Does tree species composition control the soil carbon stocks of the Hyrcanian forest in the Northern Iran？ （A case study in Guilan province,Iran）

This work studied the effects of tree species composition on soil carbon storage in five mixed stands dominated by oriental beech and grown in the western Caspian region in Guilan province, called Astara, Asalem, Fuman, Chere and Shenrud. The thickness of the litter layer, soil characteristics, tree composition and percentage of canopy coverage were measured in each stand. Total soil organic carbon differed significantly by stand. Total （organic） carbon stores at Fuman, which had the lowest tree species richness with 2 species and least canopy coverage （75%）, were significantly （p〈0.05） higher than at other locations. Carbon stor-age in topsoil （0-10 cm） was significantly lower in Shenrud, which had the highest tree species richness with 5 species and highest canopy cov-erage （95%）. The high percentage of canopy coverage in Shenrud proba-bly limited the conversion of litter to humus. However, in the second soil layer （10-25 cm）, Asalem, with high tree species richness and canopy coverage, had the highest carbon storage. This can be explained by the different rooting patterns of different tree species. In the Hyrcanian forest. According to the results, it can be concluded that not only tree composi-tion but also canopy coverage percentage should be taken under consid-eration to manage soil carbon retention and release.     

Effects of different culture media on the growth of Indian sandalwood （Santalum album L.） seedlings in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, southern China

We studied the effects of different culture media on the growth of India sandalwood(Santalum album L.) seedlings in Zhanjiang,Guangdong Province in southern China. Five different growth substrates,lateritic subsoil,burnt soil,agricultural soil,peaty soil and coconut dust,were used as the basic culture materials and seven different treatments of composition were used as potting media. Kuhnia rosmarinifolia Vent. was used as a primary host plant for all treatments. Statistically significant differences were f...     

Nest-cavity characteristics of the Great Spotted Woodpecker <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrocopos major</Emphasis> in shelter plantations of west Inner Mongolia

The Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major （L.）, one of the natural predators of Anoplophora glabripennis （Motsch.） （Coleoptera： Cerambycidae）, is resident to Wulate Qianqi County of the Inner Mongolia and widely found in shelter plantations. In August 2005 and 2006, 174 and 153 nest-cavities of Great Spotted Woodpeckers were found respectively in Wulate Qianqi County and 22 breeding nest-cavities were investigated in 2007. The results showed that mostly willow species were selected for nesting by the Great Spotted Woodpecker, but mature poplar trees also could be chosen. Nest cavities were often found with a protuberance above the cavity entrance or with a downward sloping gradient, or both. The selection of the height of the nest-cavity height was not significant. The vertical diameter of the nest-cavity entrance （VDE） and the horizontal diameter of the nest-cavity entrance （HDE） ranged from 5.0 to 5.8 cm. The results also indicated that the compass orientation of more than 60% of nest-cavities were towards the north, northeast and east. This study suggests a convergence of some nest-cavity characteristics of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in shelter plantations and will help us to make artificial nest for conserving the woodpecker and, as well, use the bird for controlling pests.     

内蒙古西部应加快营造薪炭林的步伐--以内蒙古卓资县为例

薪炭林是内蒙古西部地区常见林种，不仅可解决农村能源短缺问题，而且具有防风固沙效益和多种用途。为了提高薪炭林造林成活率和保存率，促进薪炭林的正常生长发育，对薪炭林造林技术进行了研究，取得了较好的效果。本文从生产条件、设计方案、建设目标、建设内容、抚育管理、效益分析、投资估算等方面进行了论证。