Effect of transfer age and soil bed on growth and early establishment of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. seedlings in southern hills of Mashhad

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of soil bed and seedling transfer age of Juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) on its growth and early establishment under rainfed conditions. For this purpose, using a Factorial examination, under Randomized Complete Block Design and 3 replications, 540 seedlings of J. excelsa with treatments of seedling transfer age (2 and 3 years) and soil bed (1:3 natural soil + 2:3 cultivated soil, 2:3 natural soil + 1:3 cultivated soil, and natural soil) were planted in southern hills of Mashhad city (eastern province of Iran). At the end of the 2nd growing season, collar diameter growth, crown growth and seedling survival were not affected by seedling transfer age, but height growth differed with seedling transfer age. Soil bed and interaction of seedling transfer age × soil bed did not influence on either of the measured characteristics. Regarding to soil amendment costs and non-significant effect of soil bed on growth and establishment of J. excelsa seedlings, in such areas, changing of soil bed for afforestation development of this species is not recommended. Likewise, considering to non-significant differences of growth and establishment between 2 and 3 years seedlings, due to reduce the additional costs in nursery using 2-year old seedling is more favorable than 3 year old seedling to transfer to afforestation site