Variable-density thinning promotes differential recruitment and development of shade tolerant conifer species after 17 years

Promoting patchy recruitment of shade tolerant tree species into the midstory is an important step in developing structural diversity in second-growth stands. Variable-density thinning (VDT) has been proposed as a strategy for accelerating structural diversity, as its combination of within-stand treatments (harvest gaps, thinning, and non-harvested skips) should create variable overstory and understory conditions. Here we report on western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) seedling and sapling densities in five mixed-conifer stands and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) seedling and sapling densities in two stands in western Washington at 3,7, 10, and 16–17 years after VDT. Additionally, we report on western hemlock advance regeneration growth and survival in two stands over 14 years. Western hemlock seedling density was highest in the thinned treatment but only significantly so in Year 10. In contrast, the gaps contained significantly more western hemlock saplings in Years 7 and 10 and significantly greater growth of western hemlock advance regeneration through Year 10. Skips embedded within the VDT did not differ significantly from unharvested reserves in terms of seedling or sapling densities of either species. Sitka spruce seedling density was highest in the gap and thinned treatments, but saplings were uncommon in all treatments. Collectively, these results indicate that our variant of VDT promoted patchy, midstory recruitment of western hemlock but failed to recruit Sitka spruce saplings in either stand where it established. Consequently, more intensive variants of VDT may be required to promote midstory recruitment of species less tolerant of shade than western hemlock.

     

Extraparticulate chain interaction between different electron transport particles

Interaction or cross-linking between the respiratory chains of the electron transport particles of bacterial origin occurs with a mixture of active and inactive particles. Interaction between bacterial particles and liver sub-mitochondrial particles also occurs. Irradiation of the bacterial particles at 360 nanometers resulted in the destruction of quinone and consequent loss of ability of reduced nicotinamide adenine, dinucleotides to reduce cytochromes b, c(1), c, and a plus a(3). A mixture of both irradiated and untreated particles in the presence of the reduced dinucleotide resulted in the reduction of cytochromes c and a plus a(3), in an amount equivalent to the total concentration of these cytochromes in both types of particles. In contrast, the amount of cytochrome b reduced was equivalent to half the particle concentration or to that observed with the active particles alone. The rate of reduction of cytochromes c and a plus a(3) with the mixture of particles was similar to that with the active particles alone. The interaction or cross-linking between the particulate respiratory chains of bacteria or of bacterial and mammalian systems occurs after cytochrome b and before or at cytochrome c.     

Compulsive sexual activity induced by p-chlorophenylalanine in normal and pinealectomized male rats

p-Chlorophenylalanine depletes brain serotonin and induces longlasting sexual excitation in male rats. The effect of p-chlorophenylalanine is potentiated by pargyline. Administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan to rats treated with p-chlorophenylalanine plus pargyline blocks the sexual excitation. p-Chlorophenylalanine also elicits sexual excitation in pinealectomized rats; this effect is not mediated by the lack of indole hormones in the pineal but may be the consequence of depletion of 5-hydroxytryptophan in the brain and the resulting imbalance between 5-hydroxytryptophan and catecholamine activity in the central nervous system.     

Andover: An early to midseason golden nematode resistant variety for use as chipstock or tablestock

Andover may be used as an early to midseason tablestock and chipstock variety. It has a very rapid emergence and early tuber set. The vine maturity is similar to Superior in the absence of severe stress. In New York trials harvested 90 days after planting, the yields of Andover and Superior are nearly equal, 274 cwt/A. At 120 days, over eight seasons at two Ithaca locations, Andover yielded 87% Atlantic. Andover appears to be susceptible to drought and heat stress which can cause early senescence and reduce late season yields. It has few external and internal defectS. Specific gravity is high for an early variety, being .009 less than Atlantic. Andover has excellent chip color from the field from a range of environments and from 7 C storage. It has good boiling and baking properties. The mealiness of the baked potatoes is especially good. Tuber dormancy is two weeks longer than Atlantic. The reaction to common scab is like that of Monona, which is considered to be resistant. It is also resistant to powdery scab and the golden nematode.     

