Growth responses by Pinus radiata to combinations of superphosphate, urea and thinning type

A 2³ factorial experimental testing the effects of urea (N), superphosphate (P) and two thinning types (diagonal-line thinning and thinning from below) on the basal-are increment of 18-year-old Pinus radiata (D. Don) is described. Although the trees had received localized applications of superphosphate shortly after establishment they were considered at the age of 18 years to be phosphate-deficient because concentrations of phosphorus in the foliage were low (0.065% P). Application of superphosphate (200 kg P ha⁻¹) increased concentrations in the foliage (0.132% P) and increased the 7-year basal-area increment by approximately 70%. No growth response was obtained when urea (476 kg N ha⁻¹) was applied alone. When both fertilizers were applied there was a further increase in basal-area increment of 81% on line-thinned plots and 26% on plots which had been thinned from below. This interaction reversed the normal trend in which plots thinned from below, by virtue of their greater initial basal area, produced 11–16% more increment than those which had been line-thinned.

A model of tree growth using initial basal area and a competition index as independent variables was adequate to describe differences in basal-area growth between thinning types except where urea and superphosphate had both been applied. In the case of N + P-treated plots, the reciprocal of the competition index was required as an additional variable. Analysis of the development of the growth responses over time indicated that application of superphosphate had produced sustained improvement in growth rates but that the response to urea occurred only in some growing-seasons. In line-thinned plots the response to urea in addition to phosphate occurred in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th growing-seasons, but the response occurred only in the 2nd and 4th growing-seasons in plots thinned from below. It is argued that this differential response between thinning types can be attributed to differences in stand density and water availability. In order to maximise the growth response to added nitrogen it is important to reduce competition by paying particular attention to both tree spacing and residual basal area.     

Effects of water availability and fertilization on nitrogen cycling in a stand of Pinus radiata

Nitrogen cycling was studied for four years (1983–1987) in an N-deficient 10-year-old stand of Pinus radiata growing on a yellow podzolic soil which had a low water-holding capacity. Trees were subjected to combinations of irrigation of N-fertilization resulting in a wide range of N uptake and tree growth. Net mineralization, plant uptake and leaching of soil N was monitored using a sequential coring and in-situ incubation technique. Nitrogen concentrations were measuredd monthly in live needles and litterfall. Average rates of weight loss and release of N from decomposing litter were estimated over a 3-year period using a budgeting approach.

Trees responded only to N (not to P, and there was no N×P interaction), but there was a large positive interaction between N supply and water availability. Response to fertilizer averaged + 24% over a 4-year period, but was zero during a growing-season which contained a 4-month drought. Irrigation alone increased growth by 60%, but in combination with high N availability growth increased 2–3 fold. Annual uptake of N ranged from <10 (irrigated plots in years 2 and 3 after enhanced mineralization during the initial year) to 166 kg ha⁻¹ (during a wet growing season following heavy N fertilization). Although soil mineral-N concentrations were elevated for only about 1 year after fertilization, fertilization enhanced rates of N mineralization throughout the soil N mineralization may have resulted from re-mineralization of the large quantity (147 kg soil N mineralization may have resulted from re-mineralization of the large quantity (147 kg ha⁻¹) of fertilizer N immobilized by the soil during the initial 8 months after fertilization, or the N released from decomposition of fine roots having higher N content. Nitrification was negligible in unfertilized soils, but increased markedly 50–100 days after fertilization and resulted in the leaching of about 60 kg N ha⁻¹ during autumn and winter of the first year after fertilization. Fertilized soils have continued to nitrify readily. Irrigation increased rates of weight loss and N release from decomposing litter.

The rate of N uptake by trees markedly affected the concentrations of N in newly emerging and older needles, and the concentration of N in needlefall. The weighted mean concentration of N in annual needlefall ranged from 0.42% in the irrigated-only plot (most N-stressed) to 0.94% in the heavily fertilized plot during the first year after treatment. These weighted concentrations are a useful index of N uptake from the soil and of growth rate where water supply is not limiting. Except for the initial year after heavy N fertilization, annual uptake of N was equivalent to annual soil N mineralization, and N uptake was positively linearly correlated with annual basal-area increment of trees.     

