The influence of waterlogging on the establishment of four Australian landscape trees

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to test the ability of recently planted trees to grow new roots under water-logged conditions and to recover from waterlogging. Corymbia maculata (spotted gum, syn. Eucalyptus maculata), Lophostemon confertus (brush box), Platanus orientalis (oriental plane), and Platanus X acerifolia (London plane) were subjected to a period of waterlogging and then to a recovery phase after waterlogging had ceased. Root length was measured at the end of both the waterlogging and recovery phases. The species were found to vary considerably in their ability to tolerate and recover from a period of waterlogging. Waterlogging suppressed root and shoot growth in all experimental species. Young spotted gum and oriental plane were able to initiate new roots under waterlogged conditions but London plane and brush box were not.