The efficacy of soil ameliorants to improve early establishment in trees and shrubs in degraded Eucalyptus gomphocephala woodlands

摘要: Many Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) are now vulnerable to climate change, with some regions predicted undergo a shift towards much drier and hotter conditions. Although MTE woodlands highly resilient periods of drought perturbations such as fire, this increases the already wide range threatening processes they face. Without intervention, revegetation, many these could degrade point where support little original biota. However, in MTEs hard predict breaks season nutrient poor soils; seedling establishment success is often very low. Using degraded Eucalyptus gomphocephala case study, we undertook two field trials five commercially available plant treatments evaluate their effectiveness increasing early establishment. We found that mere addition seedlings may not be enough undertake successful revegetation because a) survival rates controls were, on average 53% at one study sites b) supplementation resources beneath rootball when planting increased growth health compared other treatments. suggest under emerging well-recognized challenges supplementing abiotic resources, particular nutrients applied exclusively planted seedlings, increase success.