Restocking with broadleaved species during the conversion of Tsuga heterophylla plantations to native woodland using natural regeneration

The removal of conifers planted during the twentieth century on sites that had been woodland for many centuries, with the intention of restoring native broadleaved species, is an important aim of forestry policy in Great Britain. Current guidance generally advocates gradual removal of plantation trees using continuous cover silviculture and restocking by natural regeneration, but methods are largely untested. This study investigated natural regeneration of trees and shrubs at sites where western hemlock had been established either pure or in mixture with native broadleaved species. Western hemlock had been cleared from 70% of the sites. There were c. 10?C300 stems ha^?1 providing canopy cover of 10?C90%; the predominant broadleaved canopy trees were ash, beech, birch and oak. The ground flora of all sites was species poor; bramble was the predominant vegetation type overall, but grasses, rushes and shrubs were relatively more abundant on open sites. A total of 15 native tree species were regenerating, birch was most common and at most sites there were few valuable broadleaved timber species. Although combined numbers of seedlings and saplings varied from 200 to 20,000 ha^?1, large areas of most sites had few regenerating trees and <10% of their area was becoming restocked with timber species. Relationships between seedling numbers and site characteristics were complex and varied with species, but there was a consistent positive relationship between the presence of nearby parent trees and the frequency and abundance of seedlings. The results indicate that the current reliance on natural regeneration may be unwise especially for those broadleaved species such as oak and beech which are valued for their timber.     

Carbon dioxide exchange and growth of a pine plantation

The exchange of materials between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems is important to an understanding of the cycling of essential elements, the deposition of materials from the atmosphere and the entrance of pollutants into the forest ecosystems. This paper reports the results of measurements of carbon dioxide exchange in a vigorously growing pine plantation. Measurement data were incorporated into a model used to estimate annual carbon dioxide exchange. The measured annual biomass accumulation in the same plantation was used to determine a carbon dioxide to biomass conversion efficiency. Carbon dioxide exchange was 10.5 t/ha and biomass accumulation was 4.5 t/ha. The conversion efficiency of carbon dioxide to biomass is about 25% less than the theoretical chemical conversion efficiency. Considering the possible errors in both the estimates, this is very good agreement.     

辽宁省章古台樟子松固沙林更新的研究

章古台樟子松固沙林 ,是建国初期在东北西部与内蒙古东部防护林工程建设中营造的试验示范林。樟子松固沙林发挥了显著的生态效应与经济效应 ,它改善了沙地土壤与小气候条件 ;樟子松林的生物产量比较高 ,为 2 .7～ 3.4t/ (hm2 ·a)。樟子松固沙林提早更新的原因 ,主要由于引种地区跨越的纬度大 ,土壤气候条件差异大 ,引起树木自身生育规律的变化 ,生育期提前且缩短。另外 ,由于营造单纯林 ,林分密度高 ,水分亏缺 ,以及感染枯梢病等 ,使生育期更加缩短 ,章古台樟子松更新的林龄为 4 0～ 4 5a。更新的目标是 ,营造结构合理且稳定性比较高的乔灌草型、利用与治理相结合的新模式林     

Production physiology of three native shrubs intercropped in a young longleaf pine plantation

The objective of this study was to evaluate how competition would affect the physiology, and thus productivity of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana L.), wax myrtle [Morella cerifera (L.) Small] and inkberry [Ilex glabra (L.) A. Gray] when intercropped in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) plantation in the southeastern United States. The effect of competition was assessed via comparisons of mortality, biomass, light transmittance, gas exchange and soil moisture between intercropping and monoculture (treeless) treatments. Overall, shrubs in the intercropping treatment performed worse than those in the monoculture, with higher mortality, and reductions in biomass of 75.5, 50.6, and 68.7% for C. americana, M. cerifera and I. glabra, respectively. Root–shoot ratios for all species were significantly higher and soil moisture during dry periods was significantly lower in the intercropping treatment. Light transmittance below the pine canopy was high (57.7%) and I. glabra was the only species that exhibited reduced A _max when belowground resources were not limiting. These results suggest that the effect of shading is minimal and belowground competition is likely the most important determinant of productivity in this system.     

