Intensive culture of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings on poorly drained sites in the Western Gulf region of the United States

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dc.contributor.advisor Messina, Michael G. en_US
dc.creator Rahman, Mohd Shafiqur en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2004-09-30T01:49:17Z
dc.date.available 2004-09-30T01:49:17Z
dc.date.created 2003-08 en_US
dc.date.issued 2004-09-30T01:49:17Z
dc.identifier.uri http://handle.tamu.edu/1969.1/272
dc.description.abstract A significant acreage of poorly drained sites occurs in the Western Gulf region of the United States. These sites experience standing water through much of the winter and spring, resulting in poor seedling survival. In addition, the sites occasionally experience a summer drought that affects tree growth. This study was designed to determine the effects of intensive forest management on seedling growth and physiology, and to enhance seedling performance under these harsh conditions. Fertilization, chemical vegetation control and mechanical site preparation were used in different combinations to test the effects of these intensive forest management tools on seedling above- and below-ground growth, survival, water status, gas exchange attributes, and nutrient concentrations in the foliage and soil solution. Ten sites were established in southern Arkansas in 1998 and 1999 to monitor loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedling performance in three consecutive growing seasons between 1998 and 2000. Fertilization, chemical vegetation control and mechanical site preparation increased above-ground growth. Growth increment from mechanical site preparation was comparable to that from fertilization. Survival was not affected by any treatment. Fertilization enhanced root growth, more so in the shallow soil layers. Subsoil bulk density greatly restricted root growth, resulting in decreased above-ground growth. Chemical vegetation control made more soil water available to the seedlings during drought, resulting in increased seedling water potential. The effect of chemical vegetation control on seedling water potential was absent in the early growing season when soil moisture was abundant. Seedlings on plots treated with bedding-plus-fertilizer or bedding alone experienced stomatal closure at times of severe water stress while those treated with chemical vegetation control were able to continue net carbon dioxide assimilation. Fertilization did not increase needle nutrient concentrations, but increased needle weight, thereby increasing total nutrient content. Fertilization increased base cation concentrations in the soil solution, but had no effect on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Intensive forest management was found to be a viable tool for optimum loblolly pine seedling growth and survival on poorly drained sites in the Western Gulf region of the United States. en_US
dc.description.provenance Made available in DSpace on 2004-09-30T01:49:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 etd-tamu-2003B-2003062709-Rahm-1.pdf: 730387 bytes, checksum: c35c31651a5a1f14baf3dd817f1407a2 (MD5) etd-tamu-2003B-2003062709-Rahm-1.pdf.txt: 136944 bytes, checksum: 0c2456447d182aa93be1529da3458494 (MD5) en
dc.format.extent 730387 bytes
dc.format.extent 136944 bytes
dc.format.medium electronic en_US
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.format.mimetype text/plain
dc.language.iso en_US en_US
dc.publisher Texas A&M University en_US
dc.subject loblolly en_US
dc.subject intensive culture en_US
dc.subject flatwoods en_US
dc.subject fragipan en_US
dc.subject fertilzer en_US
dc.subject fertilization en_US
dc.subject herbicides en_US
dc.subject lysimeter en_US
dc.subject minirhizotron en_US
dc.subject nutrient en_US
dc.title Intensive culture of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings on poorly drained sites in the Western Gulf region of the United States en_US
thesis.degree.department Forest Science en_US
thesis.degree.discipline Forestry en_US
thesis.degree.grantor Texas A&M University en_US
thesis.degree.name PHD en_US
thesis.degree.level Doctoral en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Hons, Frank M. en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Fisher, Richard F. en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Tjoelker, Mark G. en_US
dc.type.genre Electronic Dissertation en_US
dc.type.material text en_US
dc.format.digitalOrigin born digital en_US

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