Soil characteristics of sediment-amended baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps of coastal Louisiana
Wetlands
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Abstract
Amendments of sediment from dredging activities have played an important role in raising the elevation of sinking coastal wetlands. This study compared the soil characteristics of sediment- amended coastal swamps in the Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve with natural swamps along Bayou des Familles. The sandy sediment amendments used in the coastal forests had different soil texture and characteristics than the more organic soils of the natural swamps. Three years after the application of these sediments on the sediment-amended swamps, dewatering and compaction of the sediment had occurred but the sediment still had high salinity and bulk density, and low organic matter content. The two sediment-amended swamps differed from each other in that Site 1 had a higher elevation (mean = 25 cm higher) and drier soil than Site 2. The effects of sediment in coastal forested wetlands require separate consideration from studies of salt marshes, e.g., the weight of the sediment might damage tree roots, or the amendments might influence soil stability during storms in a different way. Generally, this study suggests that shallower depths of sediment are more likely to yield environments beneficial to these sinking baldcypress swamps in coastal Louisiana.
Suggested Citation
Jiang, M., Middleton, B.A., 2011, Soil characteristics of sediment-amended baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps of coastal Louisiana: Wetlands, v. 31, no. 4, p. 735-744, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-011-0189-0.
ISSN: 1943-6246 (online)
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Soil characteristics of sediment-amended baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps of coastal Louisiana |
| Series title | Wetlands |
| DOI | 10.1007/s13157-011-0189-0 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication Date | June 07, 2011 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Publisher location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Contributing office(s) | National Wetlands Research Center |
| Description | 10 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Wetlands |
| First page | 735 |
| Last page | 744 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |