Age estimation of different tree species using a special kind of an electrically recording resistance drill

The determination of tree age is an important issue for urban green planning, forestry and dendrology; finding non-destructive and quasi-non-destructive methods for this purpose is of great theoretical and practical importance. The resistance drilling method is quasi-non-destructive because the average diameter of an opening that remains after drilling does not exceed 3 mm. Do electrically recording resistance drills allow precise assessment of tree age? The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of determining the number of tree rings based on an examination of this special kind of drilling resistance profiles for three tree species, the pine Pinus sylvestris L., the oak Quercus robur L., and the birch Betula pendula ROTH. In 2015 and 2016, 15 pine trees, 15 oak trees, and 15 birch trees were randomly selected. For each studied tree, a measurement was conducted using the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 with a flat-tipped 1.5/3 mm steel needle (research sample), and an increment core was taken (reference sample). The drill used was not a real Resistograph^®. The analysis of the E400-profiles underestimated the number of tree rings; the mean bias error (MBE) values were –6.5, –2.5, and –6.0 years for pine, oak, and birch, respectively. The proportion of investigated trees with less than five years difference between the research and reference samples varied from 38.4 (birch) to 66.7 (oak) percent. The accuracy of tree age determination was lowest for birch and highest for oak. The binomial generalised linear model (GLM) revealed that the most accurate tree age assessments were obtained from tree rings wider than 2 mm. The measurements clearly showed that the electrically recording resistance drill IML-Resi E400 enables a quick, although approximate, tree age assessment. Future research should concentrate on electronically regulating and recording drills, providing a higher spatial and signal resolution, and a stronger correlation to wood density.     

双自由度多铰接仿形免耕精量播种单体设计与试验

针对2BMFJ系列原茬地免耕覆秸播种机播后镇压效果和播种深度一致性不理想的问题,设计了双自由度多铰接仿形免耕精量播种单体,应用保守系拉格朗日方程建立了种沟深度数学模型,初步确定了影响种沟深度的关键结构与工作参数。采用四因素五水平二次回归正交旋转中心组合试验方法,选取弹簧初始增量、初始牵引角、弹簧刚度、机具作业速度为影响因素,开沟深度合格率、土壤坚实度合格率和开沟深度变异系数为性能评价指标,得到影响开沟深度合格率各因素由大到小顺序为:弹簧刚度、机具作业速度、弹簧初始增量、初始牵引角,影响土壤坚实度合格率各因素由大到小顺序为:弹簧刚度、机具作业速度、初始牵引角、弹簧初始增量,影响开沟深度变异系数各因素由大到小顺序为:初始牵引角、机具作业速度、弹簧刚度、弹簧初始增量。对试验数据进行优化处理,结果表明,在初始牵引角0°、弹簧刚度10 N/mm条件下,弹簧初始增量15～19. 5 mm、机具作业速度6. 7～7. 8 km/h范围内,开沟深度合格率大于95%,土壤坚实度合格率大于95%,开沟深度变异系数小于10%。     

Inducing long-shoot growth for vegetative propagation of western larch

This study evaluated methods to release from suppression both short shoots on lower stems and developing buds on leaders of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) seedlings, in order to increase the number of long shoots suitable for stem-tip cuttings. Treatments included application of the cytokinin N-6-benzyladenine (BA), horizontal stem bending, and decapitation on container-grown 1.5-year-old seedling ortets. The rate of release of suppressed growth of short shoots on the basal stem segments increased from 15% to 83% after spraying with 200 ppm BA and doubled on unsprayed horizontally-bent stems. Syllepsis on the upper stems increased by 19% following decapitation and by 32% after a combination of decapitation and BA treatments. Although these treatments resulted in large increases in the numbers of long shoots available for stem cuttings, the rootability of BA-treated shoots needs assessing before use in operational programs.     

Browse yield and nutritive value of two Salix species and Dorycnium rectum in New Zealand

The willows Salix matsudana x alba and S. kinuyanagi, and the leguminous shrub Dorycnium rectum, are used for soil conservation in New Zealand and have potential value as browse plants. Two experiments were conducted in the lower North Island to ascertain the effect of selected establishment and cutting practices on their browse yield and nutritive value. A hill site experiment determined the effect of rooted and unrooted stem cuttings on establishment and initial production of the Salix species. A flat site experiment determined the effect of cutting height (0.10–0.30 m, 0.80 m, and 1.20 m above ground) and cutting frequency (once or twice per year) on yield of the Salix species and D. rectum. The establishment and dry matter (DM) yields of the Salix species were unaffected by the type of stem cutting. S. matsudana x alba (1.2 kg DM/tree) plants yielded more edible DM than S. kinuyanagi (0.9 kg DM/tree) and D. rectum (0.4 kg DM/tree). Cutting height had no effect on edible DM yield but affected total DM yield of the Salix species. Nitrogen concentration in edible DM, of all species, was 18–22 g/kg DM. In vitro organic matter digestibility of S. matsudana x alba (648–691 g/kg DM) and D. rectum (664–666 g/kg DM) was greater than S. kinuyanagi (611–615 g/kg DM). The condensed tannin concentration in edible DM of S. kinuyanagi was four-fold higher than in S. matsudana x alba (255 vs. 59 g/kg DM). It was concluded that S. matsudana x alba had the greatest potential as a browse species and D. rectum the least.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Rooting of baldcypress cuttings

