Green Legacy is a partner in the project “Climate-Friendly Forests: Source selection and planting methods’, which is looking at the challenges of growing trees on marginal sites. Areas with low soil thickness or loamy substrates in particular suffer from spring drought, resulting in frequent seedling failures. The project (duration 2021-2024/ongoing) is investigating how fall plantings with the addition of hydrogels can improve the survival rate of seedlings. Laboratory analyses, controlled potting experiments and field trials will be carried out at locations such as Waldviertel Voralpen, Wienerwald and Styria. Two different hydrogels and concentrations are being tested to analyze the effects on seedling growth success and vitality. The field work was completed in 2023 and initial indications suggest that certain hydrogels can reduce mortality depending on location and tree species. We expect final results after completion of the statistical analyses. More information can be found in the 2023/24 research report, page 14.
Research partnership: Climate-smart forests – choice of origin and planting methods
