Publication Date

1997

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Messenger, A. Steven

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Geography

LCSH

Pin oaks--Diseases and pests; Soil acidification; Chlorosis (Plants)

Abstract

Pin oaks (Quercus palustris Muench.) suffering from lime-induced interveinal chlorosis have been successfullytreated through soil acidification. However, soil acidification produces soluble salts which can have detrimental effects on trees. The intent of the research was to determine 1) if soil acidification lowered soil pH and produced soluble salts; 2) which of the soil acidification treatment patterns and seasons of application was most significant at re-greening chlorotic pin oaks; and 3) which spil acidification method and season produced the least detrimental impact on the health of the leaves. The study was conducted at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, on interveinally chlorotic pin oaks. The trees were divided into six groups and assigned a treatment based on acidification pattern type and season. Subsoil acidification consisted of the addition of 57 liters of sulfuric acid amended with 3 00 grams of manganese sulfate to either the two-inch or six-holes drilled eighteen inches deep. Surface treatments consisted of granular sulfur and aluminum sulfate applied at 4.5 Kg per 30.5 square meters. Spring treatments were implemented as: 1) several two-inch holes placed in two concentric ring^ around the tree with surface treatment; 2) control = no treatment; 3) four sixinch holes with surface treatment; 4) four six-inch holes without surface treatment; and 5) pressure-injected holes placed six inches below ground in two concentric rings around the tree with surface treatment. Summer treatments consisted of the four six-inch hole design without surface application. One half of the trees were irrigated for three days after the acidification treatment to induce leaching conditions. The effect of treatment type on leaf health was assessed through a comparison of means on a self-constructed index. Soil pHs and electrolytic conductivities were measured from soil cores extracted one week prior to and five weeks after treatment. The results show that l)soil acidification significantly lowers the soil pH and significantly increases soluble salts; 2) the response of the trees to a spring treatment of four six-inch holes with surface treatment differed significantly from the controls, but no other pairs of treatments differed; 3) the spring two-inch hole treatment was least damaging to leaf health; and 4) the summer treatment of four six-inch holes was the most damaging to leaf health.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [54]-57)

Extent

v, 57 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

Download

Share

COinS