Extensive production of maple large-sized planting stock in forest nurseries

Acer pseudoplatanus is a woody plant with a broad spectrum of utilization: in forestry, landscape gardening, horticulture, and park plantings. An experimental cultivation of broadleaves large-sized saplings, carried out in 2006-2010, was evaluated within the frame of the project "Optimization of woody plants production, important in landscape reconstruction and maintenance". Mortality, height and width growth as well as growth dynamics within the growing season were measured as affected by the application of a slow-release fertilizer and response to climatic factors. The optimal fertilizer dose was affected by precipitation. It varied between 50 and 100 kg of nitrogen per ha. The mortality of the saplings was within the range of 5-12% and was higher at the highest fertilizer dose and the control variant without fertilization.