Effect of planting date and seedling cover on seed germination of mountain ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and decrease of spring late cold damage

Abstract

In recent years, spring late coldness has caused a lot of damage to mountain ashseedlingsin the mountainous nurseries. This research aimed to reduce mountain ash seedlings damage due to spring late coldness. The research was carried out during 2007 and 2008, in Darzikola nursery (Farim Wood Co.), located 17 kilometers far from southeast of Pol-e-Sefid city of Mazandaran province of I.R. Iran. Seeds were treated by two levels of seedling cover (nylon sheet and control), and four levels of seed sowing dates (Fourth week of February (1), first week of March (2), fourth week of March (3) and second week of April (4)) under split plots design with three replications. The trial was repeated for two years. Results showed that effects of sowing date on seed germination rate were significant (p

Keywords

• nylon cover
• seed germination
• diameter
• height
• coldness mortality rate
• stratification