Establishment of Salix alaxensis on a gravel pad in arctic Alaska
Bishop SC and Chapin FS. 1989. Establishment of Salix alaxensis on a gravel pad in arctic Alaska. Journal of Applied Ecology. 26(2):575-583
(1) The effects of water and nutrient availability on germination, survival and growth of Salix alaxensis on an abandoned gravel pad (construction site) in arctic Alaska were examined. (2) Germination of S. alaxensis was strongly limited by moisture availability. Watering or surface addition of stones in the field enhanced germination. The addition of fertilizer in pots reduced germination. Seeds failed to germinate at water potentials below -0.2 MPa. (3) The availability of water and nutrients in the gravel pad soil did not limit the survival of established seedlings of S. alaxensis. (4) The addition of NPK fertilizer increased growth of transplanted seedlings to the end of the second growing season. (5) Transplanting seedlings of S. alaxensis onto abandoned gravel pads would be a practical method of site restoration when a specific need warranted the expense.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Bishop, Susan; Chapin, F
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Arctic, Brooks Range Foothills, Disturbance, Ecology, fill, Human, Restoration, Revegetation, Salix, Succession, Toolik Lake, Vegetation