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Observations of below-ground characteristics of young redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) from two sites in New Zealand – implications for erosion control

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Abstract

Aims

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) plantations are widely used to control erosion in New Zealand. However, other species with similar growth but longer rotation lengths and ability to coppice may offer future alternatives to radiata pine. Comparing performance of alternative species to radiata thus becomes important if policy is to be developed to promote them.

Methods

The below-ground characteristics (roots) of young redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) trees from two established plantations in New Zealand were examined and compared with those of radiata pine, and selected poplar and New Zealand native species.

Results

Roots with diameters less than 10 mm comprised over 99 % of total root length in 3-yr-old trees and 98 % of total root length in 4-yr-old trees. For roots greater than 2 mm in diameter, total root length of young redwood trees was greater than that of young radiata pine, poplar and the best performing New Zealand native plant. Total root length at a given root collar diameter for young (1–4 year old) redwood trees was significantly greater than for radiata pine trees. Roots of redwoods were finer and more numerous than for radiata but the below-ground biomass for a given root collar diameter showed no statistical difference between the two species.

Conclusions

Redwood, because of its comparable growth rate and the production of many fine lateral roots, has the potential to become a keystone erosion-control species in New Zealand, especially on steep lands where there is an increased risk of post-harvest landsliding associated with moderate to severe rainstorm events.

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Acknowledgments

Russell Coker, Operations Manager of New Zealand Redwood Company, is thanked for allowing the destructive sampling of trees assessed in this study. Graham Coker and Dave Henley (Scion) are thanked for providing above-ground biomass data at our two redwood sites and for providing data on radiata to enable comparisons to be made. Kaisa Valkonen, Danny Thornburrow and John Dando assisted with root extraction, processing or data entry. Christine Bezar edited a draft of this paper. This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Contract C04X0806 Protecting and Enhancing the Environment through Forestry).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand

    Christopher J. Phillips & Alex Watson

  2. Landcare Research, PO Box 445, Gisborne, 4040, New Zealand

    Michael Marden

  3. Landcare Research, Private Bag 11052, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    Suzanne Lambie & Craig Ross

  4. Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    Scott Fraser

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  1. Christopher J. Phillips
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  2. Michael Marden
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  3. Suzanne Lambie
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  4. Alex Watson
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  5. Craig Ross
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Phillips.

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Responsible Editor: Alexia Stokes.

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Phillips, C.J., Marden, M., Lambie, S. et al. Observations of below-ground characteristics of young redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) from two sites in New Zealand – implications for erosion control. Plant Soil 363, 33–48 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1286-4

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