The influence of pot host species, seedling age and supplementary nursery nutrition on Santalum album Linn. (Indian sandalwood) plantation establishment within the Ord River Irrigation Area, Western Australia

A factorial experiment investigated the effect of six pot host species treatments ( Alternanthera nana, Sesbania formosa, Atalaya hemiglauca, Acacia hemignosta, Crotalaria retusa and no pot host), two Santalum album seedling age treatments (24 and 17 weeks at field establishment) and a supplementary nursery nutrition treatment (2×100 ml 5% Ca Wuxal®) on Sa. album survival and growth 287 days after field establishment. Significant variation exists between pot host species in increasing Sa. album survival and growth. Al. nana and Se. formosa pot host species significantly increased Sa. album survival, height and diameter. Sa. album survival, height and diameter was significantly better with supplementary nursery nutrition. Sa. album survival and height was significantly greater and pot host species survival was significantly poorer with older Sa. album seedlings. Older seedlings and supplementary nursery nutrition gave higher levels of Sa. album field survival and growth when parasitised to poor pot host species but not when parasitised to satisfactory pot host species.