Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a native bamboo that forms large monodominant stands called canebrakes in bottomlands in the southeastern US. Canebrakes are valuable habitat for wildlife and function as riparian buffers to protect soils and water quality. Currently, only 2% of canebrake ecosystems remain. Thus there is interest in establishing new canebrakes as well as maintaining and expanding existing canebrakes. For field restoration, using cane rhizomes to produce transplants is possible but it is unknown when propagules should be collected and grown. For rehabilitation of existing canebrakes, preliminary studies suggest that fertilization and disturbance such as fire can be beneficial but additional broader-ranging studies are warranted. This research reports on three giant cane studies involving producing transplants from rhizomes and involving managing existing canebrakes with disturbance in southern Illinois. The main objectives of study 1 were to ascertain a) if collection season influences the proportion of rhizome propagules that grow at least one culm (culm production success) and the resultant culm growth when transplanted in a greenhouse b) if specific rhizome characteristics influence an individual rhizome’s ability to produce a culm c) if aboveground biomass could be a predictor of the amount of belowground propagules and d) if aboveground biomass, total rhizome length, number of rhizome nodes, or number of rhizome buds could be a predictor of how many culms could be produced when transplanting. Monthly, for a year, sample plots were randomly selected in the SIUC giant cane nursery. In sample plots aboveground culm measurements were collected included live culm density (#/0.25m2), dead culm density (#/0.25m2), height of the tallest culm (cm), diameter of the tallest culm (mm), and total aboveground biomass (g). Each month rhizomes were dug from the sample plots, measured (length (cm), diameter (mm), # nodes, and # live buds), and transplanted into pots and placed in the greenhouse for approximately 94 days. At that time, measurements were taken of the number of live and dead culms produced per pot and the height of the tallest culm (cm). Results indicate that rhizomes collected and transplanted in the greenhouse during winter and spring months (December-May), had significantly greater culm production success and produced significantly taller culms. Also, rhizomes intermediate in length (18-30 cm) that contained 5 to 12 nodes and 4 to 9 live buds tended to have higher than average culm production. Finally, a positive correlation existed between the amount of aboveground biomass and the number of rhizome nodes, the number of live rhizome buds, and the length of rhizomes found in sample plots. Aboveground biomass can predict the amount of belowground rhizome propagules that can be used for canebrake restoration. Study 2 is a two year continuation of work initiated in 2011 and reported on by Margaret Anderson in 2014 on the effects of fire, fertilization, and fire and fertilization combined on the growth and expansion (culm density, height and diameter) of canebrakes within the Cache River Watershed in southern Illinois. Results showed considerable year to year variability among treatments within the canebrake for some growth parameters. However, three years after disturbance, all treatments tended to have similar culm density and growth values and canebrake expansion occurred for all treatments into exterior plots. Fire alone was similar to controls in growth parameters and did not produce any long-term negative effects. Thus, fire can be used as an effective tool to reduce competition from other species, allowing managed canebrakes to persist longer than those that remain undisturbed. Fertilization used alone and in combination with fire, produced slight growth and density increases, but added costs may not warrant its use in canebrake management. Study 3 compared fire and mowing disturbances on the growth and expansion of remnant canebrakes located in southern Illinois. Eleven replications in remnant canebrakes were established throughout the Cache River watershed. Each replication contained a fire only treatment, a mowing only treatment, and a control. Measurements were taken in the dormant season early in 2012 prior to a single mowing and a single fire in March, and after each growing season thru 2014. Measurements including live and dead culm density (#m2), culm height (cm), and culm diameter (0.01 mm), were taken within subplots in the canebrake interior and exterior. Results from this study showed that mowing can be used as an effective alternative to fire for the management of remnant canebrakes through reductions in competition. Neither fire nor mowing produced negative effects of growth within the measured canebrakes or in adjacent areas. Like the previous study, all treatments including the control experienced an outward expansion of cane culms throughout the course of the study. This study shows that both fire and mowing can be used as effective tools to reduce competition within canebrakes to aid in their continued vigor.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF MARGARET MARZIYE ANDERSON, for the Masters of Science degree in Forestry, presented on September 12th, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. FIRE AND FERTILIZATION EFFECTS ON THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF EXISTING NATIVE CANEBRAKES [ARUNDINARIA GIGANTEA (WALT) MUHL] IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Jon Schoonover Giant cane [Arundinaria gigantea (Walt) Muhl.], a native bamboo, is an integral component of bottomland forests in the southeastern United States. Cane occurs as monodominant stands, also known as canebrakes, which historically covered vast areas of land. As a result of land conversion, overgrazing and altered fire regimes, an alarming 98% reduction of canebrakes has occurred. Due to the ecological significance of giant cane as wildlife habitat, a riparian buffer, its role in soil stabilization and potential as woody biomass, restoration interest has increased. Research with planted cane indicated fertilization and burning had interacting effects on cane growth, however in remnant natural stands, the influence of burning and fertilization on canebrake growth and spread is unknown. This study examined the survival and growth response of cane to burning and fertilization in remnant stands to provide guidance for rehabilitation, restoration and management. Four treatment plots were replicated eight times across seven sites in canebrakes growing in riparian zones adjacent to agricultural fields in the Cache River Watershed, Illinois. The four treatments were randomized factorial design of: 1) burning, 2) fertilization, 3) burning/fertilization, or 