earticle

영어

Rapid reforestation of devastated hillslopes is important for preventing sediment-related disasters due to soil erosion during heavy rains. This study aimed to examine the contribution of jellyfish soil amendment on tree seedling growth as part of a hillside reforestation effort at landslide sites based on 7 years of field monitoring. In 2010, 100g jellyfish soil amendment was applied to each planting hole of 3-year-old Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) seedlings in an attempt to improve the survival and growth of the trees in a strip-terracing system. In the first year, seedling mortality rate was significantly lower in the treatment (4.4%) compared to the control (8.3%) group (p < 0.05). Both mean height and root diameter of C. obtusa seedlings were significantly different between the treatment and control groups and were 95.0 cm and 1.07 cm in the treatment and 40.6 cm and 0.74 cm in the control group in the first year, respectively, 316.1 cm and 3.81 cm in the treatment and 263.6 cm and 3.27 cm in the control group in the fourth year, and 458.0 cm and 6.90 cm in the treatment and 343.0 cm and 4.75 cm in the control group in the seventh year (p < 0.05). The positive growth of C. obtusa seedlings in the treatment group can be explained by a higher soil moisture retention in the initial growth stage and a higher availability of nutrient supply from the jellyfish soil amendment, which acted as a fertilizer. These results suggest that jellyfish soil amendment may contribute greatly to the rapid restoration of devastated hillslopes.