Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany

Black Locust/Robinia can play an important role in land reclamation due to its pronounced nitrogen fixation capability, fast initial growth and relative high drought tolerance. Hence, we set up a trial to test 12 Black Locust clones and three provenances growing on sandy overburden material within t...

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Main Authors: Christian A. Lange, Dirk Knoche, Robin Hanschke, Sonja Löffler, Volker Schneck
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/2/315
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author Christian A. Lange
Dirk Knoche
Robin Hanschke
Sonja Löffler
Volker Schneck
author_facet Christian A. Lange
Dirk Knoche
Robin Hanschke
Sonja Löffler
Volker Schneck
author_sort Christian A. Lange
collection DOAJ
description Black Locust/Robinia can play an important role in land reclamation due to its pronounced nitrogen fixation capability, fast initial growth and relative high drought tolerance. Hence, we set up a trial to test 12 Black Locust clones and three provenances growing on sandy overburden material within the open cast lignite mine <i>Welzow-Süd</i> (South Brandenburg) in March 2014. Since then, biomass growth of the Black Locust trees was examined and physiological performance was studied on several occasions using chlorophyll a fluorescence and Dualex<sup>®</sup> measuring technique. Plant physiological measurements revealed differences in photosynthetic vitality (PI<sub>ABS</sub>), although the PI<sub>ABS</sub> values followed a similar pattern and sequences across the plot. While the genotypes <i>Fra3</i> and <i>Roy</i> show the highest photosynthetic vitality, the clones <i>Rog</i> and <i>Rob</i> display the lowest PI<sub>ABS</sub> mean values. Chlorophyll and phenol content as well as the nutrition supply of the test trees vary depending on their origin and site conditions. The annual biomass growth rate corresponds to photosynthetic vitality and both depend on weather conditions during the growing season. After six years, the growing biomass amounts to 14.7 Mg d.m. ha<sup>−1</sup> for clone <i>Rob</i> and 44.8 Mg d.m. ha<sup>−1</sup> for clone <i>Fra3</i>, i.e., 2.5 to 7.5 Mg d.m. ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>. Our data demonstrate a good correlation between biophysical parameters and biomass growth. We, thus, infer that physiological measuring methods can be combined to strengthen predictions regarding the physiological performance of Black Locust origins.
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spelling doaj.art-183375bae43844e4b532136154fc20d12023-11-23T19:57:36ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-02-0113231510.3390/f13020315Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern GermanyChristian A. Lange0Dirk Knoche1Robin Hanschke2Sonja Löffler3Volker Schneck4Forschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V. (FIB), Brauhausweg 2, 03238 Finsterwalde, GermanyForschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V. (FIB), Brauhausweg 2, 03238 Finsterwalde, GermanyForschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V. (FIB), Brauhausweg 2, 03238 Finsterwalde, GermanyLandeskompetenzzentrum Forst Eberswalde (LFE), Alfred-Möller-Straße 1, 16225 Eberswalde, GermanyThuenen Institute of Forest Genetics, Eberswalder Chaussee 3a, 15377 Waldsieversdorf, GermanyBlack Locust/Robinia can play an important role in land reclamation due to its pronounced nitrogen fixation capability, fast initial growth and relative high drought tolerance. Hence, we set up a trial to test 12 Black Locust clones and three provenances growing on sandy overburden material within the open cast lignite mine <i>Welzow-Süd</i> (South Brandenburg) in March 2014. Since then, biomass growth of the Black Locust trees was examined and physiological performance was studied on several occasions using chlorophyll a fluorescence and Dualex<sup>®</sup> measuring technique. Plant physiological measurements revealed differences in photosynthetic vitality (PI<sub>ABS</sub>), although the PI<sub>ABS</sub> values followed a similar pattern and sequences across the plot. While the genotypes <i>Fra3</i> and <i>Roy</i> show the highest photosynthetic vitality, the clones <i>Rog</i> and <i>Rob</i> display the lowest PI<sub>ABS</sub> mean values. Chlorophyll and phenol content as well as the nutrition supply of the test trees vary depending on their origin and site conditions. The annual biomass growth rate corresponds to photosynthetic vitality and both depend on weather conditions during the growing season. After six years, the growing biomass amounts to 14.7 Mg d.m. ha<sup>−1</sup> for clone <i>Rob</i> and 44.8 Mg d.m. ha<sup>−1</sup> for clone <i>Fra3</i>, i.e., 2.5 to 7.5 Mg d.m. ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>. Our data demonstrate a good correlation between biophysical parameters and biomass growth. We, thus, infer that physiological measuring methods can be combined to strengthen predictions regarding the physiological performance of Black Locust origins.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/2/315<i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i> L.photosynthetic vitalitychlorophyll and phenol contentnutrition supplydry matter yieldland reclamation
spellingShingle Christian A. Lange
Dirk Knoche
Robin Hanschke
Sonja Löffler
Volker Schneck
Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany
Forests
<i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i> L.
photosynthetic vitality
chlorophyll and phenol content
nutrition supply
dry matter yield
land reclamation
title Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany
title_full Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany
title_fullStr Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany
title_full_unstemmed Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany
title_short Physiological Performance and Biomass Growth of Different Black Locust Origins Growing on a Post-Mining Reclamation Site in Eastern Germany
title_sort physiological performance and biomass growth of different black locust origins growing on a post mining reclamation site in eastern germany
topic <i>Robinia pseudoacacia</i> L.
photosynthetic vitality
chlorophyll and phenol content
nutrition supply
dry matter yield
land reclamation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/2/315
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