Dynamics of soil nutrients in larch plantations

IntroductionThesoildegradationofaFtificialforestisthecoreofresearchforplantationtostabilityandafforestationinChina.lnrecentyears,studiesonsoilfertiIityofplantationshavegradua[Iyincreased.forChinesefir,massonpine,popIar,Iarch,etc.Manyspecificmeas-ureshavebeenputfotwardtomaintainthesoilfertil-ityIevelinaFtificialforest(Pan1997,Yan1997lYan1996).owingtovariabilityofsoilfertilityinplantation,ithasmanydifficuItiestostudythesoiIfertility.Forexample,thesoiIsampIeplothastobemovedhori-zontalIyino…     

油茶幼林地土壤的养分变化规律

通过对油茶幼林土壤养分进行测定分析,得出各元素含量的变化规律.土壤有机质、水解氮和速效磷的变化趋势较一致,呈交替升降态,即3-7月先降低后升高,7-10月再次降低后升高;全氮3-7月呈渐增态,7-10月呈下降态;全磷变化不大,相对稳定;速效钾3-5月变化不大,之后有所升降,但保持在较高水平.     

Physiological response to pruning severity in Eucalyptus regnans plantations

The photosynthetic response to pruning was measured in two Eucalyptus regnans stands, aged 2 and 3 years, located in areas of high productivity on the coast of the province of Arauco, Chile. Variables such as rates of CO₂ assimilation and stomatal conductance were measured in three ages of foliage on trees with different pruning severity treatments, which corresponded to the removal of 0 % (control), 30, 50 and 70 % of live crown length. The 2-year-old stand measurements were performed at the time of pruning and 6, 10, 14 and 18 weeks later, and the 3-year stand, 5, 9, 18 and 28 weeks after pruning. In both trials, significant differences were found between the foliage ages for all instances of measurement showing the mature foliage the highest values up to 30 % higher than old foliage. There were also significant differences between pruning severity treatments in both trials in which, in general, the highest values of CO₂ assimilation were observed among the highest pruning severity treatments with values up to 40 % higher than the unpruned trees.     

杉木纯林、混交林土壤微生物特性和土壤养分的比较研究

本文于2005年5月份,在中国科学院会同森林生态实验站选择了一块15年生的杉木纯林和两块15年生杉阔混交林作为研究对象,调查了林地土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、硝态氮、有效磷和土壤微生物碳、氮、磷、基础呼吸以及呼吸熵,比较了纯林和混交林土壤微生物特性和土壤养分.结果表明,杉阔混交林的土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷硝态氮和有效磷含量高于杉木纯林;在混交林中,土壤微生物学特性得到改善.在0(10 cm和10(20 cm两层土壤中,杉阔混交林土壤微生物氮含量分别比杉木纯林高69%和61%.在0(10 cm土层,杉阔混交林土壤微生物碳、磷和基础呼吸分别比杉木纯林高11%、14%和4%;在10(20 cm土层,分别高6%、3%和3%.但是,杉阔混交林土壤微生物碳:氮比和呼吸熵较杉木纯林低34%和4%.另外,土壤微生物与土壤养分的相关性高于土壤呼吸、微生物碳:氮比和呼吸熵与土壤养分的相关性.由此可知,在针叶纯林中引入阔叶树后,土壤肥力得以改善,并有利于退化森林土壤的恢复.     

不同林龄华北落叶松人工林林分生长与土壤养分的关系

为了给森林经营和资源保护提供科学依据,基于塞罕坝机械林场不同林龄(12a生幼龄林,27a生中龄林,40a生近熟林)华北落叶松人工林标准地的调查资料,采用Pearson相关分析对林分生长与土壤养分之间的关系进行探讨,结果表明:随着华北落叶松人工林林龄的增加,土壤pH值由5.76降到5.52,土壤酸性逐渐增强,速效磷含量变化范围为4.67~7.64mg/kg,与pH值变化一致,呈逐渐降低趋势;土壤有机质、全氮、速效钾以及全钾含量在中龄林中最高,分别为39.02g/kg、2.32g/kg、130.56mg/kg和17.6g/kg,近熟林次之,幼龄林最低。其中,全氮含量在各个林龄阶段差异显著(P0.05),全钾含量差异极显著(P0.01);土壤全磷含量和碱解氮含量随着华北落叶松人工林林龄的增加而增加,且在各个林龄阶段全磷含量差异显著(P0.05)、碱解氮含量差异极显著(P0.01)。总的来说,不同林龄华北落叶松土壤养分含量差异较大,幼龄林和中龄林对土壤养分的需求较高。     

Incidence and severity of annosus root rot in Loblolly pine plantations in Virginia

Fourteen plots of 25 loblolly pines each were excavated by bulldozers in order to determine incidence and severity of Heterobasidion annosus in asymptomatic loblolly pine in Virginia. Of the 350 trees sampled, 85% were infected with H. annosus. Basidiocarps were found on 9% of the sampled trees. The average frequency of roots infected per tree with H. annosus, for all measured trees (trees with > 1% infection evident), was 30% of the primary roots and 31% of the secondary roots. The average root length infected for all the measured trees was 14% for primary roots and 15% for secondary roots.     

