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LIMITATIONS TO EASTERN REDCEDAR SURVIVAL AND GROWTH
Citation:
Ganguli, A. C., D. M. Engle, AND P. M. Mayer*. LIMITATIONS TO EASTERN REDCEDAR SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. Presented at Society for Range Management, Casper, WY, February 02, 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Invasive woody plant species are degrading the structure and function of rangeland ecosystems throughout the world. A species of particular concern in Great Plains grasslands is eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), which has rapidly spread due to fire suppression and intentional plantings. Our objective was to determine the main factors that limit eastern redcedar survival and growth in 3 vegetation types (tallgrass prairie, old-field, and cross timbers). We approached this question through a transplant experiment in which 2-year-old eastern redcedar seedlings were transplanted in a systematic grid design within each vegetation type. Each grid was 180 x 180m and was divided into 225 12 x 12m cells with 4 seedlings transplanted in each cell. In each grid, 900 seedlings were planted in March of 2001, so that each seedling was 6m away from its neighbors. Seedling survival was evaluated each fall and spring and seedling height and diameter were measured each fall. Soil was characterized in each grid by measuring texture, pH, NO3-N, NH4, K, and P at each seedling. Photosynthetically active radiation was measured above each seedling. Overstory canopy influence was measured using a spherical densiometer, and understory canopy cover by species was measured on 1-m2 quadrats surrounding each seedling. In year one, seedling survival was the highest on the cross timbers site (83%), followed by the tallgrass prairie (79%), and old-field site (64%). The relationship of eastern redcedar seedling survival and growth to soil, vegetation and light variables was complex and dependent upon vegetation type.