Planting Pits Research Articles

Key factors influencing street tree root conflicts with planting pits and sidewalks in old Guangzhou, China

Urban street trees improve urban life quality, but their root systems can conflict with infrastructure, especially in densely populated areas. Guangzhou—one of the world’s most densely populated cities—experiences significant challenges related to street tree root-damage, which impacts urban infrastructure and public safety. This study examined factors affecting root-damage in 1227 street trees in Guangzhou’s old urban areas, focusing on tree phenotypic parameters, planting environment, and root characteristics. Variables recorded included Tree height (TH), Crown width (CW), Diameter at breast height (DBH), root distribution, presence of buttress roots, and planting pit size. Logistic regression identified key factors influencing root-damage occurrence and severity. Results showed 30.9 % of trees exhibited root-damage. Shallow-rooted species such as Ficus microcarpa and Ficus altissima had higher root-damage rates (41 % and 47 %, respectively). Key predictors included DBH, planting pit size, and buttress roots. DBH was positively correlated with root-damage; larger planting pits reduced root-damage risk; and buttress roots increased root-damage likelihood. Trees with buttress roots were more likely to cause severe damage, and trees with DBH > 40 cm were prone to moderate and severe damage. These findings offer valuable insights for urban planners and forestry managers to optimize tree selection and planting strategies, mitigating root-damage and enhancing urban infrastructure resilience.

Fertilizer Micro-dosing: Evaluating the Yield Response of Sorghum to Different Levels of Fertilizers Applied on the Planting Pit at Mereb-Lekhe District

Next to drought, poor soil fertility is the single major cause of crops nutrient starvation in Tigray specifically at Mereb-lekhe district. Farmers of the study area use different organic and inorganic fertilizers separately and in combination to overcome soil fertility problems for sorghum production. However, the pace of sorghum production stays constant and occasionally decreases with time. Fertilizer efficiency; the type, rate and method of fertilizer application they use were thought to be the reasons for the steady or declining sorghum production. Hence, this study was initiated to determine the yield response of sorghum to microdose fertilizer application. The experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were; farmers’ practice or blanket recommended nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) (50kg ha-1 Urea & 100 kg ha-1 DAP), recommended compost at a rate of 7ton ha-1, 75% of recommended NP, 50% of recommended NP, 25% of recommended NP, 75% recommended NP+25% recommended compost, 50% recommended NP+50% recommended compost and 25% recommended NP+75% recommended compost. All treatments were applied with microdosing method except the recommended N and P is broadcasting method. The highest sorghum grain yield (4201 kg ha-1) and straw yield (19107 kg ha-1) were obtained from treatment recommended compost at a rate of 7 ton/ha and 50% recommended NP+50% recommended compost, respectively. This study showed that combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer gave a better economic advantage for sorghum crop. Hence, it could be concluded that use of compost at a rate of 7 ton ha-1 and the 75% recommended N and P could increase production and productivity of sorghum by the application of micro dosing than broadcasting method.

Effect of Pit and Soil Types on Growth and Development, Nutrient Content and Fruit Quality of Pomegranate in the Central Deccan Plateau Region, India

To enhance pomegranate production on marginal gravelly lands, standardized planting techniques were evaluated in an 8-year-old orchard. Trenching, wider pit excavation, pit digging, and auger digs with dimensions of 1 and 2 m were employed. Utilizing native soil from barren land, with or without spent wash, and mixing it with black soil up to 1 m deep, growth parameters, leaf nutrients, fruit production, and fruit quality were assessed. The trench and wider pit methods outperformed others, yielding greater above-ground biomass (>70.3 kg tree−1), root biomass (>24.5 kg, tree−1), and cross-sectional area (>3.30 m2 tree−1). These methods also produced longer roots (>4.0 m tree−1) and higher leaf phosphorus (>0.28%) and potassium (>1.81%) levels, fruit juice content (>48.50%), and total soluble solids (>16.05°) compared to other planting methods. This resulted in higher and more sustainable fruit yield production under the trench and wider pit planting methods (>7.21 t ha−1). Similarly, the native and black soil mixture produced healthy fruit trees, improved fruit quality, and sustainably higher fruit yield over the native soil alone. In summary, the trench and wider pit methods (2–3 m3), combined with a soil mixture, are recommended for sustainable, high-quality fruit production in shallow gravelly terrains, thereby improving food security and the livelihoods of farmers in arid regions.

