Quality of Aleppo Pine Seedlings Produced in Two Nurseries in Algeria; an Assessment of Morphological Characteristics and Quality Indices

Abstract

Objective: This article aims to assess the quality of Aleppo pine seedlings produced in two forest nurseries in Algeria and the impact of the cultural practices adopted in each nursery on seedlings growth.   Theoretical Framework: Since 1962, significant investments have been made annually in reforestation programs for agricultural and forest degraded area, but the results are far from satisfactory. The success of these programs depends mainly on nursery practices and plants morphological and physiological quality.   Method: follow-up of Aleppo pine seedlings growth (height, and collar diameter) every 10 days over seven months. Seedling quality was conducted through visual observations of defects and calculation of quality indices (H/D, S/R, DQI, V).   Results and Conclusion: The study reveals a highly significant difference in growth and quality between the plants from the two nurseries. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirms the substantial influence of cultural practices on seedling growth. However, the majority of plants from both nurseries fill to meet quality standards, primarily attributed to traditional practices   Implications of the Research: The results of this study may explain the high failure rates of plantations observed in the field, not only for Aleppo pine but also for other autochthonous forest species. They also highlighted the greater importance of prioritizing the nursery phase before initiating any reforestation program.   Originality/Value: This study explores the importance of adapting technical itinerary according to the specific characteristics of each plant for enhanced production. It introduces several quality indices for evaluating seedling quality in Algerian nurseries for the first time. Additionally, it is the first study to assess the quality of Aleppo pine, the first species produced in Algerian forest nurseries.