Differences of the bog and dry site Scots pine population seedlings germination and early growth

Abstract

Scots pine is wind dispersed species; both seeds and pollen are dispersed by wind. Germination is very important process which depends on different biotic and abiotic factors and if conditions are inappropriate (wrong time, location) then this process causes death of the individual and may have an important role for the population. Scots pine germination under field conditions depends on soil temperature, moisture, light intensity, seed color, mass, seed source. On natural conditions germination process depends on microhabitats, too. Bogs are ombrotrophic peatlands with a surplus of water (usually) and more than 30 cm of peat layer. This means that Scots pine has to adapt to survive in harsh conditions. The main objective of this research is to identify if early growth and development of Scots pine seedlings from bog site differs from seedlings from dry sites if growing in the same conditions. Differences between bog site and dry site seeds mass and germination are statistically significant, but germination energy does not differ between sites. There are no statistically significant differences between bog site and dry site seedlings at the beginning of the early growth. Bog site and dry site seeds germination energy is quite similar and it means that on harsh (natural) conditions seeds have equal possibilities to germinate. During the first two weeks seedlings from both sites develops equally and only latter differences in early growth become visible and meaningful.