Effect of Organic and Mineral Mulches on Soil Properties and Growth of Fairview Flame® Red Maple Trees

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Effect of 8 mulch treatments and a nonmulched control on soil temperature, percentage soil moisture, and soil pH.

Treatment	Temperature^{^z} (°C)	Moisture^{^y} (%)	pH^{^x}
Treatment	Temperature^{^z} (°C)	Moisture^{^y} (%)	1997	1998
Control	29.3^{^w} a^{^v}	19^{^u} d	6.03^{^t} d	5.86^{^s} d
Pea gravel	27.6 b	31 ab	6.44 b	6.14 bc
Crushed brick	26.2 c	30 bc	6.29 bc	6.04 cd
Carmel	26.2 c	29 c	6.29 bc	6.06 cd
River rock	25.2 d	29 c	6.47 b	6.33 b
Lava rock	24.5 d	30 bc	6.21 cd	5.82 d
Shredded bark	23.6 e	31 ab	6.82 a	6.81 a
Wood chip	23.3 e	32 a	6.81 a	6.37 b
Screened pine	23.2 e	32 a	6.13 cd	6.14 bc

↵z Soil temperature measured at 10 cm (4 in.) depth, between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.,CST,
↵y Soil moisture measured at 6 cm (2.4 in.) depth, between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.,CST.
↵x Soil samples for pH measurements collected at 0- to 10-cm (0- to 4-in.) depth.
↵w Data shown are means of 12 dates × 5 replications (n = 60) in 1997.
↵v Mean separation within columns by LSD, P ≤ 0.05.
↵u Data shown are means of 12 dates × 5 replications (n = 60) in 1997.
↵t Data shown are means of 5 observations. Soil samples collected on December 1, 1997, for pH determination.
↵s Data shown are means of 5 observations. Soil samples collected on June 17, 1998, for pH determination.

Table 2.

Effect of 8 mulch treatments and a nonmulched control on stem caliper, height, and leaf dry mass of Acer rubrum Fairview Flame®.

Treatment	Height^{^z}(cm)	Stem caliper^{^y}(cm)	Leaf dry mass^{^x} (g)
Lava rock	222^{^w} a^{^v}	4.1^{^u} ab	441^{^t} abc
Wood chip	222 a	4.1 ab	423 abc
Pea gravel	220 a	4.2 a	467 a
Crushed brick	219 a	4.2 a	478 a
Control	219a	4.1 ab	419 abc
Carmel	218 a	4.2 a	463 ab
River rock	214 a	4.2 a	449 abc
Screened pine	214a	4.0 ab	398 bc
Shredded bark	210a	3.9 b	383 c

↵z Height measured from ground level to highest shoot apex on September 20, 1997.
↵y Stem caliper measured 15 cm (6 in.) above ground level on September 19, 1997.
↵x Leaves harvested October 4 and 5, 1997.
↵w Data shown are means of 10 observations.
↵v Mean separation within columns by LSD, P ≤ 0.05.
↵u Data shown are means of 10 observations. Each observation is the average of measurements taken at 1) the widest point on the stem, and 2) rotated 90° clockwise from the first measurement.
↵t Data shown are means of 10 observations.