometimes necessary to ease the extraction of seeds (e.g.
Pinus spp., Cedrus spp.). If cones are dried too quick or they dont have enough
space to expand during drying case hardening can occur, resulting in difficulties
to extract the seed. Re-moistening the fruits, and then slowly drying them a second
time normally overcomes this problem. The cones can be dried indoor until they
begin to open. Once the cones have opened they can be placed in a bag and shaken
to release the seeds. Beating the bag with a stick also helps.
Pre-curing of fleshy fruits should always be carried out. Fruits should mainly be
spread out in open trays to allow moisture from the fruit to drain off.
Extraction of seeds.
The extraction method of seeds depends upon the species. The most common
methods are described below.
Fleshy mature fruits like berries and drupes should have their fruit pulp fully or
partly removed before drying. A common, easy way to do so is to soak the fruits in
water overnight, macerate them e.g. on a wire mesh, and rinse them with water to
remove as much pulp as possible. When the macerated fruits are left in water the
seeds usually tend to stay at the bottom, while the soft fruit material and non-viable
seeds tend to float and can be skimmed of.
Fleshy fruits should be collected as soon as they are fully ripe but before they fall or
have been attacked by pathogens. Fleshy fruits should not be piled (in air tight bags)
to avoid the chance of fermentation. Additionally, they should also not be soaked
too long in water to avoid fermentation, indicated by bubbles and smell.
Air drying: Place fruits on a screen (e.g. white paper or line towel) in a single layer,
making sure they dont touch each other. They should be air dried under shelter
(e.g. office) to avoid climate influences e.g. direct strong sunlight or rain. Armenias
air humidity is dry and therefore air drying should be no problem. It is important
that cones are not dried too fast. Otherwise cell collapse occurs, resulting in closed
19
cones. Air drying works well for., Thuja spp. Biota spp. Sorbus aucuparia, most
Pinus spp. Cedrus 17 spp. Abies spp. Elaegnus angustifolia, Picea spp. Viburnum
spp. and Salix spp.
Oven drying: This method is used for serotinous cones and fruits. The cones only
open when they have been exposed to high temperatures (in nature by fire). A
normal convection oven can be used therefore. Be sure, that the cones are spread in
a thin layer and avoid excessively high temperatures.
Threshing: Spread fruit on a concrete floor and walk on them (dont stomp your
feet). This method can be used for Catalpa spp. Syringa vulgaris, Gleditischia
traicanthos, Robinia pesudoacacia, Caragana spp., Juniperus spp.. However, other
mechanical treatments (beating with a stick, crushing them in a mortar) that will
split the fruits without damaging the seeds are also suitable. Seeds from large fruits
like Gleditschia triacanthos can be extracted by splitting each fruit by hand.
Depulping: Remove the pulp of fruits by running them over a screen by hand or by
placing them into a food chopper. The pulp is washed out with running water.
However, for some fruits the sticky pulp remains attached to the seed. If this occurs,
increase the pressure of running water or use a normal mixer. Prunus virginiana
fruits are crushed and soaked in water before the seeds are separated from the pulp.
Most fleshy fruits such as Malus spp., Lonicera spp. Juniperus spp. Sorbus
acucuparia, Pyrus, Viburnum spp are extracted by depulping.
Nuts (Quercus spp., Castanea sativa, Fagus orientalis): Acorns have to be removed
from their cups, and chestnuts have to be removed from their husks. Acorns
collected from the ground have to be checked carefully, as they are often partly
chewed or affected by pathogens (fungi).
For some fruits a combination of the different processing steps are carried out. As
example for Juniperus polycarpos it is recommended to crush the fruit coat
(threshing) first, then depulp them, followed by polishing/abrasion with a towel.
The following table shows the seed extraction procedure, depending on the fruit type:
Fruit type
Dry dehiscent fruits open at maturity to release
their seeds, e.g. cones, pods, follicles.
Cedrus, Pinus, Biota, most Leguminosae
Dry indehiscent fruits, remain closed at
maturity.
Fleshy fruits with very thin pulp, e.g. Ziziphus
spp.
Fleshy fruits with soft pulp, e.g. Prunus, Ficus,
Olea
Fleshy fruits with soft, fibrous pulp
Fleshy fruits with felty pulp
Extraction procedure
Drying shaking/tumbling
Drying threshing
Drying
Soaking maceration washing
Soaking fermentation washing
Soaking maceration washing
Soaking maceration washing
abrasion/polishing
Soaking abrasion/polishing
Dewinging involves the removal of any dry seed appendage, including wings, hairs, etc.
17
Cedar and Abies spp. cones have to be collected before they are fully ripe, because the cones fall apart on the
tree.
20
Seeds distributed by wind contain wings. The winged seeds are rubbed between
hands. A towel can also be used for this procedure. It is important that the seeds are
not damaged during this process. Wings usually do not obstruct germination, but
may be inconvenient in handling and in some instances, tend to collect moisture and
promote fungal attack. Dewinging is mainly done for seeds that need to be
stratified, while seeds sown immediately after collection (e.g. Ulmus spp.), rarely
have the wings removed.
Wings are typical for indehiscent dry fruits and conifers. Seeds of Pinus, Abies,
Cedrus, Betula, Ulmus, Ailanthus altissima, Acer spp., Salix spp. Populus spp. and
Fraxinus spp. have wings. It is not recommended to dewing the seeds of Ulmus
pumila, Fraxinus excelsior and Acer campestre because the embryo is usually
damaged.
Cleaning of seed lots with impurities like fruit parts, leaves, twigs, empty seeds, etc.
Cleaning of the seeds can be done using several methods. It is important to store
only healthy seeds to avoid the increase of fungi in the seed lot. A common method
is to sieve a seed lot through a series of grids with decreasing mesh or hole size.
Several types of screens are available. This method is mainly based on the size of
the seed and the impurities.
Using a fan can also help to separate healthy seeds from empty seeds and other
impurities. The method is mainly based on the weight and shape of seeds and
impurities. For example dust and fungal spores are unwanted components of the
seed lot which will be blown far away. Healthy, big, full seeds will land closer to
the fan, than empty or less viable seeds. This technique is also used for grading 18.
Flotation: After the seeds have been extracted from the fruit and separated from
pulp they can be placed in a jar of water or other liquids (for example 95% ethanol).
If alcohols are used it is important that they do not negatively affect the germination
of the seeds. Floating tests are usually carried out to separate sound seeds which
sink from poor seeds and chaff which float.
Grading is done for seed lots with large variation in seed size or weight. Grading usually separates the seed lot
into several categories. As example oak acorns can be separated by hand into three groups according to their size.
Usually small acorns (even though healthy) are not sown, because their endosperm contains less energy, and
therefore germination and seedling development is not that good as seedlings germinating from large acorns.
21
is one of the main key-factors in implementing an integral pest management system where
prevention is the key to success (see chapter 5.8 Integral pest management).
5.3.6 Storage of seeds
The storage of seeds depends on the species. Recalcitrant seeds such as oak, acorns, beech, and
elm seeds can not be stored for a long time and are usually planted immediately after
collection. Armenian nursery specialists recommend that Ulmus spp. seeds be sown within
three days after collection. If they can not be sown immediately, due to rainy weather, they
have to be immediately stratified, to prevent moisture loss. Quercus spp. and Juglans spp. can
be stored in damp cold with plenty of air circulation. However, they can not be stored long and
large storage facilities are necessary due to the size of the seeds. Other seeds can be stored for
several years using an appropriate method. Caragana arborescens, Pyrus spp. and Syringa
vulgaris are recommended to be stored at room temperature.
The seeds of most orthodox species can be safely dried for storage. However, excessive drying
should be avoided or the seed will not germinate. Orthodox seeds are gently dried by spreading
them out in a warm room. Clean, dry seeds are put into airtight containers or poly bags and
labelled. The containers or bags can then be stored in a fridge at 2-5oC, for several years.
Equipment and containers should be clean and dry, to avoid the multiplication of fungi.
Appendix 4 shows which seeds can be stored and the possible storage-duration before loosing
viability.
Insects and fungi that seriously harm seeds and, as a result, reduce germination must be
destroyed completely before the seeds are stored. Insecticidal dusts, for example Carbon
Bisulfide or Methylbromide, can be used for treating seeds. Insecticide and seeds frequently are
placed together in a sealed container for 24 hours, after which the seeds are aerated quickly and
stored. Fumigation or fungicides can be used to treat pathogens. However, chemicals should
only be used if really necessary. As mentioned above fruit collection, processing, quality
analysis and correct storage are all preventive measurements to avoid having contaminated
seed lots with fungi and insects (for more details see chapter 5.8).
5.3.7 Pre-treatment of seeds before sowing
Most seeds in Armenia enter a dormancy which must be overcome to allow the seed to
germinate. Dormancy can be mechanical and caused by the seed-coats impermeability
(Gleditschia triacanthos, Robinia pseudoacacia); by physiological internal conditions in the
seed, as in Acer spp. and Betula spp.; or by both factors.
