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Weed barriers for tree seedling establishment in the Central Great Plains

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Horticultural-type mulches were tested on alluvial sites in two studies to examine survival and growth of black walnut, Scotch pine, and cottonwood seedlings. In one study, black walnut and Scotch pine were established with three weed control treatments using either an annual herbicide or two types of landscape polypropylene fabric barriers. After three years, walnut seedlings had 15 percent greater survival and were 60 percent taller when established with woven landscape fabrics than with Surflan herbicide. Scotch pine seedlings had 25 percent greater mortality with herbicides but no differences in height among treatments. In a second study, cottonwood seedlings were established with a tall fescue sod, a polypropylene weed barrier, black or gray plastic films, cultivation, or herbicide weed control treatment. After 5 years, cottonwood saplings mortality was highest in a grass sod, slightly lower with herbicides, and lowest for the three landscape fabrics and cultivation treatments. Sapling growth was best with cultivation, slightly less for the landscape fabrics and films, and least using herbicides or grass sod for weed control. Mulches appear to be practical for use in tree establishment under environmental conditions of the Great Plains.

Parent Publication

Citation

Geyer, Wayne A. 2003. Weed barriers for tree seedling establishment in the Central Great Plains. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 443-446
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/15800