Effects of drying soils on survival of young Picea glauca seedlings

Drought stress is often suggested as a factor preventing successful field establishment of seedlings of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) during their first growing season. In this study the combined effects of water stress and seedbed type on 1- and 3-month-old seedlings were examined. Shoot xylem pressure potential decreased to −1.5 MPa in seedlings grown in a greenhouse soil mixture in 9.5 days but took 18.5 days to reach this level in peat. Mortality reached 100% for 1-month-old seedlings grown in greenhouse mix 11 days after watering ceased, while it took 23 days to reach this level in peat. Shoot xylem pressure potentials can be used to predict mortality potential on the two seedbed types. Three-month-old seedlings on either seedbed survived for at least 31 days without watering, indicating development of capability for control of water loss with time.