Seeds must have overcome their dormancy and have the proper soil moisture, temperature and
oxygen to germinate. Overcoming dormancy can be done mechanically/chemically or by using
stratification. Seed moisture is highly influenced by the way seeds have been processed and
stored (too dry seeds will not germinate and too moist seeds are highly prone to pathogens).
Concentrated sulphuric acid is commonly used to overcome seed-coat dormancy. However, the
use of this acid is relatively dangerous and should only be carried out by trained persons,
equipped with correct protective clothing. Other methods are to injure the seed-coat by rubbing
the seeds between two pieces of sandpaper or to soak the seeds in hot water. The method
selected depends on the species and the quantity of seeds.
Internal dormancy is usually overcome by cold stratification. Some species also need a warm
treatment followed by a cold treatment. The most practical method of cold stratification is to
store seeds in the refrigerator at temperatures between (0-5oC). Appendix 3 and 4 contain the
exact temperature and duration recommended for the different species. Seeds are usually mixed
22
with three times their volume of moist sand or peatmoss in a polyethylene bag or in airtight
containers.
5.4 ASEXUAL PROPAGTION OF PLANTS
Trees and shrubs can be propagated by sexual (seeds) and asexual (cuttings) means. The most
common method to propagate plants asexually is from cuttings. Cuttings can be made from
stems, roots, leaves, or combinations of plant parts such as stems with leaves. The four major
categories of cuttings are:
Stem cuttings
Leaf cuttings
Leaf-Bud cuttings
Root cuttings
Reasons to carry out propagation by cuttings include because the species does not produce
viable seeds, seeds are difficult to germinate, the collection and extraction process involves
high costs, or a high amount of planting stock has to be produced in a short time.
The host trees from which cuttings are taken must be healthy and have the same desirable
characteristics as plus candidate trees from which seeds are collected (see p. 12). Cuttings are
placed in a warm humid environment to hasten root development and prevent them from
drying. Cuttings are usually propagated in greenhouses (see p. 9).
This report only describes the technique of stem cuttings, because it is widely used in large
scale propagation projects and easy to carry out. Root cuttings are also used, but involve
usually a high amount of labour force and if not properly carried out can damage the tree.
Some plants root better from soft wood cuttings while others should be propagated from semihardwood or hardwood cuttings. The different types of cuttings are characterized as follows:
Soft wood cuttings: Current season growth that is usually taken in Spring or early Summer
during a growth flush when the tissue is relatively soft and succulent. They are called
softwood because new growth is still flexible and non-woody. Although softwood cuttings
usually root more easily and quickly than other cuttings they also require more labour and
equipment. They must be handled more carefully than hardwood cuttings. The best material
has some degree of flexibility, but should break if bent sharply.
Semi-hardwood cuttings: Current season growth that is usually taken in late Summer after a
growth flush has matured.
Hardwood cuttings: Current season growth which are usually taken during the Winter
months of November through February. These are dormant woody sections of young stems.
Well ripened dormant shoots with nodes, which are the swellings that mark the position of
buds, have to be selected. Cuttings should be at least as thick as a pen. Some plants root
better if they are taken with a heel. The cuttings should be 15-30 cm long, with at least
three buds. Some species root easily and are capable of standing inclement weather
sometimes experienced in the spring months, and therefore can be propagated without
additional heat. Other species that are sensitive to temperature should be propagated with
aid of heat. The soil must be well drained to avoid rotting. If the conditions are not suitable
to insert the cuttings into the soil they can be sealed in a plastic bag and stored at about
4.5oC for a few weeks.
Stem cuttings are removed using a disinfected, sharp knife. Stem cuttings 10-15 cm (max 30
cm) in length are appropriate for most species. For several species a heel is recommended to
enhance root development. The cut should be placed directly below a node to help callus the
cut surface and reduce the entrance of pathogens. Leaves are removed from the bottom 2.5 cm
23
of the stem cuttings, and then cuttings are stuck upright in a propagation substrate. Cuttings are
usually inserted 1.2-2.5 cm into the propagation medium. Stem cuttings of Salix and Populus
root very easily and are usually 30 cm long, of which 2/3 of the stem is inserted into the soil.
The following trees and shrubs are readily propagated from cuttings:
Abelia spp., Aucuba spp., Azalea spp., Berberis spp., Buxus spp., Buddleja spp., Cotoneaster
spp., Elaeagnus spp., Euonymus spp., Forsythia spp., Gardenia spp., Hydrangea spp.,
Hypericum spp., Ilex spp., Juniperus spp 19., Ligustrum spp., Lonicera spp., Nerium spp.,
Pittosporum spp., Photinia spp., Populus spp., Pyracantha spp., Salix spp., several roses,
Spiraea spp., Viburnum spp., Vitex spp., Weigelia sp..
However, some trees and shrubs are difficult or impossible to propagate from cuttings. Among
these are fir, pine (some exceptions), hemlock, locust, red cedar, mimosa, redbud, ginkgo,
mountain laurel, goldenraintree, blue spruce, southern magnolia and dagwood. Most common
forest trees, such as Quercus spp., Castanea spp., Fraxinus spp., Juglans spp., Fagus spp.,
Ulmus spp. and Carya spp. are difficult to propagate from cuttings. Most narrow leaf
evergreens, such as the Juniperus, root best when cuttings are taken after the first frost of fall
(early frost).
For more details about the propagation of stem cuttings please see chapter 4.7.1 Greenhouse
and appendix 3 Planting guide).
5.5 PLANTING STOCK
This chapter describes which types of planting stock exist, the duration of seedlings in the
nursery and the operational activities involving sowing, growing, and transplanting.
5.5.1 Types and age of planting stock
Seedlings usually stay for 2-4 years in the nursery. Optimum sizes depend largely upon the
species and the characteristics of the planting site. Plants with well proportioned root : shoot
ratios represent good stock. Other criteria to analyse the strength of seedlings are stem
diameter, height, and woody root collar. Medium size stock, 15-40 cm in height, has a better
survival rate than do smaller plants. Excessively tall plants are difficult to handle and can be
loosened in the ground and blown over. Additionally, plants with a large top have high
transpiration demands.
There are several kinds of seedlings such as bare-root stock, containerised stock, or ball-rooted
stock. Bare rooted stock is usually dug up in late autumn. If bare rooted stock is properly
protected in plastic bags, bare-root stock can last for some weeks out of the planting medium
before being planted out in their final positions. However, transferring seedlings from the
nursery to the reforestation site must be well planned and carried out quickly enough to
minimize the loss of seedlings due to excessive transpiration.
Today most conifers, which resent root disturbance, are grown in containers. Seeds can be
sown direct in containers or young seedlings can be transferred to containers later on. However,
furrow irrigation is not practicable with containerised stock. Moreover, a high amount of labour
force and additional soil and containers are necessary to produce containerised stock.
Therefore, at the present Shen will mainly produce bare-rooted stock. In the long term,
however, Shen should produce containerised stock for all conifers, because the survival rate in
reforestation projects is higher.
Grading is done to eliminate seedlings that have damaged or diseased tops or roots and those
seedlings below minimum standard of development, and to segregate seedlings that exceed
19
Some Juniper species. are very difficult to propagate by cuttings, e.g. Juniperus polycarpos.
24
minimum standards into two or more quality classes. Inferior seedlings must not be used for
reforestation.
5.5.2 Sowing and growing on
Outside sowing is mainly done in Spring (April-May). However, some species can also be
sown in Autumn (e.g. oak). Appendix 5 shows, when seeds should be sown and at which depth.
It is mainly recommended to sow in Spring, because the seeds can germinate and young
seedlings can establish themselves. In Autumn the danger of pathogens for the seeds is higher
because the seed is exposed from the soil for a longer time. However, some species have to be
sown directly after collection (Ulmus spp. and Quercus spp.). Oak seeds which are ripe in
Autumn can not be stored for a long time and usually do not require pre-treatment and are
therefore sown directly.
Large seeds should be sown single. Acorns are spaced 5 cm apart, and ash and beech 2.5 cm
apart. Seeds are usually sown twice the depth of their size, and covered with sieved soil or
sand. Sowing in rows makes it easier to spot the seedlings when they emerge. Seeds can be
sown in drills. Using the back of a rake or the edge of a board is useful to make the drill to the
appropriate depth. The spacing of seeds/seedlings is described in chapter 4.3.
Seeds are broadcasted by hand, trying to get as even a coverage as possible. Appendix 5 gives
the recommended sowing rates for different species. Very light seeds can be mixed with damp
sand to try to get a more even coverage. Additionally, the coarse sand texture increases the
success of germination (sand contributes to a better texture (more air) of the heavy soil). After
sowing, a spade or a garden roller should be used to ensure good seed to soil contact.
