TOtJAwz) A SltEfcLE NURS=y ~O'fCKOL FOR OAK SEEDLINGS

After a soil fertility baseline had been'determined for the Georgia Forestry Commission's (GFC) Morgan Nursery, a single nursery protocol consistently produced high quality oak seedlings. The fertility baseline developed at the Institute of Tree Root Biology (ITRB) Whitehall Experimental Nursery and adjusted for three GFC nurseries has a background target level at CA, K, P, Mg, Cu. Zn, and B of 500, 80, 80, 50, 0.3-3, 3-8 and 0.4-1.2 ppm, respectively, ‘at time of sowfng. Up to 1345 kg/ha of RH4N03 are applied throughout the growing season in small increments at regularly scheduled intervals. When most seedlings are entering their second growth flush regular irrigation fs stopped, and water is provided only when tensionmeters register 30 to 50 centibars. The desired seedbed density is between 54 and 57/m . This protocol permits ready fdentific$tion of competitive seedlings. Individuals with the potential to develop hfgh numbers of first-order lateral roots (FGLR) are wall established in the dominant canopy in nursery beds. Based'on stem and root characteristics, approximately half of the seedlings of most species can be classified as desirable. For most species of oak, competitive ability of these seedlings after outplanting has not been determined. Specific species attributes based on their site required are obvious when seedlings are lifted and are discussed. Funding for this study was partially supplied by the Department of Defense Agreement #DE-AfOg-86SRlS122 and Georgia Forestry Commission Agreement #29-404.