Choi, Yuk Kam. / Thesis submitted in: December 2008. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-221). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstact (in Chinese) --- p.iv / Acknowlegement --- p.vi / Table of contents --- p.viii / List of tables --- p.xiii / List of figures --- p.xv / List of plates --- p.xvi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Conceptual framework --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research objectives --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Significance of the study --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5 --- Organization of this thesis --- p.11 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Hong Kong's forestry and use of native species in ecological restoration --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3 --- Factors limiting the use of native species in ecological rehabilitation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- The climate and soils in Hong Kong --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5 --- Soil physical properties --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Soil water and water holding capacity --- p.23 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Penetration resistance --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Soil structure --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6 --- Soil amendment materials --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Compost --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Coconut meal --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Water absorbing polymer --- p.35 / Chapter 2.7 --- Summary --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECT OF AMENDMENT MATERIALS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE GROWTH OF SCHIMA SUPERBA : GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT I --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3 --- Experimental design --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Amending DG with water absorbing polymer, coconut meal and compost" --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Watering treatment --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Post-planting treatment --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Monitoring of penetration resistance and soil moisture content --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Survival rate --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Height and basal diameter --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Texture --- p.50 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Reaction pH and conductivity --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Organic carbon of soil and the amended substrates --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Total carbon of coconut meal and compost --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Total phosphorus --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Exchangeable A1 and H and total exchangeable acidity --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- "Total potassium, sodium，calcium and magnesium" --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.9 --- Heavy metals --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.10 --- Exchangeable cations --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.11 --- Water absorbency of water absorbing polymer --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.12 --- Water retention capacity --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.13 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6 --- Statistical analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7 --- Results and discussion --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite --- p.55 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- "Properties of water absorbing polymer, coconut meal and compost" --- p.58 / Chapter 3.8 --- Effects of amendment materials on DG --- p.60 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Penetration resistance --- p.60 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Soil moisture --- p.64 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Water release characteristic curves and available water content --- p.69 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Effect of amendment materials on soil organic carbon --- p.74 / Chapter 3.8.5 --- Relationship between SOC and water release characteristics --- p.77 / Chapter 3.8.6 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.78 / Chapter 3.9 --- Effects of amendment materials on the growth of Schima superba --- p.81 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Survival rate --- p.81 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Height and basal diameter increment --- p.84 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.88 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Chlorophyll florescence --- p.89 / Chapter 3.10 --- Summary --- p.91 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECT OF AMENDMENT MATERIALS ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE GROWTH OF CASTANOPSIS FISSA: GREENHOUSE EXPERIMENT II --- p.94 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Materials --- p.95 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Experimental design --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Preparation of growth substrates --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Soil sampling --- p.98 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Monitoring of soil moisture change and penetration resistance --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Laboratory analysis --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Properties of DG --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Water absorbency of ALCOSORB® --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Effect of amendment materials on physical properties of DG --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Effect of soil amendment on water release characteristic curves --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Soil evaporation test --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Soil organic carbon --- p.119 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Mean weight diameter --- p.121 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Effects of amendment materials on the growth of Castanopsis fissa --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.8.1 --- Survival rate --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.8.2 --- Height and basal diameter --- p.126 / Chapter 4.3.8.3 --- Aboveground biomass --- p.132 / Chapter 4.3.8.4 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.134 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.136 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CAN WATER ABSORBING POLYMER BENEFIT QUARRY REHABILITATION IN THE DRY SEASON? --- p.139 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.139 / Chapter 5.2 --- The study area --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- The Anderson Road Quarry --- p.142 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Rehabilitation of Anderson Road Quarry --- p.143 / Chapter 5.3 --- Experimental design --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Site preparation --- p.145 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Selection of native species for planting --- p.147 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- The planting --- p.148 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Data logging the growth environment --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.5 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.150 / Chapter 5.3.6 --- Soil sampling and analysis --- p.151 / Chapter 5.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.151 / Chapter 5.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.152 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Properties of decomposed granite in ARQ --- p.152 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- Survival rate --- p.155 / Chapter 5.5.3 --- Height and basal diameter increments --- p.157 / Chapter 5.5.4 --- Major limiting factors for the establishment of seedlings --- p.160 / Chapter 5.5.4.1 --- Drought --- p.160 / Chapter 5.5.4.2 --- Soil erosion caused by rainstorm --- p.163 / Chapter 5.6 --- Summary --- p.165 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- EFFECT OF WATER ABSORBING POLYMER ON THE GROWTH OF NATIVE SPECIES IN A RESTORED QUARRY --- p.167 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.167 / Chapter 6.2 --- Study area --- p.168 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Data logging the growth environment --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Plant growth measurement --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Spatial variation of irrigation water --- p.170 / Chapter 6.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5 --- Results and discussion --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Survival rate --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Height and basal diameter increments --- p.178 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Growth environment in Anderson Road Quarry --- p.185 / Chapter 6.5.4 --- Weed competition --- p.189 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.190 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.191 / Chapter 7.1 --- Summary of major findings --- p.191 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications of the study --- p.196 / Chapter 7.3 --- Limitations of the study --- p.199 / Chapter 7.4 --- Suggestions for further study --- p.200 / REFERENCES --- p.204 / APPENDICES --- p.222

published_or_final_version / Geography and Geology / Master / Master of Philosophy