Semi-mechanized planting of saplings: pivotal results on the efficiency of a new method

Large clear-cut areas as a consequence of drought and bark beetle infestations necessitate extensive replanting efforts in German forests, leading to an increased interest in efficient planting systems. In addition to manual planting, mechanized and semi-mechanized systems utilizing surplus forest machine capacities available after completion of salvage logging operations are likely required for timely reforestation of the clear-cut areas. A semi-mechanized system utilizing a standard forwarder with a grapple-actuated soil borer for both, the transport of planting material and the preparation of planting pits, combined with two workers carrying out manual planting, was investigated in a time-and-motion study. The frequency method was used after video recording of a planting operation that covered an area of approximately 1.2 hectares. A total of 815 alder saplings (Alnus glutinosa L.) with heights of 1.2–1.5 m were planted. Observed productivity was 93 saplings per system work hour (SWH). With additional placement of stakes for stabilizing the plants, the productivity decreased to 42 saplings per SWH. While directly comparable results were not found in the literature, available productivity figures of purely manual planting systems do not suggest an increased productivity of this semi-mechanized system. Considering ergonomics, however, forwarder utilization provides reduced workload not only in plant hole preparation but also with material transport and clearing of planting spots. Both the ergonomic aspects of the system and, in particular, the suitability of the soil borer for different soil textures should be further investigated. Keywords: time studies; forwarder; stand regeneration; windthrow; forest operations

Intensively Cultivated Roman Villae Estates: Case Study of Medulin Bay (Istria, Croatia)

ABSTRACTOur image of the Roman landscape of Istria is characterised by large‐scale centuriation and architectural remains of Roman villae. Detection and mapping of other, less dramatic landscape features require systematic large‐scale prospection, but this faces significant difficulties in the Mediterranean environment. However, the developments in the field of airborne laser scanning offer the possibility to create archaeologically usable digital terrain models under water and under very dense and low maquis vegetation. This paper reports on the use of terrain models created using a green laser and a sophisticated archaeologically driven ground point filtering strategy. Combined with archaeological aerial photo interpretation, this provides the means for landscape mapping and interpretation that has revealed a wealth of archaeological structures hinting at Roman agricultural practices and landscape. Our case study is based on a laser scan of about 24 km2 of land and underwater terrain in Medulin Bay. Processed, visualised and interpreted for archaeological purposes, the data reveal not only features ranging from prehistoric hilltop settlements to modern military installations but also features a complex picture of the Roman land use. Of particular interest is the large number of planting pits, which extend over a total length of 4 km. They were laid on a regular grid of approximately 35 × 35 m, sometimes combined in contiguous parcels. They can be interpreted as remains of orchards or tree nurseries of Roman date, and the paper examines also the question of whether they can be linked to the associated Roman estates. The case study area presented here shows that the potential of remote sensing methods goes far beyond the mere finding of traditional sites but can open up new landscape‐scale perspectives on regions that have been archaeologically little explored.

Understanding spillover effects of sustained adoption of sustainable agricultural practices on household resilience to food shocks: Evidence from Malawi’s sustainable food systems program

Food insecurity is one of the challenges the world has to do away with by 2030. However, to achieve a hunger-free world, the efficient use of allocated resources remains critical at both household and institutional level. The investments in climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices should cascade beyond the target farmers whereby longevity and sustainability of the interventions is embedded in the informal community networks as a spill-over effect to the non-targeted farming households. The paper analyzed the spillover effects of the climate-resilient program in Malawi and its effects on household resilience to food shocks among the participants and non-participants of the Sustainable Food Systems in Malawi (FoodMa) project. The main research questions were: (i) Are there any Direct and Spillover Effects of FoodMa on Sustained Adoption? And (ii) Is there any Spillover Effect of Sustained Adoption of SAPs on Resilience to Food Shocks? Analytically, the study used recursive bivariate probit (RBP) models and a two-stage predictor substitution model with instrumental variables to assess the effect of sustained adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) on household resilience to food shocks. The results showed that there was an increased probability of sustained adoption of mulching, organic farming, and pit planting by 45%, 66%, and 25%, respectively, by the project participants. On the other hand, the project has a strong spillover effect on promoting sustained mulching of non-project participants by 57%. Furthermore, the study found that sustained adoption of mulching by project non-participants significantly reduces the food insecurity levels of households by improving their resilience to food shocks. The sustainable adoption of SAPs has the potential to reduce food insecurity for both project participants and non-participants. However, the use of field demonstrations and training should be emphasized because they boost adoption probability and spillover effects.

