Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20190
Title: Germination ecology of six species of 'Eucalyptus' in shrink-swell vertosols: moisture, seed depth and seed size limit seedling emergence
Contributor(s): Ruiz Talonia, Lorena  (author); Reid, Nick  (author)orcid ; Gross, Caroline L  (author)orcid ; Whalley, Ralph D  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/BT16155
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20190
Abstract: We examined the potential of direct-seeding 'Eucalyptus' species to revegetate the vertosol ('cracking clay') soils that characterise the floodplains of north-western New South Wales. We investigated the influence of sowing depth (0, 6, 12 and 20 mm) and three soil-moisture scenarios (dry, moist and flooded) on seedling emergence of seedlings of six species of 'Eucalyptus' with a range of seed sizes ('E. blakelyi', 'E. camaldulensis', 'E. melanophloia', 'E. melliodora', 'E. pilligaensis' and 'E. populnea'). We used cracking clay soil from the region in a glasshouse environment. Seedling emergence was low despite high seed viability and provision of optimum temperatures and soil moisture conditions. All six species exhibited greatest emergence when sown at 0-6-mm depth, with seed size being less important than moisture (except under dry conditions) and proximity to the surface. Species responded differently to the three watering treatments. 'Eucalyptus melanophloia' exhibited greatest emergence in the 'dry' watering treatment. The floodplain species, 'E. camaldulensis', 'E pilliganesis' and 'E. populnea', had the greatest emergence under flood conditions. 'Eucalyptus blakelyi' and 'E. melliodora' exhibited intermediate emergence in relation to all three soil-moisture regimes. Although the direct seeding of these species in vertosol soils in the region may be successful on occasion, windows of opportunity will be infrequent and the planting of seedling tubestock will be more reliable for revegetation.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Australian Journal of Botany, 65(1), p. 22-30
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Place of Publication: Australia
ISSN: 1444-9862
0067-1924
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 050207 Environmental Rehabilitation (excl Bioremediation)
050202 Conservation and Biodiversity
050209 Natural Resource Management
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 410405 Environmental rehabilitation and restoration
410401 Conservation and biodiversity
410406 Natural resource management
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 960805 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales
960806 Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
960906 Forest and Woodlands Land Management
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 180606 Terrestrial biodiversity
180603 Evaluation, allocation, and impacts of land use
180607 Terrestrial erosion
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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