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The effect of tree planting density on the relative development of weeds and hybrid poplars on revegetated mine slopes vulnerable to erosion

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Abstract

In reclaimed waste rocks slopes, the soil cover spread for revegetation is prone to erosion. This soil needs to be immediately protected from soil erosion by above and belowground vegetation. The seeding of fast-growing herbaceous species used in agriculture is generally used on waste rock slopes to control erosion, but these compete with planted trees for resources needed for growth. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of an alternative to these herbaceous species (i.e. fast-growing hybrid poplars) to mitigate soil losses in the short-term. However, the growth of poplars could be impaired by competition from weeds’ colonization. Tree planting density was expected to change competition levels among trees and between trees and weeds, so influencing above and belowground vegetation development and hence effectiveness at controlling soil erosion processes. Five treatments were installed in 2013: 1 × 1, 2 × 2, 4 × 4 m spacing of hybrid poplars; 2 × 2 m spacing, with hydroseeding of fast-growing herbaceous plants; and a control plot with no tree planting or hydroseeding. The planting of hybrid poplars did not decrease soil losses compared to the control plot, regardless of the tree planting density. Weed development through natural colonization occurred in all the non-hydroseeded plots and was more effective at soil erosion control in the short-term than planted trees. The selected clone of hybrid poplar coped well with any competition from weeds for water, since 100% of trees survived after 3 years and since the non-hydroseeded plots produced greater length of roots per soil volume (root length density, RLD) for the poplars compared with the weed species. As early as the first year, the hydroseeded plots showed the highest RLD and a complete cover of vegetation which effectively controlled soil erosion compared to the control plots. However, both treatments with increased competition levels (i.e. highest tree planting density and hydroseeding treatment) showed less aboveground tree biomass. On the hydroseeded plots, where interspecific competition with weeds was the highest, a greater increase in root length was seen during the third year after planting. After 3 years, canopy closure was achieved in the 1 × 1 m spacing treatment, which reduced weed cover.

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Abbreviations

RLD:

Root length density

T:

Control treatment without planted trees or hydroseeding of herbaceous species

T1 m:

Treatment with tree planting at 1 × 1 m spacing, without hydroseeding

T2 m:

Treatment with tree planting at 2 × 2 m spacing, without hydroseeding

T4 m:

Treatment with tree planting at 4 × 4 m spacing, without hydroseeding

T2 mH:

Treatment with tree planting at 2 × 2 m spacing, with hydroseeding

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Canadian Malartic and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through a CRD Grant (Grant No. RDCPJ 462610-13). The authors thank A. and H. Jobin, C. Mirault and undergraduate summer students (namely C. Frénette-Vallières, S. Gervais, M. Rajot, L. Boivin, A. Beaulieu, P. Castro Y Neves, and Y. Goudreau) for assistance in fieldwork, as well as C. Pednault and D. Thellend from Canadian Malartic for fieldwork coordination at the mine site. We also thank the four anonymous reviewers who helped to improve the manuscript with constructive comments.

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  1. Research Institute on Mines and the Environment (RIME), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), 445 boul. de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada

    Arnaud Remaury & Marie Guittonny

  2. Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK

    Jane Rickson

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  1. Arnaud Remaury
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  2. Marie Guittonny
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Correspondence to Marie Guittonny.

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Remaury, A., Guittonny, M. & Rickson, J. The effect of tree planting density on the relative development of weeds and hybrid poplars on revegetated mine slopes vulnerable to erosion. New Forests 50, 555–572 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-018-9678-9

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