Influence of Fertilization Practices on Live Oak Wound Closure (original) (raw)
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2013
ii © Chad P. Giblin 2013 i Acknowledgements The completion of this thesis and installation and maintenance of the related research is entirely a team effort. I owe a great many thanks to my advisor, Gary Johnson, and committee members, Jeff Gillman and Tony D'Amato. Gary has shown tireless support and patience in completion of this thesis over what can only be described as an unconventional time-frame! Gary never gives up. Jeff Gillman, also my supervisor, has been equally instrumental in my completion by providing both the support and network for both the actual research and extensive expertise in manuscript writing. Finally, Tony D'Amato has provided invaluable statistics recommendations and editorial support for this thesis and continues to be both a great mentor and sounding board for experimental design and statistical analysis. Without encouragement and support from these fine gentlemen I would have never started. Many staff members also helped in both the installation and maintenance of this research: David Hanson, Rebecca Koetter, Sean Peterson, and Brian Rodriques were all key-players in making this project a reality. Minnesota Tree Care Advisor volunteers were also instrumental in the massive effort of re-mulching -twice! The University of Minnesota Landcare Department kindly supplied the wood mulch for this project and continues to be a great research partner. Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Forestry Division and Saint Paul Parks & Recreation Forestry Unit continue to provide support for our project through research partnerships. Without their sponsorship the land that grew the trees described herein would likely be back in a corn-soybean rotation. A TREE Fund grant was used to purchase camera, control computer, and lights and studio equipment necessary to collect and analyze nearly all the data. Thanks to all the folks who make that program a reality. Lastly, I must thank all of the undergraduate students, who over the last seven years have contributed countless hours to this and similar projects. Ben Conti-Masanz, Liam ii McClannahan and Colleen Rice helped set up the wounding and initial mulch treatments in this study. Bridget Helwig spearheaded the development of ImageJ protocols and assisted in key training other staff in use of the software package. Davin Shokes and Emily Hanson were on the harvest crew and joined us on cold winter days to cut down otherwise perfectly good trees. Finally, my greatest thanks goes to Greg
Annals of Forest Science, 2011
& Background The Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) is an evergreen tree widely distributed in the western Mediterranean Basin. Forest restoration programs using this species have enjoyed only limited success, and knowledge concerning the effect of fertilization on plant quality and post-transplantation response is sparse. & Methods We assessed the effect of autumn fertilization using different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (70.0 mg N, 30.5 mg P and 58.1 mg K during the growing phase for all plants; and 30.0 vs 1.5 mg N, 13.1 vs 0.3 mg P and 24.9 vs 0.5 mg K during the hardening phase, depending on the fertilization treatment) on the seedling characteristics and field performance of Holm oak. & Results and Conclusions Autumn fertilization, especially with N, did not decrease plant quality but improved overall growth, root growth capacity, cold hardiness, and the nutritional content of nursery-grown seedlings. However, autumn fertilization had only a small effect on field performance, which was affected only by K fertilization, probably because of the adequate N and P nutrient status of all the plants and the mild weather conditions of the field plot. In our site, which had a mild winter climate, late autumn out-planting was more successful than was midwinter out-planting.
Physiological, Anatomical, and Ecological Characteristics of Southern Live Oak
Gas exchanges of sun-exposed and shaded leaves of southern live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) were studied monthly from May to September, 2000. Six healthy live oak trees with d.b.h. ranging from 21 to 148 cm on Southern University’s campus in Baton Rouge, LA, were selected for the study. Instantaneous gas exchanges were measured during clear sky days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. using a portable gas exchange system. Leaf chlorophyll, moisture content, and environmental conditions were also monitored. Anatomy of sun-exposed and shaded leaves was studied in July using a scanning electron microscopy. Sun-exposed leaves had significantly higher net carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake rate, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll content, and significantly lower internal CO2 concentration and moisture content than the shaded leaves. The leaf anatomy related well to the leaf physiology. The sun-exposed leaves had a remarkably denser trichome layer and more closely packed palisade mesophyll cells than the ...
