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    Restoring a prairie: Testing effectiveness of Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) mulch to reduce seedling emergence

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    Author
    Donahue, Candice
    Date
    2004
    Advisor
    Siemann, Evan
    Degree
    Master of Arts
    Abstract
    The invasive Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) is difficult to control because of its large seed bank and ability to resprout from cut stumps. I performed laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of mulching live trees for restoring invaded prairies. Herbicide use was limited to manual application to cut stumps. I manipulated mulch depths and types in the field and measured soil temperatures beneath them. At depths of as little as 5 cm, Sapium mulch damped soil temperature fluctuations and reduced seedling emergence. Reduced seedling emergence was not the result of allelopathic compounds in Sapium mulch because other mulch types suppressed emergence similarly. Substantial regrowth of native vegetation occurred through the mulch. Independent manipulations of mulch depth and temperature fluctuations in a lab experiment confirmed that mulch suppressed seed germination indirectly via soil temperature effects. This prairie site can now be managed by mowing or burning.
    Keyword
    Ecology; Range management; Agriculture; Biology
    Citation
    Donahue, Candice. "Restoring a prairie: Testing effectiveness of Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) mulch to reduce seedling emergence." (2004) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. http://hdl.handle.net/1911/17668.
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    • Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations [12052]

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    Managed by the Digital Scholarship Services at Fondren Library, Rice University
    Physical Address: 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005
    Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O.BOX 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892