Survival and Growth of Three Hardwood Species (Fraxinus angustifolia, Ulmus laevis and U. minor) on a BottomlandSite with Heavy Clay Soil

Seedlings of Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl., Ulmus laevis Pall. and U. minor Mill. were grown in nursery for this study. The one-year old bareroot planting stocks so produced were out-planted on the bottomland site with heavy clay soils and 360 seedlings per species was assessed two years after planting for diameter, height and survival. Significant differences were found among species in survival, diameter and height. Fraxinus angustifolia and U. laevis had excellent survival (100%) and survival was lower in U. minor (92%). Ulmus laevis had the greatest height increment (128.3 cm) and total height (187.5 cm) followed by U. minor. Fraxinus angustifolia had the lowest height increment (76.4 cm) and total height (147.2 cm). Diameter increment was also different among species and U. laevis had the greatest diameter increment (15.1 mm) and there were not significant differences among U. minor and F. angustifolia. It might be concluded that the overall survival and growth of the species were high enough on this bottomland site with heavy clay soils although there were significant differences among the species in survival and growth. © 2007 Academic Journals.