A test of the rooting performance and growth of cuttings from 1-year-old and 25-to 50-year old baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L.) branch tips is reported. Rooting of cuttings from one-year-old trees averaged 75% (0.1% IBA treatment) and 88% (control), cuttings from 25 to 50-year-old trees averaged 12% in both the IBA treatment and the control treatment. Indole-3-butyric acid at a 0.1% concentration did not enhance rooting, but resulted in a significant increase in shoot dry weight on cuttings from one-year-old trees. The results of this experiment suggest that cuttings from mature baldcypres trees have the potential to root, thereby, additional rooting techniques such as girdling and stump sprouts is worthy of pursuing.     

Stem respiration in leafy cuttings of Prosopis juliflora during the rooting process

An oxygen electrode was used to estimate the respiration rate of basal 1 cm sections of Prosopis juliflora cuttings. The respiration rate per unit dry mass decreased linearly with increasing diameter at a rate of 0.42 nmol0₂g^–1s^–1mm^–1 between the range of 1–3 mm diameter. However, as a result of increased mass, total respiration for the whole 1 cm section of tissue increased linearly with increasing diameter. The average respiration rate of the basal 1 cm of stem tissue, measured 14 days after insertion in the propagator, was almost double that of the 1 cm section of tissue above it (1.01 nmol0₂g^–1s^–1 compared to 0.57 nmol0₂g^–1s^–1). The value of this technique as an aid to our understanding of the development of adventitious roots is discussed.     

冲击钻冲孔埋钻事故的处理

该文详细的介绍了简便可行的钻孔灌注桩施工中埋钻事故的处理方案。 即先用钻井法提取被埋钻颈,原地回填后再重新造孔、这样可以不修改设计方案节省费用,在一般中小型施工中可以实施。     

桩基钻孔偏位处治方法简介——介绍一种钻孔入岩倾斜偏位的处理方法

采用冲击钻进行桩基础钻孔施工,经常会出现入岩倾斜偏位的现象,如果处理不当,就会造成 废桩。这里介绍一种简单而有效的处治方法——用混凝土封底法,针对这种现象进行处理。     

Restoration of the mangrove vegetation in the Mahanadi delta,Orissa, India

In India, mangroves occupy 6740 km² of which the Mahanadi delta andBhitarkanika mangrove forests of Orissa cover 191.44 km², most of whichhas been severely overexploited. World wide concern to conserve mangrovesnecessitated propagation of mangroves to re-establish them on barren andswampy land along tidal creeks around Paradeep port of Orissa. Avicenniaofficinalis, Aegiceras corniculatum, Bruguiera parviflora, B. sexangula,Ceriops decandra, Excoecaria agallocha, Heritiera fomes, Kandelia candel,Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia apetala were vegetatively propagated andplanted over 10 ha of degraded salt-marshy wetlands of Mahanadi delta inpure and mixed stands depending on the intensity and the frequency of tidalinundation at the experimental site. Survival was significantly higher(80%) in S. apetala followed by A. officinalis, R. mucronata, K.candel and H. fomes (70–75%). S. apetala recorded the maximumgrowth in height (3.0 m after 2 years) whereas C. decandra showed theminimum growth (0.5 m). Growth performance was better with plants in mixedstands than the plantation with single species. This gives us hope topropagate and re-establish mangroves for conservation in scientificallymanaged plantations in a physiologically arid environment.     

Combined effect of wood moisture content,drill bit rotational speed and feed rate on drilling resistance measurements in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

ABSTRACT

An IML-RESI PD 400 drilling tool and a standard spade drill bit (IML System GmbH, Wiesloch, Germany) were used to study the combined effect of wood moisture content (MC), drill bit rotational speed and feed rate on drilling resistance (DR) and feeding force (FF). Tests were made with Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) conditioned in a normal climate (20°C/65% RH), at 20°C/95% RH, vacuum-pressure impregnated in water, and oven-dried. Rotational speeds and feed rates had an impact on feed rate per cutting edge for the major cutting edge of the drill bit which was used for correlation with DR and FF for various MC. Impact of MC on DR and FF depended on rotational speeds and feed rates of the drill bit. For feed rates per cutting edge less than 0.09?mm, DR was higher for water saturated (WS) specimens. Negligible differences between DR for various MC were found for feed rates per cutting edge between 0.09 and 0.15?mm. DR was higher at low MC for feed rates per cutting edge which were higher than 0.15?mm. FF extremely increased in conditioned (20°C/95% RH) and WS specimens at feed rates per cutting edge less than 0.1?mm.