The Effects of Different Growing Media on Seedling Characteristics of Turkish Alder (Alnus orientalis Decne)

Aim of study: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different growing media on the seedling characteristics of Alnus orientalis.Area of study: Cones were collected from Bucak, Anamur and Fethiye regions in October 2022.Material and method: Two growing media were used: a mixture of 50% forest soil, 30% peat, and 20% fertilizer, and a mixture of 50% perlite and 50% sand. The following seedling characteristics were measured: root collar diameter, height, biomass, sturdiness quotient (SQ), and Dickson quality index (DQI).Main results: Seedling heights ranged from 12.79 cm to 18.07 cm in perlite media and from 37.63 cm to 41.80 cm in soil media. Diameters ranged from 4.30 mm to 5.32 mm in perlite media and from 9.83 mm to 11.33 mm in soil media. In soil media, no significant differences were observed among populations in terms of height, but significant differences in diameter were found. While SQ was not significantly influenced by the growing media, DQI values were significantly affected by the type of growing media.Research highlights: The use of different growing media enables a more comprehensive evaluation of the intraspecific variation in Alnus orientalis.