Influence of mulching and tree shelters on 4-year survival and growth of zeen oak (Quercus canariensis) seedlings

Mechergui, Taher; Pardos, Marta; Jacobs, Douglass F.

doi:10.1007/s11676-018-0606-9

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Protected trees will attain maximum stability when they reach slenderness convergence with unprotected pines. The period to convergence is species and site specific, with trees requiring a long period to converge on sites as per our study where plants grow slowly (Potter, 1991;Barberá et al, 2005;Jacobs, 2011;Mechergui et al, 2019). Irrigation planting experiments with tube-shelters suggest an earlier slenderness convergence under watering conditions in parallel to faster growth (Oliet et al, 2005(Oliet et al, , 2016.…”

Section: Growth Response: Shelter Protection and Competition Suppressionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Light environment could also explain the observed reduction in basal stem diameter growth within shelters, as this allocation effect is also part of the shade avoidance syndrome (Ballaré and Pierik, 2017). The reduction on diameter growth in tree-shelters has been consistently reported in many experiments (Navarro-Cerrillo et al, 2005;Devine and Harrington, 2008;Mechergui et al, 2019), some of them with P. halepensis (Vázquez de Castro et al, 2014;Oliet et al, 2021). However, basal stem diameter of tubesheltered seedlings was not significantly different from those pines protected with meshes, whose foliage was under open light conditions most of the time.…”

Section: Growth Response: Shelter Protection and Competition Suppressionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Analyzing long term responses of mulching and tree shelters combined will provide additional useful information toward development of cost-effective management in dry area plantations (Bautista and Alloza, 2009). Although some studies in the Mediterranean have included the combined effect of weed control and tree shelters on tree establishment (Chaar et al, 2008;Mechergui et al, 2013Mechergui et al, , 2019Ceacero et al, 2014), none have monitored long-term responses. Longer-term studies (>10 years) are necessary to fully evaluate the outcome of management practices in semi-arid areas (Cortina et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mesh-shelters provide more effective long-term protection than tube-shelters or mulching for restoration of Pinus halepensis in a Mediterranean arid ecosystem

Oliet¹,

Planelles²,

Artero³

et al. 2023

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Forest restoration is challenging in arid and semiarid lands. Research has identified ecotechnologies that may alleviate stressful conditions of planted seedlings, but studies are often limited to the first few years of regeneration establishment. Over 20 years, we tested the effects of tree shelters (mesh- and tube-shelters) and competition suppression (two types of synthetic mulch and manual weeding) on soil water content and development of Pinus halepensis on an arid site in southeastern Spain. Competition suppression increased soil water content at shallow depths only using a polyethylene sheet, with no effect on survival. Tree shelters had a much greater effect than competition suppression on tree responses. Survival was mostly affected by shelter type, with lower survival in tube-shelters compared to mesh-shelters and non-protected seedlings; differences began after the first year, but became more pronounced following an intense drought at 3 years. Survival for pines protected by mesh-shelters was significantly higher than for non-protected seedlings beginning at 6 years, and mortality did not stabilize until 15 years. After 20 years, survival ranked in order of mesh-shelters (57.5%), non-sheltered (46%), and tube-shelters (29.5%). Effects of shelter type on growth response over time followed an opposite pattern, with differences declining when pines outgrew the height of the shelter after 3 years. The response of pines to tube-shelters could be explained by the microenvironmal differences among vertical protection and its effects on a shade intolerant species such as Pinus halepensis: survival depletion is provoked probably by a reduction in root growth under the shaded conditions of tubes. On the other side, growth and morphology response could be partially explained by differences in light, but response of pines in mesh also points towards a reduction of wind pressure that precludes stem growth in thickness. Competition suppression had no effect on pine growth. Lack of response to main effects of competition suppression treatments can be attributed to the minimum changes of soil water content to mulching or weeding under arid conditions. Thus, 20 years after planting, tube-shelters and competition suppression treatments were relatively ineffective at improving survival or growth of P. halepensis. Mesh-shelters are recommended as the most effective protection method for restoration under arid site conditions.