Influence of variable organic matter retention on nutrient availability in a 10-year-old loblolly pine plantation

The effects of varying forest floor and slash retention at time of regeneration were evaluated 10 years after the establishment of a loblolly pine plantation near Millport, Alabama. Treatments included removing, leaving unaltered, or doubling the forest floor and slash material. Forest floor and litterfall mass and nutrient concentrations, available soil N, foliar nutrient concentrations and stand yield were all impacted by the treatments. Forest floor mass and nutrient contents in the doubled treatment were significantly greater than the other two treatments. The doubled treatment accumulated 25, 45 and 350% more forest floor mass and 56, 56, and 310% more N than the control treatment in the Oi, Oe, and Oa layers, respectively. The other nutrients followed similar patterns. Potentially mineralized NO₃⁻-N in the mineral soil was also significantly higher in the doubled treatment. The positive effect of doubling the forest floor on soil N availability was reflected in greater foliage production, 30% more litterfall and 25% more stand yield for this treatment. This study shows that increasing the forest floor retention has resulted in increased nutrient availability and improved tree growth.     

Effects on site water balance of conversion from native mixed forest to Douglas-fir plantation in N.W. Patagonia

One of the main concerns of afforestation with exotic fast-growing species is their higher soil water consumption compared with the native vegetation they replace. In this regard, sites downstream of the plantations may suffer temporal or permanent droughts. Under this hypotheses, soil water use of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plantations and natural woodlands or shrublands (“ñirantales”) was evaluated in two sites during two growing seasons in El Foyel Valley (Río Negro province), Patagonia Argentina. Two methodological approaches were applied: water balances and sapflow measurements. Douglas-fir forests doubled the leaf area index (LAI) of the native forests (12.6 and 5.1 m² m^?2, respectively). Methodological problems were found while constructing water balances because a non-quantified influx of water to the soil was detected in all systems at the beginning and end of the growing season. This flux was not in correlation with precipitation input demonstrating the geological complexity of the valley. For this reason, caution has to be paid to water balance results. However, we have confidence on sapflow measurements, which indicated, as suggested by the water balances, that there are no differences in transpiration between systems (average of 4.8–3.6 mm day^?1 for the exotic and native forests, respectively) in spite of Douglas-fir plantations having twofold LAI than native ñirantales. However, a different response of transpiration to atmospheric demand was found between the exotic and native species, suggesting differences in their ecophysiological characteristics.     

抚育间伐对人工诱导的阔叶红松林林分蓄积量的影响

对1973年设置的不同类型人工诱导的阔叶红松林试验地进行了抚育间伐促进林分总蓄积量增长的试验研究,结果表明:B试验区林分总蓄积量最高,为242.097 3 m3.hm-2,其次是D试验区,为212.109 3 m3.hm-2,分别较A试验区提高18.5%和3.8%;B试验区较C试验区林分总蓄积量提高22.4%。适时、合理地抚育间伐可有效促进人工诱导的阔叶红松林林分总蓄积量的增长。     

Long-term growth and ecophysiological responses of a southeastern Oklahoma loblolly pine plantation to early rotation thinning

