Canadian Forest Service Publications

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Abstract

The ratio of shoot dry mass to root dry mass, or shoot:root ratio, is sometimes used to evaluate the drought avoidance potential of container conifer stock. A review of published data from plantation trials reveals, however, that this relationship does not hold for container conifer seedlings. It is argued that the particular cultural conditions of container production favor root proliferation beyond strict physiological needs and that, once outplanted, the root plugsoil interface imposes a stronger limit on water and nutrient absorption by the seedlings than the roots themselves.