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.     

qPCR quantification of Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum from infected butternut trees under different release treatments

The use of a molecular assay for quantifying conidia of Ophiognomonia clavigignenti‐juglandacearum, the fungal pathogen responsible of butternut canker, was investigated. Purified DNA from conidia collected on glass fibre filters of a passive rain collectors was quantified using a TaqMan real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. The qPCR assay could specifically discriminate the target species from all other North American known species of Ophiognomonia, and it was sensitive enough to repeatedly detect one conidium. A linear relationship between numbers of conidia and qPCR C_t values was determined, and used to assess the sporulation of the pathogen under trees that were released to promote their vigour. In total, 977 samples of field‐captured conidia from 49 trees, at two locations, and from two successive growing seasons were analysed. No significant difference of sporulation was observed under control and release treatments. However, our results demonstrated that qPCR assay was reliable for detecting and quantifying O. clavigignenti‐juglandacearum from environmental samples, which will be useful to assess further control methods for this disease.     

The potential of alley cropping in improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia I. Chitemene and Fundikila

Three trials investigating the potential of alley cropping to improve the traditional systems of cultivation, chitemene and fundikila, in the Northern Province of Zambia are described. Flemingia congesta, Tephrosia vogelii, and Sesbania sesban, were grown in association with finger millet, groundnut, cowpea, and maize in various traditional cropping sequences. The indigenous species Tephrosia vogelii and Sesbania sesban were not able to withstand repeated pruning and the long following dry season, and were replaced with Calliandra calothyrsus, and Cassia spectabilis.Over a four year period, there was no benefit by alley cropping with any of the tree species on crop yields, and yields in alley crop treatments even dropped significantly below the control treatments in the fourth year, casting doubt on the potential of alley cropping for sustainable production. There was also no consistent effect on soil chemical characteristics in any of the trials. It was suggested that this lack of beneficial response to alley cropping was due to low tree biomass production low quality of prunings, and an inappropriate cropping sequence. There was no evidence that alley cropping contributed to enhanced nutrient recycling, despite substantial localised pools of soil nutrients, particularly in the chitemene, with which recycling could potentially occur.     

Toxicity of biocide GCSC-BtA on arthropod pests under different temperature conditions

The present research dealt with the toxicity of GCSC-BtA (Germany–China Scientific Cooperation-Bacillus thuringiensis-Abamectin), a new type biocide developed by conjugating a toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) with Abamectin from Streptomyces avermitilis, on arthropod pests under different temperature conditions. The results showed that GCSC-BtA possessed higher toxicity than B.t. crystal, Abamectin or Cypermethrin, with pest mortalities of 97.9, 93.7, 96.4, 82.3 and 96.7% for Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) (Acari, Tetranychidae), Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thys., Thripidae), Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hom., Aphididae), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae) and Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimić (Lep., Gracillariidae), respectively. Toxicities of GCSC-BtA to T. cinnabarinus and P. xylostella decreased significantly at the older developmental stage with an exception that egg stage had the highest tolerance, in which LC₅₀s of GCSC-BtA were 0.0001, 0.0019 and 0.0708 mg/ml for nymph, adult and egg of T. cinnabarinus, and that 0.0399, 0.2035 and 0.9033 mg/ml for the 2nd instar larvae, 4th instar larvae and egg of P. xylostella, respectively. Also, the biocide was more effective to the lower stage of A. fabae than the higher one with LC₅₀s of 0.0023, 0.0086 and 0.0171 mg/ml against 1st instar nymph, 3rd instar nymph and adult, respectively. In general, toxicity of the new type of biocide was positively related to temperature against all the tested pests, except against T. cinnabarinus, where it was almost similar at the three temperature conditions. GCSC-BtA displayed significantly lower toxicities at 15/20°C than 20/25°C or 25/30°C against F. occidentalis, A. fabae, P. xylostella and C. ohridella. However, no significant difference was found in the toxicities against F. occidentalis, A. fabae and C. ohridella above 20°C, whereas toxicity against P. xylostella increased as temperature raised. Therefore, to achieve higher efficacy in the field, application rate and time should be devised according to these factors.     

Populations of adult fungus gnats and shore flies in British Columbia container nurseries as related to nursery environment,and incidence of fungi on the insects

Adult fungus gnat and shore fly populations were monitored in four container nurseries near Victoria, British Columbia. In general, populations of both insects were larger in summer than in winter. Also, both insects were more abundant in the nursery with a plastic-covered, soil floor, which favored moisture accumulation and build up of algae, liverworts and mosses, than in nurseries with other types of floors such as cement. Results of fungus isolations revealed that gnats and flies both harbor the seedling pathogens Botrytis cinerea and species of Fusarium and Phoma, plus several non-pathogenic fungi. The results are discussed in relation to nursery sanitation practices, their effects on gnat and fly populations, and some possible roles of these insects in seedling disease epidemiology.     

Effects of thinning on growth of six tree species in north-temperate forests of Lithuania

This paper summarises the results from 35 years-observed thinning experiments on 256 permanent sample plots in 10–60 year-old stands of ash, aspen, birch, oak, pine and spruce in Lithuania. Thinning enhanced crown projection area increment of residual trees. The largest effect was observed in stands of aspen and birch (growth increase by 200%), followed by ash and oak (over 100%), and spruce and pine (about 80%). Thinning also promoted dbh increment, especially in younger stands, and the increase of dbh increment was positively correlated with the thinning intensity. The strongest reaction was exhibited by oak and aspen, while ash, birch and conifers reacted to a lower extent. Low and moderate intensities of thinning stimulated volume production in younger stands while the opposite was observed in older stands with increasing removals. Spruce stands exhibited relatively strongest increase of volume increment and pine, –the weakest, while the effect on deciduous species was intermediate. The results demonstrate that significant increase in volume increment is achievable with thinning of only young forest stands, e.g. 10–20 year-old pine, birch and ash, or 10–30 year-old oak, aspen and spruce.     

