Study on a new type of environment-friendly polymer and its preliminary application as soil consolidation agent during tree transplanting

Transplanting trees with rhizospheric soil is an important way to facilitate tree survival in the process of landscaping and reforestation. Traditional way to prevent looseness of rhizospheric soil is forming soil balls around the roots with bags, boxes or rope wrapping, which is cumbersome, laborious and easy to break. This study is aimed to develop a new type of degradable environment-friendly polymer as soil consolidation agent to facilitate tree transplanting. In this paper, the KGM/CA/PVA ternary blending soil consolidation agent was prepared by using Konjac glucomannan (KGM), chitosan (CA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as raw materials. Through the verification and evaluation, the clay and sandy soil can be consolidated and formed into soil balls by the ternary blend adhesive, which was convenient for transportation. The preliminary application of the ternary blend adhesive in the transplanting process of sierra salvia, Japanese Spindle (Euonymus japonicus) and Juniperus sabina ‘Tamaricifolia’ confirmed that the application of soil consolidation agent can effectively solve the problem that the root ball of seedling is easily broken in the process of transplant. And the application of soil consolidation agent has no adverse effect on the growth of transplanted seedlings. The research and development of ternary blending soil consolidation agent and its preliminary application in seedling transplanting will provide a new solution to solve the problem of soil ball breakage in the process of seedling transplanting. This is an important stage in the development of new seedling transplanting technology. Therefore, the research and development of soil consolidation agent is of great significance.

The Environmental Problems and Protection Measures of Big Trees Transplanting

Big tree transplanting, as a quicker way for greening, has been a favorite choice in modern city greening. However, it brings instant effects as well as environmental problems. The current situation and the environmental problems caused by the big tree transplanting are elaborated in this paper. Eventually, some protection measures are given to correct guidance of the transplanting.

Transplant Season, Irrigation, and Planting Depth Effects on Landscape Establishment of Baldcypress and Sycamore

Tree transplanting practices influence plant survival, establishment, and subsequent landscape value. The inability to adequately quantify effects of transplanting practices threatens long-term sustainability of landscape trees. Planting depth [i.e., location of the root collar relative to soil grade (soil surface)], is of particular concern for tree growth, development, and landscape performance. The authors of this study investigated the effects of planting depth and transplant season on landscape establishment of baldcypress [Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.] and effects of planting depth and irrigation practices on landscape establishment of sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.). Baldcypress planted above grade had reduced relative growth rate in height and diameter compared to those planted at or below grade during the first growing season, regardless of transplant season. Sycamore trees planted below grade had increased mortality and decreased growth compared to trees planted at grade or above grade, regardless of irrigation treatment. Even though trees of both species were grown under similar conditions, baldcypress was much more tolerant to belowgrade planting than sycamore. We suggest that this is related to the native habitat of both species, where baldcypress is frequently exposed to hypoxic conditions while sycamore is more prevalent on well-drained soils. Thus, it may be important to consider the native habitat of a species when evaluating the effect of planting depth.

(116) Short-term Responses of Live Oak to Planting Depth and Soil Amendments

Tree transplanting practices influence plant survival, establishment, and subsequent landscape value. However, transplanting practices vary substantially within the horticultural industry. Of particular importance is the location of the root collar relative to soil grade at transplant. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of factorial combinations of planting depths, root collar at grade or 7.6 cm either above or below grade, and soil amendments on container-grown (11 L) Quercus virginiana Mill. Soil treatments included a tilled native soil (heavy clay loam, Zack Series, Zack-urban land complex, fine, montmorillonitic, thermic, udic paleustalfs), native soils amended with 7.6 cm of coarse blasting sand or peat that were then tilled to a depth of 23 cm, or raised beds containing 20 cm of sandy loam soil (Silawa fine sandy loam, siliceous, thermic, ultic haplustalfs). A significant (P ≤ 0.05) block by soil amendment interaction occurred for photosynthetic activity. Incorporation of peat significantly decreased the bulk density of the native soil. Planting depth had no significant effect on photosynthetic activity or stem xylem water potential at 3 months after transplant. Soil water potentials did not statistically differ among treatments.

A Window Into Below-ground Growth of Landscape Trees: Implications for Transplant Success

Root and shoot phenology were observed, and root length within rootballs were calculated for Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. (green ash), Quecus coccinea Muenchh. (scarlet oak), Corylus colurna L. (Turkish hazelnut), and Syringa reticulata (Blume) Hara `Ivory Silk' (tree lilac) trees established in a rhizotron. Easy-to-transplant species (green ash and tree lilac) had more root length within rootballs than difficult-to-transplant species (Turkish hazelnut and scarlet oak). Shoot growth began before root growth on all species except scarlet oak, which began root and shoot growth simultaneously. Fall root growth ceased for all species just after leaf drop. Implications for tree transplanting are discussed.

Transplanting Bearing Pecan Trees

Overcrowding in young high-density pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch] orchards has prompted a study of tree transplanting and evaluation of survival and tree performance. Shoot growth and nut production characteristics of 13-year-old `Stuart' and `Farley' pecan trees subjected to different stubbing and pruning treatments and then transplanted with a large tree spade indicated that transplants can survive with little or no pruning if moved when dormant. Shoot regrowth was proportional to the degree of pruning, and nut production was inversely proportional to the degree of pruning.