Forest patches in Imperata grassland and prospects for their preservation under agricultural intensification in Northeast Luzon, The Philippines

Frequent burning and grazing and cultivation of cash crops increasingly threaten forest patches in hilly grassland in Northeast Luzon, yet their importance as a resource with multiple environmental functions and forest products persists. The aim of this study is to identify different types of forest patches, and their condition under present land-use intensification, and discuss prospects for their integration into sustainable local farming systems. Five types of forest patches are distinguished, both natural and planted ones, including rows of trees, woody patches, gallery forests, hill-slope forests and homegarden conglomerations. Natural woody patches and gallery forests in Imperata grassland are subject to degradation and land-use conversion under conditions of agricultural intensification. Woody patches in grassland affected by frequent burning and grazing cover small areas (66% below 50 m² as opposed to 28% in protected grassland) and contain relatively few woody plant species (25 woody species in total as opposed to 82 where protected). Yet where well managed, they may provide a variety of products for sale and subsistence, covering emergency needs and giving off-season cash income to rural communities. Moreover they serve like the gallery forest various ecological functions, carrying valuable indigenous tree species, retaining soil base nutrients, providing a continuous supply of organic matter and intercepting fine earth soil particles removed from bare surfaces. It is suggested that forest-patch management systems may be developed, taking into account both patch diversity and the diverse needs of rural communities, and to strengthen existing and undervalued functions of forest patches as permanent elements in an agricultural landscape.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modelling agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) with laurel (Cordia alliodora) and poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) in Costa Rica

The agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) under laurel (Cordia alliodora) and cacao under poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) were studied at CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica. An inventory was taken of the organic matter and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) separating the species into their compartments (leaves, branches, trunks and roots). Studies of the litter and of the mineral soil (0–45 cm) yielded these results: Patterns of nutrient accumulation are discussed in relation to the characteristics of these agroforestry systems.     

42种树叶氨基酸组成的研究

本文研究了中国42种针、阔叶树种树叶中18种蛋白质氨基酸的含量和组成在不同科、属、种之间和不同立地条件下,不同的生长季节进行了比较和探讨。为了进一步研究它们的利用价值,着重研究了与部分粮食和肉类中蛋白质氨基酸组成之间的差别。阔叶树树叶中总的蛋白质氨基酸含量约为针叶树树叶2—3倍。所有树种的树叶蛋白质氨基酸的组成趋势基本相似,树叶中含量较高的氨基酸有天门冬氨基酸、谷氨酸等8种。树叶中总的氨基酸含量高于粮食2—3倍,而且树叶中蛋白质氨基酸的组成趋势与粮食和肉类不完全相同,特别是人和动物体内不能自身合成的8种必须氨基酸的含量分别为高粱、玉米的3倍,麦麸的2倍,与肉类相比,树叶中亮氨酸和苯西氨酸,占蛋白质氨基酸总量百分比高出4—5倍。结果表明,阔叶树叶是优良的饲料添加剂。     

Analysis of the change in the original Metasequoia glyptostroboides population and its environment in Lichuan, Hubei from 1948 to 2003

Lichuan, located at the foot of the Wuling Mountain in southwest Hubei Province of central China, is well known in the world for the discovery of the living fossil Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & Cheng in the 1940s. Its natural habitat has been well protected by the Chinese government. In order to provide a scientific foundation for the protection of the Metasequoia resource, it has become necessary to analyze the changes in the original, natural Metasequoia mother trees (ONMMT) and their environment from 1948 to 2003. The results and countermeasures are as follows: First, the distribution areas have little changed, involving four towns/farmland, 45 villages, 5,746 individual trees in 1983 and 5,388 trees in 2003, covering nearly 600 km², with an average density of less than 0.1 tree/hm². The Metasequoia distribution consists of two main types: a scattered distribution type found mainly at the foothills or near houses, roads, villages and rivers while the population distribution type is found mainly at the mountains and valleys with a minority at low elevations in the mountains and basins. The largest Metasequoia populations have 105 and 123 trees. Second, in the past, attention was only paid to the protection of individual trees while the protection of the Metasequoia population and environment was neglected. This led to a shift from the past mixed forests to pure Metasequoia forests, with a simpler structure, reduced biodiversity and conditions non-conducive for natural renewal. From 1983 to 2003, 386 original Metasequoia mother trees died. So it is vital to enhance the protection of the only original Metasequoia population in the world and its habitat. Third, modern ecological means should be taken to protect the original Metasequoia population and its habitat. Research on the restoration and rehabilitation of Metasequoia vegetation should be carried out. Restoration and rehabilitation should be put into practice in the Xiaohe Valley, where the highest concentration of Metasequoia is found. Fourth, efficient measures should be taken to stop human activities that are harmful to Metasequoia and to improve the environment of ONMMT in order to promote the protection of the ONMMT population and its ecosystem. Eco-emigration and the return of marginal agricultural land to forestry can be practiced. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25(5): 972–977 [译自: 生态学报, 2005, 25(5): 972–977]     

