Shaun Biggs of Ellepot with nursery manager Bongani Shozi.
Sappi Forests’ nurseries are switching from plastic inserts to paper pots to benefit from a propagation system that produces plants with a better root system and reduces transplant shock.
Ellepot is a Danish company internationally recognised for the quality of plants propagated in its system of cylindrical paper pots, known as Ellepots. The papers degrade and are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited.
Shaun Biggs of Ellepot South Africa says the rate of early growth and post-planting survival of seedlings is an essential criterion in determining a forestry operation’s success.
Sappi Forests is in the process of installing an Ellepot propagation system at each of its cutting nurseries with Sappi staff Damien Naidu, the programme leader for Nursery Technologies, and Wynand de Swardt, Sappi’s divisional nurseries manager firmly in control.
“We are on a journey of discovery that is enhancing our understanding of propagating plants and opening the door to new logistics opportunities,” says Naidu.
Sappi’s investment in research and trials has produced remarkable results. De Swardt says that the adjustments to the propagation environment and the innovative new tray, means Ellepot cuttings leave Clan Nursery in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands up to 20% earlier than those grown in plastic tubes.
“This changes everything. The increase in capacity at the nursery directly impacts the process of getting the plants to our customers,” says De Swardt, adding that the plan is for all Sappi’s nurseries to get an Ellepot system because research shows that switching from plastic inserts to paper pots reduces logistics costs.
“We are broadening our silviculture focus also to include our holding nurseries so that we fully integrate the entire supply chain. Some logistics cost saving will be offset by infrastructure spend on centralised holding nursery facilities.”
Research on field survival shows that survival gain can be as high as eight percent, depending on the site and planting conditions. Results have also shown a significant biomass gain when planting on adverse sites or in adverse conditions.
The planting season in KZN’s summer rainfall season is usually between September and March, but forresters are already experimenting with extending the planting season because of the higher chances of survival using Ellepot plants.
“We are entering an era where technology is changing the way we plant trees. Our Ellepot papers form a protective layer around the roots, thereby preventing damage during the planting process and allowing the adoption of new mechanised planting technologies”, says Biggs.