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Establishing royal paulownia on the Virginia Piedmont

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Abstract

A study was established in the Virginia Piedmont to investigate theeffects of site preparation treatments (subsoiling and trenching) and the useofweed mats on royal paulownia survival and growth. Seedlings were monitored inthree study blocks for seven years. Following the seventh growing season,survival was low, ranging from 11% in the control plots to 27% in the trenchedplots. Plot volume index averaged 28,633 for the subsoil plots, while controlplots had an average plot volume index of 12,685. Weed mats significantlyincreased soil moisture from 18.7 to 20.4%. Likewise, weed mats significantlyimproved seedling survival after seven years, from 9% to 30%.

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Johnson, J.E., Mitchem, D.O. & Kreh, R.E. Establishing royal paulownia on the Virginia Piedmont. New Forests 25, 11–23 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022349231557

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