Light and moisture conditions suitable for establishing Andean cypress and coihue beech seedlings in Patagonia: a nursery approach

Abstract

Andean cypress and coihue beech are endemic species of the Patagonian Andean forests of Argentina. Both species grow in either pure or mixed stands. Some pure cypress stands are affected by a root disease called "mal del ciprés," reducing their possibilities of being managed for timber production. Coihue beech could be introduced in pure sick cypress stands to help recover their productive potential. However, knowledge is limited about how soil moisture and light may affect early establishment of seedlings of both species. In this study, we determined, under nursery conditions, how survival and growth of cypress and coihue beech seedlings are affected by the combined effects of different soil moisture and light conditions. Both species showed similar survival and growth responses and were susceptible to extreme drought. While similar survival percentages were shown between them, low light levels and higher adaptation to drought significantly delayed cypress seedling mortality compared with coihue beech. Low light and moisture levels negatively affect growth, while the highest growth was registered at intermediate and high levels of light and soil moisture. Although coihue beech seedlings grew faster than cypress, both have the potential for recovering cypress stands affected by "mal del ciprés."