Plant Growth Promoting Microorganism Selection and Activity Test for Reforestation of Topsoil Restoration Site

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of plant growth promoting microorganisms during restoration through re-vegetation of damaged topsoil.Methods : As the vegetation to be applied to the restoration site, Weigela subsessilis, Spiraea prunifolia, Pine densiflora, Pennisetum alopecuroides were selected. An attempt was made to isolate plant growth promoting microorganisms from the root zone of plants of the same species inhabiting domestic park sites and hiking trails. Plant growth promoting activities such as phosphate solubilization ability, siderophore production ability, IAA production ability, and ACC deaminase production ability were examined, and the species to be finally applied was selected and then identified. Among the strains whose plant growth promoting activity was confirmed, Arthrobacter sp. 1B2 and Paraburkholderia terrae 1P2 were applied to the genitalia and pine, respectively, and a pot experiment was conducted to confirm the activity.Results and Discussion : Forty-five strains were isolated from Weigela subsessilis, Spiraea prunifolia, Pine densiflora, Pennisetum alopecuroides and the IAA-producing ability and ACC deaminase-producing ability were confirmed for 16 strains whose phosphate solubilizing ability and siderophore-producing ability were confirmed. After selecting and identifying strains with excellent plant growth promoting ability, strains such as Cupriavidus sp, Arthrobacter sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp., Paraburkholderia terrae were obtained. Among them, Arthrobacter sp. 1B2 and Paraburkholderia terrae 1P2 strains were applied to genitalia and pine, respectively, and it was confirmed that plant growth was promoted.Conclusions : Bioassay experiments and field applications using plant growth promoting microorganisms have been mainly studied for herbaceous species (Grandaceae, corn, oats, etc.). However, in this study, the applied plants are shrubs class, which do not significantly grow in length, targeting damaged areas with high subsoil content, which are poor in environment and insufficient in organic and inorganic matter. Therefore, it is meaningful in that the activity of plant growth promoting microorganisms focused on absorption of inorganic substances, such as phosphate solubilization activity and siderophore ability, was investigated and the activity was confirmed by performing a bioassay.

How Can Geomorphology Inform Ecological Restoration? A Synthesis of Geophysical and Biological Assessment to Determine Restoration Priorities

<p>The central concern that this study addresses is how an understanding of geomorphological processes and forms may inform ecological restoration; particularly practical restoration prioritisation. The setting is that of a hill country gully system covered in grazing pasture which historically would have been cloaked in indigenous forest. The study examines theory in conjunction with an application using a case study centred on Whareroa Farm (the restoration site) and Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve (the reference site) on the southern Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington. The impact that the change of land use has had on the soil and geomorphic condition of Whareroa and the influence the changes may have on the sites restoration is investigated. The thesis demonstrates a method of choosing reference sites to be used as templates for rehabilitating the restoration site. Geographical Information Systems and national databases are used and supplemented with site inspection. The reference site chosen, Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve, proved to be a good template for the restoration site particularly given that it is located in the midst of a heavily modified area. On-site inspection considering dendritic pattern and floristic composition confirms the database analysis results. Soil variables (bulk density, porosity, soil texture, pH, Olsen P, Anaerobic Mineralisable N, Total N (AMN), Total C and C:N ratio) are investigated and statistical comparisons made between the sites to quantify changes due to land-use change, i.e. deforestation and subsequent pastoral grazing. Factors investigated that may explain the variation in the soil variables were site (land use), hillslope location, slope aspect, and slope angle. Permutation tests were conducted to investigate the relationships between the independent factors and the SQI (dependent soil variables). Land use and slope angle were most frequent significant explanatory factors of variation, followed by hillslope location whilst slope aspect only influenced soil texture. A number of soil variables at Whareroa were found to be outside the expected range of values for an indigenous forest soil including AMN, Total N, Olsen P, and pH ...</p>

How Can Geomorphology Inform Ecological Restoration? A Synthesis of Geophysical and Biological Assessment to Determine Restoration Priorities

<p>The central concern that this study addresses is how an understanding of geomorphological processes and forms may inform ecological restoration; particularly practical restoration prioritisation. The setting is that of a hill country gully system covered in grazing pasture which historically would have been cloaked in indigenous forest. The study examines theory in conjunction with an application using a case study centred on Whareroa Farm (the restoration site) and Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve (the reference site) on the southern Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington. The impact that the change of land use has had on the soil and geomorphic condition of Whareroa and the influence the changes may have on the sites restoration is investigated. The thesis demonstrates a method of choosing reference sites to be used as templates for rehabilitating the restoration site. Geographical Information Systems and national databases are used and supplemented with site inspection. The reference site chosen, Paraparaumu Scenic Reserve, proved to be a good template for the restoration site particularly given that it is located in the midst of a heavily modified area. On-site inspection considering dendritic pattern and floristic composition confirms the database analysis results. Soil variables (bulk density, porosity, soil texture, pH, Olsen P, Anaerobic Mineralisable N, Total N (AMN), Total C and C:N ratio) are investigated and statistical comparisons made between the sites to quantify changes due to land-use change, i.e. deforestation and subsequent pastoral grazing. Factors investigated that may explain the variation in the soil variables were site (land use), hillslope location, slope aspect, and slope angle. Permutation tests were conducted to investigate the relationships between the independent factors and the SQI (dependent soil variables). Land use and slope angle were most frequent significant explanatory factors of variation, followed by hillslope location whilst slope aspect only influenced soil texture. A number of soil variables at Whareroa were found to be outside the expected range of values for an indigenous forest soil including AMN, Total N, Olsen P, and pH ...</p>