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Section: Growth Response: Shelter Protection and Competition Suppressionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Growth Response: Shelter Protection and Competition Suppressionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mesh-shelters provide more effective long-term protection than tube-shelters or mulching for restoration of Pinus halepensis in a Mediterranean arid ecosystem

Oliet¹,

Planelles²,

Artero³

et al. 2023

Front. For. Glob. Change

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Faster and earlier height growth is attributed to the response to shade conditions created by tree shelters, as it accelerates access to improved light outside the shelter (Mayhead and Boothman 1997;McCreary and Tecklin, 2001;McCreary et al 2002). In addition, shelters lead to a decrease in radial plant growth, with more resources allocated to height growth (Mariotti et al 2015;Mechergui et al 2013Mechergui et al , 2019.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results are consistent with those of Mayhead and Boothman (1997) and Ponder (2003) who observed that the height growth rate of protected North American oaks decreased, particularly after exiting shelters. This could be attributed to the fact that after leaving the shelter environment, plants are exposed to outdoor conditions, resulting in a shift in resource allocation from height growth to radial growth (Ponder 2003; Mechergui et al 2012Mechergui et al , 2013Mechergui et al , 2019; Yagi 2022) and back to adapt to the outdoor environment imposing greater physiological stresses (Mariotti et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Tree Shelters and Regeneration Method on Survival and Growth of Cork Oak Plantations in the Maamora Forest, Morocco

El Alami,

El Aboudi,

El Antry

et al. 2023

J. Ecol. Eng.

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Forests are under intense human pressure, hindering their restoration. A potential solution to regeneration problems is the adoption of tree shelters, which have demonstrated protective benefits in the early establishment of forest plantations. A 9-year study was conducted in the Maamora forest (Morocco) to evaluate the effects of tube shelters and regeneration methods (direct seeding and seedling) on the growth and survival of cork oak (Quercus suber) plantations. A split-plot design was developed with three replicates of 36 plants for each of the four shelter treatments, including T0 (control), T1 (Tubex 1.20 m), T2 (Tubex 1.50 m), and T3 (Tubex 1.80 m) for a total of 964 plants, where periodic inventories were conducted to assess plant survival and growth. Our results show regeneration methods and shelters significantly influenced the survival of cork oak. Direct-seeded plants were more successful than those from seedlings, presenting survival rates of up to 97%. Despite a minimal shelter effect at the beginning, their positive influence was strong later on. Only plants installed with the 1.20 m shelter had an overall success rate of over 50%. Regeneration method had a strong influence on height and diameter growth, with seedling units showing taller plants initially, which shifted to direct-seeded plants in subsequent years. Conversely, the effect of shelters on growth parameters was generally non-significant. Nonetheless, sheltered trees exhibited greater height and diameter than unsheltered trees, particularly in the latter years. Sheltered plants showed an overall faster rate of vertical growth, while unsheltered plants showed faster radial growth.

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Solid shelter tubes alleviate summer stresses during outplanting in drought-tolerant species of Mediterranean forests

et al. 2021

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Influence of mulching and tree shelters on 4-year survival and growth of zeen oak (Quercus canariensis) seedlings

Cited by 11 publications

References 32 publications

Mesh-shelters provide more effective long-term protection than tube-shelters or mulching for restoration of Pinus halepensis in a Mediterranean arid ecosystem

Mesh-shelters provide more effective long-term protection than tube-shelters or mulching for restoration of Pinus halepensis in a Mediterranean arid ecosystem

Effect of Tree Shelters and Regeneration Method on Survival and Growth of Cork Oak Plantations in the Maamora Forest, Morocco

Solid shelter tubes alleviate summer stresses during outplanting in drought-tolerant species of Mediterranean forests

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