EVALUATION OF REMEDIAL DRAINAGE, AERATION, AND SOIL-LOOSENING TECHNIQUES ON TWO LANDSCAPE TREES IN COMPACTED SOILS

Abstract

Landscape trees are frequently planted in heavily compacted soils, such as around newly constructed buildings or in urban areas. Under such conditions, trees frequently die, or decline prematurely. Techniques for ameliorating these conditions were studied: vertical drainage mat panels, gravel-filled sumps, soil trenching and peat-amended backfill. Acer saccharum Marsh. `Seneca Chief, ` a species sensitive to compaction stresses, and the less sensitive Pyrus calleryana Decne. `Red Spire' were planted in a compacted clay loam. Shoot growth, root distribution and soil oxygen levels were measured over two growing seasons. Oxygen levels varied with treatment, but were not limiting to root growth. Shoot growth of pears was greatest for soil trenches. Except for the gravel-filled sumps, all other treatments also showed increased shoot growth compared to controls. Maple mortality was generally high and inversely correlated with field drainage.