SREL Reprint #2009

Planting unconsolidated sediments with flood-tolerant species

Michael R. Reed and Kenneth W. McLeod

Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, P.O. Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802

Abstract: Restoration of severely disturbed swamp forests often necessitates the use of innovative methods due to unconsolidated sediments and almost continuous flooding. Because of the difficulty of working in this habitat, methods such as planting saplings by simple insertion are highly desirable. Saplings of three flood tolerant tree species (Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Nyssa aquatica and Taxodium distichum) were root pruned to three severities (moderately root pruned, severely root pruned and cutting) and out planted by insertion into unconsolidated sediments of a severely disturbed stream delta. Survival was greater than 80% for T. distichum and N. aquatica when the roots were either moderately or severely pruned, but less than 33% for cuttings. Fraxinus pennsylvanica did poorly with moderately root pruned saplings having the greatest survival (20%). There was no difference in height and diameter growth between treatments with good survival. Taxodium distichum and N. aquatica can be successfully reestablished by these methods using either moderately or severely root-pruned saplings.

SREL Reprint #2009

Reed, M.R. and K.W. McLeod. 1994. Planting unconsolidated sediments with flood-tolerant species. pp. 137-146 In: F. J. Webb, Jr. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference on Wetlands Restoration and Creation. Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).