Any weeds that appear in the seedbed are best removed by cutting through at just below ground
level with a knife. Pulling them out may disturb the tree seeds and seedlings. It is important not
to mistake germinating trees for weeds. Weeding must be done frequently, which means about
every 2 weeks during the vegetation period.
Seedbeds need to be watered whenever the soil begins to dry beneath the surface. Watering
should be done in the morning or evening. Avoid watering in bright sunlight. Moisture is
essential for germination and seedlings development. The sprouting media has to be kept damp
but never waterlogged or allowed to dry.
Seedlings of most species should be 10-30 cm tall at the end of the first year, when they are
transplanted or lined out. The spacing between each seedling depends on the species. Conifers
can be lined out closer together than leaved trees. It is important to give seedlings enough
spacing to encourage a good root-shoot ratio. Therefore, seedlings have to be transplanted in
the nursery because seeds are sown at a much higher abundance than the species can withstand
later on (Intra-competition).
5.5.3 Transplanting (lining out)
The size of the seedlings depends on the time of sowing, germination period or growing
conditions. If more than 50 % of the seedlings are less than 4cm tall, they should be left to
grow on for another year. Besides the size of the seedlings, it also depends on the density of
seedlings. Beds sown with small seeded species will usually be crowded after one year, and
will need transplanting to give them more room to grow.
Besides giving more room to the seedlings, transplanting combined with root pruning as
necessary, stimulates the plant to grow more side roots so that a fibrous, bushy root system
results, rather than fewer, deeper roots. Moreover, species such as Ulmus pumila produce Taproots, which make transplanting or planting out very difficult if no root pruning has been
carried out or left more than two years in the nursery. Fibrous, bushy roots allow to dig up the
plant without damaging too many roots, and therefore increases the reforestation success.
25
Plants with damaged roots are prone to diseases and have more problems to take up water and
nutrients. It is important to have a high ratio of roots to shoots. Additionally, the diameter of
the stem should be enough thick.
It is important for nursery operations to describe seedlings by their age and time of
transplanting. For example, 1 + (1) denotes one years growth in the seedbed, followed by
transplanting in the first winter, followed by a years growth in the transplanted bed. In less
favourable conditions, seedlings may require 2 years growth in the seedbed, followed by one
year in the transplanted bed (2+(1)). Transplanting is normally done between OctoberDecember and March-April, depending on the season and location. Several factors have to be
taken into account when to conduct transplanting. Seeds transplanted in late Autumn
(November), will be usually significantly larger at the end of the following growing season
than seedlings lined out in spring because each transplanting activity disturbs the root growth.
On the other hand autumn transplanting may lead to transplants being lifted by frost action.
Therefore, it is recommended to conduct a small experiment to identify the ideal transplanting
time. A small amount of seedlings should be transplanted once in November and once in
March/April.
Lifting, root pruning and transplanting should be done on the same day, as this lessens the
chance of deterioration in storage. Still (windless), damp days are preferable for transplanting,
as this will reduce the drying effect on exposed roots, and lessens the stress on the plants.
Avoid transplanting in very wet conditions or when the soil is waterlogged, as root damage is
likely if plants are lifted with sticky clods of soil attached. The procedure of transplanting is
done as follows:
Work from the outside of the bed and insert a fork vertically to its full depth and then ease
it forward to loosen the soil.
Grasp the seedlings close to the ground and lift them gently (the root hairs are very
delicate), allowing excess soil to fall from the root system. The seedlings should not be
shaken or knocked against the fork to remove the soil, because the soil prevents water loss
and protects the root hairs. To prevent water loss seedlings should be placed immediately in
a plastic bag, closed at the top and taken to a sheltered place, where separation, root
pruning and sorting can be carried out.
Any roots longer than 15-18cm should be cut off, using sharp secateurs. Additionally, any
roots that are bent or twisted have to be pruned because such roots will stay this way and
lessen the trees chance of establishment.
If there is a wide range in the height and diameter of the seedlings, they should be separated
into different categories according to their strength, and transplanted into different beds
(grading).
It is very important to prevent the plants from drying out during the entire period of
transplanting. Therefore, the plants must be placed into polyethylene bags and the top
sealed. The bags have to be placed in a shady area, and the seedlings replanted as soon as
possible on the same day.
A trench can be dug to transplant the seedlings. The stems have to be planted upright, or
hockey stick stems will develop, which results in a loss of quality. The roots need to be
spread systematically downwards from the root collar. Never corkscrew or bend the roots
into too shallow or narrow holes, as the roots will be permanently destroyed. This hard rule
has to be obeyed for transplanting seedlings in the nursery as well as planting out plants at
their final location in the reforestation project. It is better to cut off a long root, rather than
bending it into a j shape.
26
The amount which seedlings grow is related to the amount of space they are given. The more
space, the sturdier the plant. Root collar diameter is an important indicator to measure the
strength (quality) of seedlings and is more significant than the height. The following table
shows for some species the size of stock desired to produce for successful establishment later
on.
Species
Betula spp.
Fagus spp.
Quercus spp.
Fraxinus spp.
Prunus spp.
Tilia spp.
50
5.5mm
7.5mm
9.5mm
9.5mm
9.5mm
9.5mm
60
6.5mm
9mm
11mm
11mm
11mm
11mm
Table 6: Recommended minimum root collar diameter (mm) for broadleaved trees
However, growth rates will vary with species, genetic strains, soils, location, weather, fertilizer,
management of diseases and irrigation.
5.5.4 Hardening
Hardening out is very important process to increasing the survival rate on the reforestation site.
Young seedlings transplanted without a transition period into a dry, hot environment have poor
survival rates. The environment in which seedlings are grown (greenhouse, nursery bed) should
be adjusted gradually to the conditions found at the planting site. Therefore, watering and
fertilizing should be decreased gradually. Hardening should be induced in stages, with the
process usually taking about 8-10 weeks. Hardening out will minimize the physical damage of
planting stock during handling, transport and planting at the reforestation site.
5.6 TIMETABLE OF NURSERY OPERATIONS
Spring and Autumn will be the main seasons of intensive nursery work and reforestation
projects. Due to the limited financial resources of Shen to hire labour force work should be
distributed evenly throughout the year. It is recommended that reforestation projects should be
conducted in Autumn and main nursery activities in spring and autumn. An important reason to
conduct reforestation in autumn is due to the climate conditions. Spring and Autumn are the
rainy seasons in Armenia; however, spring storms with hail and late frost can devastate
reforestation projects. Additionally, trees and shrubs planted in autumn can profit from
additional snowmelt water in the Spring and most seeds are usually sown in Spring (spring
sowing reduces the risk of seeds affected by pathogens experienced in Autumn).
Appendices 13 and 14 contain forms to plan monthly and yearly working activities in the
nursery and to collect seeds. The main nursery operations are:
Irrigate the seedbeds and control the furrows and wetting pattern.
Weeding
Remake seedbeds
27
Besides the monthly activity plans, it is also important to plan annual main activities. For
example, some trees only produce good seed crops every 4 years and therefore great attention
should be given to seed collection of these species. Moreover, in 3 years a large amount of
seedlings will be ready for transplanting to their final destination (Jrevzh arboretum), and
therefore this activity has to be well organised several months in advance.
5.7 LABOUR FORCE, FUEL AND WATER
This chapter describes necessary resources (labour force, water, fuel, etc.) to manage the tree
nursery.
5.7.1 Labour force
Five permanent workers, one nursery manager and one guard 20 are necessary to manage the 3
ha nursery (sowing, weeding, irrigating, transplanting and monitoring) and to prepare seeds and
cuttings (collect seeds, processing of seeds, pre-treatment of seeds). Additionally, volunteers,
soldiers and temporary workers are probably necessary in peak working months. The salary
and taxes of workers are presented in chapter 6, table 8.
5.7.2 Water and fuel
Water is one of the most important factors in nursery operations and will be used in large
quantities from April/May to November. Water will not be necessary from
November/December until the end of March/beginning of April, because of the frozen soil and
snow. The exact time of starting and stopping irrigation will change from year to year. In
Spring and Autumn the most rainfall occurs and therefore irrigation has to be managed,
depending on weather conditions, soil infiltration and percolation rate, and the size of
seedlings. Seedbeds with young seedlings should always be moist (not wet, not saturated), and
therefore frequent light watering carried out. As plantlets become older, the frequency of
watering should be reduced to adapt seedlings to reforestation site conditions (hardening out).
Evaporation reaches its highest levels from June to September and therefore irrigation will be
used in high amounts. As nursery site analysis shows, the potential evaporation is 960mm and
the effective evaporation is 360 mm for an average year. Based on recommendations from
FAO (1989), the following calculation is made to estimate the amount of water needed in 1
month:
Amount of Water= Water loss factor x Evapotranspiration x Area of seedbed
(Water loss factor values between 1.2 and 1.4)
Unfortunately the exact distribution of evaporated water per month is unknown and the
transpiration of plant stock is unknown and will vary, depending on the plant species
propagated. Therefore, estimations of necessary water are only made for one year. Water will
mainly be needed in summer (remark: transpiration is not included and therefore the effective
water use will be higher). The following input data is given:
Potential evaporation: 0.96 m /year
Area of seedbed: 25000m2
Water loss factor: 1.4
1.4 x 0.96 m/year x 25000 m2 = 33600m3/year ~ 35000m3/year
For the nursery with 2.5 ha of seedbeds, approximately 35000 m3/year of water is needed.
