Effect of Different Seed Planting Techniques on Emergence and Survival of Oak (Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey.)

Because of difficulties arising in oak (Quercus castaneifolia) regeneration, in hyrcanian forests, determination of the best acorn planting technique for this species is indispensable. In this research a study site of northern aspect, clay loamy soil and 250 m above sea level elevation was prepared in the southern part of Noor in Mazandaran Province. Four different acorn planting techniques (seeding, accompanied seeding with soil scarification and acorn sowing in 5, 10 and 15 cm depth) were performed in fenced silvicultural plots. Following the first growing season the results revealed that: though soil scarification improved acorn emergence, but the best treatment was sowing in 5 cm depth. Seedlings emergence under different planting techniques was continued till the end of growing season with an increasing trend but for the acorns positioned on the soil surface (seeding, and seeding accompanied with soil scarification treatments), this procedure came to an end in July. Average seedling survival rate differed from 42% in seeding scarification treatment to 71 % in 5 cm sowing depth treatment, but there was no significant difference observed between planting techniques. As a whole, based on this study, acorn sowing can be proposed in 5 cm depth for seed planting in the study area as well as in other similar districts