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Fertilizer and Mulch Improves Yellow-Poplar Growth on Exposed harsells Subsoils

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Fertilizing and mulching of eroded Hartsells soil increased height and diameter of yellow-poplars. To see if chemical infertility of exposed Hartsells subsoils limits yellow-poplar growth and to test fertilizer and mulch as remedial agents, seedlings were planted on undisturbed soil, soil with the topsoil removed, and soil with the topsoil removed but mulched with leaf litter. After one growing season, 9 of the 18 plots were fertilized. Topsoil removal with no remedial treatment reduced growth through four growing seasons. Mulching did not improve growth the first year but did in subsequent years. The first year after application, fertilizer greatly increased growth: thereafter growth on fertilized plots was about the same as growth on unfertilized mulched and undisturbed plots. Fertilizer with mulch provided no added growth. Mineral deficiencies and rapid drying apparently limit growth on exposed subsoils, but physical structure does not.

Keywords

Liriodendron tulipifera, forest fertilization, erosion.

Citation

Francis, John K. 1977. Fertilizer and Mulch Improves Yellow-Poplar Growth on Exposed harsells Subsoils. Res. Note SO-231. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 3 p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/2004