Overstory and shrub effects on natural regeneration processes in native Pinus radiata stands

Native Monterey pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) stands on the Monterey peninsula have been significantly modified by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. The exclusion of fire and the introduction of pitch canker (caused by Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell) created a need for the examination of these changing ecosystems with respect to regeneration, especially as these stands reach mature ages. We established 210 plots on 35 transects distributed throughout five stands in order to describe the current stand structure and quantify the extent and condition of regeneration. The results indicated that Monterey pine seedling establishment varies throughout the peninsula depending on percent canopy cover, duff and litter depth, and percent shrub cover while seedling growth is influenced by percent shrub cover. Canopy cover was also found to inversely influence shrub cover. Our study highlights the importance of understory removal to increase Monterey pine regeneration and seedling growth as canopy cover decreases, especially in areas where coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Nee) and poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum E. Greene) are abundant.     

Nitrogen fertiliser effects on litter fall, FH layer and mineral soil characteristics in New Zealand Pinus radiata plantations

The effects of nitrogenous fertilisation on litter fall, FH layer and soil characteristics were investigated in replicated trials in six second rotation New Zealand Pinus radiata plantation forests. Four trial sites also incorporated three different post-harvest organic matter removal treatments. All sites were sampled in early 2002 and 2003. Fertilisation significantly increased the nitrogen content and decreased the carbon:nitrogen ratio of the litter fall. Fertilisation significantly increased the mass of the FH layer in the treatment plots, moisture content in the FH layer, the concentration of nitrogen in the FH layer and the pool of carbon and nitrogen stored in the FH layer. Fertilisation significantly increased the nitrogen concentration of the mineral soil, and decreased the mineral soil carbon:nitrogen ratio and pH. Several significant site × fertilisation interaction terms indicated that variations in the fertilisation regimes and site characteristics substantially influenced the effects of fertilisation. Fertilisation did not significantly decrease the relative differences between the organic matter removal treatments. The significant differences in the litter fall, FH layer and mineral soil characteristics strongly suggest that nitrogenous fertilisation has the capacity to significantly alter the forest floor environment, and may be able to increase carbon storage over the life of the rotation.     

A stem taper equation compatible to volume equation for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraserianthes falcataria </Emphasis>in Pare,East Java,Indonesia: its implications for the plantation management

A stem taper equation compatible to the volume equation was derived from the data of 172 trees sampled in the three plantations of Paraserianthes falcataria in Pare, East Java. The stem taper equation in this study was based on a conventional logarithmic volume equation, with the addition of one free parameter that minimized the standard errors of estimate to the observed diameter of stems at 1.0-m intervals. The derived equation was able to predict the stem taper of P. falcataria reasonably well, while it was not flexible enough to describe delicate changes of the taper in the upper portion of stem. The equation was able to predict bole length and the volume up to the top diameter 20 cm, the diameter size merchantable for sawn timber in Indonesia, with reasonable accuracy. An appropriate rotation age for sawn-timber production was found to be 8–9 years old, at which the mean annual increment of sawn timber would be maximized.     

Effects of green pruning on growth and stem shape of Eucalyptus nitens (Deane and Maiden) Maiden

An experiment was established in two high quality Eucalyptus nitens Deane and Maiden (Maiden) plantations in Tasmania. At the start of the experiment the trees were three years old and the plantations were on the point of canopy closure. Selected trees were pruned to remove 0, 50% or 70% of the lower green crown length, and each was surrounded by eight unpruned trees. The 50% treatment had no impact on height or diameter increment in the two years following treatment, but removal of 70% of the lower crown length resulted in significant decreases in both height and diameter increment. There were no changes in the height of 50%-pruned trees relative to the height of surrounding unpruned trees (relative height), and it was concluded that dominance would not be affected by this treatment. The relative height of 70%-pruned trees was less at one site, and this treatment may result in loss of dominance. Stem taper was generally unaffected by either pruning treatment. Changes in stem form were restricted to trees in the 70% pruning treatment and were only transient. It was concluded that removal of 50% of the lower green crown length is an appropriate level of pruning for the species provided that growth rates are rapid and pruning is timed to coincide with canopy closure. Since dominance was unaffected by this level of pruning, thinning at the time of pruning is unnecessary. It may be possible to minimise the impact on growth of higher levels of pruning by thinning at the time of pruning.     