Water-Retaining Polymer and Planting Pit Size on Chlorophyll Index, Gas Exchange and Yield of Sour Passion Fruit with Deficit Irrigation.

Water availability is a limiting factor for the cultivation of sour passion fruit. Soil management techniques and the use of water-retaining polymers can increase soil water retention, reducing the frequency of irrigation in the crop. In this context, the objective of the research was to evaluate the gas exchange, the chlorophyll index, and the yield of the sour passion fruit cv. BRS GA1 as a function of irrigation depths, pit volumes, and doses of water-retaining polymer. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks, in plots subdivided in a 2 × (2 × 5) arrangement, with irrigation depths of 70 and 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) as the main plot, the subplots with the volumes of pit of 64 and 128 dm3, and doses of the water-retaining polymer of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g dm-3. The interaction of irrigation depths × pit volumes × doses of water-retaining polymer influences chlorophyll indexes, gas exchange, and water productivity, with positive impacts on yield of the sour passion fruit. The water depth of 70% of ETc increased the yield of sour passion fruit, in pits of 64 dm3. The application of doses of up to 1.1 g dm-3 of the water-retaining polymer and irrigation with water of 70% of ETc is recommended, and a dose of 2.0 g dm-3 of the water-retaining polymer in a pit volume of 128 dm3, associated with an irrigation depth of 100% ETc causes stress in sour passion fruit plants due to excess water.

Farinha de ossos e hidrogel aumentam a fertilidade do solo com cultivo de cajueiro em áreas semiáridas

ABSTRACT Cashew trees are often cultivated in semi-arid regions with poor soil and limited rainfall, presenting significant challenges for soil management. This study aimed to evaluate soil fertility based on varying doses of bone meal (0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 g pit−1), mixed into the planting pit with or without moisture-retaining hydrogel (0 and 5 g pit−1), in dwarf cashew ‘BRS 226’ cultivation. The soil chemical attributes were monitored over two growing seasons. The bone meal application increased the soil pH by 221 % along the two years and boosted the organic matter by 13 % in the first year and 28 % in the second one. The use of 5 g of hydrogel per pit, combined with 1,000 g of bone meal per pit, is recommended to improve the soil fertility in semi-arid cashew-growing areas over a two-year period. The bone meal fertilization in cashew planting promotes beneficial changes in the soil, and the hydrogel has a great potential in cashew farming, offering an alternative for expanding the fruit production in regions with low rainfall and sandy soils.

Using stomatal conductance capacity during water stress as a tool for tree species selection for urban stormwater control systems

Improving our understanding of how different tree species function in urban stormwater management systems is important, as tree pits may provide a temporary reservoir for stormwater and as trees have the potential to actively reduce stormwater runoff by transpiration. While urban tree planting pits are increasingly used for short-term water storage during stormwater runoff events, this storage can have negative effects on both tree vitality and water removal capacity, since stress from waterlogging result in stomatal closure. However, sensitivity to water stress varies by species. It is therefore important to determine which tree species can maintain long-term vitality and continued transpiration even under water stress, and thus are suitable for such locations. Here, we studied how nine different tree species, varying in expected tolerance to water stress, were affected by short-term and seasonal waterlogging, in a greenhouse experiment. The seedlings (Magnolia x loebneri, Tilia tomentosa, and Sorbus torminalis – low water logging tolerance; Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Rhamnus cathartica, and Fraxinus ornus – medium water logging tolerance; Quercus palustris, Acer saccharinum, and Fraxinus pennsylvanica – high water logging tolerance) were exposed to two days, five days and seasonal waterlogging. The treatments reflected best practice (optimal), suboptimal and total lack of tree pit drainage, using Swedish standards. Stomatal conductance and leaf water potential were determined regularly over a period of 71 days, and morphological adjustments were registered. Four of the species were affected already after two days of waterlogging, with reduced stomatal conductance either during the waterlogging or immediately after, and only the most waterlogging tolerant species were unaffected by the five-day treatment. However, all plants survived waterlogging for almost 30 days before the estimated permanent wilting was reached in some plants. We suggest that tree species selection for stormwater management systems should consider the species’ capacity to maintain high stomatal conductance during waterlogging, as there were clear differences between species. The effectiveness of the selected species could have an important impact on the stormwater management capacity of cities, as well as on other aspects of ecosystem service delivery from urban trees.

