漂白和热处理对竹材化学组成及重组竹材理化性能的影响

实验对竹束进行漂白和热处理,制备重组竹材,并进行了竹材化学组成、重组竹材物理力学性能和防腐防霉性能的系统研究。结果表明,漂白或热处理均可有效去除竹材中的粗蛋白,去除率分别达43.7%和39.6%;漂白或热处理后,竹材的酸不溶木质素含量增加,综纤维素含量降低。漂白或热处理不会影响重组竹材的物理力学性能,其中顺纹静曲强度和顺纹弹性模量两项指标有所提高。竹材防霉性能较差,但具有天然的耐腐性能,达Ⅱ级耐腐。漂白或热处理均不能改善竹材防霉性能,但可提高其防腐性能,其中竹束热处理后制备的重组竹材可达到Ⅰ级强耐腐。     

热处理对竹基纤维复合材料性能的影响

毛竹竹材的纤维化单板经高温处理后,热压制备成竹基纤维复合材料(BFC).分析热处理对纤维化竹单板化学性能的影响及热处理对BFC表面颜色、尺寸稳定性、力学性能的影响.结果表明:纤维化竹单板经热处理后,其综纤维素和d-纤维素的含量相对于未处理材显著降低,其中半纤维素含量降幅最大；热处理后竹材的pH值相对于未处理材显著降低,碱缓冲容量显著增大,而酸缓冲容量降低.由纤维化竹单板经热处理后制备的BFC,表面颜色变深,吸水厚度膨胀率和吸水宽度膨胀率相对于未处理材显著降低,尺寸稳定性得到改善；材料的静曲强度和水平剪切强度相对于未处理材显著降低,且随着蒸汽压力的增大和热处理时间的增长呈逐渐降低的趋势,而弹性模量变化不显著.     

热处理改性木材的性能分析Ⅲ——热处理材的防霉性能

检测了4种热处理材的防霉性能,以及桦木和樟子松热处理材中还原糖的含量。结果表明,热处理材的含糖量升高,且表面部分比中间部分高。故热处理材比其素材更易长霉,尤其是木材表面部分。清漆处理可避免木材霉变。     

热处理橡胶木的有机酸释放量及其对材性的影响

为了改进橡胶木热处理工艺,采用过热蒸汽作为传热介质,进行橡胶木热处理,检测处理过程中,橡胶木释放有机酸的量,并探讨有机酸对材性的影响.结果表明,提高热处理温度,延长高温阶段处理时间,试材释放有机酸量增加;随着有机酸释放量的上升,橡胶木的平衡含水率降低,质量损失率增加,颜色变深,抗弯强度下降,耐腐性改善.     

饱和蒸汽热处理工艺对毛竹材理化性能及防霉性能的影响北大核心

采用热处理温度为140、160、180℃,热处理时间为20、25、30 min的饱和蒸汽热对毛竹材进行高温改性处理,分析了不同热处理工艺对毛竹材化学成分、结晶度和力学性能的影响,对比了不同热处理工艺条件下毛竹材的防霉效果。结果表明:1)热处理温度在140℃时,竹材中化学成分变化不大。当热处理温度在160℃以上时,竹材中半纤维素和纤维素的含量随热处理时间增加而减少,木质素相对含量呈上升趋势;2)热处理温度和时间都对竹材样品的结晶度有积极的影响;3)热处理温度在140℃时,竹材的弹性模量和静曲强度均比未处理时增加。随着热处理温度的升高和时间的延长,竹材的弹性模量和静曲强度下降,力学性能呈下降趋势。在180℃处理30 min后,处理材的弹性模量和静曲强度较未处理材降低23.15%和19.00%;4)饱和蒸汽热处理竹材的防霉能力与未处理材相比均有提高;热处理温度对竹材的防霉性能的影响大于热处理时间;经180℃处理30 min的竹材其霉变速度最慢,防霉效果最好。     

高温油热处理对竹材淀粉含量及防霉性能的影响

为了探索高温油热处理改性工艺对5年生新鲜毛竹材淀粉含量及防霉性能的影响,研究采用甲基硅油为加热介质,在不同热处理时间(2,4和6 h)和不同热处理温度(140,160,180和200℃)条件下对毛竹进行高温油热处理。利用分光光度计法测量竹材中的淀粉含量,采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察热处理前后竹材微观结构变化,同时对比了不同油热处理工艺下竹材的防霉效果。试验结果表明:未处理竹材的淀粉含量为3.16%,经过油热处理的竹材淀粉含量均少于未处理竹材,且淀粉含量随着油热处理温度和时间的增加而逐渐降低。在200℃、6 h油热处理条件下,处理后竹材的淀粉含量为0.09%,相比于未处理竹材下降97.23%,高温油热处理能够有效降低竹材中淀粉含量;通过SEM观察发现高温油热处理后竹材薄壁细胞组织发生变形破裂,竹材的渗透性提高,细胞腔中淀粉颗粒显著减少,且竹材纹孔及表面有油介质附着提高防霉性能;在竹材防霉试验中,经过油热处理竹材的防霉能力与未处理材相比均有提高。当热处理温度大于160℃时,防霉效果显著,且竹材淀粉含量越低,对霉菌的防霉效果越好。     

