Performance of twelve selected Australian tree species on a saline site in southeast Queensland

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 255 - 264
• Main Authors: Dunn, G.M., Taylor, D.W., Nester, M.R., Beetson, T.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; caracteristicas del sitio; Casuarina; Deficiencies. Phytotoxicity of elements. Salinity; Electrical conductivity; Eucalyptus; facteur lie au site; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Growth; Melaleuca; queensland; rendement; rendimiento; salinidad; salinite; Salinity; Salt tolerance; site factors; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; supervivencia; survie; Survival; tipuana; yields; Australia; Oceania; Queensland; Salt tolerance; Electrical conductivity; Growth; Survival; Salinity; Productivity; Salt resistance; Tropical zone; Environmental factor; Woody plant; Forecast model; Afforestation; Environmental design; Casuarina; Eucalyptus; Edaphic factor; Casuarinaceae; Dicotyledones; Soil horizons; Angiospermae; Myrtaceae; Spermatophyta; Chemical concentration
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-1127(94)90091-4

The establishment and early growth of 12 species within the genera Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Melaleuca and Tipuana was tested on a saline site in southeast Queensland. Electrical conductivity ( EC) in the top 50 cm of soil was measured using an electromagnetic induction method and calibrated against the EC of 1:5 soil:water suspensions. The site was then stratified into five salinity classes: 0.75–1.0, 1.0–1.25, 1.25–1.5, 1.5–1.75 and over 1.75 dSm −1. Relationships were developed for predicting the survival and height production of 18-month-old trees. These regressions explained 15–88% of the variation in survival and 2–66% of the variation in height production. Tree species were grouped by determining the EC level where height production declined by 25% relative to that at 0.75 ds m −1. Casuarina glauca, Melaleuca bracteata, Eucalyptus moluccana, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tericornis and Eucalyptus raveretiana were all highly salt tolerant (25% reductions over 1.5 dS m −1). Casuarina cunninghamiana, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus melliodora and Eucalyptus robusta exhibited moderate salt tolerance (25% reductions between 1.0 and 1.5 dS m −1). The responses to increased salinity of Tipuana tipu and Eucalyptus intermedia (25% reductions at less than 1.0 dS m −1) suggest that these species are not suitable for revegetating similar saline sites.