Spruce Seedling Transplanting Methods and Technical Key Points

I. Selection of Afforestation Site

According to the geographical location and climatic characteristics of the afforestation site, select microclimatic conditions suitable for spruce growth, especially moisture conditions. Under suitable microclimatic conditions, emphasis should be placed on selecting soil with deep soil layers, loose texture, and rich organic matter. In places with poor site conditions and sparse vegetation, cultivation measures must be strengthened to improve soil fertility. To ensure the shade tolerance and moisture requirements needed for spruce growth, in 2002 in Wulasitai Township our farm changed the traditional seedling planting method, selecting seedlings with a height of 50 cm or more, digging planting holes of 40 x 40 x 50 cm, burying the seedlings about 40 cm inside the holes, with soil covering the same as normal seedling planting. Using this deep-hole seedling planting method, the seedlings received shade and water evaporation was reduced, and the first-year survival rate reached 90%.

II. Site Preparation

Site preparation methods can use strip or patch preparation. Regardless of which method is used, attention should be paid to facilitating drainage. On newly cutover sites with few weeds and relatively soft soil, hole preparation should be adopted, raking away ground cover and dead branches, with hole dimensions of 40 x 40 x 40 cm, and the hole depth must reach the pure soil layer. On grassland and old cutover sites with relatively dense weeds, large grass root matting, and relatively heavy clay soil, diagonal strip preparation along the slope should be adopted, with a strip width generally of 50-70 cm and a depth of 15-20 cm. Whether strip or hole preparation, the outer side should be higher and the inner side lower, to facilitate collecting rainwater for seedling growth.

III. Planting Density

Determining spruce afforestation density must take into comprehensive consideration the growth characteristics of spruce, site conditions, economic effects, and other aspects. Spruce afforestation is mainly aimed at cultivating large-diameter timber. Artificially planted spruce grows very slowly in the first few years, with annual height growth of less than 10 cm. After 15 years it gradually speeds up, with annual height growth reaching more than 40 cm. At 40 years of growth, tree height reaches 18 m, and at this time the crown radius of the trees can reach 3 m. The current plantation at Nileke Forest Farm has a maximum tree age of 40 years, with a spacing of 4 x 4 m at that time. This stand is now so dense that air cannot pass through, and leaf yellowing and defoliation disease frequently occurs. In recent years, the planting spacing at Nileke Forest Farm plantation has generally been 2 x 1.8 m. Through investigating past plantation stand conditions, it was found that the stands were too dense for even people to pass through. Such stands are unfavorable for tree growth and prone to disease and insect pests. Thinning was adopted. Trees under 40 years of age have large stem taper, with a length of about ten-plus meters, and are not suitable for timber, @#@136@#@ difficult, so plantation afforestation, on the premise of ensuring survival, can set spacing at 6 x 6 m (seedling height 50 cm or more).

IV. Creating Mixed Forests

At present, in production, people are mostly accustomed to creating pure spruce forests. Pure forests carry high risk, have serious disease and insect pest problems, and also have relatively poor effects on improving soil and conserving water and soil. Therefore, mixed forests are mostly advocated. Creating mixed forests is mainly to ensure that trees can grow rapidly and to improve land utilization. First, determine the spruce spacing at 6 x 6 m. In the spaces between spruce, poplar and birch can be planted, with a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m and a planting ratio of 1:3. In places with better site conditions, a mixed forest can plant 200-320 trees per 667 sq m.

V. Planting Method

Generally, hole planting is adopted, digging planting holes no smaller than 30-40 cm square and about 30 cm deep. The bottom of the hole should be flat, the seedlings planted upright, the roots spread out, and the seedling tips facing downhill. Appropriate deep planting is needed to expand the deep root area and enhance cold resistance. Cover with soil carefully to prevent root balling, firm the soil in layers, and then cover with some loose soil on top, making the outer side of the hole higher and the inner side lower.