Most water will be used in summer and therefore it is very well possible that monthly water use
will excide 2000m3/ha. Due to the insufficient information upon the distribution of water use,
it is important to implement a monitoring system (appendix 7).
20
The nursery manager and guard will also be involved in physical work to support the five workers.
28
Unfortunately, the water supply is not available during the entire vegetation period of the
seedlings. As mentioned above, the water supply period is from mid/end May to mid October.
Therefore, depending on the weather, Shen will need to supply the nursery in May and October
with water trucks.
Fuel will mainly be used for the collection of seeds and transportation to the nursery site.
Because there are hardly any forests around Yerevan, Shen will have to travel to the areas
described in appendix 11 to identify plus candidate trees, from which seeds and cuttings can be
collected. Therefore, Shen will consume about 250 l of fuel per month.
5.8 INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT (ENTMOLOGY AND PATHOGENS)
Integrated pest management contains three main parts as fallows: Prevention, combat and after
care. Most important are preventive measurements to minimize the outbreak of diseases in the
nursery. Combat usually involves the use of chemicals such as fumigants, fungicides and
insecticides, and to eliminate affected seedlings. After care is the recovery of the nursery after a
disease outbreak and should hopefully never be the case. This report mainly focuses on
preventive measurements, most of which have already been presented in chapter 5 (mainly
chapter 5.3).
5.8.1 Prevention
Preventive measures like early collection, processing, good hygiene and appropriate storage
conditions are often sufficient to minimize the loss caused by pathogens and insects (see
chapter 5.3). In cases where pesticide and other chemical treatment cannot be avoided the use
should be limited and should be applied with due consideration of possible impairment of seed
viability and seedling growth, risk of labours during handling, and danger to the environment
(see chapter 5.8.3).
Seeds and seedlings in nurseries are prone to diseases caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses,
because of their tender tissues and the establishment of themselves. However, many diseases
can be avoided by selecting proper seed and propagation materials, creating good nursery beds,
avoiding unnecessary wounding by transplanting seedlings, providing routine care
(fertilization, watering, weeding), and using preventive measures as needed. Plants stressed by
biotic and abiotic factors and human beings are often susceptible to diseases. Nurseries are
especially vulnerable to damping-off diseases, mainly caused by soil and seed-born pathogens.
Therefore, the following hygienic measures should be carried out in nursery operations:
The planting material (seeds, cuttings) must not be infected with nematodes, bacteria, or
highly soil-borne fungi such as Phytophthora, Thielaviopsis, or Verticillium. For example
C. deodara and C. libani are vulnerable to damping-off diseases caused by Fusarium,
Rhizoctonia, and Pythium species. Plants from which cuttings derive must be healthy,
showing no symptoms of disease.
Avoid introducing pathogens from one seedbed to the other. It is required that central
cleaning areas should be established where soil is washed from the equipment. Tools can be
placed on a bed of coarse rock or gravel. Boots, hand tools and mechanical equipment must
be washed.
Removed diseased plants and pruned limbs of diseased plants must be destroyed. This
should happen outside the nursery area.
Irrigation water can contain a high number of pests and pathogens. Therefore, surface water
should be diverted into ditches to prevent infection from one nursery block to another. It is
important that the source of irrigation water is not contaminated.
29
To avoid disease in greenhouses footwear should be cleaned with a germicidal agent such
as LF-10 or Amphyl.
Tools have to be regularly disinfected whenever cuttings are collected or the pruning of
infected plants is carried out. Denatured alcohol (7 alcohol:3 water) is effective in cleaning
the cutting blades. Chlorine bleach diluted 1:5 with water is also effective. Wash the knifes
in water at the end of the day to remove the alcohol.
A brief description of seed handling to prevent diseases is given. However, most of this
information has already been described in greater detail in chapter 5.1-5.3. The time, location,
and method of collection of cones, fruits or seeds, and their subsequent handling during
transport, extraction, and processing, affects the development and spread of fungi on seeds.
Other sources of contamination, besides fruits and cones already infected with fungi, arise
during the processing and extraction of seeds. Washing water can also be an additional source
of contamination. Therefore, the following measures should always be carried out:
Collect seeds from healthy, disease free trees. Branch and root cuttings must be derived
from healthy trees, having no symptoms of disease.
Time of collection is an essential factor. Fruits, cones etc. should be collected directly from
the tree and not from the forest ground. For example, the later oak acorns are collected
from the field, the more infected they are with fungi. Most common fungi during acorn
development are Penicillium, Fusarium, Alternaria, and Trichothecium roseum. During
heavy rain Cladosporium herbarum can also affect acorns. If acorns are infected with
Ciboria batschiana, the acorns can be soaked in hot water (44oC for 8 hours).
Cones, fruits, etc. should be transported in well aerated, clean, dry containers or bags.
Seeds should be extracted from the cones immediately after harvest to minimize seed
infection from the microbial population.
Storage, Stratification: As mentioned above the quality of the seed lot must be controlled
before storage or stratification. The seeds should be stored in airtight containers or
polyethylene Zip bags and placed in a refrigerator. Be sure that the storage facilities are not
already contaminated with pathogens. Additionally, sand used for stratification must be free
of any fungi or insects. Some scientists recommend to treat seeds before stratification by
some surface cleaning or sterilizing agent. However, surface treatment of seeds can also
have a negative impact on seed viability and should only be applied if really necessary
(application see chapter 5.8.3).
Cultural practices: Losses due to fungi are expected to increase with earlier dates of
sowing. Autumn sowing is most unreliable because the seeds are exposed a longer time to
soil born fungi. Seeds sown in Spring germinate early and quickly escape damage, whereas
in cold soil during Autumn they do not germinate until the following Spring, and can suffer
maximum loss.
Most soil mixes for containerised seedlings and seedlings grown in greenhouses contain
perlite or vermiculite incorporated with sphagnum peat. This type of mix is usually well
drained and acidic, the two factors that help reduce diseases. Major groups of pathogens
associated with nursery diseases are species of Fusarium and watermolds, such as Pythium
and Phytophthora, which are mainly introduced through irrigation.
30
Soil acidification is carried out to reduce the pH of most alkaline soils found in dryland
environments. Usually sulphuric acid is used. The equivalent of 200-400 m3 of
31
concentrated sulphuric acid is applied in dilute solution (2% per volume) per m2 of soil
surface.
In soil sterilization formaldehyde and methyl bromide (available in Armenia) are used.
Another possibility is to heat the soil in the oven during 1 hour at 104oC.
Fungicides are either applied to the soil or to the seeds before sowing. Some fungicides that
have been used successfully in dry areas are Thiram and Captan. They can be applied as a
dust or in water suspension to the soil, before or after seeding.
