Leguminous Plants Increase Sycamore Growth in Northern Alabama

Abstract

Tree growth in a 2‐year‐old sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) plantation in northern Alabama significantly increased over the following 4 years after three clovers and two vetches were grown with the trees. Leguminous plants were chosen to: (i) provide weed control through good ground coverage, (ii) maintain a low profile, (iii) grow during the cool season so as not to compete with the sycamore, (iv) provide cover for several years after establishment through their ability to reseed, and (v) make additional nitrogen (N) available through the fixation process. Following establishment of the leguminous plants, sycamore height and volume growth were increased as were N concentrations in sycamore foliage. Of the plants tested, Mississippi subterranean (Trifolium subteraneum L.) and crimson clovers (T. incarnatum L.) gave good ground coverage, maintained a low profile, reseeded themselves well, and increased the N content of sycamore foliage in addition to improving height and volume growth.

Agroforestry systems for the temperate zone

“…In northern Alabama, tree growth in a two-year-old sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) plantation significantly increased during four years in which clover and vetch were grown within the plantation [23].…”

THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS.: 76. Vicia angustifolia L.,V. cracca L., V. sativa L., V. tetrasperma (L.) Schreb. and V. villosa Roth.

“…villosa, and that higher seeding rates reduced yield. Nordstrom (1982) (Rietveld 1983 Haines et al (1978) found that V. villosa was one of five legumes used as ground cover which increased tree growth in a Platanus occidentalis L. plantation in northern Alabama (U.S.A.). A race of V. sativahas been found to mimic Lens esculenra in seed size and shape and has spread and dominated crops of the latter (Rowlands 1959).…”

The ecology of even-aged forest plantations

“…Haines, Haines and White (1978) reported encouraging results in 'a young sycamore (Pseudoplatanus occidentalis) plantation in northern Alabama. After four years with a clover cover crop, Trifolium spp, the volume of a six-year old plantation was7TTAT.…”