Biotic Factors Limiting Outplanting Success of the Target Plant

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/facilities/multimedia/uploads/alberta/Ecosystem.html

Owen Burney New Mexico State University

John T Harrington Forestry Research Center

Target Plant Concept - Definition

"Fitness for Purpose" (Sutton 1980) Plant quality may be defined as those attributes necessary for a seedling to survive and grow after outplanting (Duryea 1985)

Target Plant Concept – Strategy

USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-65. 2011 63

Limitations in Outplanting Success - Biotic Factors

Soil Biota Competing Vegetation Ruminant Herbivory

Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/TreePlanting/images/herbicide_use.jpg

http://www.pumpkinbrookorganicgardening.com/services/plant-healthcare-services/deer-browse-protection/

How to address limiting biotic factors

What can be done… IN THE FIELD “Site Preparation” IN THE NURSEY “Target Plant”

https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/460/460-131/L_IMG_7_131.jpg

Photo by: J Moorman, NMSU

Limitations from disturbed SOIL BIOTA

Severe soil disturbance results in loss of soil biota

Mine sites Severe wildland fires

Photo by NOAA; http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2013/04/23/the-science-behind-wildfire-prevention/

Photo by O Burney

“A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Benefits of SOIL BIOTA

Bacteria - • Decomposer that release nutrients from

dead organic material • Nitrogen fixation for leguminous species

Fungi – • Break down organic material • Symbiotic relationships (mycorrhizae)

http://sydney.edu.au/news/science/397.html?newsstoryid=7415 Robert L. Anderson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Benefits of SOIL BIOTA

Protozoa and Nematodes – • Mineralize nutrients into plant available forms

Earthworms – • Mix and aggregate soil • Improve soil structure for water movement

Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org

Mine Reclamation

Restoration/Reclamation typically occurs on:

• Parent material after ore extraction

• LOW to NO soil organic matter (SOM)

SOM composed of:

• Living – microorganisms, worm, insect, etc.

• Dead - fresh residue

• Very Dead - humus

Soil Amendments

Amendments providing SOM

Overburden (topsoil)

Animal Manure

Papermill Sludge

Wood Residue (Chips)

Peat

Municipal Biosolids (Wastewater Sludge)

http://www.epa.gov/Region6/water/npdes/biosolids/index.htm

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/shavings.jpg

Municipal Biosolids – Example of Microbial Activity

Control Fertilized Only

Biosolid 30 ton/ha Biosolid 60 ton/ha Biosolid 90 ton/ha

Salazar I, Millar D, Lara V, Nenez M, Parada M, Alvear M, Barona J (2012) Effects of the application of biosolids on some chemical, biological and physical properties in an Andisol from southern Chile. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 12 (3) 441-450.

Global microbiological activity based on accumulated values of C-CO2

Municipal Biosolids – Example from Mining Research

Increase: water holding capacity, available nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms.

Control – Waste Rock from mine site Biosolid – Waste Rock amended at a rate of 30 tons per acre foot

Forest Fires impacts on SOIL BIOTA

Loss of microbial populations

UN – Unthinned Control TH – Thinned TB – Thinned and Burned WF – Wildfire Grady K, Hart S (2006) Influences of thinning, prescribed burning, and wildfire on soil processes and properties in southwestern ponderosa pine forests: A retrospective study. Forest Ecology and Management 234, 123–135.

Site Preparation of Burned Site with Municipal Biosolids

Similar to mine sites

Meyer VF, Redente EF, Barbarick KA, Brobst RB (2004) Plant and Soil Responses to Biosolids Application following Forest Fire. Journal of Environmental Quality 33: 873-81.

Target Plant for Loss in Soil Biota (Mined/Burned)

What can be done in nursery production?

Mycorrhizal Fungus Inoculated Seedlings

"Mycorrhizal root tips (amanita)". Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mycorrhizal_root_tips_(amanita).jpg#mediaviewer/File:Mycorrhizal_root_tips_(amanita).jpg

Example of Inoculated Seedlings on a Mine Site

Tree survival (pine and hardwood)

Pt ectomycorrhizae inoculation

Southern Ohio, 1982 to 1998 (16 years)

Seedling Treatment Average Survival % Planting Success %

Pt – inoculated 85 95+

Non-inoculated <50 <25

Marx DH, Cordell CE, Marrs LF (1998) Establishment of vegetation on mined sites by management of mycorrhizae. Tab 9-23pp. In: Integrated mining and reclamation planning – 7th annual mining and land reclamation short course, Bennet PM, Director, Reno, NV. April 20-24, 1998. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

