Study

Effects of soil pH, redox potential, and elevation on survival of Spartina patens planted at a West Central Florida salt marsh restoration site

  • Published source details Anastasiou C.J. & Brooks J.R. (2003) Effects of soil pH, redox potential, and elevation on survival of Spartina patens planted at a West Central Florida salt marsh restoration site. Wetlands, 23, 845-859.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Directly plant non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands

Action Link
Marsh and Swamp Conservation
  1. Directly plant non-woody plants: brackish/saline wetlands

    A replicated study in 1998–1999 in cleared and reprofiled former farmland in Florida, USA (Anastasiou & Brooks 2003) reported that 60–100% of planted saltmeadow cordgrass Spartina patens plants survived for 20 days. Survival rates varied with soil pH (acidic: 74–86%; weakly acidic: 100%; alkaline: 60–69%) but not elevation (low: 63–100%; moderate: 60–100%; high: 69–100%). Statistical significance was not assessed. Methods: In October 1998, saltmeadow cordgrass plants (nursery-reared from locally-collected seed) were planted into three 4 x 9 m plots (100 plants/plot). The plots were in an area farmed for approximately 100 years, then cleared of invasive plants and lowered to the elevation of surrounding wetlands. All plots had brackish soils (2–7 ppt). Soil pH varied between plots (acidic: 5.2; weakly acidic: 6.4; alkaline: 8.5). Elevation varied within plots (low: <30 cm; moderate: 30–60 cm; high: >60 cm above mean tide level; approximate values). Cordgrass plants that were “severely stressed” (<25% green stems, no new growth, wilted) 20 days after planting, and that did not recover over the following 300 days, were considered dead.

    (Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)

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