The Effect of Regolith Composition on the Growth of Invasive Grass Species in California

SMSU Event Center BC

The research performed in this study shows the difference in the growth rate of two invasive plant species in California due to the soil regolith the plants grow in. Three types of early soils were used for this study: a basalt soil, a serpentinite soil, and a granite soil. A control soil composed of peat moss and sand was also used. The two plant species used were: Pennisetum setaceum, and Avena sativa. Two trials were conducted over a two month time period. In both trials, the plant species show the greatest growth rate in the basalt soil. The serpentine soil had stunted growth that was expected from previous literature on this type of soil. The growth rate in the granite soil was constant about 1.5 times smaller than the growth rate of the basalt. This type of research could provide more information to legislation when creating environmental parameters on the impacts of invasive plant species in Southern California.