城市古树名木地理信息系统建设初步研究

针对当前城市古树名木在管理、维护和动态监测等方面存在的问题,阐明了建立城市古树名木地理信息系统(Urban Old and Famous Trees Geographic Information System,UOFTGIS)的重要意义。并在现有商业GIS软件基础上,按照城市园林部门对城市古树名木管理的需要,在城市古树名木地理信息系统的设计和功能开发方面进行了详细的探讨和实践。UOFTGIS的建立可满足城市古树名木管理标准化、规范化、信息化和数字化的要求。     

Seasonal dynamics of mineral N pools and N-mineralization in soils under homegarden trees in South Andaman,India

Agroforestry trees are now well known to play a central role in the build up of nutrients pools and their transformations similar to that of forest ecosystem, however, information on the potential of homegarden trees accumulating and releasing nitrogen (mineralization) is lacking. The present study reports seasonal variations in pool sizes of mineral N (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N), and net N-mineralization rate in relation to rainfall and temperature under coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), clove (Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb) and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt. Nees) trees in a coconut-spice trees plantation for two annual cycles in the equatorial humid climate of South Andaman Island of India. Concentration of NH₄⁺-N was the highest during wet season (May–October) and the lowest during post-wet season (November–January) under all the tree species. On the contrary, concentration of NO₃⁻-N was the lowest in the wet season and the highest during the post-wet season. However, concentrations of the mineral N were the highest under the nutmeg and the lowest under the coconut trees. Like the pool sizes, mean annual mineralization was the highest under the nutmeg (561 mg kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and the lowest under the coconut trees (393 mg kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Rate of mineralization was the highest during the post-wet season and the lowest during the dry season (February–April) under all the tree species. High rainfall during the wet season, however, reduced the rate of nitrification under all the tree species. The mean annual mineralization was logarithmically related with rainfall amount and mean monthly temperature.     

海南岛几种优势树种构筑型的研究

对海南 9种优势树种构筑型进行研究 ,通过对树木分枝方式和发芽方式的细致观察和描述 ,发现有 1种属Massart型 ,1种属Troll型 ,7种属Rauh型。对这 9种树木的构筑型特征与国外的研究进行了比较 ,确定了构筑模式与属及发芽模式与属之间的关系。     

杨凌行道树树种规划探讨

通过对杨凌行道树的应用现状调查,结合杨凌自然环境、城市的性质,提出了树种规划的原则,规划出适合杨凌的行道树树种。为杨凌园林绿化事业的发展提供依据。     

The Chagga homegardens: a multistoried agroforestry cropping system on Mt. Kilimanjaro (Northern Tanzania)

The homegardens are characterised by an intensive integration of numerous multipurpose trees and shrubs with food crops and animals, simultaneously on the same unit of land.The Chagga are skilled farmers with an intimate knowledge of the crops and their ecological requirements. They have a good idea of functions/uses of the plant species on their farms. The large species diversity provides both subsistence and cash crops. It enables the farmer to keep his management options open and provides insurance against drought, pest and economic risks.     

城市绿化树木栽植与管理方式的几点反思——对2003年冬北京大雪造成"树灾"的调查

2003年11月6日北京大雪对城市绿化树木造成了罕见的伤害。本文在对树木受灾情况进行调查的基础上,综合分析了树木受灾的主要因素,探讨了目前树木栽植、管理方式等与树木受灾的关系,并提出了改进建议。