Postharvest organic matter removal effects on FH layer and mineral soil characteristics in four New Zealand Pinus radiata plantations

The effects of three postharvest organic matter removal treatments on fermentation-humus (FH) layer and soil characteristics were compared in replicated trials in four second rotation New Zealand Pinus radiata plantation forests, planted 8–16 years prior to sampling. All sites were sampled in early 2002 and 2003. Increasing organic matter removal significantly decreased the mass of the FH layer in the treatment plots, the moisture content in the FH layer and mineral soil, the concentration of carbon in the FH layer and mineral soil, the pool of carbon stored in the FH layer, the concentration of nitrogen in the mineral soil and the pool of nitrogen stored in the FH layer. Mineral soil pH was significantly increased with increasing organic matter removal. The persistence of the significant differences in the FH layer and mineral soil characteristics strongly suggested that variations in organic matter removal have long-term effects on forest floor properties, and significantly influences carbon storage over the life of the rotation.     

Modelling the influence of site and weed competition on juvenile modulus of elasticity in Pinus radiata across broad environmental gradients

Data from a nationwide set of Pinus radiata D. Don plots established at a range of conventional stand densities were analysed at age 6 to (i) determine how environment and competition from weeds influence dynamic modulus of elasticity (E) of the lower stem base, (ii) develop a predictive multiple regression model of E for basal stemwood and (iii) identify significant direct and indirect environmental influences (through stem slenderness) on E using path analysis.Site had a highly significant (P < 0.001) influence on E, which exhibited a 3-fold range from 1.6 to 5.3 GPa, across 30 sites. When compared to the weed-free controls, weed competition had a significant (P < 0.0001) and substantial effect on E, increasing values by on average 16% (2.76 GPa vs. 2.38 GPa).The positive linear relationship between stem slenderness (determined as tree height/ground-line tree diameter) and E was by far the strongest relationship (R² = 0.71; P < 0.001) among the 20 variables that were significantly related to E. A multiple regression model that included stem slenderness, mean minimum air temperature in mid-autumn, T_min, as positive linear relationships and net nitrogen (N) mineralisation in a negative linear form accounted for 86% of the variance in E. A cross-validation indicated that this model was stable and unbiased, with the validation accounting for 82% of the variance in E. The final path analysis model included T_min, net N mineralisation, below canopy solar radiation and stem slenderness as significant (P < 0.05) direct influences on E. Below canopy radiation, maximum air temperature during mid-summer, soil total phosphorus and carbon:nitrogen ratio were indirectly associated with E through their significant (P < 0.05) direct relationship with stem slenderness.These results provide considerable insight into how environment regulates E of juvenile P. radiata. Low fertility sites that have warm air temperatures and either a high canopy leaf area index, or high levels of woody weed competition, are most likely to produce trees with high stem slenderness and high E. Conversely, sites that are cool over summer and autumn and high in fertility, with low levels of intra- or inter-specific competition for light are likely to produce trees with low stem slenderness and low E.     

Stand density and fertilization effects on aboveground allocation patterns and stem form of Pinus sylvestris in young stands

The increasing demand for forest biomass for energy generation could be partially met by growing denser stands and use of fertilizer. Before this is done at large scale, more knowledge of the effects of stand density and fertilization on aboveground allocation patterns and stem form is needed. Therefore, effects of pre-commercial thinning (PCT) to 3000 stems ha^?1, an unthinned dense control (C), and PCT combined with two levels of fertilization (100 kg ha^?1 of nitrogen applied either during the establishment of the field experiment (F1) or annually (F2)) were examined in 23- to 26-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands six years after the establishment of the field experiment. In total, 114 sample trees were harvested using destructive biomass sampling. The growth allocation and stem form of trees with diameter at breast height (DBH; 1.3 m height) >5.0 cm were not affected by either the PCT or fertilization. Small trees (DBH < 5 cm) in denser, unthinned control plots had more slender stems (lower DBH/height ratios) and allocated less growth to branches and foliage than trees in PCT plots. Fertilization had little effect on the stem form and growth allocation of the smallest trees. Therefore, effects of stem density and fertilization on stem form and growth allocation to foliage were only found for small suppressed trees, and the treatments had very little influence on dominant and codominant trees.     

