UT-TIP conducts research on bare-root nursery production of high-quality seedlings. Developing fertilization and irrigation protocols for high-quality seedlings was pioneered by Dr. Paul P. Kormanik, USDA Forest Service (retired). UT-TIP works with two nurseries to follow Dr. Kormanik’s protocols: the East Tennessee State Nursery, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Flint River Nursery. UT-TIP studies the interaction among species, genotype, seed size, seedling age, and nursery compartment on seedling quality. Studies are conducted using seed from naturally occurring trees and from seed orchard trees.
