Consequences of pre-planting treatments of potato seed tubers on leaf area index formation

Abstract

In field trials conducted in 2000–2002, we examined the influence of pre-planting treatments of seed tubers on the formation of leaf area index. The potato varieties used were Agrie Dzeltenie (early), Piret (middle-maturing) and Ants (late). The following treatments were used: untreated control, thermal shock and pre-sprouting. Pre-sprouting treatments of all varieties and thermal shock treatment of the variety Agrie Dzeltenie had a significant effect on the leaf area index. The value and timing of maximum leaf area index were: variety specific, 4.0 units of the early variety Agrie Dzeltenie, 3.7 units of the middle-maturing variety Piret and 3.9 units of the late variety Ants. The weight of the haulms of the plants developed from physiologically older seed tubers formed faster and remained smaller. Pre-planting treatment of seed tubers provided quicker field emergence. The slower the potato plants developed the haulms, the greater the maximum weight achieved. Pre-planting treatments influence the leaf area index. The importance of this influence lies in potato varieties with different maturity times since increases in quality and yield depend on the size of the photosynthetic area.     

Understorey vegetation in young naturally regenerated and planted birch (Betula spp.) stands on abandoned agricultural land

The abandonment of agricultural lands in Northern and Eastern Europe increases the area covered by first generation forests, which are either formed as an outcome of secondary succession or established as plantations. However, questions remain as to how these new stands develop and what kind of species they favour, which in turn has impacts on their ecological and economical value. Our aim was to compare understorey vascular plant and bryophyte vegetation characteristics between naturally regenerated and planted birch stands on abandoned agricultural sites in Estonia, focusing on the aspects of species richness and forest understorey recovery. Species richness and diversity of vascular plants were similar in both stand types but the number of forest vascular plant species was significantly higher in naturally regenerated stands. The bryophyte layer of naturally regenerated stands had a higher species richness, diversity, and number of forest bryophyte species. The higher number of forest vascular plant and bryophyte species in naturally regenerated stands can be explained by the longer undisturbed succession period. The recovery of the forest understorey was unaffected by former agricultural land use (crop field or grassland). The influence of soil properties on the recovery of the forest understorey was not detected, but the number of vascular plant species that grow in forests as well as in grasslands was negatively correlated with distance from forest. Overall, understorey vegetation of natural and planted birch stands did not reveal substantial differences. However, in the case of vigorous natural birch regeneration in the vicinity of forest land, unassisted reforestation should be favoured.     

The effect of land use type on net nitrogen mineralization on abandoned agricultural land: Silver birch stand versus grassland

The effect of land use type on the dynamics and annual rate of net nitrogen mineralization (NNM) in a naturally generated silver birch stand and in a grassland, both on abandoned agricultural land, was assessed in situ in the upper 0–20 cm soil layer using the method of buried polyethylene bags. Annual NNM rate in the birch stand (156 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) was higher than in the grassland (102 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹); in both cases NNM covered a major part of the plants annual nitrogen demand. The rate of NNM in the upper 0–10 cm soil layer in the birch stand (99 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) exceeded the respective rate of NNM in the grassland (51 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) roughly two times. In the grassland the rates of NNM in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm layers were equal; in the birch stand NNM in the 0–10 cm layer was 1.7 times higher than in deeper 10–20 cm layer. The intensity of daily NNM in the upper 0–10 cm soil layer in the birch stand was the highest in June and in the grassland in May, 776 and 528 mg kg⁻¹ N day⁻¹, respectively. In our study no significant correlation was found between NNM and the environmental factors monthly mean soil temperature, soil moisture content and pH.     

Above-ground growth and temporal plant–soil relations in midterm hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) plantations on former arable lands in hemiboreal Estonia

Short-rotation forestry with hybrid aspen is a novel silvicultural system in northern Europe on former arable lands. However, knowledge about hybrid aspen growth potential in different soil types and the impact of soil physico-chemical properties on tree productivity in the long term is still scanty. We used repeated monitoring of soil properties and tree growth in young (5-year) and midterm (15-year) hybrid aspen plantations in various soil types (corresponding to four forest site types) to determine the temporal changes in tree growth–soil relationships. Growth of midterm hybrid aspen plantations exceeded same-aged native European aspen stands about two-fold. Growth had improved on Aegopodium, remained moderate on moist Dryopteris and was increasingly suppressed on dry Hepatica soils. The pH_KCl, available Ca, content of clay and layer thickness of the soil A-horizon had a significant effect on tree growth in young plantations, but these effects disappeared in the midterm age. The soil water-holding capacity and available P in the A-horizon had a significant growth-controlling effect on tree growth in both ages. We concluded that former arable soils provide a sufficient supply of major nutrients in midterm hybrid aspen plantations whereas minor changes have occurred in growth–soil relationships between young and midterm age.     