火炬松、湿地松、晚松组培繁殖的研究

本试验以火炬松、湿地松、晚松成熟种子的胚为材料，在附加有细胞分裂素（ＢＡＰ）的ＧＤ改良基本培养基（总盐分含量为０．２１％；总含氮量为１８６ｍｇ／Ｌ）经３￣４周培养，在胚或子叶及下胚轴上出现膨大肉眼可见的暗绿色愈伤组织及小芽，其分化率达７５％￣８５％。培养基中的细胞分裂素（ＢＡＰ）浓度对三种松种不定芽的分化具有很大影响，一般以３￣５ｍｇ／Ｌ为好，在继代培养基中，活性炭对于嫩梢的生长具有良好的效果。当     

The effects of nitrogen fertilization and soil properties on mycorrhizal formation of Salix viminalis

The effects of nitrogen fertilization (100, 200 kg N ha⁻¹ per year) and soil properties on mycorrhizal formation on Salix viminalis were investigated at three short rotation plantations on Gleysols and Cambisols (Abbachhof (ABB) and Wildeshausen (WIL) in Germany, Ultuna (ULT) in Sweden). During 3 years the ectomycorrhizal colonization, the composition of ectomycorrhizal morphotypes and the VAM spore density in the soil were analyzed. The ectomycorrhizal colonization was significantly altered due to N-fertilization at all sites. The quality and magnitude of the fertilization effects on mycorrhizal formation on Salix viminalis varied due to the soil properties, i.e. soil texture, soil N content and pH. The WIL site was characterized by sandy soil (low pH, high soil N content), whereas the ABB site was characterized by clayey soil (high pH, low N content). The ULT site was characterized by clayey soil (high pH, high N content). In the unfertilized control plots (C), ectomycorrhizal colonization was higher at WIL than at ABB. Fertilization reduced the ectomycorrhizal colonization at WIL but increased it at ABB. The distribution of the ectomycorrhizal morphotypes was very heterogeneous within the treatments, therefore significant differences were rare. Sporocarps were collected at ABB during one growing period. The sporocarps were mostly from saprophytic species, with exception of the ectomycorrhizal species Inocybe glabripes. Significant effects of N-fertilization on VAM spore density were observed at two of the three plantations. The pattern in VAM spore density was similar to the pattern seen for ectomycorrhizal colonization. Thus, VAM spore density was increased by fertilization at ABB (low soil N) and decreased at ULT (high soil N). The soil properties have been shown to modify the effects of fertilization on ectomycorrhizal colonization and VAM spore density. Therefore, in management practice of short rotation plantations, the benefit of N-fertilization should be evaluated keeping secondary effects caused by changed mycorrhizal formations in mind.     

The effect of Tuber melanosporum Vitt. mycorrhization on growth, nutrition, and water relations of Quercus petraea Liebl., Quercus faginea Lamk., and Pinus halepensis Mill. seedlings

Mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal Quercus faginea Lamk., Quercus petraea Liebl., and Pinus halepensis Mill. one-year-old seedlings inoculated with Tuber melanosporum Vitt. have been analyzed with the purpose of studying the influence of mycorrhization on their growth, water relations, and mineral nutrition. The mycorrhization improved Q. petraea and P. halepensis seedling growth. In addition, the mycorrhization created an elastic adjustment in P. halepensis, although it did not cause any osmotic adjustment. Additionally, the mycorrhization increased phosphorus uptake in Q. faginea and P. halepensis, content of all nutrients in P. halepensis, and N content in Q. petraea.     

落叶松种间及其杂种生长与形质性状评价研究

[目的]通过对落叶松种间及其杂种生长与形质性状评价来定向选育优良落叶松建筑材。[方法]以辽宁省大孤家林场32年生的落叶松试验林为实验材料,对落叶松属日本、兴安、长白及华北4个落叶松种,及以日本落叶松为母本的日本×兴安、日本×华北、日本×长白、日本×日本杂种的生长和形质性状进行变异规律分析,并采用模糊数学隶属函数对其差异显著指标进行综合评价。[结果]表明:落叶松种和杂种间生长差异显著(p<0.01),杂种胸径、树高和材积总生长量与母本差异不显著,却显著高于相应父本;杂种之间的生长差异体现在林分的前10年,随着林龄的增大优势逐渐减退;树冠特征因子中的枝下高、冠长、枝条直径、长度、角度和干形特征因子中的高径比、树干圆满度、节子直径、长度、角度在落叶松种和杂种间差异显著。基于上述指标进行了生长和形质性状综合评价,排名前三位的分别为日本×兴安、日本×长白和日本落叶松。32年生时日本×兴安的胸径、树高和材积分别为18.69 cm、21.62 m和0.339 2 m³;日本×长白的为18.44 cm、23.85 m和0.339 6 m³;日本落叶松的为19.36 cm、21.31 m和0.335 7 m³;而且它们在适应性上也具有明显优势。[结论]日本×兴安、日本×长白和日本落叶松适合作为定向培育建筑材的优良品种在东北地区重点推广。     

