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Effects of planting - hole size, composting animal manure and sack on survival and growth of Eucaliptus camaldulensis , Ziziphus spina - chr isti and Pistasia atlantica planted in Mehran Plain, Iran

This study tested three methods thought to maintain soil moisture availability and thereby improve the performance of three species ( Eucaliptus camaldulensis , Ziziphu s spina - christi and Pistasia atlantica ) when planted in permanent landscape of Mehran plain: increased planting - hole size, composting animal manure and sack addition. Seedlings of the three species were grown in two planting - hole sizes (30*30*30 cm and 100 *100*100 cm), with and without composting animal manure, and with and without sack. The experiment was conducted in site (Mehran plain) in Ilam Province, Iran. Seedling growth and survival were monitored over 30 months. Seedling survival was >90% for all t hree species and did not differ significantly among any of the treatments. High rainfall in winter and autumn throughout and irrigation during the dry season the first year of the experiment may have enhanced seedling survival. Deeper planting - hole had the strongest effect on seedling growth for species, composting animal manure addition and sack had a positive effect on growth for all three species especially Eucaliptus camaldulensis . Seedlings growing in one - meter holes with composting animal manure and s ack had most height and diameter. The development and total number of roots were much better at this depth as compared to surface planting. Deep planting provides resistance to cyclones and induces earlier flowering and higher yields

This study tested three methods thought to maintain soil moisture availability and thereby improve the
performance of three species (
Eucaliptus camaldulensis
,
Ziziphu
s spina
-
christi
and
Pistasia atlantica
) when
planted in permanent landscape of Mehran plain: increased planting
-
hole size, composting animal manure and
sack addition. Seedlings of the three species were grown in two planting
-
hole sizes (30*30*30 cm and
100
*100*100 cm), with and without composting animal manure, and with and without sack. The experiment was
conducted in site (Mehran plain) in Ilam Province, Iran. Seedling growth and survival were monitored over 30
months. Seedling survival was >90% for all t
hree species and did not differ significantly among any of the
treatments. High rainfall in winter and autumn throughout and irrigation during the dry season the first year of
the experiment may have enhanced seedling survival. Deeper planting
-
hole had the
strongest effect on seedling
growth for species, composting animal manure addition and sack had a positive effect on growth for all three
species especially
Eucaliptus
camaldulensis
. Seedlings growing in one
-
meter holes with composting animal
manure and s
ack had most height and diameter. The development and total number of roots were much better at
this depth as compared to surface planting. Deep planting provides resistance to cyclones and induces earlier
flowering and higher yields

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J. Bio. & Env. Sci. 2014<br />

significantly higher <strong>growth</strong> rates than seedl<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

treated with <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> al<strong>on</strong>e. Seedl<strong>in</strong>gs with added<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatments <strong>in</strong> big <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s had ca. 35%<br />

higher relative <strong>growth</strong> rates than c<strong>on</strong>trol seedl<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong><br />

small <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s.<br />

In the area, <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong> significantly <strong>in</strong>creased<br />

seedl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>growth</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Z. <strong>sp<strong>in</strong>a</strong>- <strong>chr</strong><strong>isti</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> P. <strong>atlantica</strong>.<br />

For this species Seedl<strong>in</strong>gs, <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment had weak<br />

significant effects <strong>on</strong> <strong>growth</strong> rates (Figs. 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5).<br />

Although, seedl<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>planted</strong> <strong>in</strong> big <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s<br />

grew significantly better with <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Embedded <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatment had a much weaker affect<br />

<strong>on</strong> seedl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>growth</strong> than <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong> (Figs. 3, 4<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5). For E. <strong>camaldulensis</strong>, height <strong>growth</strong> rates<br />

were significantly <strong>in</strong>creased by <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong> for<br />

seedl<strong>in</strong>gs grown <strong>in</strong> large <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s. In both cases<br />

(<str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s type), height <strong>growth</strong> was significantly<br />

greater <strong>in</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong> treatments than <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />

treatments, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>in</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatments than<br />

<strong>in</strong> nutrient-<strong>on</strong>ly treatments.<br />

Fig. 3. Mean relative Height <strong>growth</strong> rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

seedl<strong>in</strong>gs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> E. <strong>camaldulensis</strong> grown <strong>in</strong> four<br />

treatments (C: c<strong>on</strong>trol, S: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g><strong>in</strong>g, M: <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> S+M: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>) <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

two <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>size</str<strong>on</strong>g>s (big <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> small). Different<br />

letters <strong>in</strong>dicate significant differences (P < 0.05)<br />

between the means.<br />

Plant<strong>in</strong>g-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>size</str<strong>on</strong>g> did have a c<strong>on</strong>sistent significant<br />

effect <strong>on</strong> seedl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>growth</strong> rates <strong>in</strong> all species (Figs. 3,<br />

4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5). For E. <strong>camaldulensis</strong>, plants <strong>in</strong> big <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s<br />

had significantly higher <strong>growth</strong> rates than plants <strong>in</strong><br />

small <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s for other treatments -added plants. There<br />

were also significant <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>size</str<strong>on</strong>g> effects <strong>on</strong> Z.<br />

<strong>sp<strong>in</strong>a</strong>- <strong>chr</strong><strong>isti</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> P. <strong>atlantica</strong> <strong>growth</strong> <strong>in</strong> study site<br />

(Figs. 4 <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> 5). However, there was c<strong>on</strong>sistent trend,<br />

with c<strong>on</strong>trol plants do<strong>in</strong>g better <strong>in</strong> big <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> plants do<strong>in</strong>g better <strong>in</strong> big <str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g>s.<br />

Plant<strong>in</strong>g-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>size</str<strong>on</strong>g> significantly affects the <strong>growth</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

three species seedl<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> treatments. In this<br />

study diameter <strong>growth</strong> showed similar patterns to<br />

height <strong>growth</strong> for each species.<br />

Fig. 4. Mean relative Height <strong>growth</strong> rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

seedl<strong>in</strong>gs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Z. <strong>sp<strong>in</strong>a</strong>- <strong>chr</strong><strong>isti</strong> grown <strong>in</strong> four treatments<br />

(C: c<strong>on</strong>trol, S: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g><strong>in</strong>g, M: <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

S+M: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>) <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> two <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g><str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>size</str<strong>on</strong>g>s (big <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> small). Different letters <strong>in</strong>dicate<br />

significant differences (P < 0.05) between the means.<br />

Fig. 5. Mean relative Height <strong>growth</strong> rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

seedl<strong>in</strong>gs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> P. <strong>atlantica</strong> grown <strong>in</strong> four treatments (C:<br />

c<strong>on</strong>trol, S: <str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g><strong>in</strong>g, M: <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> S+M:<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>sack</str<strong>on</strong>g> plus <str<strong>on</strong>g>manure</str<strong>on</strong>g> additi<strong>on</strong>) <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> two <str<strong>on</strong>g>plant<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g>-<str<strong>on</strong>g>hole</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>size</str<strong>on</strong>g>s (big <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> small). Different letters <strong>in</strong>dicate<br />

significant differences (P < 0.05) between the means.<br />

67 | Ahmadi et al.

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