Organic mulches increase growth of young pecan trees

Abstract

Organic mulches (leaves, pine nuggets, pine straw, grass clippings, andchipped limbs) were applied at depths of 10, 20, or 30 cm in a 3 x 3-m areaaround young pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] trees. Thesetreatments were compared to an unmulched herbicide treatment and a commonbermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] sod. Trunk cross-sectional areas(TCSAs) of the mulched trees were larger than those of trees in the sod orunmulched plots and increased linearly as mulch depth increased. All mulchesinfluenced TCSA similarly. Mean TCSA for mulched trees increased 14-foldcompared to an increase of 8-fold for the unmulched trees and the sod in this3-year study. Thus, common yard-waste mulches can be used effectively toincrease growth of young pecan trees.