Lacebark Pine Cultivation and Management Techniques: How to Plant Lacebark Pine Seedlings
The lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is a tree species that loves light and fertilizer, and is currently relatively common in Shanxi and other places in our country. The lacebark pine has certain economic uses and medicinal value, so it is deeply loved by consumers. Nowadays many people want to plant this tree, but before planting, presumably everyone wants to have a comprehensive understanding of its planting methods.
Lacebark Pine Cultivation and Management Techniques
1. Nursery site selection: The seedling-raising site should be chosen as sandy loam or loam with good drainage, irrigation conditions, flat terrain and deep soil layers. Heavy clay soil, saline-alkali soil or low-lying waterlogged places must not be chosen as nursery sites.
2. Lacebark pine seedlings grow slowly and are suitable for dense planting. If large-sized saplings are to be further cultivated, they must go through 2 to 3 transplants before final planting. Two-year-old seedlings can be transplanted with soil in early spring before the terminal buds have sprouted, with a plant and row spacing of 20 to 60 cm, without damaging the terminal buds; after planting, water twice in succession, then water again after 6 to 7 days. For 4- to 5-year-old seedlings, a second transplant with a soil ball can be carried out, with a plant and row spacing of 60 to 120 cm. After they survive, keep the soil around the roots loose, apply 100 to 120 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per plant, water thoroughly after covering with soil, and then strengthen management to promote growth and cultivate strong seedlings.
3. Seedling management: After sowing, the seedlings emerge with the seed shell still attached, which falls off after about 20 days. During this period, bird damage must be prevented. First-year seedlings should be earthed up to prevent cold; 2-year-old seedlings are transplanted bare-rooted, and it is best to plant them as they are dug, then tread firm and water after planting. Seedlings are suitable for dense planting, large saplings for sparse planting; after about 5 years, carry out a second transplant with soil or lift them from the nursery for afforestation.
How to Plant Lacebark Pine Seedlings
1. Seed treatment: Lacebark pine seeds have a relatively long dormancy period. They should be soaked and disinfected with Bordeaux mixture. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water (50°C to 60°C) to promote germination, or stratify them with sand to promote germination. When the number of split seeds reaches 50% of the total number of seeds, they can be sown. Alternating-year low-temperature stratification to promote germination and high-temperature germination promotion can also be used; when 40% of the seeds have cracked seed coats, sow them.
2. Sowing method: Spring sowing is commonly used, and sowing within 10 days after the soil thaws is most suitable. Lacebark pine fears waterlogging, so raised beds or raised ridges should be used for seedling raising. Water the bed thoroughly before sowing, sow in drills, with a sowing rate of 70-100 kg/mu. After sowing, cover with soil 1-1.5 cm thick, and on top spread another 1 cm of wet sawdust to keep warm and retain moisture.
Fertilization Techniques for Lacebark Pine
1. Fertilization of lacebark pine should start from the seedling stage. For seedlings, base fertilizer should be the main component, with topdressing as a supplement. Apply the first fertilizer in March-April; during the peak growth period from mid-May to the end of July, carry out 2 to 3 topdressings, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer: apply decomposed human excrement or pig manure at 3 dan per mu, mixed with about 20 dan of water; decomposed cake fertilizer at 5 to 15 kg per mu made into about 15 dan of cake fertilizer water; apply about 4 kg of urea per mu.
2. In the later stage of growth, stop applying nitrogen fertilizer and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote lignification of the seedlings. A 0.3% to 0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can also be sprayed on the leaves.
Common Diseases and Pests of Lacebark Pine and Their Control Methods
1. Pine needle cast disease. Control methods: To control pine needle cast disease, strengthen water and fertilizer management in the nursery, enhance tree vigor, promptly control other diseases and pests, and cut down weakened and dying trees. Before the peak period of ascospore release in spring and summer, spray 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture, 50% Tuzet 500x to 800x solution, 70% Dexon 500x to 800x solution, 65% zineb 500x solution, or 45% amobam 200x to 300x solution. In closed young forests or heavily infected mature forests, 621 smoke agent or chlorothalonil smoke agent can be released.
2. Pine needle red blight. Control methods: Strengthen forest land management, enhance tree vigor, improve tree disease resistance, promptly remove weeds under the forest, enhance drainage of the forest land, and avoid excessive humidity in the forest land. For chemical control, spray 25% carbendazim or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 500x solution.
When planting lacebark pine, be sure to do a good job of site selection, and then plant at the appropriate time. After planting, management must also be strengthened, and attention must be paid to techniques when fertilizing. Lacebark pine is also very susceptible to diseases and pests, so doing a good job of prevention and control in this regard is also crucial.