幼竹竹腔施肥对毛竹材性的影响

通过竹腔施肥试验区与对照区毛竹竹材含水率、全干密度、抗弯强度、抗弯弹性模量、顺纹抗剪强度、纤维素、半纤维素、木质素含量等物理、力学、化学性质的分析测定,比较分析了两者竹材材性的变化情况.结果表明,不同浓度施肥处理间有较大差异,而试验与对照之间差异不显著,毛竹增产剂及幼竹竹腔施肥对毛竹竹材材性的影响不大.     

毛竹不同种源竹材物理力学性质初步研究

通过对来自福建建瓯试验地16个毛竹种源竹材的密度、顺纹抗压强度、顺纹抗剪强度、顺纹抗拉强度和弦向抗弯强度及其弹性模量等物理力学性质的初步研究,结果表明:竹材物理力学性质在各种源之间存在一定的差异,其中湖南株洲的毛竹竹材物理力学性质比于其它种源的毛竹要好,而安徽霍山的毛竹竹材的物理力学性质较差,测量的各指标中有基本密度、抗剪强度、抗拉强度三项指标都达到最低;竹材密度的大小、抗拉强度的高低随种源纬度的降低而呈降低的趋势,而竹材的抗剪强度呈与之相反的趋势。     

毛竹实生苗物理力学性质的研究

以材性优异且同样条件下种植的当地鞭生毛竹为参比,研究了毛竹实生苗竹材的物理力学性能。结果表明,毛竹实生苗竹材的气干密度为0.617 g/cm~3,小于鞭生竹的气干密度(0.662 g/cm~3);全干密度为0.562 g/cm~3,小于鞭生竹的全干密度(0.607 g/cm~3);气干或全干时,毛竹实生苗的干缩率均小于鞭生竹;除顺纹抗拉强度外,毛竹实生苗的顺纹抗压强度、顺纹抗剪强度、抗弯强度均低于鞭生竹。因此,毛竹实生苗具有较高的强重比,相比鞭生竹材,具有密度较低、干缩率较小、力学强度性能良好的特点。     

苦绿竹、椽竹、橄榄竹物理力学性质及其在人造板上的应用分析

测定了2-5年生的苦绿竹、椽竹、橄榄竹的物理力学性质和外形尺寸,并对其在人造板上的应用进行初步分析。结果表明:与毛竹相比,绿竹各项力学性能均较低;椽竹和橄榄竹,除了顺纹抗剪偏小外,横纹抗弯、顺纹抗拉、顺纹抗压与毛竹相当。3个竹种的壁厚和直径较小,均不适合于普通竹地板生产;苦绿竹和橄榄竹可用于制作竹材胶合板、碎料板等人造板产品,椽竹因直径较小,只适用于碎料板生产。     

高地竹与毛竹主要物理力学性能的比较研究

非洲高地竹(Arundinaria alpina)是埃塞俄比亚的重要竹种资源之一,但其性能以及增值利用的研究非常少。本研究测定了高地竹的主要物理力学性能,并以毛竹为对照物进行分析。结果发现:高地竹尖削度小,竹壁厚,基本密度低,干缩率较大;弦向抗弯弹性模量比毛竹高,但顺纹抗压强度、弦向抗弯强度以及顺纹抗剪强度相对毛竹材较低。高地竹在原竹建筑利用和竹质人造板加工利用方面都具有可行性。     

毛竹顺纹抗拉性质的变异及与气干密度的关系

将毛竹轴向分段(4段)、径向分层(6层)取样,研究其顺纹抗拉弹性模量和顺纹抗拉强度的变异规律,顺纹抗拉性质与气干密度之间的关系.结果表明:毛竹的顺纹抗拉弹性模量和顺纹抗拉强度的径向变异很大,不同位置竹材的顺纹抗拉弹性模量为8.49～32.49 GPa,最外层竹材的顺纹抗拉弹性模量约是最内层的3～4倍;不同位置顺竹材顺纹抗强度在115.94～328.15 MPa之间,最外层竹材的顺纹抗强度是最内层的2～3倍.用直线方程预测毛竹顺纹抗拉性质的效果略优于曲线方程的效果.     

细柄阿丁枫木材物理力学性质研究

通过对细柄阿丁枫木材的物理及力学性质的测定与分析,结果显示:细柄阿丁枫木材的基本密度为0. 617 g·cm~(-3),气干密度为0. 733 g·cm~(-3),全干密度为0. 737 g·cm~(-3),体积干缩系数为5. 221%,抗弯强度为86. 0 MPa,顺纹抗压强度为54. 6 MPa,顺纹抗拉强度为137. 6 MPa,顺纹抗剪强度为(径向12. 1 MPa和弦向13. 5 MPa),抗劈力(径向46. 7 N·mm~(-1)和弦向56. 4 N·mm~(-1)),冲击韧性189 kJ·m~(-2)。与鹅掌楸、水青冈、伯乐树、黄檀、枫香树、笔罗子6种常见阔叶树种木材力学性质相比,细柄阿丁枫木材的抗弯强度、顺纹抗压强度和顺纹抗剪强度属中等;抗劈力和冲击韧性属上等。     