Effect of planting methods, Mycorrhiza and zinc fertilization on growth and grain yield of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2020 and 2021 at research farm of Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agriculture University, Bikaner, Rajasthan to study the effect of planting methods, Mycorrhiza and zinc fertilization on growth and productivity of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R.Br.] in hot arid region. The experiment comprised 24 treatments combination having 3 planting methods (S1, flat bed; S2, ridge and furrow; S3, pit technique) and two Mycorrhiza level (M0, control; M1, 8 kg/ha Mycorrhiza basal) in main plot and 4 zinc fertilization practices (Z0, control; Z1, 0.5% ZnSO4 two foliar spray; Z2, zinc sulphate @10 kg/ha basal + 0.5% foliar spray and Z3, zinc sulphate @20 kg/ha basal) in sub plots were laid out in split-plot design and replicated thrice. It may be inferred that in pearl millet pit planting technique (S3), Mycorrhiza (M1) + fertilized with zinc sulphate (Z2) practice gave significantly higher growth parameters, viz. plant stand (141.20 thousand/ha), plant height (171.1 cm), dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, chlorophyll content (4.3 mg/g), root dry weight (9.8 g/plant) and number of green leaves/plant (13.9 no./plant), quality parameters, viz. protein content (12.5%) and protein yield (384 kg/ha) in grain, ash (12.1%) and fibre content (44.3%) in stover and grain yield (3.1 t/ha) as compared to all other treatment combinations on pooled basis. The findings emphasize the potential of this technique for enhancing pearl millet productivity and quality in hot arid regions.

Stormwater Tree Pits for Decentralized Retention of Heavy Rainfall

Stormwater tree pits with storage elements enable the irrigation of urban trees and can potentially act as decentralized rainwater retention basins. This paper mainly focuses on analyzing this potential. Field tests were conducted to investigate the irrigation behavior and the storage effect of a storm water tree pit system using Perl hoses as irrigation elements over a period of two years. The rainfall, storage volumes, and soil moisture within the employed planting pit were measured. With the help of system modeling, the retention ability of the storm water tree pit system was analyzed. The available storage volume was sufficient to irrigate trees for several days. During the measurement period, about 15% of the inflowing rainwater was fed to the root zone of the tree. With practical storage volumes of 200 to 300 m3/ha, a remarkable amount of water from heavy rainfall could be completely stored, thus significantly reducing the risk of flooding. The retention effect and irrigation behavior largely depend on the soil conditions and the technical possibilities of the equipment supplying the root area (in this case, Perl hoses). Further investigations are required to determine the influence on the growth conditions of trees and optimize of the system for discharge into the root zone.

Contrasting effects of two hydrogels on biomass allocation, needle loss, and root growth of Picea abies seedlings under drought

Adapted management methodologies are required to alleviate increasing and/or more frequent water stress under climate change, enabling successful tree seedling establishment after planting. Hydrogel amendments have been suggested to increase soil water holding capacity, tree seedling growth and survival. However, the effect of a non-uniform addition of hydrogels to tree planting pits as compared to homogenously admixed hydrogels in agricultural soils, as well as effects of hydrogels on woody root system establishment, have been poorly studied.Here we studied the effect of two commercial hydrogels (Polyter and Stockosorb) on the above- and belowground growth of Picea abies seedlings during a ∼ 5-weeks-long drought period. Rhizoboxes with a non-uniform distribution of nutrients and hydrogels were used to monitor root system development in a stratified soil. Biomass allocation, root morphology and root elongation rates were related to evapotranspiration rates. Proximity effects of hydrogels on root traits were determined.Total plant biomass was significantly greater if plants were grown in Polyter-amended soil (+16, 17 %) compared to the Stockosorb and control treatments, respectively. Dead needle mass was significantly greater in Stockosorb than in Polyter (+719 %) and control (+274 %). Root elongation was faster in both hydrogel treatments compared to the control during the first part of the drought period, but subsequently ceased to the order Polyter > control > Stockosorb. Root morphological changes in relation to hydrogels were limited.The better performance of Polyter-amended seedlings was related to a slow water release from the hydrogel, while Stockosorb released the additional soil water content prematurely. The latter might have imposed a “false sense of security”, and the subsequent lack of acclimation responses early in the drought resulted in an even more severe drought stress and a higher needle loss of Stockosorb-amended seedlings as compared to control. However, both hydrogels did not result in preferential growth towards or away from the hydrogel, suggesting that roots did neither sense the hydrogel-bound water nor that secondary compounds hampered root growth. A deeper root system placement and thus potential advantages for drought events at later growth stages were not encountered, asPolyter also had a strong positive effect on root growth in the fertile top soil. As hydrogel amendments may influence root system establishment and seedling vitality differently during drought, further studies are urgently needed before large scale applications to mitigate climate change effects on forest regeneration / restoration can take place.