4) control. Within treatment plots, two interior and three exterior 1-m² subplots were randomly established to measure culm density (stems/ha), height (cm), diameter (mm), and spread (increase in live culm density by the outward movement from interior subplots into exterior subplots) prior to treatment and after one and two growing seasons. Fertilized and fertilized/burned plots were treated in summers of 2011 and 2012 with a half corn rate of nitrogen (56 kg ha-1), phosphorus (22 kg ha-1), and potassium (37 kg ha-1). Prescribed burning took place in March 2012. Data were analyzed using a three way analysis of variance (fire, fertilization and subplot) (α = 0.05). At year 0 (2011), culm density, height and diameter were not significantly different among treatments. By year 2, live culm density in interior plots slightly increased, however density in exterior plots tended to more than double, indicating canebrake expansion over time. Fertilization tended to increase height and had little effect on cane diameter. Research suggests that cane typically increases in both height and diameter simultaneously, suggesting that fertilization only partially provides the resources needed to stimulate growth. Further analysis on fertilization application rates and timing may be necessary to ascertain the efficiency of its role in culm growth and development. Giant cane responded to prescribed burning through a decrease in height and culm diameter. However, fire increased culm density through stimulation of the growth of new culms. In addition, though fire consumed a portion of existing culms, the canebrake emerged vigorously, demonstrating prescribed fire's utility as a tool for land managers to reduce competition and increase canebrake health and expansion.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T18:57:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5731.pdf: 10443315 bytes, checksum: 6ee3add6c6df69821536597088d1b32d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-04 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Sugarcane plantations are increasing in Brazil motivated by the demand of the sugar industry and the energetic sector. Sugarcane monocultures simplify the landscape and disconnect natural ecosystems. The inclusion of native trees in the canebrake, changing the matrices into an alley cropping system, is a new proposal that consider the environment beyond production. In order to assess the environmental effects in agroforestry was raised sugarcane productivity and development of trees in three crops (2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12), as well as the timber volume and carbon sequestration produced by the system at the end of the year 2012 and a bird survey during 2011 and 2012 in an experimental area of 1,957 hectares. Was found orderly development of tree species. Schizolobium parahyba present a significant mortality, but had the largest wood production thus coming to the same conclusion in relation to carbon sequestration, which are 3 times those of the Handroanthus spp. and 2 times the Cedrela fissilis. There was no change in the sugarcane productivity related to the distance line planting was the alley, with only a drop productivity in the range of 58 m cultivation. Birds are important bioindicators; trees contributed to the increased diversity of birds, being Schizolobium parahyba the arboreal species of most relevant importance. The spacing between alleys with the greatest diversity of birds was to 29 m. It is concluded that it is technically possible deployment agroecosystem proposed, without agronomic production damage of cane sugar; the 2 smaller bands cultivation (29 m and 43.5 m) are the most suitable; among tree species Schizolobium parahyba was the one with the best results in the short term, since the issue of mortality could be remedied with proper management or replanting. / O plantio de cana-de-açúcar está em franca expansão no Brasil motivado pela demanda do setor sucroenergético. Os canaviais em matrizes monoculturais simplificam a paisagem e desconectam ecossistemas naturais. A inserção de aleias com árvores nativas em canavial é uma nova proposta que contempla o ambiente além da produção. Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos ambientais e a produtividade agrossilvicultural nesse sistema agroflorestal, foram levantados em uma área experimental de 1,957 hectares, o rendimento da cana-de-açúcar e o desenvolvimento das árvores constituintes das aleias em 3 safras (2009/10, 2010/11 e 2011/12); bem como o volume de madeira produzido e a fixação de carbono pelo sistema ao final do ano de 2012; e a dinâmica da avifauna durante os anos de 2011 e 2012. Constatou-se um desenvolvimento regular das espécies arbóreas, observando grande taxa de mortalidade do guapuruvu (60%). Foi possível constatar a maior produção de madeira pelo guapuruvu, consequentemente chegando aos mesmos resultados em relação à fixação de carbono, sendo estes 3 vezes superiores aos do ipê e 2 vezes ao cedro. A produtividade da cana não esteve relacionada com a distância entre a linha de plantio e a aleia, apresentando queda apenas na faixa de cultivo de 58 m. A avifauna foi considerada um bioindicador consistente; o guapuruvu foi a espécie florestal com maior importância para o aumento da diversidade de aves e o espaçamento entre aleias com a maior riqueza foi o de 29 m. Conclui-se que é tecnicamente possível a implantação do agrossistema proposto, sem prejuízo agronômico da produção da cana-de-açúcar, sendo as 2 menores faixas de cultivo (29 e 43,5 m) as mais propícias e o guapuruvu a espécie arbórea com melhores resultados em curto prazo, desde que a questão da mortalidade seja sanada com replantio ou manejo adequado.

The research in this thesis concentrates on investigation of the ecology of Arundinaria species for restoration purposes. Arundinaria species are key components in the canebrake ecosystem that was once prominent in the southeastern United States. Arundinaria still occurs as an understory component of bottomland hardwood forests, but with intense agricultural development and urbanization over the past 200 years, canebrakes are now a critically endangered ecosystem with greater than 98% loss. Specifically the thesis addresses the establishment of Arundinaria with other plant species and site preparation techniques. This study indicated that A. gigantea planted into plots dominated by non-native plants benefited significantly more from site preparation (soil tillage, herbicide application) than cane planted into native-species-dominated assemblages. The last portion of the research examined effects of inundation on A. gigantea and A. tecta. Arundinaria tecta appeared to be more flood tolerant than A. gigantea, reflecting habitats in which these species are known to occur.