Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the duration of the project 17 field studies and 5 controlled environment studies were used to identify environmental and physiological factors having the greatest effects on the survival and growth of tree species native to Tennessee, determine silvicultural treatments to promote the growth of economically important tree species, and to predict the effects of elevated temperatures and other environmental changes to Tennessee forests. Research was focused on the effects of human disturbance on tree health and growth. Research from this project resulted in a total of 9 refereed publications, 7 poster presentations at national and regional professional meetings with abstracts published in proceedings, 6 talks at national and regional professional meetings, and three invited talks at Universities. Technology transfer was made through 6 extension publications, 1 book chapter, 4 theses, 3 workshops, and 4 invited talks to professional organizations. Dissemination of information to the public was made through 1 public talk, 1 radio and 1 television interview, and visits to 10 public school classrooms. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators within the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee are David Buckley, Sharon Jean-Philippe, Scott Schlarbaum, Matthew Gray, Wayne Clatterbuck, Adam Taylor, Nicole Labbe and David Mercker. Other collaborators within the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Tennessee include Richard Evans, Director of the Forestry Research and Education Center, Eric Drumm and Amy Johnson in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Sciences, and John Schwartz in the School of Engineering. Collaborators at other Universities: Carl Zipper, Virginia Tech, Eddy Nurtjahya, University of Bankga Belitung Indonesia, Aamir Saleem, University of Arid Land Agriculture Pakistan. Collaborators at other institutions include Jeffrey Warren, Oak Ridge National Lab, Kristine Johnson, National Parks Service, Fred Hebbard and Bob Paris of the American Chestnut Foundation, Stacy Clark of the US Forest Service, Jan Frouz, Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic. A total of 4 MSc and 1 PhD students completed graduate studies as a part of this project. A further 2 MSc and 1 PhD students worked on this project in 2009. This project has also hosted 4 visiting international scholars, 3 international interns, and has employed six undergraduate students. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for mine reforestation research is primarily the Office of Surface Mining, and coal mine operators in the southeastern US. The target audiences for research into tree function are forest landowners and land managers, and urban foresters and arborists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The impact of human disturbance on forested land through altered soil properties and climate is great. It is difficult to estimate the value of restoring forests to disturbed land, as these provide numerous ecosystem services in addition to timber value. We showed that native warm season grasses are compatible for planting with native trees, with both grass and northern red oak and able to maintain growth under severe drought conditions. We contributed to a federal rule change that will promote reforestation of mined lands. The forestry reclamation approach results in a cost savings of approximately $300 per acre in reclamation costs in Tennessee, applied to 4,800 surfaced mined acres Tennessee results in a cost savings of $1.4 million. We showed that fertilization of disturbed land is required for the success of reforestation, and that American chestnut has great potential for planting on disturbed sites. We showed that neither mercury contamination nor surface mining had any long-term impacts on the capability of land to support forest growth.
Publications
- Trigiano, R.N. and J.A. Franklin (2010) A brief introduction to plant anatomy. In: Plant Development and Biotechnology, 2nd Edition, R. Trigiano Ed., CRC Press, New York.
- Franklin, J. A., and D. S. Buckley (2010) Ground cover application manual for mine reforestation in the eastern U.S. Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, The University of Tennessee. 13 p. (CD).
