Response of peat swamp forest species to light intensity

Published source details Rusmana ., Rachmanadi D., Santosa P.B., Yuwati T.W. & Graham L.L.B. (2014) Response of peat swamp forest species to light intensity. Pages 2-14 in: F.R.U. Banjarbu, . FORDA & L.L.B. Graham (eds.) Tropical Peat Swamp Forest Silviculture in Central Kalimantan. Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership, Indonesia.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cover peatland with something other than mulch (after planting) Action Link

Cover peatland with something other than mulch (after planting)

A replicated, randomized, controlled, before-and-after study in 2011 in a nursery in Indonesia (Rusmana et al. 2014) reported that shading with plastic mesh typically had no effect on survival of planted tree seedlings, but that shaded seedlings grew taller and thinner than unshaded seedlings. These results are not based on tests of statistical significance. Shading had no effect on survival to four months for 10 of 20 species (100% whether shaded or not) but increased survival for 8 of 20 species (shaded: 80–100%; full sun: 60–90%). Shaded seedlings typically grew taller (18 of 19 species) but had thinner stems (12 of 19 species) than seedlings grown in full sun (see original paper for data). In August 2011, 10 random seedlings per species received each shade treatment: 75%, 50% or none (full sun). Seedlings were grown in pots from seed or transplanted from the wild. Shade was created with one or two layers of plastic mesh, each layer blocking 50% of incoming light. Measurements were taken before (August) and after four months of shading (December).

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)