Early growth and development of silver birch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.) plantations on abandoned agricultural land

Eight-year-old plantations (11) of silver birch were studied on abandoned agricultural land in Estonia. Trees were planted on uncovered soil and on polyethylene. After eight growing seasons, the height and diameter at breast height of the trees grown on polyethylene were significantly (P < 0.001) larger than corresponding parameters of the trees grown on uncovered soil. The annual height increment of the birches grown on the polyethylene was significantly (P < 0.05) larger during six growing seasons after planting compared to that of the trees grown on uncovered soil. However, annual height increments were not significantly different in the 7th and the 8th growing seasons. The use of polyethylene mulching had a statistically significant effect (P < 0.001) on the height of the beginning of the live crown in 8-year-old plantations. The differences between the values of live crown ratio of the trees grown on polyethylene and the values of live crown ratio of the trees grown on uncovered soil decreased during six growing seasons. However, by the 7th and 8th growing seasons, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the values of the live crown ratio. The height growth of silver birch grown without mulching as well as with mulching was found to be more intensive on Glossic Podzoluvisol, Calcaric Cambisol, Calcaric Luvisol and Dystric Gleysol; however, the height growth was more intensive on mulched soil. The height growth of the birches was modelled on the single-tree and stand levels for five soil types.     

Prey selection and growth in 0+ Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L. in littoral zones of seven temperate lakes

We studied the relationships between the planktonic food base and feeding patterns of juvenile mid-summer/early autumn Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L., a common predatory freshwater fish in large parts of Europe and Asia. The feeding of 0+ perch was studied during summer and autumn in littoral habitats of seven lakes with different environmental conditions – four Latvian (Auciema, Riebinu, Vārzgūnes, Laukezers) and three Estonian (Kaiavere, Prossa and Akste) lakes. Simultaneously, the abundance, biomass and structure of zooplankton communities were examined. We focused on the littoral areas because many studies in lakes suggest that littoral habitats are particularly important for 0+ fish growth and survival. We were interested in the question: can the diet and growth of 0+ perch be explained by zooplankton community structure? We also presumed that if the amount of zooplankton is low, more benthic invertebrates will be consumed by 0+ perch. Opposite to expectations, we found that zooplankton always counted for over 90% of diet biomass in perch. There were also clear correlations between the zooplankton biomass in a given lake, the zooplankton biomass in 0+ perch stomachs, and the fish growth rate. The study also suggested that nutrient enrichment can positively impact the 0+ perch feeding conditions in lakes.     

Theory of the shrinkage of wood

Summary The wood, composed of alternate earlywood and latewood lamellae, forms a statically indeterminate system with two redundants. The redundant forces are the shearing forces arising at the edge of the boundary between earlywood and latewood in the longitudinal and in the tangential directions of wood. By determining the redundant forces according to the theory of statically indeterminate systems, we know the state of stress and the state of detormation of the wood element and thus can determine its shrinkage and stresses in the longitudinal, tangential and radial directions.

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Zusammenfassung Holz ist aus Früh-und Spätholzlamellen aufgebaut und bildet damit ein statisch unbestimmtes System mit zwei statisch unbestimmten Größen. Diese statisch unbestimmten Größen sind die Scherkräfte, die in longitudinaler und tangentialer Richtung an den Kanten der Grenzschicht zwischen Früh-und Spätholz entstehen. Bestimmt man die statisch unbestimmten größen nach der Theorie der statisch unbestimmten Systeme, so kennt man den Spannungs-und Verformungszustand der Gefügeteile des Holzes und ist damit in der Lage, scine Schwindung und Schwindspannungen in longitudinaler, tangentialer und radialer Richtung zu berechnen.

     

Anticoagulant resistance in Europe: Appraisal of the data from the 1992 EPPO questionnaire

Resistance to the first successful anticoagulant rodenticide, warfarin, was detected in the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) in 1958, and it has since expanded to cover other commensal rodent species (R. rattus L., Mus musculus L.) and the majority of later-developed anticoagulant compounds. The purpose of this paper is to give an up-to-date picture of the current distribution of anticoagulant resistance in Europe, as revealed by the questionnaire dispatched by EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) to its member countries in 1992. Replies were received from 13 countries (43% of EPPO members), and it was found that broad-spectrum resistance occurred in practically all those countries that reported testing activity. A likely conclusion based on this finding is that true distribution of resistance is certainly more extensive than documented by the questionnaire replies. Another conclusion drawn by the EPPO Rodent Control Panel was that the existing resistance detection protocols were no longer adequate to cover the whole array of existing anticoagulant rodenticides. Consequently, a new guideline including novel methods particularly for detecting resistance to single-dose anticoagulant compounds was urgently needed. This guideline is currently under review.