Restoring Aristida stricta to Pinus palustris ecosystems on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA

Aristida stricta (wiregrass), a perennial bunchgrass, quickly accumulates d ead leaves, which along with the shed needles of Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) provide the fuel for frequent surface fires. Thus, historically, wire grass played a key role in many longleaf communities where it significantly influenced the natural fire regime and thereby the composition of the plan t community. Reestablishment of wiregrass is, therefore, critical to restor ing the native understory of Atlantic Coastal Plain longleaf pine ecosystem s. This study measured the effects of different site preparations and ferti lizer application on the survival and growth of wiregrass seedlings. Two-mo nth-old seedlings were underplanted in existing longleaf pine stands on dry Lakeland soils at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Survival was acceptable at 51% after four years, although reduced owing to drought and s mall seedling size. Survival and growth could both be increased by using ol der seedlings with an initial height of at least 6 cm. Wiregrass leaves gre w quite rapidly and attained an average length of 48 cm in four years on co ntrol plots. Basal area growth rate was greater than expected, averaging 40 % on control treatments and 55% on cultivated and fertilized plots. If grow th rates during the first four seasons continue, wiregrass will attain matu re size on cultivated and fertilized plots at six years, while non-fertiliz ed control plots will take eight years. A planting density of one seedling per m(2) is recommended to provide sufficient wiregrass foliar cover to inf luence fire regimes in a reasonable length of time (i.e., 5-7 years).