Nutritional relationships between pampas grass (Cortaderia spp.) and Pinus radiata.
Year: 1992
Type: article
Abstract: Historical use of fertiliser to encourage the productivity of pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana (Schult.) Asch. et Graeb. and C. jubata (Lem.) Stapf) in agriculture suggested that growth of this aggressive forest weed may be encouraged by fertiliser treatment of Pinus radiata D.Don. In glasshouse trials, pampas showed a positive growth response to (a) ammonium nitrate added to a coastal sand, and (b) sodium dihydrogen phosphate added to a silty clay loam soil. Response (b) was increased when ammonium nitrate was also present. These results were consistent with field observations of increased pampas frequency associated with superphosphate treatment of P. radiata on a clay soil, and with reduced tree growth response to calcium ammonium nitrate treatment on a coastal sand. A glasshouse trial showed that pampas residues resulting from herbicide treatment can have a negative effect on P. radiata productivity. Field evidence suggested that fertiliser nitrogen immobilised by decomposing pampas residues was released gradually and utilised by the trees up to 4 years after treatment. Where pampas growth is uncontrolled, a large proportion of the fertiliser intended to promote P. radiata growth may never reach the trees.
Authors: R. L. Gadgil, A. M. Sandberg, Paul J. Allen
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W257757709