• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.125-139
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• 1996

The relationships between environmental factors and the establishment and growth of oak seelings were studied in the greenhouse. The early seedling performances of three oak species (Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis) were compared. Mean seed weight was the biggest in Q. variabilis, and the smallest in Q. serrata, and the germination rate was higher in Q. variabilis than in Q. mongolica and Q. serrata. The germination rate was significantly affected by seed weight class in Q. serrata, but not in Q. mongolica. Emergence of oak seedlings was similar in all three oak species, and especially the first leaf emergence increased about twenty days after germination. An experiment was designed using three environmental factors (light, soil moisture, fertilizer) to compare the response of the three oak species. Light and soil moisture significantly affected the seedling height growth of Q. variabilis, but the effect was marginal in Q. mongolica and Q. serrata. However, growth of seedling biomass was significant in all three oak species. In contrast, fertilizer did not affect seedling growth of any of the oak species. Q. variabilis is expected to grow well in large gaps because it is very sensitive and responds well to high light and high moisture conditions. Q. mongolica and Q. serrata are relatively tolerant to shade but may need gaps for the seelings to grow into saplings.