Evaluation of Greenwaste Mulch to Control Runoff Quality from Landfill Sites During Frequent Storms

This paper describes a preliminary evaluation of two types of greenwaste (fresh and aged) used as a mulch layer to control runoff from disturbed landfill areas. Fresh greenwaste refers to woody and herbaceous garden waste that has been recently collected, chopped and shredded. Aged greenwaste is greenwaste which has been stockpiled for 18 months. We used rainfall simulator tests to investigate two aspects: (1) the performance of greenwaste mulch in reducing runoff during designed storm events with a high frequency of occurrence and (2) the release of pollutants via runoff as total suspended solids (TSS) and total organic carbon (TOC) during rain. Rainfall of <5-year average recurrence interval (ARI) was generally applied, consistent with stormwater compliance requirements for many Australian landfills. TOC released from fresh greenwaste material was higher in concentration than from aged greenwaste. However, when used as a 10-cm-deep mulch layer, fresh greenwaste was able to completely prevent runoff, even when tested under rainfalls of up to 50-year ARI duration. An equivalent mulch layer of aged greenwaste was also effective in reducing runoff volume and TSS concentration compared with the bare soil during a 3.5-year ARI rainfall, but mean TOC concentration was higher. Based on these preliminary results, fresh greenwaste mulching of bare soils is an attractive option to control runoff and erosion from areas subject to intermittent landfill operations and worthy of further investigations.     

Poultry Residual Composts: Materials Balance and Crop Response

This paper discusses compost production yields as a percent of raw product mix using poultry litter, poultry processing plant dissolved air flotation skimmings, sawdust, wood chips and ground yard debris. Three different mixes were used and identified as Mixes 1, 2 and 3. Mixes 1 and 2 were produced using windrows and a windrow turner and Mix 3 was made using a covered in-channel compost turner. Mixes 1 and 2 were poultry litter compost with a screened mass yield of 80 and 77 percent, respectively. Mix 3 was a dissolved air flotation compost with a screened mass yield of 40 percent. Results from plant experiments show poultry litter compost can be used successfully in potting mixes for poinsettia and chrysanthemum production. A compost produced from dissolved air flotation skimmings, a poultry processing waste, can be used in field corn production but had little influence in the production of soybeans.     

A Comparison of Static Pile and Turned Windrow Methods for Poultry Litter Compost Production

Alternate technologies of compost manufactured from poultry litter (manure) were studied as a means of producing a value-added product for the landscape and nursery industry. Static pile and turned windrow technologies were investigated on a commercial scale with the composting of nearly 300 tons of material. The major difference between the technologies is the amount of energy and labor required. Static pile systems require less energy but more time than windrow turned systems. There was no process advantage found for passively aerated static piles over static piles but costs of passive aeration for pipes and labor were higher than for static piles. Machine turned windrows completed active temperature production within 100 days while portions of both the static and passively aerated piles continued to actively compost past 300 days. Process operational costs and compost quality were similar among the compost methods studied. Production operational cost is driven by the cost of compost ingredients and accounted for 60 to 70% of the cost in the pilot study. Ingredients were poultry litter, wood chips and sawdust. Screened compost was produced at an operational cost of $30 while unscreened compost could be produced for $20 per ton of compost. A production scheme where poultry litter is static pile composted on farms for later transport to regional processing centers appears feasible. This two-part composting procedure will eliminate the transport of raw litter and improve poultry biosecurity. Most likely, a private compost business would provide the expertise, on-farm compost procedures and operate the regional facility.     

Selecting for resistance to diseases in early generations

Screening in the seedling and first clonal generations is a potentially cost-effective and efficient way to incorporate resistance to important diseases and reduce large breeding populations to manageable size. In practice, however, early screening is often limited by the need to maintain clean seedstocks of promising clones, unreliability of single-plant evaluations, associations of disease resistance with undesirable horticultural characteristics, or the higher priority placed on traits other than disease resistance. Possible methods to overcome these limitations are discussed. Examples of early generation screening for resistance to several diseases are given.