Douglass F. JacobsDouglass F. Jacobs

Anthony S. DavisAnthony S. Davis

Performance of northern red oak on Performance of northern red oak on former surface coal mines: influence of former surface coal mines: influence of stocktype, controlled-release fertilizer, stocktype, controlled-release fertilizer,

and mycorrhizal inoculationand mycorrhizal inoculation

Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration CenterDepartment of Forestry and Natural Resources

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

OverviewOverview

IntroductionIntroduction Forest plantations & forestry in IndianaForest plantations & forestry in Indiana Mined land reclamationMined land reclamation Improving seedling establishmentImproving seedling establishment

Materials and methodsMaterials and methods ResultsResults Conclusions and future directionsConclusions and future directions AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

PlantationsPlantations ~ 5 % of the ~ 5 % of the

world’s forest coverworld’s forest cover Increasing % of Increasing % of

forest productsforest products Used to restore Used to restore

degraded landsdegraded lands Erosion controlErosion control

Provide benefits Provide benefits associated with associated with forestsforests

Forestry in IndianaForestry in Indiana Central Hardwood Forest Region (CHFR)Central Hardwood Forest Region (CHFR) Change in forest coverChange in forest cover

200 years ago: ~ 85 %200 years ago: ~ 85 % 100 years ago: ~ 8 %100 years ago: ~ 8 % presently: presently: ~ 19 % ~ 19 %

Increasing since 1950sIncreasing since 1950s Conversion of marginal ag landConversion of marginal ag land

~ 5 million bareroot seedlings planted/year~ 5 million bareroot seedlings planted/year 20 % for mined land reclamation20 % for mined land reclamation

Forestry in IndianaForestry in Indiana Landowners plant hardwood seedlingsLandowners plant hardwood seedlings

provide forestland for future generationsprovide forestland for future generations maintain wildlife habitatmaintain wildlife habitat conserve the environmentconserve the environment timber productiontimber production

Mined land reclamationMined land reclamation Coal producing region ~ Coal producing region ~ 17,000 km2

~ 40 % exploited~ 40 % exploited Predicted future increase in coal consumption = increased Predicted future increase in coal consumption = increased

exploitation exploitation 1977 Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act1977 Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act

Graded to the original contourGraded to the original contour Replacement of topsoilReplacement of topsoil

Altered soil propertiesAltered soil properties ErosionErosion Low seedling survivalLow seedling survival Poor performancePoor performance Low land value Low land value →→ conversion conversion

Mined land reclamationMined land reclamation Reclamation of these sitesReclamation of these sites

Returns to heavily disturbed lands some Returns to heavily disturbed lands some components of natural ecosystemscomponents of natural ecosystems Hydrological processesHydrological processes Forest coverForest cover Erosion controlErosion control Wildlife habitatWildlife habitat Carbon sequestrationCarbon sequestration

Aesthetically appealingAesthetically appealing Increases land valueIncreases land value

Mined land reclamationMined land reclamation Reclaimed surface coal minesReclaimed surface coal mines

Hardwood seedlingsHardwood seedlings First-year survival ~ 80 %First-year survival ~ 80 % Subsequent years ~ 25 %Subsequent years ~ 25 %

ErosionErosion Low land valueLow land value

Forest conversionForest conversion

Northern red oakNorthern red oak Able to survive a wide range of conditionsAble to survive a wide range of conditions

Success in mine reclamationSuccess in mine reclamation High commercial valueHigh commercial value Historical and cultural significanceHistorical and cultural significance Commonly planted throughout IndianaCommonly planted throughout Indiana

CommonCommon ~ 98% of plantations established~ 98% of plantations established

Low costLow cost ~ $0.25/seedling~ $0.25/seedling

Readily availableReadily available Perform moderately well on Perform moderately well on

former agricultural landformer agricultural land Root system modification Root system modification

weakens drought stress weakens drought stress resistanceresistance

Stocktype – bareroot seedlingsStocktype – bareroot seedlings

Uniform cropUniform crop More efficient plantingMore efficient planting

Extended planting windowExtended planting window Fall plantingFall planting

Entire root systemEntire root system Minimal use in CHFRMinimal use in CHFR

Large (> 4L), expensive (> $5) Large (> 4L), expensive (> $5) seedlings producedseedlings produced