The potential of alley cropping im improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia II. Maize production

Theee trials to evaluat the potential of alley cropping in maize production on the low fertility, acidic soils in Northern Zambia are described. Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania sesban, Albizia falcataria, Fleminga congesta, and Cassia spectabilis, were grown in alley crops with hybrid maize and soybean. All trials received recommended rates of P and K fertiliser; N fertiliser was applied at three rates as a subplot treatment. One trial received lime before establishment.Only in the limed trial was there a significant improvement in maize yields through alley cropping; when no N fertiliser was applied, incorporation of Leucaena leucocephala prunings resulted in an increase of up to 95% in yields, with a smaller improvement being produced by Flemingia congesta. There was a significant correlation between the quantity of prunings biomass applied and the proportional increase in maize yields over the control treatment. It is suggested that the lack of effect of most of the tree species on crop yields was due to low biomass production.An economic analysis showed that alley cropping with limed Leucaena was only profitable when fertiliser costs were high in relation to maize prices. However, lime is both expensive and difficult to obtain and transport for most small scale farmers in the region, and is therefore not a practical recommendation. It is suggested that future alley cropping research should focus on screening a wider range of tree species, including other species of Leucaena, for acid tolerance and higher biomass production.     

Short-term Effect of Thinning on Pinus sylvestris Damage and Sporulation Caused by Cronartium flaccidum

The short-term effect of thinning on cronartium rust on Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) was investigated in a stand of Scots pine (artificially seeded and in the pole-stage) severely infected by the stem-rust fungus Cronartium flaccidum (Alb. & Schwein) G. Winter. The disease rate (the number of old and fresh infections) was recorded before thinning, after which all trees with a resin-top as well as all individual branches with sporulating lesions were removed from the thinned plots, while the comparison plots remained non-thinned. The numbers of sporulating lesions were recorded on the plots annually for 2-5 yrs after thinning. Thinning had no significant short-term effect on the year-to-year relative number of sporulating lesions. The relative number of sporulating lesions, however, increased in both thinned and nonthinned trees, varying significantly from year to year. Thinning had no significant effect on the year of formation of the shoot bearing annual sporulating lesions, the duration of sporulation or the growth of the fungus along the infected shoot in perennial lesions during the first 5 yrs after the treatment.     

Identification of Value-adding Strategies in the Swedish Sawn Wood Industry

Swedish sawmills are increasing their application of value-adding processes in sawn wood production. This study identified the most common value-adding combinations used by the Swedish sawmills. Data were obtained from a survey of Swedish sawmills in 1995 and from industry statistics. Nine different groupings of sawmills with regard to the level and types of value-adding technologies were identified by cluster analysis. The largest group added value only to marginal quantities of their production. Eight other groups that applied different combinations of value-adding processes were identified. Drying and planing were important elements in several strategies. Adding value to the sawn wood is not a homogeneous strategy; instead it includes several ways to focus production on different products and customer groups. Advanced value-adding processes often generated a higher unit profit margin than the production of commodity sawn wood.     

Ectomycorrhizal inoculation of Douglas-fir transplanted container seedlings with commercially produced inoculum

Commercially produced vegetative inocula of Laccaria laccata and Hebeloma crustuliniforme successfully formed ectomycorrhizae with Douglas-fir transplanted container (plug+1) seedlings. After 4.5 months in containers, 83% and 90%, respectively, of short roots were mycorrhizal. L. laccata- or H. crustuliniforme-inoculated seedlings had significantly more mycorrhizal and total short roots than Pisolithus tinctorius-inoculated (4% mycorrhizal root tips) or uninoculated control seedlings. No significant differences were detected in seedling growth at the end of the container phase.After transplantation and growth in nursery beds for 17 months, mean new short root colonization of all seedlings was 80%. H. crustuliniforme persisted as a dominant mycorrhizal fungus on seedlings initially inoculated with this fungus. L. laccata-inoculated seedlings had 40% of their short roots colonized by L. laccata and another 40% by native fungi Rhizopogon and Thelephora spp. All mycorrhizae of control seedlings and those inoculated with P. tinctorius were formed by fungi native to the nusery beds. A significant fungal treatment effect was detected for shoot height only. Control seedlings were significantly taller than L. laccata-inoculated seedlings after transplanting.This article is part of senior author's thesis in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Forest Science at Oregon State University, Corvallis.     

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.     

Efficacy of local eradication treatments against the sudden oak death epidemic in Oregon tanoak forests

Phytophthora ramorum, cause of sudden oak death, has been distributed widely across the United States in horticultural situations, but is not established in forests outside of California and Oregon. Here, it has triggered widespread concern and, especially in Oregon, an intensive disease management programme. Now, we provide the first systematic evaluation of the efficacy of that effort. This paper evaluates four measures of the efficacy of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) local eradication treatments: inoculum availability; inoculum from tree species other than tanoak; disease spread from treated areas; and cumulative infested area with and without treatment. We conclude that local treatments demonstrably reduce local inoculum levels. Eradication of SOD from infested sites is difficult but not impossible. The disease usually does not persist after cutting infected trees but spread on the landscape continues because the pathogen may be present on undetected new infections for a year or two before whole tree symptoms are visible. This limits early detection and coupled with delays in completing eradication treatments, prolongs the chances for long‐distance aerial dispersal.     

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.