Effect of Acidity on Germination and Seedling Growth of Paulownia tomentosa

Abstract

(1) Seed germination and seedling growth of Paulownia tomentosa were evaluated over a pH range of 1 5-7 0 to determine the species' suitability for use in the reclamation of acidic strip-mine environments. (2) No seed germination occurred below pH 40, and seedling emergence was significantly reduced in soil of pH 4 5. Further, seedling growth was depressed in soil of pH 4 5, with significantly lower root length, leaf number and root and shoot dry mass, when compared with seedlings grown on soils of pH 5-5 and 6 5. (3) Although P. tomentosa invades strip-mine sites, measurements of the effect of acidity on seed germination and seedling growth suggest that only less acidic microsites may be habitable.