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07-02-2003, 10:05 PM

(Rasmus D. Andersen) writes:

I need some help translating a Danish word into English. The word describes
a kind of planting-technique we use to protect the new, small plants from
predators, drought and spring frost. In the same hole as you plant the
valuabel future tree species you put a less valuabel and more resistant
species, the "mantle" (e.g. picea or pinus!). The idea is that the resistant
species will grow up to cover the future species and hereby protect it from
the harsh condition on a bare land. Over time the future species will take
over and "outgrow" the mantle.
We call this method "mantle-planting" (direct translation) but i need to
know the right term in english/american or german if anyone knows!
If you got experience or know about litterature on the subject I would be
glad to here from you.

Hello, Rasmus.

I'm not sure if there is a specific term in English/American for what you
are describing. In agriculture, a crop planted to give shelter to a more
fragile seed is known as a "nurse crop." Annual ryegrass is a popular
nurse crop, since it dies after one year and does not reseed without
human intervention.

I suppose you could call your practice a plantation using nurse trees.
"Nurse tree" is a forestry term, though I have mostly heard it applied to
a fallen log that provides shelter for seedlings. You would need to
clarify your exact meaning in some way. A "mantle-planting" as you have
described it also seems like perfectly good English. If you are the
author, just describe your term and use it. If you are a translator, add
a footnote.

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