Growth and invasive potential ofSapium sebiferum(Euphorbiaceae) within the coastal prairie region: the effects of soil and moisture regime

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Abstract
The introduced treeSapium sebiferum(Euphorbiaceae) is considered a serious threat to the preservation of the coastal prairie region of Louisiana and Texas, although it is currently uncommon in the western part of the region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of location, soils, and available moisture on the growth and survival ofS. sebiferumin coastal prairie. In a field experiment,S. sebiferummortality was significantly greater at a western site than at central and eastern sites. The greatest mortality and least growth of surviving plants occurred on a soil from the western region, regardless of site. A greenhouse study also found thatS. sebiferumgrowth was lowest on the western soil. Watering frequency significantly affectedS. sebiferumgrowth, except on the western soil.Sapium sebiferumgrowth responded to both nitrogen and phosphorus additions for all soils. Soil analyses revealed the highest sand, sodium, and phosphorus contents, and much higher electrical conductivity in the western soil. It is concluded that the soil examined from the western region is unfavorable forS. sebiferumgrowth, though not to the extent to precludeS. sebiferumcompletely. Evidence suggests that soil salinity may be the primary cause of the poorS. sebiferumgrowth at the western site.