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Growth of containerized loblolly pine with specific ectomycorrhizae after 2 years on an amended borrow pit

Journal Article · · Reclam. Rev.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6712942
A borrow pit with exposed subsoil in South Carolina was graded level and deep subsoiled. Plots were amended with processed sewage sludge or commercial fertilizer followed by a seeding with fescue. Container-grown loblolly pines colonized with Pisolithus tinctorius, Thelephora terrestris, or no ectomycorrhizae were planted by hand on the plots one year after site preparation. Two years after planting on sludge-amended plots, seedlings initially colonized with Pisolithus had greater height, root-collar diameter, and seedling volume (D/sup 2/H) than Thelephora or control seedlings. The means for these three growth parameters on seedlings planted on fertilized plots were no different between Pisolithus and Thelephora seedlings, but Pisolithus seedlings were greater than controls. There was no difference in survival among mycorrhizal treatments on the sludge plots. Survival and seedling volume were integrated into plot volume indices (PVI). Seedlings on sludge plots had greater PVI than seedlings on fertilized plots. Pisolithus seedlings on sludge plots had 265 and 528% greater PVI after two years than Thelephora or control seedlings. Containerized loblolly seedlings tailored with Pisolithus can be successfully established and rapid growth obtained on a subsoiled borrow pit amended with sewage sludge. This procedure may be applicable to thousands of acres of similar borrow pits left by highway and construction work.
Research Organization:
Inst. for Mycorrhizal Research and Development, Athens, GA
OSTI ID:
6712942
Journal Information:
Reclam. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Reclam. Rev.; (United States) Vol. 3:2; ISSN RERED
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English