Fertilizer-induced Changes in Rhizosphere Electrical Conductivity: Relation to Forest Tree Seedling Root System Growth and Function

Fertilization is standard practice in forest tree seedling nursery culture. Additionally, fertilization at outplanting has potential to facilitate nutrient uptake and reduce transplant shock. Fertilization, however, may dramatically alter rhizosphere chemical properties such as pH, ion availability, and electrical conductivity (EC). These changes may inhibit root system growth and function by reducing soil osmotic potential and creating specific ion toxicities. The risk of root damage associated with high EC levels appears to be dependent on species, age of root system, and soil moisture availability. Root inhibition in container nursery culture of conifers is likely to occur above 2.5 dS m⁻¹, though threshold EC levels for bareroot culture and field plantings are largely unavailable. Fertilization at outplanting has the added risk that drought conditions may prevent leaching of excess fertilizer salts, which can increase rhizosphere EC beyond safe levels and ultimately impair root uptake of water or nutrients. For fertilization programs to be successful, a critical threshold balance must be maintained between optimizing seedling nutrient availability in the rhizosphere, while minimizing potential for root damage. Future research is needed to identify optimal EC levels for a range of species across all stages of the reforestation process, from nursery culture through plantation establishment.     

水分胁迫对栓皮栎幼苗生理特性及生长的影响

通过盆栽实验，研究了在不同的水分条件下栓皮栎幼苗生理特性的变化和苗木生长量的变化。研究表明，在水分胁迫初期，随土壤含水量的降低，栓皮栎叶片的净光合速率、蒸腾速率下降，而水分利用效率提高。在水分胁迫末期，由于长期的干旱胁迫，水分条件最差的一组苗木已干枯死亡，土壤含水量从38．123％下降到20．323％时，净光合速率和蒸腾速率均下降，水分利用效率也下降。随着土壤含水量的降低，苗高、地径和生物量均有下降的趋势，其中生物量下降的幅度最大。     

Analysis of sawn lumber production from logging residues of branchwood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aningeria robusta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Terminalia ivorensis</Emphasis>

One way of meeting the supply demands of the wood industry is through the reduction of waste in timber processing. It has been estimated in Ghana that for every tree felled, nearly 50% of the tree volume is left in the forest in the form of branches, crownwood, and stumps. In this study, the potential of utilizing branchwood as raw material from logging residues to help meet the timber demands of the downstream processing sector was analyzed experimentally. The sawing characteristics of the branchwood of Aningeria robusta and Terminalia ivorensis with diameters in the range 10–25 cm using live sawing and cant sawing methods were determined using a randomized complete block design, 2 × 4 factorial with three replications. Experimental results indicate that, the relative lumber value yields for first and second grade boards of A. robusta and T. ivorensis branches were 25 and 20%, respectively, while the green lumber volume yields were 40 and 32%, respectively. A high proportion of sapwood and the occurrence of washboarding in T. ivorensis contributed to that species’ relatively low lumber value and volume yield. The experimental results further indicate that the sawing technique used had no significant influence on lumber yields. However, at 5% level of significance, significant differences in lumber yield existed between some of the diameter classes.     

Microbial biomass in subtropical forest soils： effect of conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation

Conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation is a common management practice in subtropical China. In this study, we compared soil physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass in one natural secondary broad-leaved forest and two C. lanceolata plantation sites to estimate the effects of forest conversion on soil microbial biomass at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forestry Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, NH4^＋-N and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were much lower under C. lanceolata plantations as compared to natural secondary broad-leaved forest. Soil microbial biomass C in the first and second rotation of C. lanceolata plantations was only 53%, 46% of that in natural secondary broad-leaved forest, and microbial biomass N was 97% and 79%, respectively. The contribution of microbial biomass C to soil organic C was also lower in the plantation sites. However, the contribution of microbial N to total nitrogen and NH4^＋-N was greater in the C. lanceolata plantation sites. Therefore, conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to C. lanceolata plantation and continuous planting of C. lanceolata led to the decline in soil microbial biomass and the degradation of forest soil in subtropical China.     