Socio-economic indigenous drivers of soils and water conservation practices use to cope with climate change in the region of Plateau Central in Burkina Faso

Continuous soil degradation and recurrent droughts caused by climate change are challenging agricultural production in the Central Plateau region of Burkina Faso. Some management techniques were developed and disseminated to farmers, in order to reduce the effects of drought and restore degraded soils. However, the adoption rate of these techniques is still low. The present study aimed at identifying and analysing the indigenous determinants of the adoption of zaï and stone rows techniques by farmers. Zaï is a small planting pit of about 20–30 cm in width, 10–20 cm deep, and filled with organic matter (manure, compost or dry biomass). Stone row is an anti-erosive device built of blocks of rubble assembled by a series of two to three. Data were collected through a survey carried out on 135 heads of households in four municipalities in the provinces of Kourwéogo and Oubritenga. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the factors determining the adoption of zaï and stone rows practices. The results showed that the level of education, membership to a local organization and cattle ownership positively influenced the adoption of zaï. In addition, membership to a local organization positively affected the adoption of stone rows. In contrast, the practice of small trading negatively affected the adoption of zaï. Therefore, it is essential for institutions, policymakers and NGOs to consider these factors in order to make their interventions more efficient in a global change context.

ОЦЕНКА САДОПРИГОДНОСТИ ДЕРНОВО-ПОДЗОЛИСТЫХ ПОЧВ НА КРЕМНИСТЫХ ПОРОДАХ ЮГО-ЗАПАДА КАЛУЖСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The data of the survey of sod-podzolic soils under industrial gardens on the weathering crust of trepels and flanks and on water-glacial deposits underlain by siliceous rocks are presented. The main reason for the op-pression and death of trees is a sharply acidic reaction deeper than 50 cm (pHKCl < 3.9), the exchange Al content is above the toxicity threshold (>0.9 mmol /100g of soil). Soils on homogeneous sediments are characterized by a density of 0.6-0.8 g / cm3, an active moisture range of 25-30%, an average content of exchangeable Ca and Mg, soils on binomial deposits – a density of 0.9-1.3 g / cm3, an active moisture range of 5-15%, a low content of exchangeable Ca and Mg. Before laying perennial plantings, it is neces-sary to introduce dolomite flour with a high Mg content into planting pits, the approximate dose is 15-25 t / ha. In gardens on homogeneous rocks, moisture–charging irrigation is possible, on binomial deposits, drip irrigation or fertigation is better. Sod-podzolic soils on homogeneous sediments are diagnosed by a power-ful 50-70 cm A2 horizon. In the profile of soils on binomial deposits under the A2 horizon with a thick-ness of 25-30 cm, the Bf horizon of ochre color is formed.

Выращивание саженцев яблони сибирской в Чурапчинском улусе РС(Я)

The article presents the first experimental data on the cultivation of the Siberian apple tree in the conditions of the alas of Yakutia on the example of the school district of the MBOU "Ozhulunskaya secondary school". Long-term results of research (2017-2022) confirmed the plasticity of this crop in terms of the biological trait of winter hardiness. So, during the cold winter of 2021, the sum of the minimum temperatures is minus 5554.7 ° С. In January, the minimum temperature reached minus 54 °C. The provision of moisture during the growing season was at the hydrothermal coefficient (hereinafter HTC) an average of 0.62 over 5 years. In the course of the research, the landing site was chosen open, well warmed by the sun. The soil scheme of the planting pit for the apple tree was established to a depth of 50 cm. The growth and development of the Siberian apple tree was recorded. The main phenological phases of apple tree development under alas conditions against the background without irrigation were determined. Accounting for the height of the Siberian apple tree showed that the maximum growth of the main trunk falls on the age of 5, which is 53 cm of growth. At the same time, the height of the apple tree reached 123 cm. By the age of 6, the growth reaches 37 cm and the height of the apple tree is 169 cm. It was planned to establish a fruit and berry garden in the alas permafrost zone. To increase the durability of a tree, its winter hardiness should be increased. An important factor is agricultural technology, but the basis of longevity is the right choice of the location of the apple tree itself, then the rootstock, the base of the tree. The winter hardiness of the Siberian apple tree in the conditions of the alas of the Churapchinsky district showed a satisfactory assessment after the first overwintering of 2 seedlings, one remained with excellent winter hardiness in the next 4 years of research. In the future, the selected seedling without shelter can serve as forms of adapted material for landscaping gardens and parks, obtaining high-quality apple fruits. Keywords: SEEDLINGS, SIBERIAN APPLE TREE, WINTER HARDINESS, ALAS, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SIBERIAN APPLE TREE