竹节对竹材力学强度影响的研究

本文对毛竹和刚竹的带节材与不带节竹材的主要力学性质研究表明,带节竹材的抗弯强度、顺纹抗压、抗剪、抗拉强度和冲击韧性都有一定程度降低的趋向,但抗劈开强度和横纹抗拉强度却有明显提高。影响竹材力学强度的主要因素是维管束数量、维管束排列方向及维管束中纤维的力学强度,了解这些规律,对复合材料的结构仿生有重要参考作用。     

沙柳材物理力学性能及其测试方法的研究

目前小径材物理力学性能的测试还没有相应的国家标准,通过对沙柳材的物理力学性质的测试以探讨灌木的测试方法.试验结果表明:沙柳生材的含水率为62.7％;径向全干缩率6.1％,弦向全干缩率10.4％,体积全干缩率17.86％;基本密度0.497g/cm3,气干密度为0,675g/cm3,属于中级;顺纹抗压强度为76.74MPa,属于高级;顺纹抗剪强度为8.35MPa;抗弯强度为126.6MPa,高于木材平均值;硬度2 086.5N;抗劈力14.08N/mm.     

荆条藤柳力学性质的测试与对比研究

以荆条为重点,棕榈藤、沙柳材为比照,结合荆藤柳材的圆形截面设计试样,测定了抗弯强度和弹性模量、顺纹和横纹抗压强度、顺纹抗拉强度、抗剪强度、扭曲强度、冲击韧性、抗劈力、握钉力各项力学指标。荆条的各项力学强度指标中,抗弯强度最大,其次是顺纹抗拉强度,顺纹抗压强度和扭曲强度也较强。荆条与藤柳材力学性质的对比表明:荆条各项力学强度指标均高于藤柳材,但荆条弯曲变形、扭曲变形比藤困难,并且荆条韧性优于藤柳、握钉力不如藤。本研究结果为制定"藤及灌木材力学性质测试方法"的国家标准提供理论依据,为荆条加工利用——制作荆编家具提供基础数据。     

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.     

Boron in forest trees and forest ecosystems

This review critically examines the role of boron (B) in forests in view of recent findings on B nutrition and the continuing occurrence of B deficiency. Many perceptions about the role of B in plants and its uptake and mobility have been altered since the last review on B in forest trees in 1990. Now there is evidence for a fundamental role of B in the formation of the pectic structure in primary cell walls in plants, and further roles in membrane function are being explored. In plants, channel-mediated B uptake, active B uptake and B uptake by mycorrhizas have been shown, B transporters have been identified, and B retranslocation has been shown. We explore these findings and their consequences on forest trees and on ecosystems that they dominate. Particular emphasis is placed on B retranslocation and B in mycorrhizal symbiosis, given their importance in trees.     

Survival and Growth of Picea abies Regeneration after Shelterwood Removal with Single- and Double-grip Harvester Systems

Three stands in Sweden were followed for 7 yrs to study the survival and growth of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] regeneration after shelterwood removal with single- and double-grip harvester systems. The height of all seedlings within circular plots was recorded before and after final cutting. The tallest seedling and one randomly selected seedling on each circular plot were permanently marked and their annual height growth was measured each year during the period 1993-1999. No significant differences between single- and double-grip harvester systems were found with respect to their effects on regeneration density, survival or annual height growth. The annual height growth of the individual seedlings after shelterwood removal was significantly correlated with seedling height before shelterwood removal. Significant differences were found in annual height growth between seedlings with high and low vitality. Logging damage did not affect the annual height growth. Several practical conclusions were drawn. First, the choice of harvester system does not affect seedling height growth or survival after shelterwood removal. Secondly, the removal of a 200 m³ shelterwood with 200 stems ha^-1 does not seem to constitute a serious problem for seedling survival and growth. Finally, estimated vitality and seedling height both seem to be fairly good predictors of postrelease survival and growth.     

Development of Pinus sylvestris Main Stems Following Three Different Precommercial Thinning Methods in a Mixed Stand

Reducing competition by point cleaning may be an attractive alternative to conventional precommercial thinning in forestry. In this study, survival and development of main stems of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) following point cleaning were examined in a mixed stand of mainly Scots pine and birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) in northern Sweden. Treatments studied were: no precommercial thinning, conventional precommercial thinning, point cleaning of all secondary stems, and point cleaning of only the secondary stems that were higher than the main stem, within a radius of 0.8 m from the main stem, respectively. A randomised complete block design with three replicates was used. Measurements taken 13 growing seasons after these treatments showed that conventional precommercial thinning was the best treatment for retaining Scots pines as main stems. However, conventional precommercial thinning resulted in the poorest timber quality of the remaining Scots pines in terms of stem taper, thickest branch diameter and relative live crown height. In conclusion, point cleaning has to be followed by a complementary cleaning operation if the objective is to retain Scots pines as main stems in such mixed stands.