3.1 | Plant height
Comparisons between the estimated mean height of each phytometer species
grown in home and redcedar soils revealed many significant differences
(Appendix Table 1). A. gerardi height in live home soils showed a
strong negative feedback when compared to height in sterile home soils
(t = 17.2, p<0.001). Height of A. gerardi in sterile
home soils was greater than in sterile redcedar soils (t = 3.3, p =
0.029), but greater than height in home live soils (t = 15.0, p
<0.001) (Figure 2a). Height of A. gerardi in live home
soils was significantly shorter than in live redcedar soils (t = -16.3,
p < 0.001). Similarly, S. scoparium height in home
sterile soils was much greater than in home live soil (t = 10.3,
p<0.001), indicating a strong negative feedback. S.
scoparium height in live (t = 7.6, p < 0.001) and sterile (t
= -7.7, p < 0.001) redcedar soils were shorter than in home
sterile soils. There was no detectable difference in S. scopariumheight when comparing growth in home live soils and sterile or live
redcedar soils (Figure 2b). There was no detectable difference inB. inermis height in live home soils and sterile home soils (t =
-2.7, p = 0.194). The height of B. inermis was suppressed in
sterile redcedar soils relative to live (t = -15.2, p < 0.001)
and sterile (t = 13.0, p <0.001) home soils. (Figure 2c). The
height of B. inermis was also suppressed in live redcedar soils
relative to live (t = 13.5, p < 0.001) and sterile (t = 11.2,
p <0.001) home soils (Figure 2c). The height of P.
smithii showed no detectable difference between live home soils and
sterile home soils (t = 0.5, p = 1.0). The height of P. smithiigrowth was suppressed in sterile redcedar soils relative to sterile (t =
-10.4, p < 0.001) and live (t = -13.0, p <0.001)
home soils. The height of P. smithii growth was also suppressed
in live redcedar soils relative to sterile (t = 13.9, p <
0.001) and live (t = -16.6, p <0.001) home soils. Live
redcedar soils suppressed the height of P. smithii relative to
growth in sterile redcedar soils (t = 4.5, p < 0.001) (Figure
2d).