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data was collected on seven field experiments and one controlled environment study. Two new experiments were implemented: one investigating lime and fertilizer effects on tree and ground cover establishment, the other a collaborative study to determine ground cover effects on erosion rates and tree establishment. American chestnut restoration research continued with one new experiment, designed to determine optimum planting treatments, being planted. Samples from the long-term Free Air Carbon Enrichment study were collected for analysis elevated carbon dioxide effects on stem anatomy and water transport properties. In addition to refereed publications, research results were disseminated through an oral presentation at a national technical meeting, and four poster presentations at national professional meetings. Technology transfer was made through a one-day workshop, and through a presentation at a regional technical meeting attended by industry and government agency personnel. Information about the physiology and root function of Tennessee tree species was also disseminated to the public through a talk at regional Society of American Foresters meeting, a meeting with local government, and through a visit to a public school classroom. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators within the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee are David Buckley, Nicole Labbe, Wayne Clatterbuck, Scott Schlarbaum, and David Mercker. Other collaborators within the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Tennessee include Richard Evans, Director of the Forestry Research and Education Center, Eric Drumm in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Sciences. Collaborators at other Universities: Sylvie Renault, Department of Biology, University of Manitoba and Aamir Saleem, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Collaborators at other institutions include Jeffrey Warren, Oak Ridge National Lab, Fred Hebbard and Bob Paris of the American Chestnut Foundation, Stacy Clark of the US Forest Service, Jan Frouz, Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic. Graduate students in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee who worked on this project in 2009 are Christopher Miller (MSc), Aju Sahadevan (MSc), Mega Abang (MSc), Elizabeth Aubuchon (MSc) and Sharon Jean-Philippe (PhD). Six undergraduate students worked on this project over the past year. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for mine reforestation research is primarily the Office of Surface Mining, and coal mine operators in the southeastern US. The target audiences for research into tree function are forest landowners and land managers, and urban foresters and arborists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Deforested areas must be stabilized by ground cover to control erosion, and improve soil properties before planting trees. However the establishment of planted trees is often hindered by the aggressive ground covers planted to control erosion. We showed that native warm season grasses are compatible for planting with native trees, offering an alternative for the afforestation of severely degraded land. We showed that warm season grasses and northern red oak are able to maintain growth under severe drought conditions. The use of native grasses and other compatible ground cover in forest restoration will result in a greater ability of restored lands to perform ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, water storage, and wildlife habitat. The forestry reclamation approach results in a cost savings of approximately $300 per acre in reclamation costs, applied to 4,800 surfaced mined acres Tennessee results in a cost savings of $1.4 million, in addition to the increased value of land, future timber, and ecosystem services, which are difficult to estimate.
Publications
- Franklin, J.A. and D.S. Buckley, D.S. (2009) Effects of seedling size and ground cover on the first-year survival of planted pine and hardwoods over an extreme drought. National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, Billings, MT, May 30 - June 5, 2009.
- Saleem, A., N.M. Sarwat, I.A. Khan, and J. Franklin (2009) Effect of diverse ecological conditions on biomass production of Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass) at various growth stages. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 8 (7), pp. 1233-1237.
- Davis, V., J. Franklin, P. Angel (2009) Planting hardwood tree seedlings. Forest Reclamation Advisory #7, Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, US Dept. of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining. 4 pp.
- J. Franklin and D. Mercker (2009) Tree growth characteristics. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Available online at: http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/wfiles/W227.pdf
- Marshall, J.M., D.S. Buckley, and J.A. Franklin (2009) Competitive interaction between Microstegium vimineum and first-year seedlings of three central hardwoods. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 136(3), pp. 342-349.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data was collected on seven field experiments and two controlled environment studies. Research results were disseminated through an oral presentation at a national technical meeting, and a poster presentation at a national technical meeting. A team of researchers from the Czech Republic visited for a week, working on a collaborative project on mine reclamation. A student from France completed an eight-week internship in the lab. Mine reclamation sites were toured by Office of Surface Mining staff, and results of reclamation research were presented at a regional technical meeting attended primarily by industry and government agency personnel. Mine reclamation research sites were also toured by two classes from University of Tennessee, and by various media representatives resulting in one television segment, several newspaper articles, and a short UT produced television segment. Information about the effects of freezing and drought on trees were presented to the UT Arboretum Society. General information about the physiology of Tennessee tree species was also disseminated to the public through visits to 3 public school classrooms. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators within the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee are David Buckley, Nicole Labbe, Wayne Clatterbuck, Matthew Gray, Scott Schlarbaum, and David Mercker. Other collaborators within the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Tennessee include Richard Evans, Director of the Forestry Research and Education Center, Eric Drumm in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and Environmental Sciences, and Carl Sams in the Department of Plant Science. Collaborators at other Universities: Sylvie Renault, Department of Biology, University of Manitoba and Aamir Saleem, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi,Pakistan. Collaborators at other institutions include Madhavi Martin and Jeffrey Warren, Oak Ridge National Lab, Fred Hebbard and Bob Paris of the American Chestnut Foundation, Stacy Clark of the US Forest Service, Jan Frouz, Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic. Graduate students in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee who worked on this project in 2008 are Christopher Miller, MSc student, and Sharon Jean-Philippe, PhD student. Undergraduate students working on this project include John Johnston and Justin Marsh in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. A 2 month internship was provided to a student, Jereme Damay, from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Technologies et Industries du Bois in France. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for mine reforestation research is primarily the Office of Surface Mining, and coal mine operators in the southeastern US. The target audiences for research into tree function are forest landowners and land managers, and urban foresters and arborists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The return of surface mined lands to productive forest is hindered by the aggressive ground covers planted to meet bond release requirements. Reclaimed mine sites will be used for sites for initial plantings of American Chestnut, and establishment protocols are needed. We determined that planting of American Chestnut nuts can result in an acceptable first-year establishment rate of seedlings, if tree shelters are used to reduce predation rates. We determined that a reduction in seeding and fertilization rates by one half can produce acceptable establishment of ground cover and planted oak seedlings, while higher fertilization rates are required for the establishment of hickory. This supported the Office of Surface Mining change to revegetation requirements for Tennessee that in 2007 removed the 80% ground cover rule for several post-mining land uses. Applied to the approximately 28,000 acres currently permitted, reduction of seeding and fertilization rates would result in an estimated savings of $560,000, for Tennessee industry. Because the American Chestnut has been absent from our landscape for many years, the impact of re-establishing this valuable species is difficult to estimate. Establishment protocols will increase seedling survival rates by as much as 50%.
Publications
- Buckley, D.S. and J.A. Franklin (2008) Early tree and ground cover establishment as affected by seeding and fertilization rates in Tennessee. Proceedings of the American Society of Mine Reclamation, Richmond, VA, June 14, 2007. (Full paper in peer-reviewed proceedings, contributed to experimental design, data analysis and writing). 12 pp.
- Labbe, N., X.P. Ye, J.A. Franklin, A.R. Womac, D.D. Tyler and T.G. Rials (2008). Analysis of switchgrass characteristics using near infrared spectroscopy. BioResources (in press).
- J. Burger, V. Davis, J. Franklin, J. Skousen, C. Barton and C. Zipper (2008) Establishing tree-compatible ground covers. Forest Reclamation Advisory #6, Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, US Dept. of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining. 4 pp.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data was collected on six field experiments and two controlled environment studies. Research results were disseminated through an oral presentation at a national technical meeting, and poster presentation at a national professional meeting. Researchers from Canada, Pakistan and Thailand were given tours of experimental sites and discussion of research results. Mine reclamation sites were toured by Office of Surface Mining staff, and results of mine reclamation research were presented at a regional technical meeting attended primarily by industry and government agency personnel. Mine reclamation research sites were also toured by a class at the University of Tennessee. One undergraduate research paper and a MSc thesis were completed. Information about the effects of freezing and drought on trees were presented to a conference of professionals in urban forestry and landscape architecture. Similar information was presented to the Tennessee tree nursery growers at their annual trade show. General information about the physiology of Tennessee tree species also disseminated to the public through visits to 5 public school classrooms and a radio interview. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators within the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee are David Buckley, Nicole Labbe, Wayne Clatterbuck, Matthew Gray, and David Mercker. Other collaborators within the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Tennessee include Richard Evans, Director of the Forestry Research and Education Centers, and Carl Sams in the Department of Plant Science. Collaborators at other Universities include Sylvie Renault, Department of Biology, University of Manitoba. Collaborators at other institutions include Madhavi Martin, collaborator, Oak Ridge National Lab, and Jan Frouz, Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Graduate students in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee who worked on this project in 2008 are John Rizza, MSc student, graduated May 2007, and Sharon Jean-Philippe, PhD student. A PhD student, Aamir Saleem, from the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, visited for 6 months during which he worked on this project. Undergraduate students working on this project include Douglas Godbee in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, who completed an independent studies project. A 3 month internship was provided to a student, Stephane Jeckel, from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Technologies et Industries du Bois in France. The project has also employed one student in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, Stuart Wilson. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for mine reforestation research is primarily the Office of Surface Mining, and coal mine operators in the southeastern US. The target audiences for research into tree function are forest landowners and land managers, and urban foresters and arborists.