Characteristics of carbon and nitrogen of soil microbial biomass and their relationships with soil nutrients in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations

The soil microbial biomass and nutrient status under the native broadleaved forest and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations at the Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem (in Hunan Province, midland of China) were examined in this study. The results showed that after the native broadleaved forest was replaced by mono-cultured C. lanceolata or C. lanceolata, soil microbial biomass and nutrient pool decreased significantly. In the 0–10 cm soil layer, the concentrations of soil microbial carbon and nitrogen in the broadleaved forest were 800.5 and 84.5 mg/kg, respectively. These were 1.90 and 1.03 times as much as those in the first rotation of the C. lanceolata plantation, and 2.16 and 1.27 times as much as those in the second rotation of the plantation, respectively. While in the 10–20 cm soil layer, the microbial carbon and nitrogen in the broadleaved forest were 475.4 and 63.3 mg/kg, respectively. These were 1.86 and 1.60 times as much as those in the first rotation, and 2.11 and 1.76 times as much as those in the second rotation, respectively. Soil nutrient pools, such as total nitrogen, total potassium, NH₄ ⁺-N, and available potassium, also declined after the C. lanceolata plantation replaced the native broadleaved forest, or Chinese fir was planted continuously. Less litter and slower decay rate in pure Chinese fir plantation were the crucial factors leading to the decrease of soil microbial biomass and nutrient pool in this area. Human disturbance, especially slash-burning and site preparation, was another factor leading to the decrease. There were significant positive correlations between soil microbial carbon and nitrogen and soil nutrients. To improve soil quality and maintain sustainable productivity, some measures, including planting mixed conifer with hardwood, preserving residues after harvest, and adopting scientific site preparation, should be taken. Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2006, 17(12): 2,292–2,296 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

营造乡土人工林对印度Singrauli煤矿废弃地土壤养分的影响(英文)

选择4种人工林,包括3个乡土树种(阔叶合欢(Albizia lebbeck)、黄豆树(A.procera)、柚木(Tectona grandis))和一个乡土草种(印度实竹(Dendrocalamus strictus))的高密度人工幼林,研究了人工林发育早期阶段对印度Singrauli煤矿废弃地土壤养分的影响。在4种人工林4年生和5年生阶段,采集0-10、10-20cm层土壤,分析其总有机碳、全氮和全磷含量。结果表明,林龄、树种和土层对土壤总有机碳、全氮和全磷含量的影响存在显著差异;各林分10-20cm土层中的全总有机碳、全氮和全磷含量较低;4个不同林分对土壤养分的改良效果表现为:阔叶合欢>印度实竹>黄豆树>柚木。说明人工林对煤矿废弃地土壤的改良效果因树种而异。     

Incidence and severity of Botryodiplodia die-back in plantations of Albizia falcataria in Kerala,India

Botryodiplodia die-back of Albizia falcataria caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae is characterized by the development of a stem canker, gradual die-back of shoots and, finally, death of trees due to girdling of stems by progressing cankers. In pathogenicity tests of the isolate, only wound inoculation resulted in cankers similar to those observed in the field. Of the five plantations surveyed, die-back was recorded in four; the occurrence appeared to be closely associated with fire, debarking by animals, and cultivation of tapioca (Manihot utilissima) amongst trees in plantations. During the 2 years' observation, the initial incidence of about 50% declined to 13–25% while the severity, initially medium, then remained low throughout. Regular observations in a plot with moderately severe infection indicated that the high incidence of die-back occurred during the dry-warm period, but during or just after the monsoon it declined as some of the affected trees recouped partially or completely with the overall incidence gradually declining from 94.3% in June 1983 to 69.8% in May 1985. However, the percentage of mortality of the affected trees increased from 8.3% to 30.3% during the same period. This is the first record of large-scale mortality of A. falcataria due to parasitism by B. theobromae. The paper discusses the management implications of Botryodiplodia die-back in Albizia plantations in Kerala.     

