SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Digital Commons @ ESF Dissertations and Theses Winter 12-11-2017 A PILOT NURSERY STUDY OF THE MISSOURI GRAVEL BED SYSTEM ON PHYTOREMEDIATION TREE SPECIES, POPULUS DELTOIDES X POPULUS NIGRA DN34 AND PINUS NIGRA, FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH ENHANCEMENT OVER SOIL GROWN TREES Thomas Frontera [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds Recommended Citation Frontera, Thomas, "A PILOT NURSERY STUDY OF THE MISSOURI GRAVEL BED SYSTEM ON PHYTOREMEDIATION TREE SPECIES, POPULUS DELTOIDES X POPULUS NIGRA DN34 AND PINUS NIGRA, FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH ENHANCEMENT OVER SOIL GROWN TREES" (2017). Dissertations and Theses. 45. https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds/45 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ ESF. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ESF. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. A PILOT NURSERY STUDY OF THE MISSOURI GRAVEL BED SYSTEM ON PHYTOREMEDIATION TREE SPECIES, POPULUS DELTOIDES X POPULUS NIGRA DN34 AND PINUS NIGRA, FOR POTENTIAL GROWTH ENHANCEMENT OVER SOIL GROWN TREES by Thomas John Frontera II A thesis submitted in partial fulfillent of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York May 2018 Department of Landscape Architecture Approved by: Tim Toland, Major Professor Dr. Lee Newman, Steering Committee Member Dr. Doug Johnston, Steering Committee Member and Department Chair Terry Ettinger, Thesis Examiner Dr. Jose Giner, Examining Committee Chair S. Scott Shannon, Dean, The Graduate School © 2018 Copyright T.J. Frontera II All rights reserved Acknowledgements I would like to thank my thesis committee, Dave and Jeanne Ryan of Rare Earth Nursery without whom this thesis would not have been possible, and my family especially my father who endured my countless thesis drafts. Lastly, I dedicate this thesis to my mother Ann Marie Frontera. Rest in Peace Mom. Frontera iii Table of Contents Abstract: ........................................................................................................................................ vii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1: Background and Literature Review ..................................................................................... 1 1.1.1: Root Forms Available in the Nursery Industry ............................................................. 1 1.1.2 Missouri Gravel Bed System (MGBS) ........................................................................... 9 1.1.3: Rational for Study Plant Species Selection ................................................................. 12 Chapter 2: Materials and Methods ................................................................................................ 14 2.1: Experiment Set-Up ............................................................................................................. 14 2.2: Measuring Success of the Trees ......................................................................................... 19 2.3: Study and Research Questions ........................................................................................... 25 Chapter 3: Results ......................................................................................................................... 26 3.1: Statistical Analysis: ............................................................................................................ 26 3.2: Populus nigra x Populus deltoides (Hybrid Poplar) .......................................................... 27 3.2.1: Average Percent Growth by Total Wet Weight Analysis ........................................... 28 3.2.2: Average Leaf and Petiole Growth by Dry Weight Analysis ....................................... 29 3.2.3: Average Leaf Surface Area by Wet Weight Analysis ................................................. 30 3.2.4: Average Branch Length of 3 Longest Branches Analysis ........................................... 32 3.2.5: Average Main Stem Growth Analysis ......................................................................... 33 3.2.6: B&B Process Potential Root Loss ............................................................................... 34 3.2.7: Average Root Growth by Dry Weight......................................................................... 35 3.2.8: Root/Shoot Ratio Analysis .......................................................................................... 36 3.3: Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine) ............................................................................................... 38 Chapter 4: Discussion ................................................................................................................... 38 4.1: Answers to Study and Research Questions ........................................................................ 38 4.2: Future Studies and Potential Applications ......................................................................... 42 4.2.1: Sites Prime for Phytoremediation ................................................................................ 42 4.2.2: Other Trees to Experiment with the MGBS ................................................................ 42 Chapter 5: Conclusion................................................................................................................... 44 Resume:......................................................................................................................................... 46 Bibliography: ................................................................................................................................ 47 Frontera iv List of Tables: Table 1: Fertilizers ........................................................................................................................ 18 Table 2: Percent Growth by Total Wet Weight Statistical Information ....................................... 28 Table 3: Leaf and Petiole Growth by Dry Weight Statistical Information ................................... 30 Table 4: Leaf Area (In.2) by Wet Weight Statistical Information ................................................. 31 Table 5: Branch Length of 3 Longest Branches Statistical Information ...................................... 33 Table 6: B&B Potential Root Loss Statistical Information .......................................................... 35 Table 7: Root Growth by Dry Weight Statistical Information ..................................................... 36 Table 8: Root/Shoot Ratio by Dry Weight Statistical Information............................................... 37 Frontera v List of Figures*: Figure 1: B&B Root Loss ............................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2: Root/Shoot Ratio ............................................................................................................. 5 Figure 3: BR Harvesting ................................................................................................................. 8 Figure 4: MGBS Bed .................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 5: MGBS Fine Roots ......................................................................................................... 11 Figure 6: Pre-Experiment Image ................................................................................................... 14 Figure 7: MGBS Test Bed ............................................................................................................ 15 Figure 8: Soil................................................................................................................................. 16 Figure 9: Soil W/ Fert. Test Bed ................................................................................................... 17 Figure 10: AutoCAD Analysis of Poplar ...................................................................................... 19 Figure 11: AutoCAD Analysis of Pine ......................................................................................... 20 Figure 12: Surface Area Per Gram................................................................................................ 20 Figure 13: Poplar Leaf Harvest ..................................................................................................... 21 Figure 14: Taylor Digital Food Scale ........................................................................................... 22 Figure 15: MGBS Harvester ......................................................................................................... 23 Figure 16: Soil Group Harvesting ................................................................................................. 23 Figure 17: Measuring B&B Root Loss ......................................................................................... 24 Figure 18: Plant Material Drying .................................................................................................. 24 Figure 19: Percent Growth by Total Wet Weight ......................................................................... 27 Figure 20: Leaf and Petiole Growth by Dry Weight....................................................................