樟子松热处理材耐腐性的评价

热处理材由于高温处理改变了木材的成分,可抑制腐朽菌的生长和繁殖,从而提高木材的耐腐能力。根据国家标准,对樟子松热处理材和对照材进行室内耐腐性检测及野外埋地试验。检测结果表明,热处理材的耐腐等级达到Ⅰ级,耐腐性显著提高;在对照材野外埋地试验的耐腐朽等级为0级时,热处理材仍可保持9.5级。     

杉木热处理材的耐腐性研究

采用白腐茵(彩绒革盖茵)和褐腐茵(绵腐卧孔菌),对不同温度热处理前后杉木木材的耐腐性进行研究.研究结果表明:热处理材的处理温度对白腐茵腐朽性没有影响,而褐腐茵对热处理材的腐蚀性随温度的上升而下降,当温度升至220℃时,木材的质量损失率降为0,耐腐性上升为Ⅰ级强耐腐等级.     

樟子松热处理材耐久性能的评价

对樟子松热处理材进行室内防霉、防蚁蛀及野外埋地检测,综合评价其耐久性能。结果表明:樟子松热处理材对霉菌、变色菌均无防治效力,不抗白蚁蛀蚀;樟子松热处理材的耐久年限约为3年。     

热处理工艺对针叶树材耐腐性及力学性能的影响

对热处理后的樟子松、落叶松和扭叶松木材,进行室内耐腐性和力学性能检测,结果表明:随着处理温度的升高和处理时间的延长,3种木材的耐腐性明显增强;木材的弹性模量和抗弯强度均随着处理温度的升高,呈现先增后减的趋势.     

Growth of Phlebiopsis gigantea in wood of seven conifer species

Heterobasidion parviporum and Heterobasidion annosum are widely distributed root‐rot fungi that infect conifers throughout Europe. Infection of conifer stumps by spores of these pathogens can be controlled by treating fresh stumps with a competing non‐pathogenic fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea. In this study, growth of three Latvian strains of P. gigantea and the biological control agent ‘Rotstop’ strain was evaluated in stem pieces of Norway spruce, Scots pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas‐fir, Weymouth pine, Siberian larch and Sitka spruce. The growth rates of one H. parviporum and one H. annosum isolate were also measured in the same stem pieces. The growth rate of P. gigantea varied greatly in wood of different conifer species. It was higher in the three pine species, lower in Norway spruce and lowest in Sitka spruce and Siberian larch, and in Douglas‐fir, this fungus did not grow. The largest area of wood occupied by P. gigantea was in lodgepole pine. Growth of Latvian isolates of P. gigantea in the wood of Pinus and Picea species was comparable to that of the Rotstop isolate. Consequently, stump treatment with local P. gigantea isolates should be recommended. However, our results suggest that Douglas‐fir stump treatment against Heterobasidion by P. gigantea may be ineffective and other stump treatment methods should be considered.     

Growth of Mixed Birch-Coniferous Stands in Relation to Pure Coniferous Stands at Similar Sites in South-eastern Norway

Mean age, mean and top heights and yield were studied in 20 mixed stands of birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. and nine mixed stands of birch and Pinus sylvestris L. in south-eastern Norway. Each mixed stand and the adjacent pure coniferous stand (control) were growing under the same site conditions and had not been commercially thinned. There were no significant differences in mean age at breast height or in top heights between birch and conifers in the mixed stands, while mean height was significantly higher for birch than for spruce. A growth index was calculated based on total volume and age at breast height. For the spruce sites the growth in young mixed stands (birch < 17 m) was superior to that of pure spruce, while the difference was insignificant in older stands. The growth index correlated positively with the ratio between generatively and vegetatively regenerated birch trees, and negatively with the age of the oldest species in the mixture and with site quality. For the pine sites there was no significant difference in the growth index between mixed birch-pine and pure pine stands. A mixture effect of birch on the volume yield of spruce or pine could not be demonstrated.     

Defoliation by the Needle-shortening Pine Gall Midge,Thecodiplosis brachyntera,on Pines in Central Sweden

An outbreak of the needle-shortening pine gall midge, Thecodiplosis brachyntera , occurred on Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris (L.) and lodgepole pine, P. contorta (Dougl.) in central Sweden during 1995-1998. The larval feeding of T. brachyntera kills current-year needles and heavy infestation causes severe defoliation. A pattern of fluctuating defoliation among years and sites was found on both pine species. Defoliation was evenly distributed in the crown of P. sylvestris during years of high as well as low infestation; apical whorls had as much defoliation as basal whorls. In P. contorta , however, there was a tendency for defoliation to be concentrated on branches in the most apical whorls. Growth ring increments on P. sylvestris with high levels of defoliation (71%) did not differ from trees with moderate levels (26%) of defoliation. Shoot lengths were significantly shorter, however, on heavily infested trees the year after defoliation.     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Seed Weight and Seed Type on Early Seedling Growth of Pinus sylvestris under Harsh and Optimal Conditions