Diversity of Glomale Mycorrhizal Fungi in Maize/Sesbania Intercrops and Maize Monocrop Systems in Southern Malawi

The study investigated diversity and frequency of occurrence of glomale (Arbuscular- or Vesicular Arbuscular-) mycorrhizal fungi on three farming systems in a drought prone and nitrogen deficiency site in southern Malawi. The farming systems comprised of two agroforestry systems of Sesbania sesban (L) Merr intercropped with maize and Sesbania macrantha E Phillips & Hutch. intercropped with maize and a maize monocrop systems without fertilizer, with nitrogen, phosphorus and a combination of nitrogen and phosphorus. Species diversity and species frequency of occurrence were examined in soil samples obtained in the dry and wet seasons. Twelve glomale mycorrhizal species were recorded, four species being in the genus Acaulospora, four in Glomus, two in Gigaspora and two in Scutellospora. Species diversity in the two agroforestry systems were not significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different but had lower species diversity than maize monocrop with only Sesbania macrantha intercropped with maize significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower. Species diversity was significantly increased by the inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. Inorganic phosphorus fertilizer had no effect. The study shows that the occurrence and persistence of glomale species are influenced by agroforestry combinations, and that the spores of most species are tolerant to dry conditions. Only four species responded to fertilizer application with the occurrence of spores of some species high and some low. Management practices have great implication in the persistence of spore propagules of glomale species. The order Glomale was revised in 2001 and upgraded to a phylum Glomeromycota.     

2006年特大干旱条件下森林植被对土壤水分的影响

2006年四川发生了百年一遇的特大干旱。于旱期结束末,调查了蓬安县境内两座丘陵-石马寨(栎柏混交林)和碉堡梁(人工柏木林)上、中、下坡林地和林带中耕地及坡脚农田的土壤含水量;调查了四川盆地丘陵区内5个县9个乡镇17个小流域有无农田防护林条件下,稻田开裂起始时间和裂缝宽;以及按照自然地理条件相近、森林覆盖率有较大差异的原则,调查了宣汉县和达县5对乡镇(森林覆盖率高的乡镇森林覆盖率为28.26%～46.85%,平均为37.24%,相对应的低的乡镇森林覆盖率为12.75%～26.74%,平均为18.64%)内不同台地的土壤含水量。结果表明,混交林林地的保水能力强于纯林林地,林地的保水能力强于耕地,农田防护林对水稻具有庇护作用,森林覆盖率高的地区土壤保水能力强于森林覆盖率低的地区土壤。在干旱期末坡上、中、下部位的0～40 cm土层中,栎柏混交林林地的含水量比柏木纯林林地高出3%～7%,林地的土壤含水量比林带中的耕地高出0.7%～2.1%;栎柏混交林带中的耕地含水量比柏木纯林带中的耕地高出3%～6%,石马寨的坡脚农田含水量比碉堡梁的高出5%;在干旱期末不同台地0～40 cm土层中,与森林覆盖率低的地区相比,森林覆盖率高的地区水稻田含水量高3%～7%,二台土高4%～8%,三台土高2%～8%;有农田防护林的农田土壤开裂时间比无农田防护林的推迟5 d～20 d,裂口宽平均窄0.1 cm～3.1 cm。     