A thinning levels study was initiated in a 9-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation containing 26.6 m² ha⁻¹ basal area during the spring of 1984 in southeastern Oklahoma. Thinning treatments consisted of (1) three control plots (BA100), (2) three plots thinned to approximately 50% of the original basal area (BA50) and (3) three plots that were thinned to 25% of the original basal area (BA25). In 1987 the BA50 and BA25 plots were both rethinned to a basal area of 12 m² ha⁻¹. No other thinnings were done through age 24.The control plots have attained a basal area of 45.3 m² ha⁻¹ and basal area is now starting to decline. The BA25 and BA50 plots have basal areas between 34 and 35 m² ha⁻¹. Mortality has averaged about 90 trees ha⁻¹ per year from age 10 to age 24 on the control plot, declining from 2078 trees ha⁻¹ at age 10 to 827 trees ha⁻¹ at age 24. Mortality losses in the BA25 and BA50 plots have been only 3.2–7.7 trees ha⁻¹ per year over the entire study period. Cumulative stem biomass lost to mortality was 10.5, 16.0 and 61 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively, for the BA25, BA50 and BA100 treatments. Cumulative standing live biomass at age 24 in the BA100 treatment is 132 Mg ha⁻¹. Cumulative standing live biomass in the BA25 and BA50 treatments at age 24 is 86 and 79%, respectively, of that observed in the BA100 treatment. These results suggest wide ranges of residual stand densities left after an early thinning will produce a high percentage of the potential total maximum standing stem biomass. Diameter distributions at age 24 show only 33% of the trees in the BA100 treatments have the dimensions to be sawtimber (≥30 cm) but 92 and 95% of the trees in the BA25 and BA50, respectively, are sawtimber dimension or larger. Mean annual stem biomass production (MAI) of the BA100 treatment is 7.5 Mg ha⁻¹ per year at age 24. MAI of the thinned treatments is about 5.1 Mg ha⁻¹ per year and is converging to that of the BA100 treatment. The basis for this convergence is not that the live trees in the BA100 treatment are producing live biomass less rapidly than the thinned plots, but that mortality losses in the BA100 plot are much higher. Current annual stemwood production in all treatments is often limited by the severe summer droughts that occur in this region. The wide variations in weather experienced at this site also result in variations in earlywood:latewood ratio and ring specific gravity.     

Relative growth and persistence of planted legumes in a mid-rotation radiata pine plantation

A site with 250 stems/ha of Pinus radiata D. Don growing on a pumice soil in the central North Island of New Zealand was cleared, disced and harrowed between the trees and fenced to exclude rabbits. Survival and growth of 35 transplanted legumes were followed for 2 years. Shrub weeds were removed during the trial but no further management was imposed and no fertiliser was applied.Six species failed after transplanting. Of the remainder, perennials were more persistent than annuals, most of which failed to re-establish in the second growing season. Competition from resident weeds was one of the most important factors determining relative success or failure. Several species succumbed to browsing by deer or possums. Lupinus arboreus, Lotus uliginosus ‘Grasslands Maku’, Lotus hybrid G4712, Lotus uliginosus G4703, and Chamaecytisus palmensis were considered to be the most successful species on the basis of continued vigour in the second growing season, dry matter production, and relative acetylene reduction (nitrogen fixation) activity.     

Effects of overstorey canopy, plant-plant interactions and soil properties on Mediterranean maritime pine seedling dynamics

Seedling emergence, survival and early growth of the Mediterranean conifer P. pinaster were studied under closed canopy and open canopy (gaps) cover conditions in a Mediterranean forest of central Spain during two consecutive years (March 2008 to January 2010). Our main objective was to understand how overstorey structure, shrubs and soil properties influence recruitment in this species. Natural emergence and seedling survival were significantly better under closed canopy cover than under open canopy during the two consecutive years of the study; survival increased as radiation decreased. Proximity to shrubs under closed canopy cover was associated with lower mortality rates as well as a positive and apparently transitive effect on early growth. Amelioration of microclimatic conditions is hypothesized as the primary facilitation agent of those observed. Younger seedlings established during the spring of 2008 experienced higher mortality rates than older seedlings established before 2008, and soil properties affected seedling survival significantly. Water stress during summer appeared to be the main cause of seedling mortality in both years. Our study suggests that seedlings of shade-intolerant species may require overstorey cover to establish successfully, and that positive plant-plant interactions in forest communities may be more important than expected in the milder conditions provided by overstorey canopy cover.     