The effects of seed weight and seed type on seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris (L.) were studied by seeding individually weighed orchard and stand seed in different mixtures under harsh (direct seeding in field) and optimal (seeding in nursery) conditions. In the nursery experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased the seedling height by 10-27% and total weight by 27-113%, and decreased the height/diameter ratio by 5-6% after 2 yrs. With elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 2% taller than stand seedlings in year 2. Without elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller. In the field experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased seedling height by 18-65%, stem volume by 81-274% and the number of top-buds by 23-34% in year 5. After elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller than stand seedlings and without elimination of seed weight effects 20-21% taller after 5 yrs. Even after elimination of both seed weight and genetic effects orchard seedlings were 3-9% larger than stand seedlings in the field experiment. In conclusion, the influence of seed weight and seed type on growth traits and slenderness is highly significant and the influence seems to be greater in harsh conditions.     

Modelling of adequate pretwist for obtaining straight timber

Abstract

Wood in general and wooden studs in particular are often distorted owing to uneven shrinkage during the drying process in the sawmill. Twist is often the most detrimental of all types of distortion, and it is caused by spiral grain in combination with variations in moisture content. For sawmills, the objective is to produce dried, straight boards, and one method of dealing with boards with excessive spiral grain is to sort them out and then dry them in a pretwisted position to obtain straight boards after drying. A model using the finite element (FE) method for the simulation of drying twist distortions was first calibrated against laboratory experiments in which boards were dried with and without restraints and pretwists. After the calibration, the FE results were compared with industrial test results for boards that were dried without restraints or with restraints with zero pretwist, i.e. straight restraints. The FE model used an elastic–ideally plastic material model to obtain permanent deformations. The calibration was to set the yield stresses so that there was a good match between FE results and results from the laboratory experiments. The comparison between the industrial test results and the FE results showed that the FE model is capable of realistic simulations of drying boards with and without restraints and presumably also pretwists.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket-peatland streams: II. major ions and dissolved organic carbon

Streams and drains in blanket-peatland forest in western Ireland were sampled weekly over 5 years, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling. Analysis was for pH, alkalinity by Gran titration, anions by IC, metals by ICP, aluminium speciation by loaded-resin exchange, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by absorbance at 320 nm.

Effects of felling are identified graphically from two forest drains whose catchments (both about 1 ha) were clearfelled, and partial clearfelling of one larger catchment (somewhat over 1 km²), in summer 1999. Calcium concentrations and alkalinity were increased in the drain- and streamwater from the felled areas. The pH was increased in drains, while in the larger stream, pH range decreased while the mean increased. Phosphorus increased markedly with clearfell, in the absence of recent fertilising, and also increased with fertilising; these results are reported in an accompanying paper. Ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were increased in the two drains with felling, and temporarily decreased in the larger stream. Nitrate increased in some cases. Potassium and manganese concentrations also increased. Concentrations of DOC and organic monomeric aluminium increased gradually, subject to a continuing strong annual cycle. There were no clearfelling effects on concentrations of solphate, suspended solids or inorganic monomeric aluminium. In the two drains (fully clearfelled), concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium, and conductivity, were all reduced after felling. Fertilising effects other than for phosphorus were indistinct.

Effects of the combined clearfell–reforestation treatment were testable statistically, using randomised intervention analysis, between two larger streams (1 km²) as a treatment–control comparison. There were statistically significant positive responses in streamwater concentrations of nitrate, potassium, calcium, DOC and aluminium fractions. The implications for management practice depend on whether the loss of nutrients is sustainable for future crop productivity, and whether critical limits and loads of receiving ecosystems are exceeded.     

Effect of Drought on Growth and Mortality of Actively Growing Norway Spruce Container Seedlings Planted in Summer

Survival, root egress and height growth of 13-month-old actively growing Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) container seedlings exposed to preplanting drying treatments (0, 4, and 8 days) and postplanting drought periods (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks) were studied in the field between 5 July and 18 August 1999. The mortality of seedlings increased and the height growth and root egress decreased throughout the postplanting drought period. Postplanting performance was also affected by preplanting drying treatments. The results indicate that no risk of excessive mortality and growth restrictions occurs when actively growing seedlings are planted in summer, provided that seedlings are well watered before planting and the drought period does not exceed 3 weeks.     

Rehabilitation of diseased cacao fields in Peru through shade regulation and timing of biocontrol measures

The objective of this case study was to test the effectiveness of biocontrol for the rehabilitation of abandoned, diseased (moniliasis, witches' broom and black pod) cocoa and to develop testable hypotheses regarding the effect of shade and biocontrol timing. Three trial fields differed in their shade regimes. Biocontrol was administered starting either at flowering or pod filling. Disease incidence and yield were compared with cultural control alone. Biocontrol reduced moniliasis from 49% to 25%, independent of the shading regime and application time. Witches' broom was most severe without shade and unaffected by biocontrol. No significant effects on black pod were observed. Although biocontrol increased percentage healthy fruit independent of shading and timing, only the shaded plot with biocontrol from flowering onwards responded with increased yield. Our hypothesis is: 'In the rehabilitation of abandoned cacao, only fields under sustainable shade management and early onset of biocontrol can realise their production potential.' This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.