Impacts
The return of surface mined lands to productive forest is hindered by the competition between planted tree seedlings and the aggressive ground covers planted to meet bond release requirements. We have determined that ground cover of around 25-75% is optimal for the establishment of seedlings of several important species of hardwood trees. This supported the Office of Surface Mining change to revegetation requirements for Tennessee that in 2007 removed the 80% ground cover rule for several post-mining land uses. Applied to the approximately 28,000 acres currently permitted, reduction of seeding rates would result in an estimated cost savings of $280,000, as well as reduce costs associated with reseeding failed areas. Recommendations for tree species, seedling characteristics, and compatible ground covers will result in approximately 10% increase in survival of trees planted on reclamation sites. Industry following these recommendations would have an estimated cost savings of $200/acre, or roughly one million dollars on mined land area in Tennessee currently planned for reforestation. A better understanding of the physiology of Tennessee trees has been disseminated to a wide range of constituents during the past year, from elementary school children, to government agencies, to industry. Although difficult to quantify, assisting professionals in forestry and arboriculture to grow and maintain healthy trees in urban and natural settings is likely to have the greatest overall impact.
Publications
- Rizza, J., J.A. Franklin, D.S. Buckley (2007). The influence of different ground cover treatments on the growth and survival of seedlings on remined sites in eastern Tennessee. Proceedings of the American Society of Mine Reclamation, Gillette, WY, June 2, 2007.
- Rizza, J., J.A. Franklin, D.S. Buckley (2007). Afforestation: effects of native and non-native ground cover treatments. Ecological Restoration 25(2): 129.
- Franklin, J.A. and W. Clatterbuck (2007). Effects of multiple stresses on trees in the forest. Forest Landowner Sept./Oct. 2007. Rizza, J., Franklin, J.A. and Buckley, D.S. (2007) Effects of seedling size and ground cover density on survival over two years. Mined Land Reforestation Conference, Abingdon, VA, Aug. 6-7.
- Franklin, J.A. and J. Frouz (2007). Restoration of soil function on coal mine sites in eastern Tennessee 50 years after mining. Proceedings of Ecological Restoration in a Changing World. Ecological Society of America and Society for Ecological Restoration joint conference, San Jose, CA, Aug. 5-10.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Four experiments were initiated in 2004, in the first year of this project. An experiment investigating the impacts of temperature increases on red spruce, a species in declining health in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, is now complete. Results, which have been presented at a conference and submitted for journal publication, show that elevated temperature results in changes in carbon allocation of seedlings but does not limit early seedling establishment and growth. Three other experiments initiated in 2004, one initiated in 2005, and two in 2006 are designed to determine the effects of the environment and management practices on the growth of oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya tomentosa); seedlings have been planted in a clear-cut, on a floodplain, and on a mine site. Treatments that manipulate soil and microsite characteristics such as moisture, nitrogen content, and organic matter have been applied on the mine reclamation and clear-cut sites. The
actions of these treatments to alleviate or compound the existing environmental stresses are being analyzed. Soils and tree growth on 40-50 year old mine sites is being investigated. To date, these experiments have resulted in one international collaboration, five publications, five presentations and a technical report. Results show that moderate amounts of ground cover are beneficial for the early establishment of oak planted on open sites. Experiments conducted in growth chambers using solution culture allow the assessment of species nitrogen relations under controlled conditions, and supplement data collected in field experiments. One additional study was initiated in 2005 to determine the extent of crown dieback in mature shade trees that are subjected to trenching, or root severing, as would occur during construction or utility work. Results are being analyzed.
