Optimization of Cultivation Medium for Container Seedling Raising of Camellia oleifera

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the optimal component of culti- vation medium for container seedling raising of Camellia oleifera. [Method] In the application of container nursery technology of Camellia oleifera grafting in emergent stocks, yellow clay soil, surface soil of pine forest, decomposed edible fungus, peat soil, dung and dirt were mixed by different proportions into five formulae as nursery substrates, with garden soil as the control, in order to investigate the influences of various substrates on the growth of annual Camellia oleifera container seedlings by using randomized block design based on variance analysis and multiple comparisons, and to screen the optimal substrate formula for container nursery of Camellia oleifera. [Result] The influences of different substrates on the transplanting survival rate, seedling height, basal diameter, height-diameter ratio and lateral root length of Camellia oleifera container seedlings were significantly different. Various growth indi- cators of Camellia oleifera container seedlings cultivated in the substrate containing 40% of yellow clay soil ＋ 15% of surface soil of pine forest ＋ 20% of decomposed edible fungus ＋ 20% of peat soil ＋ 5% of dung and dirt exceeded that of the control and other substrate formulae, which could be used as the optimal substrate formula for the container nursery of Camellia oleifera. [Conclusion] This study screened the optimal substrate formula for the container nursery of Camellia oleifera, which provided technical reference for the cultivation of Camellia oleifera container seedlings.