Effects of clearfelling on forest floor accumulation and litter decomposition in a radiata pine plantation

The short-term effects of clearfelling a Pinus radiata D. Don. stand in Catalonia (NE Spain) under Mediterranean conditions were assessed. Harvesting had little effect on the surface soil distribution and accumulation. However, after clearfelling the range of soil temperatures increased, the moisture content of the L layer decreased, and the decomposition of brown needles was retarded (mass loss rate for the first year of the incubation 0.47 year⁻¹ vs. 0.29 year⁻¹). Green needles incorporated as a result of harvesting operations showed the same rates of mass loss as brown needles. Brown needles released substantial amounts of all major nutrients, especially at the beginning of the incubation. In both clearfelled and undisturbed stands, this sudden nutrient flush may have important implications in the nutrient economy of the vegetation. In contrast, green needles behaved as a sink of nitrogen and calcium, therefore representing a temporary reservoir after clearfelling.     

次生阔叶林更新方式对林分生长和演替的影响研究

对光泽县九龙坑天然次生阔叶林天然和人促更新方式下的林分恢复进行调查,比较这2种更新方式群落的生长、物种多样性、生态优势度和重要值。结果表明:不同更新方式林分的生长、物种多样性、生态优势度和重要值均存在明显差异。人促更新17 a后林分的平均胸径、树高及蓄积量分别是天然更新林分的1.8倍、1.6倍和2倍。采用人工促进天然更新能加速群落的演替进程,且在材种和材质方面达到经营的预期目标,进而提出将次生阔叶林改造培育成工业原料林的技术措施,并解决了合理密度设定这一关键改造技术。     

人工红松幼龄林的叶面积指数与生长动态

对凉山自然保护区的全坡位红松（Ｐｉｎｕｓ ｋｏｒａｉｅｎｓｉｓ）造林地进行了生长与叶面积指数的动态调查表明，立地条件好的地段红松生长好，上层阔叶树发育亦好。立地条件和上层阔叶树的庇护是导致红松生长差异的主要原因。     

STUDY ON THE TREE GROWTH, ARCHITECTURE AND STAND STRUCTURE OF KOREAN PINE PLANTATION

lNTRODUCTIONTherhythInofKorcanpinegrowingandtrpearchitectUreissubjectedtoitsownl1crcd-ityandforeststructUre.Tl1cil11portantefTcctsofgapdynamicsarethereasonsthatmaketl1cKoreanpinetrceformhighqualityoftimbcr.Whilecurrentn1anagemcntofKoreanpincforestmainlyfocusesonpurestand,thccco-logicalrelationshipsbetWcenKoreanpineandothcrsPecicsinaconununityareneglected,thcprimitivebiologicalconditionislost.TheKo-reanpinetrecsinplantationcasilydivergeonthctOpofmainsten1,thesescverelyaITectthcgrOedqu…     

Effects of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) plantation spacing on initial growth and conelet entry into production

New Forests - Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) is well-known for its fruits, the pine nuts, which are considered a delicacy and are the most expensive dry fruits in the world. This fruit is harvested...     

Effects of canopy interception on energy conversion processes in a Chinese fir plantation ecosystem

The functions of canopy interception on energy conversion processes in a Chinese fir plantation ecosystem were studied with the aid of long-term observation data in Huitong. The results showed that the absorbed, penetrated and reflected amounts of solar radiation were, respectively, 2.5543 × 10⁹ J/(m²·year) (absorption rate of 0.827), 2.5306 × 10⁸ J/(m²·year) (penetration rate of 0.082), and 2.7432 × 10⁸ J/(m²·year) (reflection rate of 0.091) by the canopy. The conversion of net solar radiation to latent heat in the process of evaporation from canopy interception amounted to 6.3695 × 10⁸ J/(m²·year) (accounting for 22.9% of total ecosystem net radiation and 30.4% of ecosystem evaporation), which was an important part of the budget of the energy system. Canopy interception consumed kinetic energy of raindrops in overcoming resistance of branches and leaves, which collected raindrops, followed with the conversion of potential energy in raindrops to kinetic energy with falling raindrops. In general, the diameter of raindrops from the canopy is larger than that of the raindrops above the canopy as a result of the collection effort by the canopy. The kinetic energy of raindrops from the canopy, therefore, was higher than that of raindrops in the atmosphere. The drop-size distribution from the canopy was affected by the structure of the canopy layer rather than the amount of precipitation and precipitation intensity. The canopy had no important nor efficient effects on decreasing the kinetic energy of raindrops in our case study with a first branch height of 7 m and precipitation amounts over 3 mm. However, the canopy would play a key role in decreasing kinetic energy of raindrops in two cases, that of a small amount of precipitation and one of heavy precipitation intensity, in which the canopy could intercept the largest amount of precipitation in the former condition and the canopy could scatter bigger raindrops to smaller raindrops with striking leaves in the case of heavy precipitation. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2007, 43(2): 15–20 [译自: 林业科学]     