Impacts
Information is needed on how to re-establish native forest ecosystems, for wildlife habitat and production of high-value timber, to replace current practices that reclaim surface mines sites to non-native grasslands. We studied the effects of different ground covers on the establishment of oak. Results show that moderate amounts of ground cover are beneficial to the establishment of oak, by reducing water loss from soil and oak leaves, thereby reducing water deficit stress. There results have been used by the Office of Surface Mining in the proposal of a change to mine reclamation regulations, which reduces the amount of ground cover required for reclamation to forest. This change in regulations will allow the establishment of productive native forest on 29,175 acres of mine sites under permit in Tennessee as of 2004. Our analysis of a 50-year old site demonstrates that tree growth rates on reclaimed mine sites can exceed that of the surrounding undisturbed forest in
this region, contributing to carbon sequestration and increased economic returns.
Publications
- Franklin, J.A. and D.S. Buckley, 2006. Effects of three ground cover treatments on initial oak establishment on a reclaimed mine site. Proceedings of the Billings Land Reclamation Symposium, June 4-8, Billings, MT pp. 848-855.
- Franklin, J.A., and R. Evans, 2006. Soil amendment effects on oak seedlings and woody competitors. Proceedings of the Central Hardwood Forest Conference, Feb. 27-Mar. 1, Knoxville, TN.
- McCurry, J.R., M.J. Gray, J.A. Franklin, and D.C. Mercker, 2006. Relationship of oak seedling height and diameter with bottomland elevation. Proceedings of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Nov. 5-8, Norfolk, VA.
- Rizza, J., J.A. Franklin and D.S. Buckley, 2006. Reclamation activities on the Cumberland Plateau. Proceedings of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative Workshop, June 5-8, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Press.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Four experiments were initiated in 2004, in the first year of this project. One of these investigates the impacts of temperature increases on red spruce, a high-elevation species found in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Three other experiments are designed to determine the effects of the environment and management practices on the growth of oak; oak seedlings have been planted in a clear-cut, on a floodplain, and on a mine site. The effects of these stressful environments on seedling growth are being monitored. Treatments that manipulate soil characteristics such as moisture, nitrogen content, and organic matter have been applied on the mine reclamation and clear-cut sites. The actions of these treatments to alleviate or compound the existing environmental stresses are being analyzed. One new study was initiated in 2005. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of crown dieback to be expected in mature shade trees that are subjected to
trenching, or root severing as would occur during construction or utility work, at different distances.
Impacts
Information on the effect of rising temperatures on tree gas exchange and growth is needed by climate modelers and by land stewards who monitor forest health. We have studied the effects of warming temperatures on high-elevation red spruce seedlings under controlled conditions. Our results demonstrate that management of the red spruce/fir ecosystem is viable under the scenario of rising annual temperatures, and our data will enable the production of improved climate and global carbon models.
Publications
- Hagen, J. and Franklin, J. A. (2005) Physiologic acclimation of montane Picea rubens to simulated climatic warming. Proceedings of the Open Science Conference: Global Change in Mountain Regions. Perth, Scotland, UK, 2-6 Oct. 2005.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Towards the first objective, a laboratory experiment comparing the effects of nitrogen level on the growth of water oak seedlings was completed. Results suggest that while growth was inhibited at very low nitrogen levels no increase in growth rate occurs in response to nitrogen addition over moderate levels. Field plots were established on a mine reclamation site, and planted with three native oak species. Results show high survival and growth rates in the first year. Towards the second objective, plots were established on the UT Forestry Experiment Station, using treatments that manipulated soil fertility and organic matter levels. Growth and physiology of three oak species planted on the plots were monitored over the first growing season. Results show treatment effects on the mass and species composition of competitive vegetation. Towards the third objective, a growth chamber study was initiated that is investigating the effects of elevated temperature on the
photosynthetic and respiration rates of red spruce.
Impacts
This research has demonstrated to the mining industry the potential of reforestation for the reclamation of mine sites in eastern Tennessee through high first-year survival rates of oak seedlings in our research plots.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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