Update #15: Preparing seeds of Pinus nigra, Pinus peuce and Abies alba for planting / April 11, 2023
This year we are focusing on improving and scaling up our tree nursery in Fushë Lurë. We are processing seeds to grow 11 000 seedlings, and we want to share details about this process.
Our tree nursery has been a long-term goal of Trees for Lurë. By producing our saplings, we will be able to reduce the cost of our reforestation efforts, but mainly - we will be allowed to plant at the highest protected area of the Lurë National Park.
We established our tree nursery in 2022 and tried to grow 5 000 Pinus nigra seedlings. We learned a great deal from this effort, but the results are not good enough, with no more than 1 000 seedlings surviving the 1st year.
The results were not as good as we hoped due to errors we made through out the year so this time we’re implementing many changes in the nursery to improve our results.
It all starts with the seeds
Growing seedlings starts (as with any plant) with the seeds. The seeds for our trees were collected by the local team in 2021 (Pinus nigra) and 2022 (Pinus peuce, Abies alba). The seeds are collected manually in the Lurë National park.
Seed collection & extraction
The seeds have been extracted from the cones exposing them to warm temperatures and manually working the seeds out from the cones. Unprocessed seeds are stored in Lure in a dry, cold area in cloth bags.
Cleaning & sorting seeds
After the winter, we collected the seeds from Lure and started processing them. Cleaning is the first step, and its goal is to sort out residual remains of the cones, remove the “wings”, and, most importantly, separate the healthy or “full” seeds from the dead or “empty” ones. The goal is to achieve the highest possible percentage of healthy seeds to minimise costs in the nursery when growing the seedlings.
For Pinus nigra and Pinus peuce the process of cleaning seeds is the mechanical removal of the wing and the seed crown. The waste material is then separated using precisely directed airflow (fancy words for using a hair dryer). Separation of the healthy seeds is done using airflow and uses the fact that healthy seeds are much heavier than dead ones. Using this method, we managed to clean Pinus nigra from the initial 37% to 76% of healthy seeds. Due to the small amount of Pinus peuce we decided to stratify and germinate all the seeds and do only basic cleaning.
Abies alba must be handled gently as the seeds are coated with resin which must remain on the seed. Therefore, we have just removed the wing mechanically and separated the seed from the waste by the trusty hair drier. As the healthy seeds were at 66% we did not attempt to sort the seeds more.
Pinus nigra | Pinus peuce | Abies alba | |
---|---|---|---|
Collection year | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 |
Healthy seeds (%) | 76% | 26% | 66% |
Amount (gram) | 1152 | 169 | 4284 |
Stratification - breaking seed dormancy
Seeds which are collected or purchased are dormant - they sleep. To wake the seeds up for germination, they must go through the cold stratification process. This process simulates the spring cold and wet conditions in nature, waking the seeds up.
Stratification starts by soaking the seeds in the water for 24 hours at a temperature of 3—5℃, regardless of the species.
When initial soaking is done, water is, drained and the seeds are kept wet at 3—5℃ for up to 30 days in the case of Pinus nigra, 210 days for Pinus peuce and 60 days for Abies Alba.
It is essential to monitor the seeds, prevent them from drying, and maintain the temperature.
Next steps
We started the stratification process on 6th of April, which means that Pinus nigra seeds will be ready around 10th of May, and we will plant them. Abies alba will be prepared a month later at the latest.
While seeds are undergoing the stratification process, we’re working on many other tasks in the nursery, such as building greenhouses, preparing soil and growing systems.
On behalf of the whole team,
Pavel
Archive
Update #21: 2024 Monitoring report / October 4, 2024
Year 2024 was incredibly hot and dry, which had negative impact on the survival rate, we have 56.4% for the 2023 area, we are making changes for the 2024 season!
Update #20: Researcher from UK & week of meetings / July 7, 2024
Week of meetings with institutions and NGOs with researcher Stephen Haywood from the UK
Update #19: Overview of the 2023 / January 28, 2024
Overview and Brochure of our work in 2023, what a busy year it was!
Update #18: 10,081 planted in Autumn 2023 / December 15, 2023
We planted another 10,081 trees in 2023 bringing total number up to 22,793!
Update #17: Organising school events in 2023 / December 7, 2023
Organising school events in 2023
Update #16: Dorjan leaving Trees for Lurë / July 10, 2023
Dorjan decided to leave the project and focus on new exciting opportunities.
Update #15: Preparing seeds of Pinus nigra, Pinus peuce and Abies alba for planting / April 11, 2023
Seeds to grow 11 000 seedlings in our nursery are being prepared.
Update #14: Planting 10 000 trees!!! / October 17, 2022
10 000 trees! That’s pushing our effort to the next level!
Update #13: 78% survival rate in the 1st year / September 13, 2022
78% survival rate, issues we enountered and lessons learned.
Update #12: Partnerships, Tree Nursery & Spring planting / May 25, 2022
Partnerships, Tree Nursery & Spring planting
Update #11: Finance 2019–2021 / January 27, 2022
How did we use donations in years 2019–2021?
Update #10 / October 25, 2021
Choosing the right planting material and supplier.
Update #9 / October 1, 2021
We dug 2550 holes! AdZM project changes, local community support and new ways to donate.
Update #8 / September 21, 2021
Green light for 2500 trees, new species, new area and seeds!
Update #7 / July 20, 2021
Snow in late May, paperwork and plans for the Autumn 2021.
Update #6 / May 20, 2021
We are back! The 1st event of 2021 takes place 28th-30th May, we are planting 2 500 trees in Lurë!
Update #5 / April 21, 2020
First, there was an earthquake, and now we have COVID-19 global pandemic
Update #4 / December 16, 2019
Earthquake, why we planted 51 trees and What’s next?
Update #3 / November 26, 2019
Earthquake, 2019 canceled, earthquake relief volunteering
Update #2 / November 24, 2019
More volunteers and donors, getting ready for next week, Help the Child! update and TV, Radio, Czech Embassy.
Update #1 / November 15, 2019
Welcome Scout Tirana 1, Make child happy!, new team members, stickers and exciting partners.