Drought resistanceDrought resistance Variable site conditions Variable site conditions

Stocktype – containerized seedlingsStocktype – containerized seedlings

Controlled-release fertilizerControlled-release fertilizer Polymer coating Polymer coating

releases fertilizer releases fertilizer over an extended over an extended periodperiod

Increase plant growth Increase plant growth rate after outplantingrate after outplanting

Improve seedling Improve seedling nutrition on poor sitesnutrition on poor sites

Mycorrhizal inoculationMycorrhizal inoculation Naturally occur in Naturally occur in

undisturbed conditionsundisturbed conditions Mycorrhizae are known toMycorrhizae are known to

Increase water and nutrient Increase water and nutrient uptakeuptake

Buffer against pHBuffer against pH Buffer against nutrient toxicityBuffer against nutrient toxicity

Can improve survival and Can improve survival and growthgrowth

Operational use with conifersOperational use with conifers

ObjectivesObjectives Compare the effect of 4 stocktypes…Compare the effect of 4 stocktypes… Assess the influence of controlled-release Assess the influence of controlled-release

fertilizer (CRF) and mycorrhizal inoculation fertilizer (CRF) and mycorrhizal inoculation (MI)…(MI)…

...on survival and performance of northern red ...on survival and performance of northern red oak on reclaimed mined lands oak on reclaimed mined lands

Materials and methods - sitesMaterials and methods - sites Two sites, Clay County, IndianaTwo sites, Clay County, Indiana Privately ownedPrivately owned Mined 1930sMined 1930s

Graded to originalGraded to original

contour in 1980scontour in 1980s Mined late 1980sMined late 1980s

Planted 2000Planted 2000 Poor survivalPoor survival

Map from: http://www.usgs.gov

Soil pH = 4.09

Soil pH = 6.55

Topsoil depth ~ 30 cmTopsoil depth ~ 30 cm

StocktypesStocktypes BarerootBareroot

Standard-densityStandard-density

(75 seedlings/m(75 seedlings/m22)) Low-densityLow-density

(21 seedlings/m(21 seedlings/m22))

Containerized (650 cmContainerized (650 cm33)) June-sown (2002)June-sown (2002) January-sown (2003)January-sown (2003)

Controlled-release fertilizerControlled-release fertilizer OsmocoteOsmocote®® Exact ExactTMTM Lo- Lo-

Start 15-8-10 + microsStart 15-8-10 + micros 16 - 18 month release 16 - 18 month release

(at media temperature of (at media temperature of 21°C) 21°C)

~ 9 g/seedling~ 9 g/seedling Containerized seedlings - Containerized seedlings -

in the mediain the media Bareroot seedlings at the Bareroot seedlings at the

base of the planting holebase of the planting hole

Inoculum consisted of:Inoculum consisted of: Pisolithus tinctoriusPisolithus tinctorius 1 1 Rhizopogon Rhizopogon sp.sp. 4 4 SclerodermaScleroderma spp. spp.

Field inoculated (2500 Field inoculated (2500 spores/seedling)spores/seedling) Immediately after plantingImmediately after planting AugustAugust

Syringe applicationSyringe application 5 mL solution5 mL solution

Mycorrhizal inoculationMycorrhizal inoculation

17 April 200317 April 2003 Tractor-hauled coulter Tractor-hauled coulter

with trencher and with trencher and packing wheelspacking wheels

10 seedlings/row10 seedlings/row 1.5 m × 2.4 m spacing1.5 m × 2.4 m spacing OustOustTMTM and and

GlyproPlusGlyproPlusTMTM

2.29 m fence2.29 m fence 1120 seedlings planted1120 seedlings planted

Plantation establishmentPlantation establishment

Measurements and analysesMeasurements and analyses SurvivalSurvival HeightHeight Root-collar diameterRoot-collar diameter Leaf water potentialLeaf water potential Analysis of variance Analysis of variance

