Ref ID: 10937
Ref Type: Journal (Unpublished)
Authors: Close, D. C., Davidson, N. J., Churchill, K., and Grosser, C.
Pub Date: 2005
Journal Name: Ecological Management and Restoration
Volume:
Issue:
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Keywords: browsing/characteristic/control/conventional/cost/current/effect/efficacy/establishment/Establishment technique/Eucalyptus/Eucalyptus nitens/Eucalyptus pauciflora/evaluation/exotic/forest/growth/health/height/litter/maximise/native/native forest/nursery/plant/plant survival/plantations/planting/practice/pressure/rainfall/revegetation/seedling/seedlings/shrub/site/sites/soil/species/survival/Tasmania/technique/test/tree/tree guards/treeguards/trees/woodland
Abstract: The efficacy, in terms of plant survival, health and height growth, of six establishment techniques was compared at two sites of contrasting rainfall and soil-type characteristics ('Sorrel Springs' and 'Woodland Park'). The six treatments evaluated at both sites were: 1) Current best practice (CBP; characterised by long fallow period, pre- and post-weed control and row mounding); 2) CBP and companion planting with pioneering shrubs; 3) CBP and spot-burning; 4) CBP and mulching with native forest litter; 5) CBP and tree-guarding and; 6) CBP and water-guarding. In addition, soil inoculum was added to the potting mix of half the seedlings in the nursery. The test species were Eucalyptus nitens (exotic) and E. pauciflora (local native). Survival was lower in non-guarded than guarded establishment treatments and, within non-guarded treatments, survival was lower in E. nitens than E. pauciflora at both sites. Differences in survival between guarding treatments were larger at Woodland Park where the browsing pressure was relatively higher. E. pauciflora had greater height than E. nitens in all non-guarded treatments, but there was no effect of soil inoculum in the nursery, at either site. Tree height in guarded treatments was similar for the two species and greater than in trees established using other establishment techniques at both sites. There were no effects of establishment treatment or species on health at Sorrel Springs, but health was lower in non-guarded E. nitens than E. pauciflora at Woodland Park. It appears that E. pauciflora is more resistant to browsing than E. nitens. Guarding maximises survival and growth, especially in browsing susceptible E. nitens, but this treatment has higher material and labour costs. Water-guards provided no benefit additional to conventional tree-guards and thus were not worth the greater expense
Notes: Entered by Maria Ottenschlaeger (17/08/2004)
Reprint: Not in File
Program: SPF Sustainable Management
Project: B3
Deliverable: B3-1.8
Confidentiality: Confidential to All Partners until Published
Availability: Authors
Report: Annual Report 2005/6
Type: Article
Address: Dugald.Close@ffp.csiro.au
Misc 2: Submitted