Soil compaction effects on <i>Pinus</i><i>taeda</i> establishment from seed and early growth

Abstract

Soil bulk density was related to loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) seedling establishment and growth during the first 28 weeks after sowing. Seedling heights were lower when bulk densities exceeded 1.3 Mg m −3 on a sandy clay loam and 1.4 Mg m −3 on a loamy sand. Heights were also lower for bulk densities below 1.2 Mg m −3 on the sandy clay loam soil. Seedling depth of rooting, root weight, and shoot weight were reduced at high bulk densities on both a sandy clay loam and a loamy sand. However, root and shoot weights were also reduced when bulk density fell below 1.3 Mg m −3 on the sandy clay loam. Bulk densities for best seedling growth were 1.3 Mg m −3 for the sandy clay loam and 1.4 Mg m −3 for the loamy sand.