Spatial distribution and sampling of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) (Lep. Thaumetopoeidea) populations on Pinus pinaster Ait. in Montesinho, N. Portugal

The pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. & Schiff.) is one of the most destructive pine pests in the Mediterranean countries. The first objective of this study was to analyse the spatial distribution of this insect on the tree on Pinus pinaster Ait., in northeast Portugal. The second objective was to develop two sampling plans: a sampling plan with fixed levels of precision for estimating T. pityocampa populations and a sequential sampling plan to classify the pest. Population estimates were made by registering the number of insect egg batches on 90 trees distributed over 3 stands during a 3-year study (1997–2000). Taylor's power law and Iwao regression were used to analyse the spatial distribution of the pest. Taylor's power law fitted the data better (r² = 0.775) than Iwao's regression model (r² = 0.704). The aggregation indices (b and β) were both significantly greater than one, indicating the aggregation of T. pityocampa egg batches. Optimal sample sizes for fixed precision levels of 0.10, 0.15 and 0.25 were estimated with Taylor's regression coefficients. Required sample sizes increased dramatically with increased levels of precision. The two sampling plans presented should be a tool for research on population dynamics and pest management decision.     

Density-dependent effects of northern hardwood competition on selected environmental resources and young white spruce (Picea glauca) plantation growth, mineral nutrition, and stand structural development – a 5-year study

The effects of competition from red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and northern hardwood tree species on white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings were examined on a clearcut site of the boreal mixedwood forest of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Canada. A controlled experiment involving a gradient of five vegetation densities on the basis of the leaf area index (LAI) was established in a completely randomized plot design with six replications. Each of the five levels of vegetation cover (including vegetation-free plots) were examined to evaluate how they affected environmental factors (quantity and quality of light reaching the spruce seedlings, and soil temperature), spruce growth (height, basal diameter, volume index, and above-ground biomass), spruce mortality, browsing damage, spruce foliar mineral nutrition, as well as the stand structural development, during the first 5 years after seedling planting.

Each spruce growth variable analyzed in this study, according to a RMANOVA procedure, followed a negative hyperbolic form of density dependence of competitive effects. Loss of growth in young white spruce plantations in competition with northern hardwoods is likely to occur with the first few competitors. In cases where higher levels of competing vegetation were maintained over time, loss of spruce growth was extremely severe, to an extent where the exponential growth character of the young trees has been lost. At the end of the fifth year, spruce growing with no interference were larger in mean total above-ground biomass by a factor of 9.7 than those growing with the highest level of vegetation cover. Spruce did not develop a strategy of shade avoidance by increasing tree height, on the contrary. Spruce mortality differed among treatments only in the fifth year, indicating that early evaluation of spruce survival is not a strong indicator of competitive effects, when compared to diameter growth. Spruce foliar N and Ca contents were significantly reduced by the first level of competing vegetation cover, while K increased with the density of the vegetation cover, and P and Mg were not affected. Nitrogen nutrition of young white spruce planted on recently disturbed sites is discussed in relation to the potential root discrimination of this species against soil nitrate, a reaction observed by Kronzucker et al. [Kronzucker, H.J., Siddiqi, M.Y., Glass, A.D.M., 1997. Conifer root discrimination against soil nitrate and the ecology of forest succession. Nature London 385, 59–61]. The effects of hardwood competition indicate a prevalence of competition for light over a competition for nutrients, as revealed by the substantial increase in the h/d ratio of white spruce. Two indicators, h/d ratio and the quantity of light received at the tree seedling level, are suggested as a basis for the management of hardwood competition in a white spruce plantation.

Analysis of the stand structural development indicates that spruce height distribution was affected only by moderate or dense cover of vegetation, while diameter distribution, when compared to competing vegetation-free plots, was affected by the lowest level of vegetation cover. This study shows that competition influenced the stand structural development in the same way as genetic and micro-site factors by aggravating the amplitude of size inequality. The impact of hardwood competition is discussed in view of reaching an equilibrium between optimal spruce plantation growth and benefits from further silvicultural treatments, and maintaining hardwood species known to improve long term site quality, within a white spruce plantation.