Growth of Mixed Birch-Coniferous Stands in Relation to Pure Coniferous Stands at Similar Sites in South-eastern Norway

Mean age, mean and top heights and yield were studied in 20 mixed stands of birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. and nine mixed stands of birch and Pinus sylvestris L. in south-eastern Norway. Each mixed stand and the adjacent pure coniferous stand (control) were growing under the same site conditions and had not been commercially thinned. There were no significant differences in mean age at breast height or in top heights between birch and conifers in the mixed stands, while mean height was significantly higher for birch than for spruce. A growth index was calculated based on total volume and age at breast height. For the spruce sites the growth in young mixed stands (birch < 17 m) was superior to that of pure spruce, while the difference was insignificant in older stands. The growth index correlated positively with the ratio between generatively and vegetatively regenerated birch trees, and negatively with the age of the oldest species in the mixture and with site quality. For the pine sites there was no significant difference in the growth index between mixed birch-pine and pure pine stands. A mixture effect of birch on the volume yield of spruce or pine could not be demonstrated.     

Heartwood and sapwood variation in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. trees at the end of rotation for pulp wood production

The amount of heartwood and sapwood in Eucalyptus globulus Labill. wood was determined in commercial pulpwood plantations at harvest age (12 to 15 years) in four ites in central portugal. twelve trees were sampled in each site at nine stem height levels. Heartwood was present in all the trees up to 82%–87% of the total tree height and amounted to 38%–41% of the total tree volume. The heartwood proportion in the stem cross-section decreased from the base upwards, representing 53.3% and 26.1% of the total area respectively at the base and 55% height level. The sapwood width remained relatively constant along the stem at a mean 38 mm up to the 55% height level. The trees within the site, the height level and their interaction were highly significant sources of variation for heartwood proportion and sapwood width. The heartwood diameter and sapwood width were positively correlated with radial tree growth.     

三次平滑样条函数在冷杉干曲线预测上的应用

基于吉林省汪清林业局金沟岭林场95株冷杉天然林解析木(Abies nephrolepis)的胸径、树高及从地面起至树梢的11个高度处的直径数据,利用三次平滑样条函数结合线性预测理论得出冷杉的干曲线。最后分析模型的算术误差和相对误差的均值、标准差和均方误差。分析结果表明:预测得出的干曲线能够很好地反映冷杉干形的生长变化,预测材积与实际材积非常接近。     

The impact of Sirococcus shoot blight on radial and height growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in young plantations

The impact of Sirococcus shoot blight on the radial and height growth of Norway spruce in a young plantation (approximately 20 years old) was investigated by examining the increment losses for four infection intensities (classes). The average diameter at breast height of trees in the lightly damaged class was 72% when compared with the average diameter of the healthy trees, whereas moderately and severely damaged tree classes were 67 and 57%, respectively. Using tree ring analysis, the development of radial growth over time due to intensity of infection was studied. Height growth of affected trees was also significantly reduced (up to 43%) compared with the healthy trees, thus indicating a dramatic impact of Sirococcus conigenus on the growth of young Norway spruce.     

Asynchronous wood formation in youngAcacia mangium planted in Malaysia

In general, tropical trees have less-distinct growth rings. Even if the trees have some concentric structures, there is little information on the timing of their formation. The objective of this report is to show the asynchronous wood formation from the observation of indistinct, ring-like structures. YoungAcacia mangium planted in Malaysia was investigated for asynchronous wood formation anatomically and macroscopically. Tree heights and girths at breast height for 28 trees were measured every other week. Wood disks from four trees were sampled at breast height for this research. The radial variation of vessel dimensions and the number of cambial cells in different radial directions and the wood anatomy of discontinuous bands were investigated using thin sectioning and soft radiographic methods. The vessel dimension was quite different in their radial variation even for four radial directions with a similar radius. There was a large variation in the number of cambial cells among radial directions in youngAcacia mangium. Bands of low density included a layer of vessels aligned in a spiral rather than in a closed circle.     

山东省森林资源质量变化及其与年均温关系研究

基于山东省第一次到第九次森林资源清查数据以及气象数据,研究山东省森林资源质量变化及其与年均温的关系。结果表明,山东省乔木林面积、蓄积量、单位面积蓄积量、单位面积生长量、单位面积株数、平均胸径均呈逐渐升高的变化趋势,但各项指标均低于全国平均水平;乔木林蓄积、单位面积蓄积量和平均胸径均与年均温呈显著正相关,用材林和防护林单位面积蓄积量与年均温呈显著正相关,人工林平均胸径与年均温呈显著正相关。山东省森林资源质量稳步提高,气温对山东省森林资源质量的提升具有积极的作用。     

Relationship between the radial variation of ray characteristics and the stages of radial stem increment in Zelkova serrata

