Johanna Croce
The magnitude or frequency of fires in the mountain dry forests of north-western Argentina, may limit their perpetuity implying the loss of the benefits provided by them. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of natural regeneration and, try restoration techniques. Understanding the effects of facilitation and competition of neighbour’s plants on germination, growth and survival of dominant tree species is essential to assess the post-fire regeneration mechanisms. Our aim is to understand plant-plant interactions occurring in the area, in order to establish reforestation practices to ensure the establishment of the planted tree seedlings.
Breeding of Palo Borracho in nursery.
Field and common garden experiments will be carried out to study the implications of plant-plant interactions in forest restoration.
The objective of the field experiments is to establish whether there are positive interactions (and its magnitude) between the seedlings of three tree species (cebil colorado, lapacho and palo borracho) and plants of different life forms that have colonized the area after fires. In addition, environmental conditions will be evaluated under the coverage of each of the life forms, in order to establish which environmental factor is modified and in which magnitude.
We will sow seeds and transplant saplings of tree species in patches with different cover types (herbaceous, woody and grass). Growth and survival will be measured. Humidity and temperature, radiation and soil moisture values under the cover of nurse plants and outside it will be also registered.
The experiment in common garden aims to determine whether the magnitude of the interactions between plants varies according to a stress gradient (considering the seasonality of the ecosystem), so a seedling bank of the three selected tree species will be generated with homogeneous of Size, vigour and phytosanitary state to perform an independent experiment for each species. Seeds and seedlings under different light, humidity, and coverage controlled conditions will be planted. Growth and survival will be recorded.