32
APPENDIX 3
District/Region/ Sub-region
Annual
average
Absolute
minimum
Absolute
maximum
Monthly
average
(January)
Annual
average (mm)
Summer
(mm)
I: Shirak-Ashotsk district
1. The mountain-meadow region of upper Ahurian
2.0
-46
28
-12.1
98
534
166
4.1
-32
31
-9.5
146
599
178
5.9
-35
34
-9.6
146
459
144
5.4
-30
36
-8.1
171
498
139
3.8
-32
31
-8.4
164
514
180
5.0
-33
31
-8.8
164
612
136
3.6
-33
28
700
6.1
-34
30
-4.4
131
692
265
6.7
-31
31
-3.9
153
630
219
7.1
-30
32
-4.9
167
475
161
11.8
10.8
-16
-18
36
36
-0.3
-0.6
227
223
468
541
164
190
8.8
-20
32
-2.1
180
572
204
7.5
-30
30
-4.8
139
540
240
3.6
-31
30
-8.6
800
242
6.4
-25
32
-4.2
183
390
132
5.3
-25
30
-5.6
175
445
133
4.4
-30
32
-7.1
161
549
183
3.1
-32
28
-7.7
131
613
184
4.1
-33
30
-8.5
123
420
140
V: Sevan district
12. The Broadleaved and conifer thin forest region of
Areguni
13. The prairie region of Martuni
Precipitation
Altitude
(masl)
Floristic
ecological
groups of
the region
20002300
18002000
15001900
14001800
19002250
11-13
9-13
7-13
6-13
11-13
18002250
18002250
10-13
16002000
15001800
15001700
11-13
400-700
7001000
9001300
13002500
19002500
1-13
2-13
19002000
18902000
17702050
20002300
19402300
6-13
9-13
5, 9, 10,
12, 13
8-13
5-7, 9-13
5-7, 9-13
7-13
6-13
7-13
11-13
11-13
33
District/Region/ Sub-region
Annual
average
Absolute
minimum
Absolute
maximum
Monthly
average
(January)
2.6
-35
28
-9.5
6.6
-30
33
-5.2
8.5
-25
38
8.8
-20
34
-0.9
7.8
9.1
-28
-25
34
30
-5.0
-1.3
12.0
-20
41
-0.4
6.0
-30
28
-6.0
8.2
-30
-5.7
5.4
-32
-7.6
9.6
-30
39
-5.5
11.6
-28
41
-4.3
11.4
-28
41
-4.7
8.9
-30
34
-5.9
11.4
-30
41
-3.9
11.3
-25
41
-3.8
4.8
7.5
-33
-32
32
-8.1
-
9.0
-25
40
14.5
-16
41
-0.3
Summer
(mm)
Floristic /
ecologica
l groups
of the
region
Annual
average (mm)
Altitude
(masl)
Precipitation
10
8
15
1
524
111
1900-2300
11-13
407
92
1700-2050
7-13
17
0
20
2
18
0
22
2
15
0
500
129
1600-1700
4, 6-13
765
171
1000-1500
4-13
492
646
118
150
1200-1800
531
180
700-1200
5-13
5, 6, 1113
3, 4, 6-13
542
107
1800-2400
7-13
18
7
17
4
21
1
16
3
21
7
20
8
-
498
115
1400-2000
6, 12, 13
650
126
1500-2300
8, 13
391
95
1100-1400
6, 12, 13
245
51
800-950
6-12, 13
315
73
850-1100
501
87
1150-1700
350
1150-1300
4, 6, 12,
13
7, 10, 11,
13
7, 8, 1013
21
5
-
444
73
707
550
113
-
1650-2300
1500-2000
4, 6, 12,
13
9-13
6-13
18
0
25
3
400
800-2500
6, 7, 13
293
48
500-800
1-4, 6-13
34
APPENDIX 4
Time of
mature
seeds
(month
)
Time to
collect
the
fruits
(month
)
Weight of
1000
seeds in
gram
Germinati
on rate in
%
Ailanthus altissima
IX-X
X-XII
30-35
80-90
Caragana
arborescens
VII-VIII VII-VIII
25-40
70-80
Cedrus libani
var.stenocoma
Have to
purchased from
Turkey
Celtis caucasica
IX-X
IX-X
40-50
80-90
Celtis glabrata
IX-X
IX-X
35-40
70-80
Crataegus orientalis
IX-X
IX-XI
60-80
80-90
Elaeagnus
angustifolia
IX-X
IX-X
0.2-0.3
80-90
Gleditschia
triacanthos
IX-X
X-XII
0.2-0.3
80-90
Hippophae
rhamnoides
IX-X
IX-XI
20-30
70-80
Juglans regia
IX-X
IX-X
7-9 kg
80-90
Juniperus
foetidissima
XI-XII
XI-XII
115-120
5-10
X-XII
5-8
20-30
No treatment necessary, or
o
cold stratification (3-5 C)
during 14 days
35
210 days
o
Juniperus virginiana
L.
X-XI
X-XII
9-10
50-60
Malus orientalis
IX-X
IX-X
20-30
80-90
Pinus pallasiana
Lamb.
XI-XII
XI-XII
22-27
90-100
4-5
Wetting, no pre-treatment
necessary
Pinus silvestris L.
XI-XII
XI-XII
6-8
75-90
Pistacia mutica
X-XI
X-XII
40-60
50-60
Platanus acerifolia
X-XI
XI-XII
4-6
40-50
Wetting
Platanus orientalis
X-XI
XI-XII
4-6
30-40
Wetting
X-XI
25-26
80-90
Pyrus salicifolia
IX-X
IX-X
15-25
70-80
Wetting, no pre-treatment
necessary
Cold stratification for 90-100
days
Quercus iberica
IX-X
IX-X
2.5-3 kr
80-90
0.5 21
No pre-treatment 22
Quercus
macranthera
IX-X
IX-X
2.5-3 kr
80-90
0.5
No pre-treatment
Robinia
pseudoacacia
IX-X
X-XII
15-20
70-80
Rosa canina
Sorbus graeca
IX-X
IX-XI
3-5
50-60
Tamarix ramosisima
Ulmus pinnatoramosa
IV-V
IV-V
5-6
60-70
No pre-treatment
Ulmus elliptica C.
Koch
9-10
60-70
No pre-treatment
Ulmus pumila
No pre-treatment, no
dormancy
21
22
36
Time of
mature
seeds
(month
)
Time to
collect the
fruits
(month)
Weight Germinati
of 1000 on rate in
seeds in %
gram
Possible
duration to
store
seeds
(years)
Pre-treatment of seeds
Biota orientalis
X-XI
X-XI
25-26
80-90
X-XI
IX-X
6-8
50-60
Wetting, no pre-treatment
necessary
o
or, cold stratification (5 C)
during 14-90 days
X-XI
IX-X
5-6
65-80
, no dormancy,
germinates immediately
IX-X
IX-X
120-130 55-65
3 23,
X-XI
X-XII
0.3-0.5
20-30
10
, or cold stratification
o
(5 C) during 30 days
Cupressus sempervirens L.
IX-X
X-XII
0.3-0.5
35-40
10
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
IX-X
IX-X
0.2-0.5
30-40
, or cold stratification
o
(5 C) during 30 days
Larix decidua
XI-XII
X-XI
5-7
20-30
, or cold stratification
o
(5 C) during 60 days
Larix leptolepis
X-XI
IX-X
4-5
25-50
Juniperus virginiana L.
X-XI
X-XII
9-10
50-60
Cold stratification (5 C)
during 120 days
X-XI
X-XII
8-10
30-40
Juniperus Sabina
XI-XII
X-XII
8-9
30-40
Juniperus polycarpos
XI-XII
X-XII
5-8
20-30
Juniperus depressa
X-XI
X-XII
6-8
30-40
Juniperus communis
XI-XII
X-XII
8-11
60-90
Juniperus foetidissima
XI-XII
XI-XII
115-120 5-10
23
Seeds of all Cedrus are oily and do not keep well, all Cedrus seeds exhibit little or no dormancy.
37
Pinus excelsa
X-XI
X-XII
45-55
70-80
Wetting or no pre-treatment
necessary
XI-XII
XI-XII
22-27
90-100
4-5
Wetting, no pre-treatment
necessary
Pinus silvestris L.
XI-XII
XI-XII
6-8
75-90
XI-XII
XI-XII
9-11
80-90
X-XI
X-XII
50-55
80-90
Thuja occidentalis L.
IX-X
IX-X
0.5-1
30-40
, Occasionally dormant
seed lots are encountered
Armeniaca vulgaris
VI-VII
VI-VII
1.2-2 kr
90-100
Cydonia oblonga
IX-X
IX-X
25-35
70-80
Ailanthus altissima
IX-X
X-XII
30-35
80-90
Robinia pseudoacacia
IX-X
X-XII
15-20
70-80
Albizzia julibrissin
IX-X
IX-XI
50-52
60-80
Amorpha fruticosa L.
IX-X
IX-XI
8-10
80-90
Berberis vulgaris
IX-X
X-XI
3-4
80-90
IX-X
IX-XI
10-20
80-90
Euonymus verrucosa
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
20-30
75-90
IX-X
IX-X
35-50
80-90
Betula verrucosa
VII-VIII VII-VIII
0.2
40-50
No pre-treatment, cold
stratification would enhance
germination rate.
