Effects of Different Container Size and Substrate Ratio on the Growth of Zelkova schneideriana Container Seedlings

This paper intends to compare the effects of different container and substrate ratios on the growth of Zelkova schneideriana container seedlings, and provide theoretical and practical basis for selecting the most suitable container and substrate for the cultivation of Z. schneideriana container seedlings. This study adopted a two-factor randomized block experiment design. It set up 2 factors, namely, different proportions of nursery soil, agricultural and forestry waste(main component is straw), perlite matrix, and different specifications of containers. Through the measurement and analysis of morphological indicators such as seedling height, ground diameter, total root length, root surface area, root volume, it is revealed that the substrate ratio, container specifications and the interaction of the 2 factors affect the quality of Z. schneideriana container seedlings. The test results were shown as follows: The Z. schneideriana container seedling height under substrate M₂ treatment was the highest, which had reached 70.09 cm, followed by M₃, M₅; Container C₄ had the highest seedling height, which had reached 79.66 cm, C₁ followed, which had reached 75.25 cm and the seedling height of the 2 treatments was significantly higher than that of the other 2 treatments. Seedlings under substrate M₂ treatment had the highest ground diameter, which had reached 11.59 mm, followed by M₃, which had reached 11.05 mm and the difference between the 2 is not significant; the ground diameter under container C₁ treatment was the highest, which had reached 13.16 mm, followed by C₄, which had reached 11.82 mm and the ground diameter of the 2 treatments was significantly higher than that of the other 2 treatments. The height-to-diameter ratio of Z. schneideriana container seedlings in all treatments was less than 7, indicating a good seedling status. In terms of root morphology indexes, total length of root system, the root surface area, specific root length(SRL) and specific root area(SRA) of Z. schneideriana container seedlings treated with substrate M₁ were the highest, and the root volume of Z. schneideriana container seedlings under substrate M₃ treatment is the largest, which had reached 6.90 cm³ while the above root indexes under matrix M₅ treatment were all ideal. The root morphological indexes of the Z. schneideriana container seedlings treated with containers C₁, C₂ and C₃ are all ideal, and the results of 3 treatments were not significantly different. Through the data analysis of this test and considering economic factors, it is recommended to choose the container C₂(20×30 cm root control container) and matrix ratio of M₅(25% agricultural and forestry waste + 65% nursery soil + 10% perlite) to cultivate Z. schneideriana container seedlings.