We used ten discs from two Zelkova serrata trees - five discs from each tree at sampling heights of 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 m above the ground - and investigated the radial variation in ray characteristics, i.e., ray area (cross-sectional area of rays on a tangential section), ray density (number of rays/mm² on a tangential section), and ray proportion (the percentage of the area occupied by rays on a tangential section) and analyzed the pattern of variation with respect to the three stages (early, middle, and late) of radial stem increment as estimated using the Gompertz growth function. A juvenile-mature pattern of variation was observed in ray area and ray density. Ray area increased in the inner part of stem and fluctuated around a certain value in the outer part of the stem, and ray density decreased in the inner part of stem and tended to be constant in the outer part of the stem. The maturation age of ray density was similar to the age at the boundary between the early and the middle stages of radial stem increment, but ray area and ray proportion did not relate to the stages of radial stem increment.     

湿地松种源试验初报

通过对福建南屿湿地松种源苗期和14 a生的林分试验结果进行分析,结果表明:湿地松种源种子千粒重、发芽率、成活率差异大,种源间苗高差异显著,地径差异不显著。14 a生湿地松各种源间树高、胸径和材积种源间有一定差异。湿地松种源1 a生苗高与年降雨量呈显著的负相关,14 a生树高与纬度呈显著的负相关,与年降雨量和无霜期呈较大的正相关,说明低纬度区引种湿地松,年降雨量大和无霜期长可显著促进其树高生长。14 a生湿地松各种源生长量均超过火炬松和当地马尾松。     

幼树不同直径对立木材积和生物量解释能力研究

利用马尾松幼树的样木实测数据,分析不同直径与立木材积和生物量模型确定系数之间的关系.结果表明:不同高度处直径对材积和生物量变动的解释能力并没有显著差异,但相对而言胸径的解释能力一般都要好于地径;对于材积模型而言,胸径仍是最合适的解释变量,而对于生物量的解释,0.5 m处直径可能比胸径更合适.     

广西大青山柚木人工林生长过程研究

[目的]研究柚木人工林生长过程及其与气象因子的相关性,为柚木抚育经营提供理论依据。[方法]以优良、中等和差3种生长类型的30余年生柚木人工林为对象,基于样地调查,选取优势木、平均木、被压木进行树干解析,对比分析其生长过程,应用灰色关联分析法揭示气象因子对柚木生长的影响。[结果]表明:3种生长类型林分柚木胸径、树高和材积生长过程基本一致,各分级木的生长过程亦相似,其胸径平均和连年生长量随年龄的增大呈先增加后逐渐降低的趋势,树高生长整体上呈下降趋势,材积生长则呈递增趋势。各优良林分的林木及各类型林分的优势木,其胸径、材积平均和连年生长量较大,速生期持续时间长,生长衰减慢,而其树高生长量的优势相对不明显;30余年生时柚木尚未达数量成熟龄。各类型林分间柚木生长与气象因子关系的差异仅体现在胸径,优良林分胸径连年生长量主要受极端低温影响,而中等和差林分则与年均降水量相关性最大;各分级木间柚木生长与气象因子的关系无明显差异;影响树高和材积连年生长量的最主要气象因子分别为年均降水量和年均气温。[结论]柚木各生长类型及分级木的生长过程整体趋势基本一致,其差异主要体现在生长量大小和快速生长期长短。约30年生柚木人工林仍未达到数量成熟,后期抚育经营对于其优质大径材高效培育仍不可忽视。     

Growth variation and early selection ofBetula platyphylla in natural stands

The stem analysis ofBetula platyphylla in natural forest at the Maoershan Forest Experimental Station of Northeast Forestry University, showed that the growth variation of the trees, including height and diameter breast height, decreases with the increase of the age. There is the turning point for the growth variation of the tree from acute change to relative stability when the trees are in eighteen years old. There are significant differences among the height, diameter and volume growth of the trees at that time. Therefore, the optimal age for early selection of this species in natural stands is eighteen years old (18 a). Diameter is used as main index for selection and height growth as auxiliary one. (Responsible Editor: Zhu Hong)     

