Novel technique shows different hydrophobic chemical signatures of exotic and indigenous plant soils with similar effects of extracts on indigenous species seedling growth

We investigated the effects of Velpar L (hexazinone) on ectomycorrhizal (Laccarialaccata) and nonmycorrhizal Pinusresinosa seedlings in the greenhouse and in the field. In both greenhouse and field studies, seedling growth was reduced by Velpar L at 1, 2, and 4 kg/ha application rates in the short term (2 months' exposure) with significant recovery occurring afterwards. Seedling mortality occurred only with herbicide treatments and was higher in the greenhouse than in the field. The 4 kg/ha Velpar L treatment caused the highest mortality and toxicity was most pronounced in the mycorrhizal (Laccarialaccata inoculated) seedlings. In both experiments mycorrhizal infection was significantly reduced by 2 and 4 kg/ha Velpar L treatments during the 0- to 2-month and 2- to 6-month exposure periods, with significant recovery occurring in the latter. Although seedlings not infected with Laccarialaccata became mycorrhizal through unidentified indigenous species, their infection rates were also affected by Velpar L at all levels during the 0- to 2-month period and at the 2 and 4 kg/ha levels after 2–6 months of exposure to the herbicide.

Download Full-text

Non-indigenous species management using a population prioritization framework

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps07121 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (5) ◽

pp. 1029-1036 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

L. J. Rew ◽

E. A. Lehnhoff ◽

B. D. Maxwell

Keyword(s):

Land Management ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

Management Control ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Impact Monitoring ◽

Area Of Interest ◽

Indigenous Plant ◽

Inventory Survey ◽

The Impact ◽

Prioritization Framework

Few agencies or land owners have sufficient resources to target every non-indigenous plant species (NIS) population once they have become established within a management area. Therefore, prioritization of NIS populations for management is a crucial component of the management process. Conceptually, effective management of NIS can be regarded as having four phases that revolve around the land management goals and how best to manage the NIS present in the area to achieve these goals. The key phases are determining the land management goals, inventory/survey, monitoring, evaluation and prioritization. Inventory/survey determines which species are present and their distribution within the landscape. These data can be used to develop probability of occurrence maps, which help in the nonbiased selection of populations for invasiveness and impact monitoring. Monitoring for invasiveness provides information on spatial and temporal changes within a population. Monitoring for impact assesses three types of impact: the impact of the NIS on the ecosystem, the impact of the management/control practices on the NIS, and th e impact of management/control practices on the ecosystem. These data can then be used to evaluate and prioritize which species and populations to manage, and how to manage them, and these decisions should then be extended over the area of interest. The management advantages provided by a population prioritization framework were evaluated with a simulation model and supported the importance of monitoring and prioritization to reduce metapopulation growth. Key words: Invasive species, weeds, survey, monitoring, adaptive management, rangeland, wildlands

Download Full-text

Efficiencies of indigenous South African plant biofilters for urban stormwater runoff water quality improvement with a focus on nutrients and metals

Journal of Water Supply Research and Technology—AQUA ◽

10.2166/aqua.2021.187 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

D. M. Jacklin ◽

I. C. Brink ◽

S. M. Jacobs

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Metal Removal ◽

Stormwater Runoff ◽

Column Experiment ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Urban Stormwater ◽

Runoff Water ◽

Indigenous Plants ◽

Indigenous Plant

Abstract In South Africa, urban activities contribute high levels of pollution to rivers and groundwater via stormwater runoff. In reducing urban stormwater loads of engineered plant biofiltration, an effective and self-sustaining component of green infrastructure is a treatment option. The country's extensive natural biodiversity offers untapped potential of indigenous species' use in plant biofilters. This paper presents the findings of a plant biofilter column experiment, which investigated the performance of nine indigenous plant species under varied urban stormwater pollutant load strengths. Average significant loads of dissolved Cd (>98%), Cu (>84%), Pb (>99%) and Zn (>95%), as well as NH3-N (>93%), were removed by the plant biofilters, whereas the removal of -N (−37–79%) and -P (−81 to 63%) was more variable. Biofilters equipped with indigenous plant species were on average at least 11% more efficient than unvegetated soil in the removal of urban nutrient and metal pollutants. Over time, planted biofilters improved nutrient and metal removal efficiencies. The results support the inclusion of indigenous plants in biofilters within urban stormwater green infrastructure initiatives. Further research to inform plant biofilter design practicalities and assess plant biofilter performance in the field is warranted.

Download Full-text

EFFECT OF SEED WEIGHT ON SEEDLING GROWTH AND SUBSEQUENT PLANT PERFORMANCE IN MANGROVE INTRODUCED INTO KUWAIT.

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.681d ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 681d-681

Author(s):

Mahdi Abdal ◽

Mostafa AboEl-Nil ◽

Lateefa Al-Sabah ◽

Sameeha Zaman ◽

Adel Al Zayani

Keyword(s):

Seedling Growth ◽

Seed Weight ◽

Seedling Survival ◽

Arabian Gulf ◽

Avicennia Marina ◽

Plant Performance ◽

Root Primordia ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Early Appearance ◽

Indigenous Plant

Mangrove (Avicennia marina) (Forsk.) Vierh. is an indigenous plant species of the intertidal coastlines of the Arabian Gulf. Research is in progress for protection of mangrove habitat and for introduction of mangrove into the coastlines of Kuwait. This study was initiated to determine factors affecting seed germination, seedling growth and establishment of propagules into suitable sites, and the efficacy of utilizing seed weight as a parameter for early genetic evaluation. Seeds of open pollinated wild stand of Avicennia were obtained from the State of Bahrain. Avicennia seeds varied in size and weight. Seed weight ranged from 0.3 to 6.3 grams, 89% of the seed ranged from 1 to 3 grams. The median seed weight varied from 1.3 to 1.9 depending upon the source and the collection time during the seed maturation season. Seedling survival, early appearance of epicotyl and height were affected positively by seed weight. Early branching and number of root primordia were not correlated with seed weight.

Download Full-text