• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 2019

This study investigated the effects of various cultivation pots on Betula platyphylla var. japonica seedlings in order to select suitable pots for the production of healthy seedlings for the ecological revegetation. We used six types of the pots natural pot, natural pot with inside 5 mm width root turning bump, natural pot with inside 10 mm width root turning bump, negative-phototropism pot, negative-phototropism pot with inside 5 mm width root turning bump, and negative-phototropism pot with inside 10 mm width root turning bump. As greenhouse cultivation provided a high level of control of irrigation and temperature, the seedlings did not show any significant differences in plant height, number of branches, and diameter at root collar, but showed a significant difference in root growth among the different types of pots. The root growth was best in the negative-phototropism pot. In the negative-phototropism, the roots grew in a vertical shape, while they grew abnormally in a spiral shape in the natural pots. In outdoor cultivation, the growth of seedlings showed significant differences according to container types. The seedlings grown in specially manufactured negative-phototropism pots were most excellent in all of the height, number of branches, diameter at root collar and root growth. As for the seedlings grown in the negative-phototropism pots, their roots grew vertically and thus their rooting was well established after they were transplanted outdoor. A size of less than 5 mm ridge installed in the negative-phototropism was found to be appropriate for the seedling growth. These results showed that the negative-phototropism pot would be best suitable for the growth of Betula platyphylla var. japonica seedlings and for the production of seedling for ecological revegetation.