油松树干横截面面积年增长量的垂直分布及与材积年增长量和叶量的关系

【目的】揭示油松树干横截面面积年增长量(RAI)的垂直分布特征和主要控制机制,验证Cortini等(2013)建模方法和模型形式在油松上的应用效果,确定基于RAI模拟预测材积年增长量和单木叶生物量的理想模型和树干位置。【方法】在9个不同年龄和竞争状态的油松林内选取27株10~98年生样木,于不同树干位置截取312个圆盘测算并分析各样木的RAI垂直分布模式,比较其与各理论模式的异同,揭示相关机制;基于Cortini等(2013)建模方法和模型形式构建油松RAI垂直分布模型,根据拟合优度等验证并评价其应用效果;在不同RAI垂直分布模式和整体水平,比较分析不同树干位置RAI与全树干水平的差异及与材积年增长量和单木叶生物量的关系,确定理想模型和树干位置。【结果】油松RAI垂直分布包括2种模式,差异主要源自树干中间区,有效树冠区和膨大区RAI分布分别与水分传输和机械支持的理论模式相近,而中间区RAI分布与各理论模式的异同因样木而异;RAI垂直分布模型可解释其垂直变异的82.76%;不同模式和整体水平,有效树冠基部RAI与全树干水平的差异均小于其他位置,胸高处RAI与单木叶生物量的关系均优于其他位置,而与材积增长量的异同因模式而异,或优于其他位置或略差于理想位置。【结论】水分传输和机械支持需求分别决定有效树冠区和膨大区的RAI垂直分布,二者的相对重要性及生物环境等因子共同决定树干中间区的分布;Cortini等(2013)建模方法和模型形式在油松上的应用效果良好;有效树冠基部对全树干水平的代表性较高,在胸高处测算RAI并据此预测材积年增长量是有效但存有缺陷的方法,对单木叶生物量的模拟预测效果良好。     

Patterns of Stem Damage by Moose (Alces alces) in Young Pinus sylvestris Stands in Sweden

The incidence of recent moose browsing of the main stem on young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees, and correlations with tree or stand characteristics, were examined using data from a large-scale survey in Sweden. On average, 10% of all Scots pine main stems showed one or more types of recent damage, with browsing of the apical leader accounting for about 75% of all damage recorded. Stripping of bark off the main stem occurred most frequently in the southern area, where site productivity is highest. Apical leader browsing was negatively correlated with height of the main stems, length of the apical leader and incidence of pre-commercial thinning, whereas bark stripping and stem breaking were positively correlated with the same variables. All types of recent stem damage correlated positively with the extent of previous stem damage and also with the extent of recent browsing of lateral shoots.     

Variation in phenology and height increment of northern Ulmus glabra populations: Implications for conservation

Abstract

Variation in budburst, height increment and growth cessation within and among five Norwegian Ulmus glabra (Huds.) populations was recorded in an experimental trial during the fourth and fifth growing seasons. Budburst occurred first in inland populations and last in coastal populations, and latitude of origin was less important for timing of budburst than distance from the coast. Height increment and date of growth cessation were correlated to latitude, height increment decreased with increasing latitude of origin, whereas growth cessation occurred first in northern populations and later with increasing southern origin. Thus, the phenological traits vary in accordance with the climate from where the populations have been derived. There was a general large within-population variation in phenological traits. The results are discussed in relation to conservation of adaptive trait variation of the species.     

Determinants of stem form: Application to Tectona grandis (Linn. F) stands

ABSTRACT

Stem form information can enhance rapid estimation of stem volume. Studies on important determinants of stem form in pure stands are scanty. This study aimed at identifying determinants of stem form using Tectona grandis stands in Omo Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Twenty 0.04 ha square plots were randomly selected across four stand ages. Crown diameter, total and merchantable heights (MH), diameters at breast height (DBH), at 5.27 m tree height and at midpoint from breast height to tip of tree were measured in each plot. Measured trees were classified into four canopy layers (CL)—dominant, codominant, intermediate, and suppressed. Merchantable volume, basal area (BA), form factor (F_f), normal form quotient (Q_n), Girard form class (Q_G), absolute form quotient (Q_a), ratio of diameter at merchantable limit to diameter at the base (D_t/D_b), and tree slenderness coefficient were derived from the data. Analysis of variance, correlation, and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Significant differences were observed in stem form and tree size variables under different canopy layers. The DBH, BA, MHT, and CL were identified as important variables associated with stem form. Inclusion of Q_a improved most the predictive ability of the selected stem volume equation.     

冀北山地华北落叶松人工林与天然次生油松林不同坡位生长状况研究

在冀北木兰围场自然保护区内,通过对比华北落叶松[Larixgmellini（Rupr．）Rupr]人工林与天然次生油松（P／nustabulaeformiscarr）林不同坡位的连年生长量与平均生长量,建立生长过程曲线方程并拟合树高与胸径之间的关系,分析两种林型内乔木树种的生长过程。结果表明：（1）落叶松人工林不同坡位样地内,标准木的拟合生长模型基本相似;材积连年及平均生长速率排序为：坡底落叶松〉坡中落叶松〉坡顶落叶松。（2）天然次生油松林不同坡位样地内材积平均生长量均随着年龄的增长而增加,油松标准木的生长过程基本相同,且标准木的拟合生长模型基本相似。但坡中油松立木材积平均生长量高于坡地和坡顶。（3）相同坡位样地内人工林与天然林间的连年生长曲线存在明显差异性。油松林生理年龄高于落叶松林,标准木达到材积数量成熟的年龄比落叶松大,单株立木材积量较大。（4）人工落叶松林和天然油松次生林内乔木树种的胸径与树高问存在密切的相关性,其相关系数均达到0．9以上。     