Forest soils and carbon sequestration

Soils in equilibrium with a natural forest ecosystem have high carbon (C) density. The ratio of soil:vegetation C density increases with latitude. Land use change, particularly conversion to agricultural ecosystems, depletes the soil C stock. Thus, degraded agricultural soils have lower soil organic carbon (SOC) stock than their potential capacity. Consequently, afforestation of agricultural soils and management of forest plantations can enhance SOC stock through C sequestration. The rate of SOC sequestration, and the magnitude and quality of soil C stock depend on the complex interaction between climate, soils, tree species and management, and chemical composition of the litter as determined by the dominant tree species. Increasing production of forest biomass per se may not necessarily increase the SOC stocks. Fire, natural or managed, is an important perturbation that can affect soil C stock for a long period after the event. The soil C stock can be greatly enhanced by a careful site preparation, adequate soil drainage, growing species with a high NPP, applying N and micronutrients (Fe) as fertilizers or biosolids, and conserving soil and water resources. Climate change may also stimulate forest growth by enhancing availability of mineral N and through the CO₂ fertilization effect, which may partly compensate release of soil C in response to warming. There are significant advances in measurement of soil C stock and fluxes, and scaling of C stock from pedon/plot scale to regional and national scales. Soil C sequestration in boreal and temperate forests may be an important strategy to ameliorate changes in atmospheric chemistry.     

中国大青杨基因资源研究

收集我国东北林区特有乡土树种大青杨天然基因资源400多份。在黑龙江省伊春带岭建立了我国第一个大青杨基因库，利用常规手段对其生长，物候，抗锈病和木材材性等性状进行了遗传分析，利用高新技术方法从DNA分子水平上探测了大青杨天然群体的遗传结构和分化程度，经综合评价选出5个优良群体，44个优良单株，为该地区营建大青杨人工林奠定了一定基础，为杨树抗性育种等提供了育种材料和信息，认为选择优良个体是近期大青杨改良的一条重要途径。     

海南尖峰岭国家级保护区青皮林资源与乔木层群落学特征

三分区位于尖峰岭国家级自然保护区,目前区内有海南岛保存最好的青皮林.根据1.38 hm2的样地资料,林分平均蓄积量高达469.773m3·hm-2;平均胸径28.6 cm,最大胸径143.3 cm;林木组成复杂,记载种类300多种.青皮为热带常绿季雨林的表征种和建群种,重要值为16.8,该种群的径级和年龄结构合理,具有反J曲线的正常增长型种群.聚类分析结果表明:属于典型热带常绿季雨林类型的青皮林群落分布在海拔300～650 m处,伴生树种有白茶、细子龙、野生荔枝等.调查区内有8种国家重点保护植物,其中坡垒为国家一级保护植物,青皮是关键种,该区的森林生态系统具有极高的保护价值.     

Water Use of Tree Lines: Importance of Leaf Area and Micrometeorology in Sub-Humid Kenya

In this research the relative importance of leaf area and microclimatic factors in determining water use of tree lines was examined in sub-humid Western Kenya. Measurements of tree water-use by a heat-balance technique, leaf area, bulk air saturation deficit, daily radiation, and soil water content were done in an experiment with tree lines within crop fields. The tree species were Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden, Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. and Cedrella serrata Royle, grown to produce poles on a phosphorus-fixing Oxisol/Ferralsol with (+P) or without (−P) phosphorus application. Doubling the leaf area of Cedrella and Grevillea doubled water use in a leaf area (LA) range of 1–11 m² per tree. The response of Eucalyptus water use (W) to increases in leaf area was slightly less marked, with W = LAⁿ, n<1. Transpiration rate per unit leaf area (Tr) was the other important determinant of water use, being affected by both tree species and phosphorus fertilization. A doubling of the saturation deficit (SD) halved the water use of all trees except for Cedrella +P, in which water use increased. A direct effect of soil water content on water use was only found in Grevillea -P, with a small increase (60%) as available water increased from 1.4 to 8.9% above wilting point (32%). This low direct response to soil water content is probably due to the extensive tree-root systems and the deep clayey soils supplying sufficient water to meet the evaporative demand. Indirect responses to soil water content via decreases in leaf area occurred in the dry season. The results showed that water use of tree lines was more determined by leaf area and transpiration rate per unit leaf area than by micro meteorological factors. The linear response of tree water use to leaf area, over a wide range leaf areas, is a specific characteristic of tree line configurations and distinguished them from forest stands. In tree lines light interception and canopy conductance increase with leaf area much more than a similar leaf area increase would have caused in a closed forest canopy.