Year of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Resource Conservation

Department or School/College

College of Forestry and Conservation

Committee Chair

Donald J. Bedunah

Commitee Members

Matthias C. Rillig, Thomas H. DeLuca

Keywords

ectomycorrhizae, endomycorrhizae, floodplain, restoration

Publisher

University of Montana

Abstract

Mycorrhizal inoculum treatments of two marketed products, Mycopak and Biogrow, were tested against forest soil, and a control treatment on biomass and survival of Populus tremuloides, Salix bebbiana, Populus trichocarpa, and Cornus stolonifera during the summer of 2003 and 2004. Because these seedlings are difficult to establish on cobbled riparian floodplains, the species and treatments were tested on two Jocko River floodplains. The Powell site was plowed in the spring of 2003 prior to planting, and the Stranahan site remained unplowed but treated with the broad leaf herbicide 2,4-D amine, in the fall of 2002. Seedlings were planted in the spring of 2003 in randomized blocks in a factorial design with four replications on each floodplain, 50 seedlings per plot. POPTRE and POPTRI were found to have strong linear correlations between ocular estimates of biomass and actual biomass (r=0.87 and 0.93 respectively). In 2003 and 2004 estimated biomass of POPTRE was greater in the forest soil treatment on Stranahan and Biogrow treatment on the Powell site (p<.005). Estimated biomass of POPTRI was greater with Biogrow in 2003 on both sites and in 2004 on Powell (p< 0.005). Actual biomass was tested for all species (n=339) and an interaction between site and replication (p<0.001) significantly affected biomass. In 2003 and 2004 percent of AM hyphal inoculation was significantly affected by site (p<0.05) and species (p<0.001). In 2003, seedlings showed greater incidence of AM than EM (septate) hyphal inoculation. From 2003 to 2004, seedlings showed a greater percent increase in EM hyphae over AM hyphae in the root. The greatest number of POPTRE, SALBEB, and CORSTO seedlings surviving in 2003 were in the Biogrow treatment; however there was a significant interaction between treatment and site (p<0.05) with greater survival on Powell. A 180-day greenhouse study mimicked the field trial in regards to seedlings and treatments. Mycorrhizal treatment had a significant affect (p<0.001) on biomass, while species (p<0.05) and an interaction between species and treatment (p<0.05) affected the percent AM fungi hyphal inoculation. Incidence of EM hyphae was greater across nearly all species and treatments compared to AM Hyphae.

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© Copyright 2007 T. Rene Kittle