Sphaeropsis shoot blight and altered nutrition in red pine plantations treated with paper mill waste sludge

During 1993 progressive, severe shoot blight and canker disease in crowns of mature, merchantable red pines (Pinus resinosa) in central Wisconsin was noted in plantations in which paper mill waste sludge previously had been applied. For eight treated plantations and six non‐treated plantations, incidence of shoot blight attributed to the pathogenic fungus Sphaeropsis sapinea (syn. Diplodia pinea) was quantified during 1993 or 1994. Foliage and soil samples also were collected for analyses. Sphaeropsis shoot blight was more frequent in treated plantations than in the non‐treated stands (means of 81% of trees and 10.2% of shoots compared with 7% of trees and 0.1% of shoots, respectively). Consistent with other reports of damage caused by some diseases of conifers in situations of altered host nutrition, mean foliar N concentrations were higher in treated plantations (1.61%) than non‐treated plantations (1.31%) (p < 0.001). Mean foliar Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al concentrations were lower in treated plantations than non‐treated plantations, and mean soil P, Ca, and Mg concentrations were higher in treated plantations than non‐treated plantations.     

Soil macrofauna and litter nutrients in three tropical tree plantations on a disturbed site in Puerto Rico

Tree plantations are increasingly common in tropical landscapes due to their multiple uses. Plantations vary in structure and composition, and these variations may alter soil fauna communities. Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of soil fauna in the regulation of plant litter decomposition in the tropics. However, little is known about how plantation species affect soil fauna populations, which may in turn affect the biogeochemistry of the plantation system. We measured soil macroinvertebrate abundance and biomass in 9-year-old N₂-fixing Leucaena leucocephala, Casuarina equisetifolia, and non-N₂-fixing Eucalyptus robusta plantations on a degraded site in Puerto Rico. Nutrient concentrations and standing stocks of forest floor litter were also determined to examine the relationship between litter chemistry and soil macroinvertebrates. Leucaena plantations had significantly higher abundances and biomass of millipede species than Casuarina and Eucalyptus. Earthworm biomass did not differ among plantation treatments. Nitrogen, P, and K concentrations were generally higher in Leucaena litter, which resulted in higher standing stocks of these nutrients in fragmented, moderately decomposed litter (Oe horizon). Millipede biomass was highly correlated to N concentration and C/N ratio in the Oi litter horizon. These results suggest that plantation species differ in their influence on soil fauna, and the biomass and abundance of soil fauna can be regulated through careful selection of plantation species in degraded tropical lands.     

Biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations: Main features shown by intensive monitoring in Congo and Brazil

The sustainability of fast-growing tropical Eucalyptus plantations is of concern in a context of rising fertilizer costs, since large amounts of nutrients are removed with biomass every 6–7 years from highly weathered soils. A better understanding of the dynamics of tree requirements is required to match fertilization regimes to the availability of each nutrient in the soil. The nutrition of Eucalyptus plantations has been intensively investigated and many studies have focused on specific fluxes in the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients. However, studies dealing with complete cycles are scarce for the Tropics. The objective of this paper was to compare these cycles for Eucalyptus plantations in Congo and Brazil, with contrasting climates, soil properties, and management practices.The main features were similar in the two situations. Most nutrient fluxes were driven by crown establishment the two first years after planting and total biomass production thereafter. These forests were characterized by huge nutrient requirements: 155, 10, 52, 55 and 23 kg ha^?1 of N, P, K, Ca and Mg the first year after planting at the Brazilian study site, respectively. High growth rates the first months after planting were essential to take advantage of the large amounts of nutrients released into the soil solutions by organic matter mineralization after harvesting. This study highlighted the predominant role of biological and biochemical cycles over the geochemical cycle of nutrients in tropical Eucalyptus plantations and indicated the prime importance of carefully managing organic matter in these soils. Limited nutrient losses through deep drainage after clear-cutting in the sandy soils of the two study sites showed the remarkable efficiency of Eucalyptus trees in keeping limited nutrient pools within the ecosystem, even after major disturbances. Nutrient input–output budgets suggested that Eucalyptus plantations take advantage of soil fertility inherited from previous land uses and that long-term sustainability will require an increase in the inputs of certain nutrients.     