Long-term response of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) to transformed rooting zone of a shallow soil improving yield, storage quality and profitability in a drought prone semi-arid agro-ecosystem

Agricultural crops especially fruit trees are constrained by edaphic stresses in shallow soils with low water retention and poor fertility. Therefore, interventions of shifting to trench planting for better root anchorage and replacing the filling soil were evaluated for 8 years in dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) cultivated in Deccan Plateau of peninsular India. When averaged for last 5-years, 44 % higher fruit yield (18.2 ± 1.0 Mg ha−1) was harvested from trees planted in trenches filled with 1:1 mixture (T-mixed) of native soil (loamy sand with 26.7 % stones (>2mm), field capacity, FC 0.20 cm3 cm−3; organic carbon, OC 0.17 %; Av-N 54.6 kg ha−1) and a black soil (clay 54.4 %; FC 0.42 cm3 cm−3; OC 0.70 %; Av-N 157.1 kg ha−1) than the recommended pit planting (12.4 ± 1.2 Mg ha−1). Improvements in fruit yields with trenches filled with black (T-black) and native (T-native) soil were 32 and 13 %, respectively. Yield losses (total– marketable yield) were reduced by 40, 20 and 18 % over pit method with T-mixed, T-black and T-native soil, respectively. Marketable quality attributes like fruit weight, fruit size metrics and pulp/peel content were further improved under T-mixed soil. Accumulation of total soluble solids (TSS), sugar content, phenolic and flavonoid compounds were higher in fruits from T-native soil. During storage, fruits from T-native soil and pit planting exhibited minimum physiological weight loss and retained more firmness, TSS, sugars, titratable acidity, phenolic-flavonoids contents, FARP and DPPH activities. T-mixed soil provided better hydrozone and nutrients for resilience of fruit plants while protecting from aeration problems envisaged in poorly drained black soils. With B:C ratio (1.85) and lower payback period (4-years), T-mixed soil showed superior economic viability. Therefore, soil management module of planting in trenches filled-in with mixture of native and black soils can be recommended to boost productivity of fruits from shallow soils under water scarce degraded regions without penalising agro-ecosystem.

Relationships between soil properties and species establishment in the restoration of mined soils in the Cerrado biome.

Restoring the ecosystems of the Cerrado biome is challenging considering the diversity of phytophysiognomies present in the biome, some of which are composed of species from different strata (herbaceous, shrubby, and arboreal), which increases the complexity of restructuring the floristic composition. Other factors was involved, such as soil quality, which directly influences the success of restoration, water storage, and nutrients, the financial costs, and a slow ecological process, due to the adverse circumstances found in the area. be restored. The strong anthropogenic interventions by mining processes reduce dramatically the physical and nutritional composition of the soil. We studied two restoration areas in Paracatu, Brazil, to examine their edaphic conditions six years after mining activities ceased and relate them to the status of the restoration process. In 2009, a Cerrado restoration were established in an area previously explored for gravel extraction. Plants were sampled and identified in 11 transects along the planting lines. The diameter base (DB) and total height (HT) were measured. The physical/chemical quality of the soil substrate was determined using a collection of samples in open trenches at four types of points: Cerrado (TC); dead plant pits (TM); seedling pits having living individuals of the most abundant species (TT); and those of the second-most abundant species (TE). Cecropia pachystachya Trécul and Tapirira guianensis Aubl. were most abundant and demonstrated the potential to thrive in areas degraded by mining having low mortality rates and growth at relatively DB and HT. The physical quality indicators in the gravel pits were not limiting, indicating that substrate preparation was efficient in this regard. The organic matter content in TM, TT, and TE was low in comparison to that of TC, and the chemical conditions in the TE pit substrates were similar to those in TM pits, suggesting C. pachystachya is a species with good plasticity, whereas T. guianensis is present in pits with higher levels of phosphorus.