Betula litwinowii
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
0.2
40-60
0.5
Ligustrum lucidum
IX-X
IX-XI
30-40
50-60
Ligustrum vulgare
IX-X
X-XII
20-30
70-85
38
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
20-30
50-60
Crataegus orientalis
IX-X
IX-XI
60-80
80-90
Crataegus macrocantha
VIII-IX
IX-XI
70-90
80-90
Broussonetia papyrifera
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
3-4
50-60
Sambucus racemosa
VI-VII
VI-VII
2-9
70-80
Sambucus nigra
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
3-4
60-70
Fagus orientalis
IX-X
IX-X
0.2-0.4
kr
70-80
0.5
Gymnocladus dioicus
IX-X
X-XII
1.5-2 kr
90-100
Wisteria sinensis
X-XI
XI-XII
50-60
60-80
No pre-treatment
Cerasus vulgaris
VI-VII
VI-VII
0.2-0.4
80-95
Cerasus avium
V-VII
V-VII
0.3-0.5
90-100
Cerasus incana
VII-VIII VII-VIII
0.1-0.2
50-60
Ulmus pinnato-ramosa
5-6
60-70
No pre-treatment
V-VI
V-VI
9-10
60-70
No pre-treatment
Ulmus pumila
No pre-treatment, no
dormancy
Hibiscus syriacus
IX-XI
IX-XII
15-20
70-80
No pre-treatment
Gleditschia triacanthos
IX-X
X-XII
0.2-0.3
80-90
Carpinus orientalis
IX-X
IX-XII
20-30
60-80
Carpinus caucasica
IX-X
X-XII
30-40
60-80
Pyrus salicifolia
IX-X
IX-X
15-25
70-80
Pyrus caucasica
IX-X
IX-X
20-30
80-90
Pyrus syriaca
IX-X
IX-X
20-30
70-80
39
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
IX-X
IX-XII
20-30
80-90
Deutzia scabra
X-XI
XI-XII
0.3-0.5
50-60
No pre-treatment
necessary
Cornus mas
VIII-IX
VIII-X
0.2-0.3
kr
70-80
Cornus australis
VIII-IX
IX-X
40-50
80-90
Zelkowa carpinifolia
IX-X
X-XI
10-15
60-70
IX-X
IX-X
2-2.5 kr
70-80
0.5
No pre-treatment
Quercus iberica
IX-X
IX-X
2.5-3 kr
80-90
0.5
No pre-treatment
Quercus castaneifolia
IX-X
IX-X
2-2.5 kr
70-80
0.5
No pre-treatment
Quercus macranthera
IX-X
IX-X
2.5-3 kr
80-90
0.5
No pre-treatment
IX-X
IX-X
2.5-3 kr
80-90
0.5
No pre-treatment
Rubus caesius
VIII-IX
VIII-X
1-2
80-90
Jasminum fruticans
VIII-X
VIII-XI
9-11
80-90
Rhamnus pallasii
IX-X
IX-X
15-18
80-90
Rhamnus cathartica
VIII-X
VIII-X
15-20
80-90
Lonicera iberica
IX-X
IX-X
4-5
70-80
Lonicera caucasica
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
6-6.5
80-90
Lonicera maackii
IX-X
IX-XI
4-6
80-90
Lonicera tatarica
VII-VIII VII-IX
3.5-4
60-70
24
24
With few exceptions acorns of white Oak group have little or no dormancy and will germinate immediately after
falling. Acorns of black Oak group exhibit embryo dormancy and should be cold stratificated. A general rule is
cold stratification for black Oak by (1-5oC) for 30-60 days.
40
Salix caprea
VII-VIII VII-VIII
0.5-0.6
30-40
No pre-treatment,
Amelanchier rotundifolia
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
2-2.5
69-80
Viburnum lantana
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
35-45
60-70
Viburnum opulus
VIII-IX
VIII-X
20-30
60-70
Campsis padicans
XI-XII
XI-XII
4-6
60-70
No pre-treatment
Caragana arborescens
VII-VIII VII-VIII
25-40
70-80
Celtis glabrata
IX-X
IX-X
35-40
70-80
Celtis caucasica
IX-X
IX-X
40-50
80-90
Catalpa bignonioides
X-XI
XI-XII
10-15
50-69
No pre-treatment
Catalpa ovata
X-XI
XI-XII
3-5
50-60
No pre-treatment
Castanea sativa
IX-X
IX-XI
8.4-9.5
kr
80-90
No pre-treatment
Koelreuteria paniculata
IX-X
IX-XI
0.9-1.5
70-80
Cotoneaster lucida
VIII-X
VIII-XI
20-30
80-90
Cotoneaster horizontalis
IX-X
IX-XI
20-30
70-80
Cotoneaster racemiflora
IX-X
IX-XI
25-30
70-80
Cotoneaster integerrima
IX-X
IX-XI
25-35
80-90
Cotoneaster melanocarpa
IX-X
I-XI
25-35
70-90
Staphylea pinnata
IX-X
IX-X
39-40
69-80
25
41
days
Acer hyreanum
IX-X
IX-X
40-50
70-80
Acer iberica
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
30-40
20-30
Acer pseudoplatanus
IX-X
IX-X
100-140 70-80
Acer platanoides
IX-X
IX-XI
80-90
60-70
Acer campestre
IX-X
IX-XI
50-70
70-75
Acer saccharinum
V-VI
V-VI
70-75
80-90
No pre-treatment
Acer tataricum
VIII-IX
VIII-X
30-50
50-60
Acer trautvetteri
IX-X
IX-XI
50-60
80-90
Acer negundo
VIII-IX
VIII-XI
30-40
60-70
Aesculus hippocastanum
IX-X
IX-XI
11-14Kr 90-95
0.5
No pre-treatment, or (5 C)
for 90+days
Frangulaan alnus
VII-IX
VIII-X
25-30
80-90
Grossularia reclinata
VII-VIII VII-VIII
0.81.2kr
60-80
Corylus colurna
VIII-IX
VIII-X
1.21.5kr
60-70
Corylus avellana
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
0.9-2 kr
70-80
Tilia caucasica
IX-X
IX-IX
40-50
60-70
Tilia cordata
IX-X
IX-X
2-25
50-65
Elaeagnus angustifolia
IX-X
IX-X
0.2-0.3
80-90
42
VIII-IX
VIII-X
8-12
70-80
Wetting
No pre-treatment
Spartium junceum
X-XI
X-XI
15-20
40-50
Amygdalus communis
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
1.5-3kr
20-90
Amygdalus fenzliana
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
1-1.2kr
20-30
Mespilus germanica
IX-XI
IX-XI
10-12
80-90
Hippophae rhamnoides
IX-X
IX-XI
20-30
70-80
Alnus incana
XI-XII
XI-XII
0.5-0.9
20-30
No pre-treatment
Juglans regia
IX-X
IX-X
7-9 kg
80-90
Juglans nigra
IX-X
IX-X
12-14
kg
89-90
Parrotia persica
VIII-IX
VIII-X
30-40
80-90
Persica vulgaris
VIII-X
VIII-X
2-4 kr
70-90
Platanus orientalis
X-XI
XI-XII
4-6
30-40
Wetting
Platanus acerifolia
X-XI
XI-XII
4-6
40-50
Wetting
Colutea orientalis
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
15-20
60-70
Physocarpus opulifolia
IX-X
IX-X
0.9-1
80-60
Sorbus hajastana
IX-X
IX-XI
3-5
50-60
Sorbus torminalis
IX-X
IX-XI
4-5
60-80
Sorbus dualis
IX-X
IX-XI
3-5
60-80
Sorbus kuznetzovii
IX-X
IX-XI
3-5
50-60
Sorbus aucuparia
IX-X
IX-XI
4-6
80-90
43
Sorbaria sorbifolia
IX-X
IX-XI
0.2-0.5
50-60
Syringa vulgaris
IX-X
IX-XI
8-10
60-70
Cotinus coggygria
VII-VIII VII-VIII
8-10
55-70
Prunus spinosa
IX-X
IX-XI
200-300 80-90
Prunus divaricata
VII-IX
VII-IX
0.6-1 kr
90-95
Sophora japonica
X-XI
XI-XII
100-200 60-80
No treatment
Rhus coriaria
IX-XI
IX-XI
4-6
80-90
Rhus typhina
IX-X
IX-XI
70-80
Zizyphus jujuba
IX-X
X-XI
200-300 60-70
Pistacia mutica
X-XI
X-XII
40-60
50-60
Forsythia intermedia
X-XI
X-XI
6-8
50-60
Wetting
Ephedra distachya
VII-IX
VII-IX
7-11
80-90
No treatment
Chaenomeles japonica
IX-X
IX-X
15-20
70-90
Diospyros canadensis
IX-X
X-XI
80-90
80-90
Cercis siliquastrum
IX-X
X-XII
25-30
60-70
Padus mahaleb
VII-VIII VII-VIII
100-200 80-90
Padus racemosa
VII-VIII VII-VIII
40-50
70-85
Halimodendron halodendron
VIII-IX
VIII-IX
8-10
50-60
Philadelphus caucasicus
IX-X
IX-XI
0.1-0.2
40-50
Wetting
Morus alba
VI-VII
VI-VII
1.5-2
90-95
Malus orientalis
IX-X
IX-X
20-30
80-90
Fraxinus ornus
IX-X
X-XI
25-30
60-70
44
Fraxinus lanceolata
VIII-IX
IX-XII
30-50
70-90
Fraxinus excelsior
IX-X
IX-XII
70-90
70-80
Fraxinus oxycarpa
IX-X
IX-XII
50-70
70-80
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
VIII-IX
IX-XII
40-50
65-80
45
APPENDIX 5
SOWING SEASON, SOWING DENSITY, SOWING DEPTH AND APPROXAMITE AMOUNT OF SEEDLINGS/HA (Species
propagated for Jrvezh Dendropark)
Species
Sowing season
Seedlings
used in
gram/m
Sowing
deepens of
seeds
Mature seedlings
2-3
500-600
1-2
8001000
Early spring
12-15
2-3
400-500
250-300
Beginning X
Early spring
2-3
2-3
720-800
250-300
Celtis glabrata
Beginning X
Early spring
2-3
2-3
720-800
250-300
Crataegus orientalis
Beginning X
Early spring
10-15
2-3
300-330
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Late fall
Early spring
10-20
2-4
14001500
-
300-330
Gleditschia triacanthos
Late fall
Early spring
40-50
2-3
450-550
Hippophae rhamnoides
X-XI
Early spring
2-3
1-2
720-800
300-350
Juglans regia
X-XI
Early spring
100-150
4-8
150-200
Juniperus polycarpos
Beginning of IX
of the 2nd. year
Early spring
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Juniperus foetidissima
Beginning of IX
of the 2nd. year
Early spring
100
1-2
300-330
Juniperus virginiana L.
