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Production physiology of three native shrubs intercropped in a young longleaf pine plantation

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate how competition would affect the physiology, and thus productivity of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana L.), wax myrtle [Morella cerifera (L.) Small] and inkberry [Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray] when intercropped in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) plantation in the southeastern United States. The effect of competition was assessed via comparisons of mortality, biomass, light transmittance, gas exchange and soil moisture between intercropping and monoculture (treeless) treatments. Overall, shrubs in the intercropping treatment performed worse than those in the monoculture, with higher mortality, and reductions in biomass of 75.5, 50.6, and 68.7% for C. americana, M. cerifera and I. glabra, respectively. Root–shoot ratios for all species were significantly higher and soil moisture during dry periods was significantly lower in the intercropping treatment. Light transmittance below the pine canopy was high (57.7%) and I. glabra was the only species that exhibited reduced A max when belowground resources were not limiting. These results suggest that the effect of shading is minimal and belowground competition is likely the most important determinant of productivity in this system.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the staff at the West Florida Research and Education Center, particularly Marti Occhipinti, Barry Ballard, Melvin Gramke and Doug Hatfield, for their assistance with plot establishment, data collection and logistics. The efforts of Jimmie Jarratt, Gerardo Celis, Pedram Daneshgar and Meghan Brennan, who contributed in various capacities, are also greatly appreciated. This research was supported by a grant from the USDA Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture Research (T-STAR) program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Donald L. Hagan

  2. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Shibu Jose

  3. Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Milton, FL, 32583, USA

    Mack Thetford

  4. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Milton, FL, 32583, USA

    Kimberly Bohn

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  1. Donald L. Hagan
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  2. Shibu Jose
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Correspondence to Donald L. Hagan.

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Hagan, D.L., Jose, S., Thetford, M. et al. Production physiology of three native shrubs intercropped in a young longleaf pine plantation. Agroforest Syst 76, 283–294 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-009-9216-z

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