Soil Morphological, Physical, and Chemical Parameters Affecting Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Site Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Potential in East Texas

There has been a large decline in coverage of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) within its range in the southeastern United States since the time of European settlement. Due to this decline, interest has developed in the re-establishment of this species on suitable sites. However, many attempts have been unsuccessful in re-establishment, likely in part due to the lack of emphasis on selection of suitable soils. Historically, longleaf pine was found on soils with a wide range of soil properties, including higher quality soils, due to frequent fires which kept many competing species suppressed. Decline in longleaf pine coverage has been attributed to many factors, including both site conversion and fire exclusion. Much of the land that originally supported longleaf pine in the southeastern United States has been converted to agricultural use, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda Mill.) plantations, and urban development. Fire has often been excluded from longleaf pine ecosystems in recent history due to concern for human health, safety, and liability. Because of limited funding and reduced opportunities for prescribed fire use, longleaf pine ecosystem restoration efforts might be best focused on more marginal soils that have characteristics that naturally restrain herbaceous and hardwood competition. However, there is a need to quantify the potential productivity for longleaf pine on these marginal soils and to develop understandings of edaphic factors limiting their growth. Soil morphological, physical, and chemical properties in existing longleaf pine ecosystems on three soil series in the Angelina and Sabine National Forests in east Texas were evaluated to develop a better understanding of how variation in soil properties may affect longleaf pine site quality. Analysis of variance and regression techniques were used to compare soil properties for three different soil mapping units: Letney (Arenic Paleudults), Stringtown (Typic Hapludults), and Tehran (Grossarenic Paleudults). These soils all support natural longleaf pine stands, but vary in texture, depth to argillic horizons, nutrient availability, available water capacity, and other parameters which are likely related to site quality, as measured by site index, of longleaf pine. Longleaf pine site index was influenced by depth to E horizon, depth to first argillic B horizon, texture of B horizon, and nutrients in the B horizon. B horizon physical and chemical variables appeared to be most influential on observed site index values for longleaf pine on the soils in the study

Soil parameters affecting longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) site quality in east Texas

The decline since European colonization in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) within its range in the southeastern United States, attributed to factors including both site conversion and fire exclusion has spurred interest in the re-establishment of the species. Land that originally supported longleaf pine in the southeastern United States has often been converted for agricultural use, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda Mill.) plantations, and urban development. Longleaf pine was found on a wide range of soil properties due to frequent fires which kept many competing species suppressed; fire has often been excluded due to human health, safety, and liability concerns. Longleaf pine ecosystem restoration efforts might be best focused on soils that have characteristics that naturally restrain herbaceous and hardwood competition. Properties of three soil series in east Texas that historically or are currently supporting longleaf pine ecosystems were evaluated. Analysis of Variance, Principal Component Analysis, and regression techniques were used to compare soil properties; while all three soils historically supported longleaf pine, they vary in texture, depth to argillic horizons, nutrient availability, available water capacity, and other parameters which are likely related to site quality, as measured by site index. Longleaf pine site index is influenced by depth to E and the first argillic B horizons, B horizon texture and nutrients. B horizon physical and chemical variables appear to be the most influential for longleaf pine site index on these sites, and should be considered when evaluating potential sites for longleaf pine restoration efforts

Health & Nutritional Sciences Free Communication Day: Spring 2021 Plan B Abstracts

This document contains Plan B abstracts presented by graduate students at the Health and Nutritional Sciences Free Communication Day, held on May 4th, 2021. Abstract titles include: Local Restaurants’ Marketing and Sponsorship Within Collegiate Athletics Preparing the Future of Campus Recreation Motivational Factors Influencing College Choice: NCAA Division I Female Volleyball Athletes The Significance of a Successful Internship Program Foundations of Publicly Subsidized Sport Stadiums: The Case of U.S. Bank Stadium Enhancing Member Experience During a Pandemic The Risk of Depression in Football Players Diagnosed with a Concussion Effectiveness of Color-Tinted Glasses in Reducing Photophobia in Patients Diagnosed with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion Policies Surrounding Transgender Athletes and Participation in Competitive Sports Carbon Fiber Insole’s Effect on Running Mechanics in Recreational Runners Comprehensive Analysis of School Wellness Policy Toolkits Fasting for Weight Loss Lactate Supplementation on Exercise Performance Dietitian Involvement in Protein Recommendation Research for AthletesProject title:Supplementation of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improves Recovery and Exercise Performance in Healthy Adults. A Narrative Review of Grocery Store Interventions on Improving Healthy Food Purchases The Relationship Between American Indian’s Socioeconomic Status, Diet, & Gut Microbiome: A Preliminary Research Study Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Pregnancy, Fetal, and Infant Development The Relationship of Blood Serum Levels of Vitamin B6, Folate, and Vitamin B12 on Depressive Symptoms in Adults Aged 18-65