Limitations from COMPETING VEGETATION

Disturbed sites requiring restoration will most

likely have natural establishment of vegetation

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Site Preparation for competing vegetation

Control Methods:

Chemical

Mechanical

Controlled Fire/Burn

Photo by O Burney

David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org

http://www.cottonvalley.org/archives2007.html

Cost Comparison

Treatment Average Cost / Acre

Prescribed Fire $53

Mechanical $75 - $200

Chemical $67 - $89

http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2823.pdf

Forest site preparation methods in the Southern Coastal Plain, 2014 Mississippi State University, Extension Service

Site Preparation

Rose R, Ketchum JS (Interaction of vegetation control and fertilization on conifer species across the Pacific Northwest. Can. J. For. Res. 32: 136–152.

Control

1.5 m2 veg control

3.3 m2 veg control

Years

Douglas-fir – Oregon – Bareroot Seedlings

Target Plant for competing vegetation

If competing vegetation is a problem, then…

BIGGER is BETTER

Parameter/Treatment Size Vegetation Control

Douglas-fir Seedlings Small Large 2 Years 3 Years

Diameter (mm) 34.6a 39.0b 35.2a 38.4b

Stem Volume (cc) 775.2a 1043.2b 832.8a 985.5b

Rose R, Ketchum JS (2003) Interaction of initial seedling diameter, fertilization and weed control on Douglas-fir growth over the first four years after planting. Ann. For. Sci. 60: 625–635.

Limitations from RUMINANT HERBIVORY

As with competing vegetation, most restoration

sites will have some level of animal herbivory

from ruminants

https://web.duke.edu/nicholas/bio217/ekc7/deer.htm

Ruminant Herbivory Examples

Reforestation survey for Tillamook Forest, Oregon

• Planted approximately 1,000 acres in 2003 • 90% of all sites were browsed

by elk and/or deer • 50% severely impacted;

growth inhibited • 30% replants due to severe

damage and/or mortality

Ruminant Herbivory Examples

Restoration Project in Lebanon (2013)

• Planted 41,350 seedlings

• Fence installed

• 12% loss due to herbivory

(mainly goats)

http://images.nationmaster.com/images/motw/atlas_middle_east/lebanon.jpg

• Fencing

• Hunting

• Chemical Repellents

• Physical Barriers (tubing, bud caps)

• Frightening Devices (air canons) • Over Planting

Site Preparation for Herbivory

Target Plant for Ruminant Herbivory

• Select species know to have little forage value

• Large seedlings that can potentially rebound

from a single browsing episode

• Alteration of defensive compounds (secondary

metabolites such as terpenoids) via genetics

and/or FERTILIZATION

Plant Defenses

Plants develop complex array of 2nd metabolites

• many functions in plants including chemical defenses (e.g., toxins)

3 Types of 2nd metabolites

• Alkaloids (i.e., caffeine)

• Phenylpropanoids (i.e., tannins)

• Terpenoids (i.e., terpenes – scents, oils)

Carbon / Nutrient Balance Hypothesis Increase in nutrient availability = Increase in plant growth = Decrease in production of 2nd metabolites However, this is not static. Allocation of resources are:

Fixed = no influence from environmental resources and/or Flexible = influence from environmental resources • Based on species, phenological stage, individual plant genetics, and age (Lerdau et al. 1995)

Allocation of Resources via FERTILIZATION

Allocation of Resources – Example from Oregon Study

Variable Supplemental Nutrition

Height ↑Diameter ↑Foliar Nitrogen ↑Douglas-fir Browse ↑Douglas-fir Terpene 0Western Hemlock Browse ↑Western Hemlock Terpene 0Western Red-cedar Browse ↓Western Red-cedar Terpene ↑

Burney OT, Jacobs DF (2011) Ungulate herbivory of regenerating conifers in relation to foliar nutrition and terpenoid production. For Ecol Manag 262(9):1834–1845

Attracted

Allocation of Resources / Ruminant Reactions

Secondary Metabolite

Growth

Fertilization

Avoid Balanced Diet

Plant Response

Herbivory Response

Combo

Fertilization

Conclusions

Producing the highest quality plant in the nursery may not be enough.

Site preparation and outplanting techniques may be necessary to promote plant establishment and success

USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-65. 2011 63

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Questions

Photo by J Harrington