Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
12-1-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Bradley Christoffersen
Second Advisor
Pushpa Soti
Third Advisor
Matthew Terry
Abstract
Reforestation attempts in semi-arid regions are plagued with seedling mortality. Blanket greenhouse practices may not be optimal, in addition, commensalism interactions between nurse plants are considered. To better understand the effects of soil texture and nurse plant interactions on growth and drought tolerance, two experiments were developed. For soil texture, Border palo verde seedlings were grown in different-sized plant bands with three soil types. To observe the effects of nurse plants, an experiment using guayacan, was developed using Texas Ebony, as a leguminous nurse plant. Plants were also exposed to a drought experiment. The results suggest that some soil textures inhibit plant height. The presence of nurse plants was negative to above-ground growth for some groups and was under greater effects of drought stress. A more comprehensive assessment of soil mixture practices in addition to more research of nurse plant use in restoration may produce more fruitful rehabilitation and plantings.
Recommended Citation
Santos, Lance I., "A Nursery Study of the Interplay Between Soil Texture, Rooting Space, and Nurse Plants on Seedling Growth and Root Development in Woody Species of Tamaulipan Thornscrub" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1633.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1633
Included in
Environmental Sciences Commons, Forest Sciences Commons, Plant Sciences Commons, Soil Science Commons
Comments
Copyright 2024 Lance I. Santos. https://proquest.com/docview/3153471451