The effect of a soil-amended hydrogel on the establishment of aEucalyptus grandisclone on a sandy clay loam soil in Zululand during winter

Abstract

Synopsis To ensure acceptable survival and growth of Eucalyptus grandis clonal material planted in the sandy clay loam soils of the Zululand interior of South Africa, the current planting season is limited to the summer rainfall period. A field trial was initiated with the primary objective of being able to successfully extend the planting period (May to September) within which Eucalyptus grandis clones could be planted. This was done by testing tree growth and survival by the addition of a soil-amended hydrogel (Stockosorb 400K) and comparing it to traditional water planting methods. Five levels of water (0 ml, 500 ml, 1000 ml, 2000 ml and 4000 ml) were combined with five levels of hydrogel (0 g, 3 g, 6 g, 9 g, and 12 g) and applied to the pit at planting in a 5x5 factorial design. The tree variates of mortality, height, groundline diameter, crown diameter, corrected leaf surface index (LSI c) and corrected biomass index (BI c) were assessed at 7, 47,86 and 118 days after planting. There was a highly sig...