Beginning of X
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Malus orientalis
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
2-3
11501200
250-300
No
Early spring
1-2
8001000
300-330
Pinus silvestris L.
No
Early spring
1-2
10001200
300-330
Pistacia mutica
Beginning X
Early spring
4-6
2-3
720-800
200-250
Platanus acerifolia
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
250-400
200-250
Platanus orientalis
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
200-250
200-250
Platycladus orientalis
No
Early spring
1-2cm
400-500
300-350
Pyrus salicifolia
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
2-3
14001500
250-300
Quercus iberica
X-XI
Early spring
110
4-6
450-600
200-250
Quercus macranthera
X-XI
Early spring
110
4-6
400-450
200-250
Fall
Spring
Ailanthus altissima
X-XI
Early spring
Caragana arborescens
XI
Early spring
No
Celtis caucasica
46
Robinia pseudoacacia
No
Early spring
3-4
1-2
400-500
150-200
Rosa canina
Late fall
Early spring
1-2
400-500
Sorbus graeca
IX-Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
400-500
200-250
No
VI-VII
4-6
2-3
600-700
250-300
Ulmus pinnato-ramosa
No
VI-VII
4-6
2-3
600-700
250-300
Tamarix ramosisima
Ulmus pumila
SOWING SEASON, SOWING DENSITY, SOWING DEPTH AND APPROXAMITE AMOUNT OF SEEDLINGS/HA (For most
species of Armenia)
Species
Sowing season
Seedlings
used in
gram
Fall
Spring
On 1 linear
m
Biota orientalis
No
Early spring
No
Early spring
No
Sowing
deepens
of seeds
Young
seedlings
Mature seedlings
1-2cm
400-500
300-350
1-2
800-1000
300-350
Early spring
1-2
800-1000
300-350
No
Early spring
12-15
2-3
400-500
250-300
No
Early spring
0.2-0.3
0.5-1
400-500
250-300
Cupressus sempervirens L.
No
Early spring
0.2-0.3
0.5-1
350-400
200-250
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
No
Early spring
0.1
0.5
600-800
300-330
Larix decidua
No
Early spring
0.5-1
400-500
250-400
Larix leptolepis
No
Early spring
0.5-1
400-500
250-300
Juniperus virginiana L.
Beginning of X
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Beginning of IX of
the 2nd. year
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Juniperus Sabina
Beginning of IX of
the 2nd. year
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Juniperus polycarpos
Beginning of IX of
the 2nd. year
Early spring
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Juniperus depressa
Beginning of X
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
Juniperus communis
Beginning of X
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
400-500
300-330
47
Juniperus foetidissima
Beginning of IX of
the 2nd. year
Early spring
100
1-2
300-330
300-330
Pinus excelsa
No
Early spring
10-12
2-3
900-1200
300-330
No
Early spring
1-2
800-1000
300-330
Pinus silvestris L.
No
Early spring
1-2
1000-1200
300-330
X-XI
Early spring
2-3
1-2
1000-1200
300-330
X-XI
Early spring
10-12
2-3
800-900
300-330
Thuja occidentalis L.
No
Early spring
0.3-0.5
0.5-1
400-500
250-300
Armeniaca vulgaris
VII, beginning X
Early spring
60-80
3-4
280-300
Cydonia oblonga
Beginning X
Early spring
5-6
2-3
1400-1500
300-300
Ailanthus altissima
X-XI
Early spring
2-3
500-600
Robinia pseudoacacia
No
Early spring
3-4
1-2
400-500
150-200
Albizzia julibrissin
No
Early spring
10-15
1-2
400-500
250-300
Amorpha fruticosa L.
XI
Spring
2-3
2-3
500-750
Berberis vulgaris
Beginning X
Spring
1-2
0.5-1
1400-1500
300-350
Beginning X
Spring
2-4
2-3
400-500
200-50
Euonymus verrucosa
Beginning X
Spring
1-2
400-500
Beginning X
Spring
5-6
1-2
400-500
200-250
Betula verrucosa
XI
Spring
0.1
Until 0.2
450-600
250-300
Betula litwinowii
XI
Early spring
0.1
Until 0.2
450-600
250-300
Ligustrum lucidum
X-XI
Early spring
2-3
700-800
300-330
Ligustrum vulgare
Beginning X
Early spring
2-3
1400-1500
Late Fall
Early spring
4-6
1-2
450-500
200-250
Crataegus orientalis
Beginning X
Early spring
10-15
2-3
1400-1500
300-330
Crataegus macrocantha
Beginning X
Early spring
10-15
2-3
1400-1500
300-330
Broussonetia papyrifera
Late fall
Early spring
0.8-1
Until 0.5
500-600
250-300
Sambucus racemosa
Beginning X
Early spring
0.3-0.5
700-800
300-350
Sambucus nigra
Beginning X
Early spring
0.3-0.5
700-800
300-350
Fagus orientalis
Beginning XI
Early spring
25-30
3-4
400-500
400-500
Gymnocladus dioicus
Late fall
Early spring
30-40
3-4
300-400
Wisteria sinensis
Late fall
Early spring
3-4
2-3
400-500
Cerasus vulgaris
Beginning IX
Early spring
25-30
2-4
300-400
300-400
Cerasus avium
Beginning X
Early spring
25-30
3-4
300-400
48
Cerasus incana
Beginning X
Early spring
20-25
2-3
400-500
Ulmus pinnato-ramosa
No
VI-VII
4-6
2-3
600-700
250-300
No
VI-VII
4-6
2-3
600-700
250-300
Hibiscus syriacus
Late fall
Early spring
1-1.2
0.5-1
400-500
Gleditschia triacanthos
Late fall
Early spring
40-50
2-3
450-550
Carpinus orientalis
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
1-2
500-600
250-300
Carpinus caucasica
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
1-2
400-500
250-300
Pyrus salicifolia
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
2-3
1400-1500
250-300
Pyrus caucasica
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
2-3
1400-1500
250-300
Pyrus syriaca
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
2-3
1400-1500
250-300
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
0.5-1
1000-1200
Deutzia scabra
No
Early spring
0.2-0.3
Until 0.5
800-1000
Cornus mas
Early fall of
the 2nd year
20-25
3-4
300-330
Cornus australis
Beginning X
Early spring
2-3
400-500
Zelkowa carpinifolia
Late fall
Early spring
1-1.2
1-2
400-500
200-250
X-XI
Early spring
100
4-6
450-500
200-250
Quercus iberica
X-XI
Early spring
110
4-6
450-600
200-250
Quercus castaneifolia
X-XI
Early spring
100
4-6
450-500
200-250
Quercus macranthera
X-XI
Early spring
110
4-6
400-450
200-250
X-XI
Early spring
115
4-6
400-450
200-250
Rubus caesius
X-XI
Early spring
0.4-0.5
0.5-1
2000-2200
300-350
Jasminum fruticans
Late fall
Early spring
1-1.2
0.5-1
800-1000
Rhamnus pallasii
Late fall
Early spring
10-11
1-2
450-500
Rhamnus cathartica
Late fall
Early spring
10-11
1-2
450-500
Lonicera iberica
Beginning X
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
700-800
Lonicera caucasica
Beginning X
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
700-800
Lonicera maackii
Beginning X
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
700-800
Lonicera tatarica
Late fall
Early spring
2.0-2.5
0.5-1
1000-1200
Salix caprea
Early fall
Early spring
0.5-1
Until 0.5
800-1000
Amelanchier rotundifolia
Beginning X
Early spring
0.4-0.5
0.5-1
1400-1500
300-350
Viburnum lantana
Beginning X
Early spring
8-10
1-2
450-500
Viburnum opulus
Beginning X
Early spring
10
1-2
400-500
250-300
Ulmus pumila
49
Campsis padicans
No
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
450-500
Caragana arborescens
XI
Early spring
1-2
800-1000
Celtis glabrata
Beginning X
Early spring
2-3
2-3
720-800
250-300
Celtis caucasica
Beginning X
Early spring
2-3
2-3
720-800
250-300
Catalpa bignonioides
Late fall
Early spring
1-1.5
1-2
300-400
200-250
Catalpa ovata
Late fall
Early spring
0.3-0.4
0.5-1
300-400
200-250
Castanea sativa
X-XI
Early spring
80-100
4-6
300-330
Koelreuteria paniculata
Late fall
Early spring
20-30
2-3
400-450
Cotoneaster lucida
Early spring
4-6
1-2
500-600
300-330
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Early spring
4-6
1-2
500-600
300-330
Cotoneaster racemiflora
Early spring
4-6
1-2
500-600
300-330
Cotoneaster integerrima
Early spring
5-7
1-2
500-600
Cotoneaster melanocarpa
Early spring
5-7
1-2
500-600
Staphylea pinnata
X-XI
Early spring
5-6
2-3
900-950
300-330
Acer hyreanum
X-XI
Early spring
6-7
3-4
400-450
200-250
Acer iberica
Late fall
Early spring
5-6