A comparison of needle retention on Japanese black pine and Japanese red pine

Needle retention (number of needle sets), needle density, height increment and radial increment were surveyed on seven Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii Parl.) and seven Japanese red pines (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.) growing on the same site. Number of needle sets on branches with respect to whorl position was estimated visually. In 1999, maximum summer needle retention was observed on the fifth and sixth whorl from the top, with values of 3.4 needle sets for the black pines and 2.4 needle sets for the red pines, respectively. The needle trace method (NTM) was used to determine needle retention and needle density along the main stems retrospectively for the years 1968–1998. The long-term mean summer needle retention along the main stem was 3.7 needle sets for the black pines and 2.2 needle sets for the red pines. In both pine species, the number of needle sets varied from year to year. However, the long-term budget between newly born and annually shed needle sets was in equilibrium. The long-term average of needle density per cm of stem shoot was 9.4 needle pairs for the black pines and 7.4 needle pairs for the red pines. The results showed clear intra-specific and inter-specific similarities in needle retention, height increment and radial increment trends. The values for number of needle sets, height increment and radial increment positively increased with favorable growing conditions, whereas the value of needle density had an opposite tendency.     

Silvicultural alternatives in an uneven-sized forest dominated by Picea abies

In this article, we report on the increments in basal area and tree diameter as well as the structural development observed in variously thinned plots that underwent either uneven- or even-sized treatment. The experimental forest was originally an uneven-sized mixed stand dominated by Picea abies. Twenty-eight randomized sample plots underwent each treatment, and the trees were monitored for 15 growing seasons after thinning. The uneven-sized plots retained a reverse J-shaped diameter distribution, but this was changed into a bell shape by low thinning in the even-sized plots. Absolute basal area increment was positively correlated with basal area in the even-sized treatment but not in the uneven-sized treatment. In the latter, all of the plots grew almost equally well, and only the basal area of broadleaves explained slightly positively the increment variation. Relative basal area increment was negatively correlated with basal area in both treatments. Additionally, the basal area of Scots pine was a positive explanatory variable in the relative increment variation in the even-sized treatment. For the dominant Norway spruce trees, diameter increment was negatively correlated with basal area in both treatments and, conversely, heavy removal increased the diameter increment. Relative basal area increment averaged 5% annually in uneven-sized plots representing the “target selection.” This was more than double the increment observed for the even-sized plots that represented the “prevailing practice.” Likewise, the diameter increment of Norway spruce trees was 48% greater in the uneven-sized compared to the even-sized plots.     

Crown release improves growth of 20-year-old Betula alleghaniensis in tolerant northern hardwood stands

Twenty-year-old overstocked naturally regenerated yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) were thinned near Thessalon, Ontario. Treatments consisted of either a control, or the removal of all competing trees at 1, 2, 3, or 4 m around the boles of the crop trees. The size of the openings created around the crop tree crowns was found to be more strongly correlated to diameter, clear bole length, and crown increment than the removal of competing trees using fixed distance from the stem. Crop trees responded well to thinning. Five-year diameter increment and crown diameter growth were positively correlated to size of the opening created around the crop tree crown. However, the relationship between height growth and size of canopy opening was weak. Clear bole length was found to be negatively correlated to the size of canopy opening. Few epicormic sprouts developed on the stems when all competing trees were removed at 1, 2, or 3 m around the crop tree boles. However, release at 4 m greatly increased the number and size of epicormic sprouts. Providing about a 15-m² opening around the crop tree crown, corresponding to approximately a 3-m removal of competing trees around the bole, provided a good balance between diameter increment and stem quality maintenance.     

Daily patterns of stem size variation in irrigated and unirrigated Eucalyptus globulus

High resolution measurements of stem diameter variation provide a means to study short-term dynamics of tree growth and water status. In this 14-month study, daily changes in stem radius of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. seedlings were measured with electronic point dendrometers in a plantation in southern Tasmania, Australia. The daily patterns of stem expansion and shrinkage were classified into three phases: shrinkage; recovery; and increase in diameter from one maximum to the next, or increment. This study showed that rapid onset of even mild drought in irrigated trees caused distinct changes in daily patterns of stem diameter variation, particularly the duration of daily stem increment. The duration of the daily increment phase was directly related to increment magnitude. The dynamics of daily increment were significantly affected by mean minimum temperature, indicating a temperature limitation on metabolic processes underlying diameter growth in these trees. Most likely due to differences in conductance, the duration but not rate of the incremental daily expansion was greater in fast- than in slow-growing trees.