Optimising Seedling Management: Pouteria sapota, Diospyros digyna, and Cedrela odorata in a Mexican Rainforest

background

This study compares the height growth of three native tree species (Pouteria sapota, Diospyros digyna, and Cedrela odorata) during the first two years after transplantation from a nursery in three plot types (primary rainforest, secondary forest, and open pasture) in Veracruz, Mexico.

Research Goals & Methods

The effects of canopy closure, leaf nutrients, initial seedling height and seed mass on the final height of the plant after two years were analyzed.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Canopy openness significantly affected the growth of each species; the optimal canopy openess for P. sapota and D. digyna was 60 and 55%, respectively, and above 78% open for C. odorata. Leaf zinc concentration, initial plant height, seed mass and a higher leaf calcium/magnesium ratio were also important determinants of the final height of P. sapota, while the height of D. digyna was also influenced by the leaf zinc concentration and the initial plant height. With optimal growth conditions, the average height of P. sapota after 24 months could be increased 2.5-fold, from 111 to 280 cm; the average height of D. digyna could be increased 1.8-fold after 17 months, from 78 to 138 cm; the average height of C. odorata could be increased 2.7-fold after 16 months, from 55 to 147 cm. The authors exert the importance of considering the identified growth parameters of each species in order to obtain optimal height increases.