2-3
400-450
Acer pseudoplatanus
Beginning X
Early spring
10-15
4-5
500-600
200-250
Acer platanoides
Beginning X
Early spring
3-4
400-500
200-250
Acer campestre
Beginning X
Early spring
7-8
3-4
300-400
200-250
Acer saccharinum
Late fall
Early spring
6-7
2-3
450-500
200-250
Acer tataricum
Beginning X
Early spring
5-7
3-4
400-450
200-250
Acer trautvetteri
Beginning X
Early spring
8-10
3-4
300-400
200-250
Acer negundo
Beginning X
Early spring
5-6
3-4
500-600
Aesculus hippocastanum
Beginning X
Early spring
150-200
4-8
400-500
200-250
Frangulaan alnus
Beginning X
Early spring
10-11
1-2
450-500
Grossularia reclinata
Beginning X
Early spring
0.3-0.5
0.5-0.6
1400-1500
300-350
Corylus colurna
Beginning X
Early spring
40-60
2-4
250-300
Corylus avellana
Beginnig X
Early spring
40-60
3-4
300-330
Tilia caucasica
Beginning X
Early spring
7-8
2-3
300-350
200-250
Tilia cordata
Beginning X
Early spring
6-7
1-2
300-350
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Late fall
Early spring
10-20
2-4
300-330
Mahonia aquifolium
Late fall
Early spring
0.5-1
600-800
Spartium junceum
Late fall
Early spring
0.8-1
0.5-1
600-800
50
Amygdalus communis
Beginning X
Early spring
60-80
3-4
300-330
Amygdalus fenzliana
Beginning X
Early spring
60-80
2-4
300-350
Mespilus germanica
Beginning X
Early spring
1.5-2.5
1-2
1100-1200
250-300
Hippophae rhamnoides
X-XI
Early spring
2-3
1-2
720-800
300-350
Alnus incana
No
Early spring
0.5
Until 0.2
400-500
200-250
Juglans regia
X-XI
Early spring
100-150
4-8
150-200
Juglans nigra
X-XI
Early spring
150-200
5-10
200-250
200-250
Parrotia persica
Late fall
Early spring
5-6
1-2
450-500
250-300
Persica vulgaris
Beginning X
Early spring
80-100
4-5
300-330
150-160
Platanus orientalis
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
200-250
200-250
Platanus acerifolia
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
0.5-1
250-400
200-250
Colutea orientalis
Late fall
Early spring
3-4
1-2
500-600
Physocarpus opulifolia
Late fall
Early spring
0.4-0.5
Until 0.5
600-800
Sorbus hajastana
IX-Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
400-500
200-250
Sorbus torminalis
IX-Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
400-500
200-250
Sorbus dualis
IX-Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
400-500
200-250
Sorbus kuznetzovii
IX-Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
400-500
200-250
Sorbus aucuparia
IX-Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
1400-1500
200-250
Sorbaria sorbifolia
No
Early spring
0.1-0.2
Until 0.5
800-1000
Syringa vulgaris
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
1-2
500-550
200-250
Cotinus coggygria
Late fall
Early spring
1-2
300-400
200-250
Prunus spinosa
Beginning X
Early spring
20-25
3-4
300-330
Prunus divaricata
Beginning X
Early spring
35-40
3-5
400-500
300-330
Sophora japonica
Late fall
Early spring
20-25
1-2
350-400
250-300
Rhus coriaria
Beginning X
Early spring
0.5-0.6
0.5-1
400-500
250
Rhus typhina
Early spring
400-500
Zizyphus jujuba
Beginning X
Early spring
10-20
2-4
300-330
Pistacia mutica
Beginning X
Early spring
4-6
2-3
720-800
200-250
Forsythia intermedia
Late fall
Early spring
1.5-2
0.5-1
500-600
Ephedra distachya
Late fall
Early spring
0.8-1
0.5-1
800-1000
Chaenomeles japonica
Beginning X
Early spring
1-2
400-500
300-330
Diospyros canadensis
X-XI
Early spring
4-5
1-2
580-650
200-250
Cercis siliquastrum
Late fall
Spring
5-6
1-2
450-500
200-250
51
Padus mahaleb
Beginning X
Early spring
20-25
3-4
720-800
200-250
Padus racemosa
End IX
Early spring
1.5-2.5
1-2
720-800
300-330
Halimodendron halodendron
No
Early spring
2-3
1-2
400-500
Philadelphus caucasicus
No
Early spring
0.1-0.2
Until 0.5
800-1000
Morus alba
No
Early spring
0.4
0.5-1
1700-2000
200-250
Malus orientalis
Beginning X
Early spring
4-5
2-3
1150-1200
250-300
Fraxinus ornus
Late fall
Early spring
1-2
400-500
200-250
Fraxinus lanceolata
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
350-400
Fraxinus excelsior
Beginning X
Early spring
3-4
400-500
200-250
Fraxinus oxycarpa
Beginning X
Early spring
3-4
400-500
200-250
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Late fall
Early spring
2-3
350-400
52
APPENDIX 8
SEEDBANK MANAGMENT FORM
natural
SITE CONDITIONS
Soil type:
Light (sand)
Medium (loam)
heavy (clay)
Soil pH:
Percentage of stones in the soil profile:
Soil deepness:
Parental rock type:
Name of soil type:
Climate characteristics:
Annual precipitation:
Precipitation during the vegetation period:
Precipitation during the summer:
Annual average temperature:
Average temperature January:
Average temperature July:
26
Texture and structure of the forest have to analysed. E.g. is it mainly a Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus or Juniperus
forest? Is the forest homogenous or highly inhomogeneous?
27
Superior individuals are the dominant trees in the forest stand. Therefore, height, diameter, quality of growth
shape and no signs of biotic and abiotic damages have to be analysed. The higher the percentage of high quality
trees, the lower the costs of collecting seeds because a high amount of seeds can be collected without
displacement.
53
Straight growing
good
average
bad
Medium (loam)
heavy (clay)
Soil pH:
Percentage of stones in the soil profile:
Soil deepness:
Parental rock type:
Name of soil type:
Climate characteristics:
Annual precipitation:
Precipitation during the vegetation period:
Precipitation during the summer:
Annual average temperature:
54
yes
no
Remark: All this information must be managed in an Access databank because the amount of
information will continuously increase. Additionally, an ACCESS Databank will make it
possible to analyse the information and therefore, determine which seed source is best suited
for the different reforestation sites.
55
APPENDIX 10
ESTIMATION OF AVAILABLE SEEDS
Year:
Scientific name of specie:
average blossom
high blossom
Estimation of seed crops (immature fruits): low quantity
average quantity
high quantity
Location of seed collection:
Altitude:
Slope exposition:
Proposed date to collect fruits:
Mast year: yes
no
Due to the complex topography of Armenia, trees will not blossom and produce fruits at the
same time (the lower, the earlier). It is important to observe the development of fruits to collect
them at the proper time, otherwise they will not be mature, dispersed by wind, rain or animals,
or lost to pathogens. Shen NGO is involved in several other projects throughout the country.
Therefore, Shen can collect this information from Shen members and other project partners.
Certainly farmers going to the forest and the Armenian forest department, can be useful
informants.
28
Has to be observed from a specialist with several years of forestry experience in Armenia.
56
APPENDIX 11
57
APPENDIX 17
NECESSRAY TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO MANAGE A TREE NURSERY,
INCLUDING THE COLLECTION AND PROCESSING OF SEEDS
Tools for planting and early care:
Subject
Spades
Forks
Rakes
Wheelbarrow
Bags to protect seedlings during transplanting
Knifes for root pruning
Water canes
Total
Quantity
5 pieces
5 pieces
5 pieces
2 pieces
20 pieces
5 pieces
5 pieces
Clearing tools:
Subjects
Quantity
2 pieces
2 pieces
Total
Equipment to collect seeds and cuttings:
Subject
Amount
Bags
5 pieces
Tarpaulin
5 pieces
Ladder
1 piece
Pruning saw
2 pieces
Extension poles
2 pieces
2 pieces
Total
Equipment to handle and store seeds:
Subject
Fridge
Airtight containers
Sand (stratification)
Quantity
1 piece
10 pieces
5 m3
58
IBA
5 kg
Sulphuric acid
10 l
10 pieces
Wire mesh
1 piece
Mortar
1 piece
Food chopper/mixer
1 piece
Seed fumigation
100 kg
Total
59