Establishment and Growth of Transplanted Conifers in the Southern Great Plains

Abstract

Pinus spp. (pine) currently experience considerable pressure from numerous pests, diseases, and sometimes harsh climate of the Midwest and Great Plains thus jeopardizing the health of current windbreaks and landscapes. Four species of conifers, Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann fir), Cupressus arizonica (Arizona cypress), Picea engelmannii (engelmann spruce), and Thuja × ‘Green Giant’ (‘Green Giant’arborvitae) were spring planted in a sandy loam soil to observe root and shoot growth during the initial 12 months following transplant. Whole plant (roots and shoots) harvests occurred monthly for examination and collection of growth data. Results indicate that C. arizonica exhibited rapid root and shoot growth throughout the growing season with increases in dry weight of 4800 and 6300%, respectively. In contrast, P. engelmannii exhibited a modest increase in root dry weight of 82% throughout the growing season while shoot growth was essentially non-existent. Thuja × ‘Green Giant’exhibited significant increases in shoot (230%) and root (350%) growth throughout the growing season. Abies nordmanniana exhibited minimal yet significant shoot and root growth during the study, with dry weight increases of 13 and 55%, respectively. The data herein suggests that C. arizonica easily establishes following transplant because it rapidly initiates new root and shoot growth.