Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Growth and survival responses of elm (Ulmus pumila) seedlings to water use, nutrient availability and clipping intensity 

Author(s):

Li Liu, Deli Wang *, Ying Gao, Ning Huang, Changcun Lin, Jun Liu, Tingcheng Zhu

Recieved Date: 2012-06-30, Accepted Date: 2012-10-06

Abstract:

Seedling regeneration is critical to the stability and sustainability of plant community. In our early investigation of elm (Ulmus pumila L.) woodlands, which plays important roles in decreasing erosion, stabilizing sand dunes and maintaining species diversity in north China, we found that the most elm seedlings could not germinate in the second growing season. Therefore, early morphological and physiological traits of elm seedlings and  survival were studied under different soil humidity, nutrients and clipping treatments under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that elm seedlings’ height and relative growth rate significantly increased with the increase of soil nutrient availability. A significant interaction of soil nutrients and clipping treatment was also tested for relative growth rate, which was highest at 50% clipping treatment when soil nutrient contents were high. Total biomass and biomass allocation obviously increased with increasing soil humidity and nutrients and there was significant interactive effect of soil humidity and nutrients. Leaf chlorophyll concentration and net photosynthesis rate markedly increased along the gradient of soil humidity. However, adequate soil nutrient availability did not induce high leaf chlorophyll concentration or net photosynthesis rate, and no significance of clipping treatment was found for the physiological traits of seedlings. Survival rate of elm seedlings was significantly increased with increasing soil humidity and nutrient availability, and a significant interactive effect of soil humidity and nutrients was also found. The clipping treatment did not show statistical significance for survival rate of elm seedlings. The results also showed that, when soil humidity was at the lowest level, both morphological and physiological traits of elm seedlings were lowest, especially the survival rate which was nearly zero. Therefore, we concluded that soil humidity was the primary factor limiting growth and survival of elm seedlings and 3% soil humidity was the minimum for elm regeneration. The joint influence of clipping and soil nutrient treatments markedly altered seedling growth and survival especially when soil nutrients were limited, and it also indicated that the actual infertile sandy habitat of native elm woodland would aggravate negative effects of frequent grazing. We suggested that strengthening of practical water and nutrient management, and removing grazing would be favorable for improving elm seedlings’ survival and regeneration of degraded native elm woodlands. 

Keywords:

Ulmus pumila, elm woodland, seedling, regeneration, relative growth rate, survival rate

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 1308-1314

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