Nursing effects of <i>Coriaria nepalensis</i> on <i>Pinus roxburghii</i> and <i>Cupressus torulosa</i> seedlings

Abstract

In present study facilitative effects of an actinirhizol shrub species Coriaria nepalensis were examined on two economically important tree species (Pinus roxbughii and Cupressus torulosa) of Central Himalayan Forests. For this, seedlings of both the target species were grown with C. nepalensis in 1:1, 3:1 and 5:1 nurse:target plant ratio. Soil for this experiment was collected from a nearby Q. leucotrichophora forest and mixed with fine commercial sand in 1:3 ratio. For comparison, seedlings of both the target species were kept under six nitrogen levels by adding different doses of urea. Height and dry mass of both the target species increase with increasing nitrogen level and with increasing C. nepalensis density up to 3:1 and then declined in 5:1 ratio. These results indicate that the effect of C. nepalensis to promote growth and establishment of seedlings can be used during the plantation practices on degraded lands. This approach can facilitate growth and survival of seedlings during the early critical phase of establishment in nitrogen poor sites. Keywords: Facilitation, C. nepalensis, P. roxburghii, C. torulosa, nitrogen, nurse, target