Features of soil enzyme activities and the number of microorganisms in plantations and their relationships with soil nutrients in the Qinling Mountains, China

We studied the distribution of soil nutrients, the number of soil microorganisms, soil enzyme activities, and their relationships in pure and mixed plantations. Soil enzyme activities, the number of soil microorganisms, and soil nutrients were measured in plantations of Chinese pine (Pinustabulaeformis), larch (Larix kaempferi), sharp tooth oak (Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata), Manchurian catalpa (Catalpa fargesii), and mixed plantations in the Qinling Mountains, China. Compared with pure plantations, the conifer-broad-leaved broadleaf mixed plantations increased total N, available N, total P, available K, and organic matter in the forest soil; promoted the activities of invertase and urease by 16.7% and 53.8%; and increased the total amount of soil microorganisms by 95.9% and the number of bacteria by 104.5% (p<0.05). The correlations between soil enzymes, number of microorganisms, and soil nutrients were significant (p<0.05), and the correlations between the number of soil bacteria and basic nutrient prosperities (total N, available N, available K, and organic matter (OM)) were significant or highly significant. The correlations between the number of soil actinomycetes, and soil total N, available N, OM, and pH were also significant or highly significant. A suitable mixture of planted conifers and broad-leaved species improves the quality and amount of soil nutrients, increases the number of soil microorganisms and changes their redistribution. The change of soil enzymes and the number of soil microorganisms are indications of the change tendency of soil nutrients. __________ Translated from Journal of Northwest A&F University (Nat. Sci. Ed.), 2008, 36(10): 88–94 [译自: 西北农林科技大学学报]     

First report of Ectinogonia buquetti (Spin.) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in bioenergy plantations of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnh.) in Chile

Ectinogonia buquetti (Spin.) (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) was identified as the agent causing damage on a Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnh.) bioenergy plantation. Damage affected the principal apex and upper lateral branches and loss of lateral branches on E. camaldulensis due to complete ring-barking. E. buquetti is a coleopteron native to Chile, it preferably feeds on the wood of native species. A total of 205 individuals, all adults were found; 45% of the plants presented some type of damage.     

Evidence for increased sensitivity to nutrient and water stress in a fast-growing hybrid willow compared with a natural willow clone

The hypothesis that fast-growing breeds of willow (Salix spp.) are more sensitive to nutrient and water stress and less efficient in nutrient- and water-use than slower-growing natural willow clones was tested. Cuttings of a natural clone of S. viminalis L. collected in Sweden (L78183) and a hybrid clone of S. schwerinii E. Wolf. x S. viminalis L. ("Tora") were grown outdoors in pots under various experimental conditions in a full-factorial design. The experimental conditions included three fertilization, two irrigation and two temperature regimes. Classical growth analysis techniques, based on an initial and a final harvest, were used as a screening method, together with calculation of intrinsic water-use efficiency (foliar carbon isotope ratio; delta13C). In addition, nitrogen-use efficiency was calculated as the product of nitrogen productivity and mean residence time of nitrogen on an annual basis. There were significant differences in plant structural parameters (leaf area ratio, specific leaf area) and water-use efficiency between the clones. Furthermore, several clone x treatment interaction effects on various growth parameters indicated that the clones adapted to specific environments in different ways. "Tora" plants produced up to 25% more shoot biomass than plants of the natural clone in response to high rates of fertilization and irrigation, whereas clone ranking was reversed in most other treatments. The results support the hypothesis that fast-growing hybrids are more sensitive to nutrient and water stress than slower-growing natural clones. The hypothesis that natural clones have higher resource-use efficiency than fast-growing hybrids was supported with respect to water, but not nitrogen.     

Owner-specific factors associated with conversion activity in secondary pine plantations

The conversion of secondary pine plantations into mixed broadleaf stands is considered to be an important mechanism in the process of sustainable forest management. The silvicultural process of forest conversion in ageing pine plantations is associated with active management aimed at inducing, steering or accelerating stand development. The aim of the present study was to investigate owner-specific factors – socio-demographic and forest-related characteristics, and motivation of ownership – influencing NIPF owners' active engagement in silvicultural conversion (henceforth referred to as ‘conversion activity’). The study relies on a survey of non-industrial private owners (n = 276) of pine plantations on poor sandy soils in Flanders (northern Belgium). The study revealed that NIPF owners, in general, make only minor contributions to forest conversion. Conversion activity (including thinning, making space for broadleaves, removing invasive species, clear-cut, planting) was rather low, but positively influenced by a number of factors. Private forest owners with clear motivations of ownership were more likely to engage in conversion activity. However, the nature of motivation was not very decisive as most of the items listed (with exception of land investment goals) had a positive influence. Furthermore, the conversion activity of owners called ‘economists’ did not significantly differ from those of ‘recreationists’, but ‘passive owners’ (those with unclear motivations of ownership) were less active. We thus suggest that it is the absence of clear motivations of ownership, rather than a particular ownership goal that would explain low conversion activity. Socio-demographics like age, gender and education, and also forest size had only marginal influence. But frequency of forest visits and proximity to the forest had a significant influence. As an overall conclusion from this study, we emphasize the importance for active forest management, and silvicultural conversion in particular, of forest owners being connected to their forest. In this sense, mental connectedness (motivation of ownership), as well as physical connectedness (living close to the forest and visiting it frequently) do matter.     