Planting pit size determines successful tree seedling establishment in arid and semi-arid region of Tanzania

Tree cover enhancement in the agricultural lands of dryland region have been one of the most important aspect of evaluation and monitoring of plant density in Tanzania that targets in achieving global and national restoration goals. The on-farm tree establishment has gained momentum due to the numerous regulating and provisioning ecosystem services provided by the systems. This study was conducted as an on farm experiment to explore the influences of biophysical factors in adoption and performance of the tree establishment technologies in Chamwino district in Tanzania. Different planting pits sizes and mulch or manure and/or mulch were used as the treatment combinations for evaluating tree survival and growth potential. The assessment used a combination of methods including tree inventory, reflection meetings, informal discussion and semi structured interviews collected using electronic data entry tools. The results showed that Senna siamea species performed better than other species than the others in terms of survival rate which was 50%. Comparatively, Melia volkensii species performed poor with the highest mortality rate of 8. The higher performance both survival and growth potential were observed in three times planting bag (3X) pits sizes with manure and both manure and mulch treatment applied. Thus, the research confirms that improvement of the socio and biophysical environment can have positive results on tree establishment and restoration in dryland regions.

Soil water stress at young urban street-tree sites in response to meteorology and site parameters

Growth conditions at urban street-tree sites are unfavorable and tree vitality is increasingly threatened by water scarcity due to changing climate. Developing adaption and management strategies to ensure early stage and long-term tree- and root growth requires thorough knowledge about root zone soil-water dynamics at young urban street-tree sites. Therefore, we established a soil water potential (SWP) monitoring at 17 young urban street-tree sites in the city of Hamburg, Germany. Over four years (2016–2019) we measured and quantified critical soil water availability in the root ball, planting pit, and surrounding urban soil using a threshold value (SWP < −1200 hPa) and assessed the tree sites sensitivity towards meteorological variables, tree- and site characteristics using a data driven random forest model. During 2018 and 2019, average critical soil water availability in the root ball and planting pit occurred between three to five months per year, and the trees were exposed to prolonged periods of critical soil-water availability for two consecutive years. After planting, critical soil water availability increasingly shifted year wise from the root ball into the entire planting pit as a consequence of root development and increasing water demand of the trees. Considering less usable water within the surrounding sandy soils, soil water in the planting pit may be depleted earlier and more rapidly with tree aging. The random forest model successfully predicted critical soil water availability and identified tree age as an important predictor. Long-term (10-day) rainfall was the most important variable predicting the occurrence of critical soil water availability, suggesting a further extension of periods with critical soil water availability as rainy summer days are projected to decrease with climate change. Additionally we identified soil temperature as a more important predictor than air temperature as it reflects site specific characteristics affecting water- an energy balance. This study underlines the urgency to adapt the growing conditions of young urban street-trees in terms of sufficient water storage, and provides an approach for future application in tree site soil water management, to maintain their vitality under urbanization pressure and climate change.

Disinfection Efficacy of Tobamovirus-Contaminated Soil in Greenhouse-Grown Crops

The tobamoviruses tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) have caused severe crop damages worldwide. Soil-mediated dispersion of the mechanically transmitted tobamoviruses constitute a major hindrance toward mitigating disease spread in crops carefully planted under sanitized conditions. Tobamoviruses are viable for months in soil and plant debris and for more than a year adhere to clay. However, a low percentage of infectious foci occur in soil following a tobamovirus-infected growing cycle, rendering disinfection studies of several contaminated plots inconclusive for large-scale crop productions. We have therefore formulated a rigorous platform for studying disinfectant efficacy in greenhouses by pouring a virus inoculum to planting pits prior to disinfectant treatment and by truncating seedling roots before planting, which was otherwise conducted under sanitized conditions. We have found that chlorine-based Taharan was significantly efficient in preventing disease spread of ToBRFV and CGMMV in tomato and cucumber plants, respectively. KlorBack was often as good as Taharan. In addition, a formulation of chlorinated tri-sodium phosphate used at a nonphytotoxic 3% concentration showed disinfection efficiency similar to Taharan effect on ToBRFV infection only. Our study provided a small-scale platform for disinfectant efficacy evaluation necessary for application in tobamovirus-contaminated soil, which commonly occurs in commercial tomato and cucumber greenhouses.