Soil compaction effects on seedling morphology (size) variables of Velvet maple (Acer velutinum Boiss.)

Soil compaction due to mechanized harvesting operations in forests has profound effects on forest soils and, hence, can have an adverse effect on subsequent forest regeneration and leads to physiological dysfunctions in plants that alter availability of water, mineral nutrients, growth hormones, finally reduce seedlings growth. We examined the effects of soil compaction in a loam to clay-loam textured soil with optimal conditions of water on a continuous scale (۰.۴–۱.۹ MPa soil penetration resistance) on growth responses of the deciduous Acer velutinum Boiss. The relationships of the morphological responses to increasing SPR followed negative quadratic curves except lateral root lengths that decreased slowly to the moderate compaction treatment, then with increasing compaction to very high treatment, significantly increased.

Keywords:

Hyrcanian forest , Velvet maple , Soil penetration resistance , soil compaction