Effect of wood chip application on root growth of oak seedling and weed control in northern Iran

It was hypothesized that wood chips can serve as a mulch to improve the growth of young trees by facilitating the development of their root systems, inhibiting weed germination, and suppressing weed growth. The present study was carried out in Ghorogh Nursery, Golestan Northern Iran, in order to investigate the impact of wood chips application on root growth of oak (Quercus castaneifolia) seedlings and control of weed. A three centimeter wood chip layer was used on the soil surface as the mulch treatment with bare soil as the control. The number of new roots, the length of exciting roots and the density of weeds were measured after 5 and 12 weeks. Results showed that wood chip application had significant positive effect on the length of excising roots after 5 and 12 weeks compared with control seedlings. Also, weeds were reduced to near zero levels in treated plot. Our findings suggested that wood chip layer on the soil surface in the nursery can conserve soil moisture and prevent nutrient leaching from the rooting zone as well as diminish weed growth which consequently lead to production of high quality seedling.