Restoration Ecology, 2007
The extent of Oregon white oak woodland and savanna ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest has diminished significantly during the past century due to land use changes and fire suppression. Planting Oregon white oak seedlings is often necessary when restoring these plant communities. Our objective was to determine the efficacy of post-planting treatments for establishing Oregon white oak seedlings on sites characterized by low growing season precipitation and coarse-textured soils. We evaluated the effects of control of competing vegetation, tree shelters, fertilization, irrigation, and planting date on growth of planted seedlings. Survival was generally high (90%), but growth rate varied substantially among treatments. Plastic mulch increased soil water content and increased annual seedling height growth by an average of 56% relative to one-time manual removal of competing vegetation. Solid-walled tree shelters reduced browse damage and increased mean annual height growth compared to mesh shelters and no shelter by averages of 7.5 and 10.9 cm, respectively. Controlled-release fertilizer applied at planting did not consistently increase seedling growth. Weekly irrigation (3.8 L/seedling) increased first-year seedling growth only where mulch also was applied. Seedlings planted by late February had greater root growth by summer than those planted in early April. Soil water management was necessary for best seedling growth, and the improved height growth in solid-walled tree shelters allowed the terminal shoot to grow more quickly above the height of animal browse. Our results indicate effective methods for establishing Oregon white oak seedlings, but these results may also be applicable to establishment of other tree species on similarly droughty sites.
Stand and individual tree growth response to treatments in young natural hardwoods
2012
Young even-aged upland Piedmont mixed hardwood and pine stands were treated with a variety of fertilizer and release (competition control) treatments. The sites studied are on the NC State University Hill Demonstration Forest in central North Carolina, and are characterized by formerly highly eroded agricultural sites (Richter et al. 2000) now in their third rotation of tree cover. Tree growth response was assessed periodically over several years, on both an individual-tree and stand-wide bases. Stand-basis response to fertilizer treatments was vigorous, with treated stands growing more than untreated controls. Whereas individual tree response within treated areas were less. Responses varied between species, with specific consideration of yellow poplar, red/black oak, white oak, and loblolly pine. Significant increases in the rate of stand development can be achieved, thereby reducing the anticipated time to final harvest and number of years necessary to attain commercial size stems...
2018
The repetitious use of diameter-limit harvesting in upland hardwoods has led to low-valued stands with understory canopy layers containing mostly shade-tolerant species. Desirable, shade intolerant reproduction is limited to regenerate these stands. This study evaluated the effectiveness of post-harvest herbicides (glyphosate and sulfometuron methyl) and application methods to accelerate the growth of natural oak advance reproduction. Treatment areas received clearcut treatments in the late winter/early spring of 2014. Six treatment units were established using banded foliar sprays, radial release sprays, pre-emergent broadcast sprays, or combinations of methods, along with an untreated control. Permanent regeneration plots were measured preharvest and after harvest (fall 2014) to evaluate the regeneration response. Individual white and red oak species along with yellow-poplar seedlings were measured for ground line diameter and overall height. Second measurements were taken in the winter of 2017 (two growing seasons later) to determine diameter and height growth change. Yellow-poplar and oak species reproduction per acre estimates, for the 2017 measurements, for block A, B, and C were 850, 1,900, and 233 seedlings. Shade intolerant reproduction formed a greater abundance compared to the shade tolerant species. It is proposed that the larger shade tolerant reproduction present before harvest was completely removed during the timber harvest activity. Significant differences were found between herbicide applications for absolute ground line diameter change for combined seedlings (P=0.0037), absolute height change for combined seedlings (P<0.0001), diameter growth among species (P=0.02988), height growth among species (P=0.0399), diameter change for sprout reproduction (P=0.0268), height change in new germinant reproduction (P=0.0245), height change for sprout reproduction (P<0.0001). Change in ground line diameter for yellow-poplar new germinants was significant (P=0.0161). The change in height comparisons for the species with size class found yellow-poplar sprout reproduction (P=0.0031), white oak new germinant and sprout reproduction were different (P=0.0152 and P<0.0001, respectively). Sulfometuron methyl only treatments typically had the greatest growth responses while radial treatments using glyphosate performed the poorest. A dense coverage of grasses established following herbicide applications. The emergence of grass likely reduced growth rates due to altered microenvironments as well as competition for root zone growing space, soil moisture, and nutrients.