Evaluation of the effect of biopreparations on laboratory germination and germination energy of conifer seeds

Research on pre-sowing seed treatment with growth stimulants for growing conifers is becoming an important trend in forestry. This approach helps to increase seed germination, improve plant resistance to unfavorable conditions and contributes to the successful cultivation of forest crops. Such research is relevant for optimizing afforestation and reforestation of forest areas, and has the potential to improve the efficiency of forestry in general. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of different biopreparations in seed treatment of European spruce, common pine and western thuja. Laboratory experiments were conducted at the Department of Forestry and Forest Crops of Kazan State Agrarian University. The experiments included treatment of seeds with potassium humate, mixture of potassium humate with phytosporin and Zircon R. The results showed that application of potassium humate and combination of potassium humate with phytosporin significantly increased seed germination: European spruce and common pine – up to 95.0–99.8 %, western thuja – up to 58.5–63.2 %, respectively. Zircon R preparation showed relatively low germination rates: 64 % for European spruce, 67 % for common pine and 43.8 % for western thuja. Application of potassium humate and its combination with phytosporin caused some increase in the intensity of seedling development in spruce seeds, almost 3-fold – in thuja seeds, pine seeds showed a decrease in this indicator. The conclusions are important for further studies on optimization of composition and application of preparations, improvement of seed production and ensuring successful cultivation of coniferous plants.