思茅松林的可燃物与火行为研究

通过野外调查,基于森林亚类型,以主要伴生树种或下层植被为基础,对思茅松林内可燃物进行划分,并在林内进行试验火烧,得到相应的火行为参数.结果表明,思茅松林的火行为强度比较弱,主要为中低强度的火,这与林内的可燃物有关,也和所处的生境和立地条件有关;火烧后的树木死亡率比较低,表明思茅松在长期的演替中已经适应了火烧.     

昆明西山森林公园地表可燃物类型划分与载量研究

分析森林能否被引燃、如何蔓延以及整个火行为的过程中,森林可燃物比任何其他因素都重要。而可燃物载量的大小直接决定了森林火灾燃烧的强度,同时不同的可燃物类型会形成不同的燃烧特性。通过对昆明西山森林公园8个林分类型的地表可燃物载量、类型进行调查后发现,华山松林内地表可燃物载量最高,农田-果园最低。并利用植物群落分类法将可燃物划分为5个类型组共6个类型。     

华山松林燃烧性的数量分类

选具有代表性的１０块华山松林标准地,采用数量化分类方法,取空中易燃可燃物最大密度,地表总易燃可燃物载量及地表易燃可燃物贮水量三个指标,对秦岭火地塘林区华山松林进行燃烧性分类。结果表明,该林区凡含有华山松的林分,其燃烧性最多可划分为９种类型,所选的１０个林公类型归属其中的５类;相异性分析方法对森林燃烧性划分具有极好的分类效果。     

基于Rothermel的南亚热带马尾松人工林潜在火行为研究

马尾松Pinus massoniana是我国南方大面积的主要造林树种,耐贫瘠,生长迅速,但抗火能力弱,发生火灾后极易造成重大损失。本研究基于广义Rothermel模型,对不同林龄马尾松人工林在不同风速下点燃概率和火类型进行了评估,模拟了火线强度,地表火、树冠火蔓延速度、火焰高度,树冠火的发生率和转化率等参数;并与室内点烧试验观测结果进行了比较。结果表明:广义Rothermel模型对于林火蔓延速度的拟合对最好,对于火线强度的模拟值偏高,而对于火焰高度的模拟值随林龄增大逐渐降低;20 a马尾松林地表火的蔓延速度和火线强度均最高,且发生树冠火的概率也最大;10 a和20 a马尾松林树冠火转化率较高,50 a马尾松林的各项火行为参数均较低。可燃物床含水量对于地表火行为影响较大,而冠基高和林下灌木生长情况对于树冠火的发生起决定性作用,尤其在干旱季节,需要周期性地清除林下灌木和地表可燃物,减少可燃物床载量,另外,在对不同林龄马尾松人工林进行林火管理时,可针对不同林分的火行为参数有区别地采取不同的经营措施。     

北京地区森林燃烧性研究

根据北京地区林分状况,选择测定了栓皮栎林、油松林、洋槐林、元宝枫林和侧柏林的可燃物载量,分析结果表明这些林分都容易发生地表火;油松林和侧柏林易发生树冠火。在营林过程中应更注意林下枯枝和枯死木的清理,改变可燃物的空间分布,有利于防止发生树冠火。     

沈阳棋盘山地区地被可燃物及其燃烧性研究

对沈阳棋盘山地区5种主要林型及其地被可燃物载量、可燃物含水率、可燃物燃烧性进行了调查研究,结果表明：该地区主要林型可燃物载量差距较大,变化范围是3.98～18.67t/hm2。樟子松林和油松林可燃物含水率最低,小于10%,刺槐人工林地被可燃物含水率最高,为34.04%。该地区易燃林为油松林,较易燃林为樟子松林和杂木林,不易燃林为落叶松林和刺槐林。     

马尾松人工林地表可燃物负荷量动态模型的研究

设立64块标准地,应用回归分析,建立马尾松(Pinus massonianaLamb)林分地表可燃物载量与主要林分因子动态关系的数学模型。检验结果表明,林分因子对马尾松林分地表可燃物载量变化有极显著的影响,林分郁闭度主要影响地表1h时滞可燃物载量变化,林分平均年龄主要影响地表10 h时滞可燃物载量的变化。在实际中拟合效果良好,可用于预测马尾松人工林地表可燃物载量的动态规律,为地表可燃物管理提供科学的依据。     

云南主要针叶林可燃物类型划分及特征

海拔1600~3000m的针叶林区是云南省森林火灾多发区,每年森林火灾发生次数占全省的85%左右。通过调查62块典型样地,根据可燃物的配置结构,应用植物群落划分法,基于森林亚类型,从森林可燃物的角度,以主要伴生树种或下层植被为基础,结合自然条件与林分结构特点把云南主要针叶林可燃物类型划分为6个类型,即灌木-云南松林,草类-云南松林;灌木-思茅松,草类-思茅松;灌木-华山松,草类-华山松。     

芒萁马尾松林下可燃物分布及其燃烧性

2004年春季,在福建省闽清县白樟林业站辖区,对刚发生不久的火烧迹地进行调查,并在火烧迹地四周选择与过火区域林分状况相似的芒萁马尾松林,对林下芒萁及主要灌木的负荷量进行了调查。在此基础上,对芒萁马尾松林下可燃物分布及其燃烧性进行了分析,计算了一旦发生火灾林下可燃物可能释放的能量,并将芒萁马尾松林下地表可燃物的潜在能量与其他林分进行了比较。提出了降低此类林分火险等级的几种技术措施。     

红花尔基樟子松林细小可燃物载量与林分因子关系研究

主要对红花尔基樟子松林地表细小可燃物与林分因子之间的关系进行研究.红花尔基地区位于中国北方森林草原交错带,主要为樟子松绝对优势的森林及森林草原群落.在对红花尔基樟子松林的过火林分、未过火林分和森林草原交错群落细小可燃物载量大小比较的基础上,通过自由度调整复相关系数值R2以及AIC准则和Cp准则挑选最佳回归模型,建立了该地区森林可燃物载量与林分因子之间的回归模型,并对所建模型都进行了方差分析,主要得出以下结论(1)细小可燃物总载量大小顺序过火林分＞未过火林分＞森林草原交错群落;(2)死可燃物载量大小顺序过火林分＞未过火林分＞森林草原交错群落;(3)地表活可燃物(草本)载量大小顺序森林草原交错群落＞未过火林分＞过火林分;(4)通过引入林分平均林龄、平均胸径和平均树高三个林分因子建立死可燃物载量和细小可燃物总载量的多元线性模型,取得了最好的拟合效果,预测精度都分别为98.7%和98.64%,(5)通过用林分平均林龄和细小可燃物总载量建立的对数曲线模型,有一定的生物学意义,预测精度为99.45%.     

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.