章古台沙地不同树种年龄和树种的生态系统叶片和土壤养分研究

对辽宁省章古台地区的几种主要针叶树种的针叶养分及其林分表层(0-15cm)土壤养分进行研究。结果表明,不同年龄樟子松(45、29和20年)(Pinussylvestrisvar.mongolica)林地表层土壤养分并无显著差别,而29年樟子松林分表层土壤全N、全P和N:P比显著高于相近年龄的赤松(P.densiflora)(29年)和油松林(P.tabulaeformis)(31年)。随着樟子松年龄的增加,叶片P含量逐渐减少,而叶片N和K含量则未表现出随年龄而变化的趋势;对于年龄相近的三个树种,叶片N和P含量表现为:樟子松>赤松>油松,而叶片K含量在三个树种中并无显著差别。表层土壤的全N和全P,有机质和全P以及叶片N和P含量之间表现出了显著的相关性,但是,林分表层土壤养分和树木针叶养分之间并无显著相关关系,这可能与当地对凋落物的过度收集,过度放牧以及土壤水分含量低有关。最后,根据国外研究结果引入N:P比阈值来分析研究区域的N,P养分状况,基于章古台地区这几种针叶树种针叶N:P比,我们认为研究区域的樟子松随着年龄的增加受N限制的可能性降低,29年的赤松林整体表现出不受N和P养分限制,而31年的油松林则表现为系统N和P都供应不足。图3表3参45。     

Impact of management on nutrients,carbon, and energy in aboveground biomass components of mid-rotation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations

Context

To sustainably manage loblolly pine plantations for bioenergy and carbon sequestration, accurate information is required on the relationships between management regimes and energy, carbon, and nutrient export.

Aims

The effects of cultural intensity and planting density were investigated with respect to energy, carbon, and essential nutrients in aboveground biomass of mid-rotation loblolly pine plantations, and the effects of harvesting scenarios on export of nutrients were tested.

Methods

Destructive biomass sampling of a 12 years-old loblolly pine culture/density experiment, and analysis of variance were used to assess the effects of cultural intensity (operational vs. intensive) and six planting densities ranging from 741 to 4,448 trees ha^?1. Two harvesting scenarios (stem-only vs. whole-tree harvesting) were assessed in terms of energy, carbon, and nutrient export.

Results

The concentrations of energy, carbon, and nutrients varied significantly among stem wood, bark, branch, and foliage components. Cultural intensity and planting density did not significantly affect these concentrations. Differences in energy, carbon and nutrient contents among treatments were mainly mediated by changes in total biomass. Nutrient contents were affected by either cultural intensity or planting density, or both. Stem-only harvesting removed 71–79 % of aboveground energy and carbon, 29–45 % of N, 28–44 % of P, 44–57 % of K, 51–65 % of Ca, and 50–61 % of Mg.

Conclusions

Stem-only harvesting would be preferred to whole-tree harvesting, from a site nutrient conservation perspective.     

Herbaceous weed control in conifer plantations with hexazinone and nitrogen formulations

In order to determine if herbicide efficacy is affected by nitrogen fertilizer, the influence of different nitrogen fertilizers applied in different combinations with hexazinone formulations were evaluated on herbaceous weed communities. Field studies comparing three application methods in conifer plantations showed greatest reduction in total weed cover with a co-granular formulation of hexazinone and triamino-s-triazine. Slightly less control was achieved with separate applications of liquid hexazinone and triamino-s-triazine granules, and poorest control with granular urea followed by liquid hexazinone. Weed control increased with an increase in hexazinone rate. Statistical analysis of the effect on conifers showed that the highest hexazinone rate significantly increased survival of noble fir (Abies procera Rehd.) and stem diameter of both noble fir and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), and that the highest nitrogen rate significantly decreased survival of both species but did not affect stem diameter. Survival of noble fir and diameter of both noble fir and Douglas-fir were significantly increased where a co-granular formulation of hexazinone and triamino-s-triazine granules was used.