Mechanically Induced Damage

Rough handling can damage seedlings during nursery lifting and packing, transportation, and various field handling operations. The shock of dropping tree containers can severely reduce root growth potential (RGP), development of mycorrhizae, and can induce water stress. Even limited rough handling can reduce survival. In most instances the seedlings will show no indication of the damage because the damage is most likely to occur at the cell level. Although the effects of rough handling can be more pronounced in some species than others, make every effort not to drop, slam, or otherwise disturb the seedling containers.