Disturb soil/sediment surface before planting trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

25%
Certainty

27%
Harms

3%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

This action involves shallow disturbance of the top few centimetres of soil/sediment (and any vegetation on it), without permanently removing any soil/sediment. Mechanical disturbance could be carried out by tilling, ploughing, disking or scarifying. It may improve survival or growth of planted vegetation. It can clear potentially competing vegetation, and loosen up the soil to allow roots to penetrate more easily.

Related actions: Remove surface soil/sediment before planting; Bury surface soil/sediment before planting, including by deep ploughing.

Study locations

Key messages

One study evaluated the effects, on vegetation, of disturbing the surface of brackish/saline wetlands before planting trees/shrubs. The study was in Australia.

VEGETATION COMMUNITY

VEGETATION ABUNDANCE

VEGETATION STRUCTURE

Height (1 study): One replicated, controlled study on an estuarine mudflat in Australia found that ploughing the substrate before planting grey mangrove Avicennia marina propagules had no significant effect on their height after two growing seasons.

OTHER

Survival (1 study): One replicated, controlled study on an estuarine mudflat in Australia found that ploughing the substrate before planting grey mangrove propagules had no significant effect on their survival over two growing seasons.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, controlled study in 1995–1997 on an estuarine mudflat in New South Wales, Australia (Day et al. 1999) found that ploughing substrate before planting grey mangrove Avicennia marina propagules had no significant effect on their survival or seedling height after two growing seasons. At this time, ploughed and unploughed plots, initially planted with 16 propagules, contained a statistically similar number of seedlings (ploughed: 5.9; not ploughed: 6.7 seedlings/plot) and contained seedlings of statistically similar average height (ploughed: 45 cm; not ploughed: 49 cm). Initial survival rates (after two weeks) were also statistically similar in both treatments (ploughed: 4.7; not ploughed: 5.9 seedlings/plot). Methods: In December 1995, some 1-m² plots (number not reported) were established in three areas on a tidal mudflat in the Hunter River estuary. The plots were excavated to 20 cm depth then refilled with the local natural substrate (sand/silt/clay). Some of the plots were then ploughed (10–15 cm depth) whilst the others were not ploughed. Sixteen locally collected grey mangrove propagules were planted into each plot. Seedlings were counted in each area after approximately two weeks, then counted and measured in two of the three areas (where some propagules survived) after 15 months.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Day S., Streever W.J. & Watts J.J. (1999) An experimental assessment of slag as a substrate for mangrove rehabilitation. Restoration Ecology, 7, 139-144.

Please cite as:

Taylor N.G., Grillas P., Smith R.K. & Sutherland W.J. (2021) Marsh and Swamp Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions to Conserve Marsh and Swamp Vegetation. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Marsh and Swamp Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Irrigate (before/after planting) Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Facilitate tidal exchange before/after planting trees/shrubs: freshwater wetlands Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link
Add below-ground organic matter before/after planting trees/shrubs: brackish/saline wetlands Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link