(ANOVA) to identify (ANOVA) to identify differences between treatmentsdifferences between treatments Significant differences (α = 0.05) Significant differences (α = 0.05)

were separated using Tukey’s mean were separated using Tukey’s mean separation test separation test

Methods – leaf water potentialMethods – leaf water potential Remove leaf at base Remove leaf at base

of petioleof petiole Place leaf inside Place leaf inside

chamberchamber Petiole remains visiblePetiole remains visible

Increase chamber Increase chamber pressurepressure

Record pressureRecord pressure Exudation from xylemExudation from xylem

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Stocktype

Su

rviv

al (

%)

A A A AA

BB

B

Standard-density Low-density June-sown January-sown

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

No CRF CRF

Results – survivalResults – survival

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Standard-density Low-density June-sown January-sown

Stocktype

Hei

gh

t g

row

th (

cm)

AB

A

BB

Results – height growthResults – height growth

Largest initial height

Results – height growthResults – height growth

05

101520253035404550

Standard-density Low-density June-sown January-sown

Stocktype

Hei

gh

t g

row

th (

%)

AB

AB

A

B

Results – diameter growthResults – diameter growth

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Standard-density Low-density June-sown January-sown

Stocktype

Dia

met

er g

row

th (

%)

B

B

A

AB

-3

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

01 2 3 4

Stocktype

Le

af

wa

ter

po

ten

tia

l (M

Pa

)

BCC

B

A

Standard-density Low-density June-sown January-sown

Results – leaf water potentialResults – leaf water potential

Results – leaf water potentialResults – leaf water potential

-3

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

Amendment

Lea

f w

ater

po

ten

tial

(M

Pa)

No CRF CRF

A

B

SummarySummary Bareroot seedlings had higher survivalBareroot seedlings had higher survival

Containerized seedlings without CRF survival Containerized seedlings without CRF survival equaled barerootequaled bareroot

June-sown containers had greater % root-June-sown containers had greater % root-collar diameter growth than bareroot seedlingscollar diameter growth than bareroot seedlings

January-sown containerized seedlings had less January-sown containerized seedlings had less negative leaf water potentialnegative leaf water potential Better able to mitigate moisture stressBetter able to mitigate moisture stress

MI and CRF did not benefit establishmentMI and CRF did not benefit establishment

ConclusionsConclusions Seedling establishment under adverse Seedling establishment under adverse

conditions may be improvedconditions may be improved First year results indicate that standard-density First year results indicate that standard-density

bareroot seedlings may be most effectivebareroot seedlings may be most effective % growth of containerized seedlings better% growth of containerized seedlings better

Seedling stocktypes should be developed to Seedling stocktypes should be developed to target specific issuestarget specific issues Site conditionsSite conditions CostCost Ownership objectivesOwnership objectives Silvicultural practicesSilvicultural practices

Future directionsFuture directions 22ndnd year assessment year assessment Determine how initial size/shape of Determine how initial size/shape of

containerized seedlings influences field containerized seedlings influences field performance relative to bareroot seedlingsperformance relative to bareroot seedlings

Continue to examine application of controlled-Continue to examine application of controlled-release fertilizer at plantingrelease fertilizer at planting

Tailor fertilization during nursery culture to Tailor fertilization during nursery culture to specific site conditionsspecific site conditions Nutrient loadingNutrient loading

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Hansford Mann & familyHansford Mann & family Robert Pickett & familyRobert Pickett & family Stu HaneyStu Haney I-DNR Vallonia NurseryI-DNR Vallonia Nursery Staff of the HTIRCStaff of the HTIRC

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of ReclamationReclamation Ray Brumfiel and Steve HerbertRay Brumfiel and Steve Herbert

Purdue University, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Purdue University, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center and Department of Forestry and Regeneration Center and Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

Dr. Bill ChaneyDr. Bill Chaney Dr. Phil PopeDr. Phil Pope Rob EddyRob Eddy Amy Ross-DavisAmy Ross-Davis Don CarlsonDon Carlson Zach LoweZach Lowe