Martínez-Rodríguez, José G.

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    Restoration practices for subtropical dry forest in Puerto Rico: ecological and economic aspects for native trees species
    (2012) Martínez-Rodríguez, José G.; Van-Bloem, Skip J.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Thaxton, Jarrod M.; Whitmire, Stefanie L.; Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences; Sojo-Ramos, Norma I.
    Subtropical dry forests that are degraded by human activities may take centuries to recover. Reforestation projects can be an important instrument for the regeneration of dry forests. However, the costs and labor requirements are a challenge. This project explored five management practices (control, irrigation, mulch, mulch-irrigation and mulch-irrigation plus bulldozing) for establishment native tree species. In the rainy season of September 2007 in the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, six native species were planted in two different types of soil (clay and loamy sand). Soil moisture and grass cover were measured to help explain mechanisms that affected success. I evaluated the economic and labor requirements in comparison to the ecological benefits to determine the cost-effectiveness of management practices used to establish native tree species. Three years after planting, the survival rate of the saplings was 81% in both soil types. All species together had approximately more 50% of height growth in clay soil than loamy sand soil. Saplings planted with mulch showed higher growth compared to control and irrigation in loamy sand. Mulch management decreased grass cover and maintained soil moisture over time, and this helped increased growth and survival in the first stage of establishment. Ligh bulldozing after surface helps to maintain weed control for one year after treatment, but after at three years the establishment and growth was not higher than mulch. Mulch/irrigation in combination with bulldozing increased soil moisture and growth, but mulch management was the most cost effective technique for the establishment of native tree species over time. The fastest growing species were C. fruticosum and T. heterophylla, then B. Simaruba; those that showed medium to low growth were B. buceras, B. succulenta and E. aerolatum. The study established that the combination of mulch management with the species, in order of highest growth, C. fruticosum > T. heterophyla > B. simaruba > B. buceras, yielded the most cost-effective management for the restoration of subtropical dry forests.