INFLUENCE OF FIRE ON KOREAN PINE AND SCOTS PINE TREES IN PLANTATION

The plantations of korean pine(Pinus koraensis)and scots pine(Pinus sylvesrisvar.mongolica)are mainly pure stands.Fires are gradually causing problems in theseplantations and being paid much more attention recently.Study on the influence of fire ontrees and the adaptation to fire,therefore,is of great important to probe the fire ecologicalproperties and the protection ways of these two species.The results are as follows:Bothof the species are easily damaged by fire,but korean pine is more susceptible.In the samefire,korean pine is damaged more seriously than scots pine although they have the samesize.Young individuals have low fire resistant capacity and can be damaged seriously,andolder ones have strong fire resistance and can be damaged lightly.Up-hill fire makes aserious damage to the trees distributed in up-slopes with the reason of higher fireintensity.Down-hill fire makes a serious damage to the trees distributed in down-slopcswith the reason of higher fire severity.The larger deocambium area in t     

Effects of climate and management history on the distribution and growth of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in a southern British woodland in comparison to native competitors

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) is an invasive, non-nativespecies in Great Britain and its management in conservationareas is controversial. Climate change adds further uncertaintyto decision making. We investigated the role of management historyin determining present-day abundance and the effects of climaticvariability on growth, photosynthesis and phenology at WythamWoods, a UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) monitoring site.Relatively few sycamore trees were found in undisturbed ancient,semi-natural woodland and recent plantations, despite beingcommon in other areas of the site. Sycamore grew more slowlythan ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), its principal competitor,but at a similar rate to pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.)in the period 1993–2005. There were fewer sycamore thanash seedlings, regardless of which species dominated the canopy.Growth of sycamore was slower in dry periods than wet ones andlower photosynthetic rates were measured in canopy leaves underdry compared with wet soil conditions. This study thereforesuggests that sycamore does not present a serious threat toundisturbed ancient woodland on the site and that it may eventuallydecline in areas of the site where it competes with ash, inthe absence of disturbance. It may also decline under climatechange if summer droughts become more frequent.     

抚育间伐对人工红松林生长效应的影响

利用不同间伐强度后40 a的人工红松林,连续抚育3次的长期定位观测资料,分析了抚育间伐对人工红松单木胸径和材积、林分断面积和蓄积、林分枯损和总收获量的影响。研究结果表明:间伐可以增加单木平均胸径和材积的生长率,且不同间伐强度表现为相同的规律,即中度(33.2%)强度(43.4%)弱度(23.1%)对照(0.0%);间伐后林分的断面积和蓄积生长率,具有相似的自然规律,间伐样地的生长率均高于对照;林木枯损率随间伐强度的增加而降低;间伐后的林分总收获量平均增加11.6%,间伐林分之间差别不明显。在整个研究阶段,不同的抚育阶段表现不同的规律,抚育间伐可以延缓单木胸径和材积生长速度的降幅;而不同抚育阶段内,林分断面积和蓄积生长率均为增长,也就是说,在一定阶段内间伐可以有效地提高林分平均断面积和蓄积生长率;从林分枯损状况来看,应该减少间伐间隔期。