Growing Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea) for Canebrake Restoration: Greenhouse Propagation and Field Trials

Abstract

The environmental importance of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) habitat (i.e, canebrake) has spurred interest in restoration; however, restoration is hindered by a lack of available planting stock and practical establishment techniques. Rhizomes from 2 southern Illinois canebrakes (Rose and Bellrose Farms) were utilized in greenhouse propagation and field restoration trials to determine if culm, or stem, production and growth from bare rhizomes planted in containers were influenced by collection origin, growing period duration, rhizome morphology, or refrigerated storage. Culms developed (survived) from 77% of Rose Farm rhizomes versus 37% of Bellrose rhizomes after 1 month. Survival was not affected by an additional month in the greenhouse or 1 month of storage. Mean tallest culm height was similar after 1 month for both sources but increased nearly 4-fold when grown for an additional month. We also compared survival and growth of the greenhouse-grown and stored bare rhizome stock that was machine-planted in field plots receiving either pre-planting herbicide treatment or a non-herbicided control at 2 field sites (Big Creek and Perks). Mean field survival after 1 year was 62.2% at Big Creek and 38.8% at Perks. Herbicide did not affect cane survival or growth. Field survival was greatest for stock of Rose Farm origin especially if planted as in-leaf containerized plants. Rhizome length and number of buds also appeared to have an effect on survival. These data suggest that giant cane bare rhizomes, collected from tested sources, can be successfully machine-planted to produce surviving plants for the restoration of canebrakes.