Estimation of litter fall and seed production of Acacia mangium in a forest plantation in South Sumatra, Indonesia

Annual litter fall of Acacia mangium in the period of September 1995 to August 1996 was estimated at 5939 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and from September 1995 to August 1996 at 6048 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with the highest seasonal production in the dry season. The litter fall was dominated mainly by leaves, 4446 kg (75%) and 4137 kg (68%), respectively. Seed production in the litter fall was estimated at 42.4 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (4.1 million seeds ha⁻¹) and 39 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (3.8 million seeds ha⁻¹), with the highest in the dry season from June to October. The accumulated litter fall in the forest floor together with shrubs and grass provide a high fuel load, increasing fire risk.     

基于种子无菌苗的云南甜龙竹组培快繁研究

云南甜龙竹（Dendrocalamus brandisii）是优异的笋材两用大型丛生竹种,但常规无性繁殖技术培育的苗木因价格高而极大地阻碍了该竹种的推广栽培。文章以云南甜龙竹种子萌发的无菌苗为外植体,研究植物生长调节剂对试管苗快速繁殖及生根的影响。结果表明：丛生芽诱导的最佳培养基为MS+6-苄氨基腺嘌呤（6-BA）3.0 mg/L+萘乙酸（NAA）0.7 mg/L,诱导率可达86.33%;最佳继代增殖培养基为MS+NAA 0.3 mg/L+6-BA 6.0 mg/L+噻苯隆（TDZ）0.001 mg/L,增殖系数可达4.90;最佳生根培养基为1/2MS+NAA 2.0 mg/L+吲哚丁酸（IBA）4.0 mg/L,生根率可达71.45%。研究结果可为云南甜龙竹工厂化育苗提供技术支撑。     

The responses of three riparian cottonwood species to water table decline

The influence of rate of water table decline was studied with three North American cottonwood (poplar) species: the prairie cottonwood, Populus deltoides; the narrowleaf cottonwood, P. angustifolia; and the balsam poplar, P. balsamifera. Shoot cuttings were rooted and transplanted into rhizopods, experimental devices that permit the controlled manipulation of water table depth. Three rates of water table decline were applied, 0, 4 and 10 cm day⁻¹, and growth and transpiration were studied.

Two clones of each species performed relatively similarly; the P. balsamifera clones grew fastest under all three treatments, followed by P. deltoides under 0 and 4 cm day⁻¹ conditions. Under the 10 cm day⁻¹ treatment, the P. deltoides grew as slowly as P. angustifolia. In all genotypes, shoot growth and apparent transpiration were progressively reduced with increasing rate of water table decline. Conversely, root growth was promoted by water table decline and root elongation was most rapid under the gradual 4 cm day⁻¹ treatment; root elongation was insufficient for the abrupt 10 cm day⁻¹ decline and some P. angustifolia and P. deltoides saplings died under that treatment.

The present study demonstrates that tolerance to water table decline varies across cottonwood genotypes and that P. balsamifera saplings were the most vigorous. This is relevant to the natural distribution in which P. balsamifera occurs in mountain regions where stream stages and riparian water table depths often change abruptly. The vigor of P. balsamifera is also consistent with the reproductive mechanism of ‘branch propagation', a process of clonal recruitment in which browsed or broken branch fragments root along stream edges, enabling dispersive propagation, particularly of P. balsamifera and P. trichocarpa.     

Successional patterns and gap phase dynamics of a humid tropical forest of the Western Ghats of Kerala, India: ground vegetation, biomass, productivity and nutrient cycling

The population dynamics of the ground vegetation and its energetics such as biomass accumulation and net primary productivity, and the nutrient cycling patterns in the humid tropical forest of the Western Ghats in India are largely determined by gap age and by whether gaps are formed naturally or through selection felling. Responses of plant categories such as herbs, shrubs, tree seedlings and saplings also vary depending upon gap type and age. An exotic species such as Chromolaena odorata occurred only in selection-felled gaps ((9 ± 3)−(49 ± 4) individuals (100 m)⁻²). Nilgirianthus ciliatus, a dominant shrub, plays a key role in the gaps in determining population dynamics of others. The net primary productivity of the ground vegetation, which is about 31.17 ± 4.26 kg (100 m)⁻² year⁻¹ in an undisturbed site, increased a year after gap formation to 102.82 ± 6.46 kg (100 m)⁻² year⁻¹ in natural gaps and to 71.82 ± 2.36 kg (100 m)⁻² year⁻¹ in selection-felled gaps. Five years after gap formation, net primary productivity of the ground vegetation declined considerably, this being related to decline in fast-growing shrub and secondary tree species in the vegetation and gap closure. A similar trend was also recorded for the rates of nutrient uptake and nutrient accumulation in the vegetation.

In natural gaps the soil nutrient level increased gradually with gap age. This could be attributed to slow release of nutrients from the fallen trunks and nutrient storage in the rapidly recovering vegetation. In contrast, in selection-felled gaps, the quantities of soil nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium were higher in 1-year-old gaps than in undisturbed sites, owing to the release of these nutrients from leaf litter and wood debris which were deposited in larger quantities within the gap itself, and owing to sparse ground vegetation resulting from the greater disturbance of the soil, in the first 1 or 2 years. The fractional annual turnover rates of elements of the ground vegetation and the soil were higher in 1-year-old gaps and declined with gap age. The significance of these results for forest management is discussed.     

Nitrogen deposition in Casuarina equisetifolia (Forst.) plantation stands in the dry tropics of Sonbhadra, India

Periodic variations in the concentration, deposition and canopy impact of different forms of N on annual N deposition through rainfall, throughfall and stemflow in 5 and 8 year old stands of Casuarina equisetifolia were studied. Throughfall and stemflow ranged from 70 to 76% and 5–6% of annual precipitation respectively. The total N deposition by rainfall was 11.1 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and by throughfall was 13.6 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 16.5 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in 5-year-old and 8-year old plantations, respectively. The quantities of N deposited through stemflow in the two plantations were nearly identical, accounting for 1.6 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Observations of the monthly deposition of NH₄,N, NO₃-N, Kjeldahl-N and organic-N revealed that maximum deposition occurred in July and the minimum in September. Organic-N deposition was 17% less (5-year) than the rainwater content. Net deposition of N, as an effect of canopy, was 7–8.7 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, which was added directly to the available nutrient pool of soil.     

Growth, biomass production and nutrient accumulation by seven tree species irrigated with municipal effluent at Wodonga, Australia

In the Murray-Darling basin, irrigation of tree crops is being evaluated as an alternative method for the disposal of municipal effluent. A study was carried out at Wodonga in which seven tree species were irrigated with effluent for a period of 4 years. Irrigation was calculated weekly on the basis of pan evaporation and rainfall during the preceding week. Annual irrigation varied between 1190 mm and 1750 mm with a total input over the 4-year-period of 4940 mm.

Height and diameter growth varied significantly between species. At age 4, mean dominant height of Eucalyptus grandis, E. saligna and Populus deltoides × P. nigra ranged from 14.3 to 15.0 m compared with 6.6 to 9.8 m for Casuarina cunninghamiana, E. camaldulensis, P. deltoides and Pinus radiata. Wood production of the faster-growing species (E. grandis and E. saligna) was approximately 130 m³ ha⁻¹, or around 32 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ over a 4-year period. This was nearly three-fold the production of the other native species and twice that of Pi. radiata. Volume growth of P. deltoides × P. nigra (85 m³ ha⁻¹) was significantly greater than that of P. deltoides (42 m³ ha⁻¹).

Accumulation of nutrients in the above-ground biomass varied significantly between species and ranged from 24 to 41 g m⁻² for N, 2.6 to 5.9 g m⁻² for P, 0.5 to 9.2 g m⁻² for Na, 12 to 27 g m⁻² for K, 7 to 52 g m⁻² for Ca and 3.1 to 7.9 g m⁻² for Mg. Nutrient accumulation was generally greater in species with a comparatively large crown biomass relative to stem size such as C. cunninghamiana and E. camadulensis. Average nutrient accumulation by trees as a percentage of input from effluent was estimated at 19% for N, 9% for P, 1% for Na, 14% for K, 52% for Ca and 32% for Mg.

Results of this study indicate the importance of selecting species on the basis of not only growth but also nutrient accumulation to optimise renovation of wastewater by tree plantations.     

Influence of (22S,23S)-homobrassinolide on rooting capacity and survival of adult Norway spruce cuttings

To determine whether brassinosteroids promote clonal propagation of mature coniferous trees, cuttings of adult Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees were harvested in late March, treated with (22S,23S)-28-homobrassinolide (SSHB), and stored at 2 degrees C in darkness until they were planted in May. Treatment of the cuttings with SSHB significantly enhanced the formation of adventitious roots by increasing percent rooting from 50% in the control cuttings to 92% in the 60 ppm SSHB treatment. N(6)-Benzyladenine (BA) stimulated rooting slightly although not significantly, but it counteracted the stimulative effect of SSHB when cuttings were treated with both compounds together. In a second study, the above-ground parts of medium-sized mature clonal Norway spruce trees were pretreated from the end of June till August with SSHB or BA or both. Needle retention of cuttings taken from the pretreated trees the following spring was prolonged until September and the cuttings flushed, but did not root, whereas cuttings from untreated stock plants died before September. No interaction between BA and SSHB was observed. When these pretreatments were repeated the following year on the same mature clonal trees rooting of cuttings was significantly improved in the 5 ppm SSHB treatment.     

2个引进杨树无性系的硬枝扦插试验

以宁夏仁存渡护岸林场引进的截叶毛白杨、毛新×毛白73两个无性系的1年生硬枝为材料,以新疆杨为对照进行硬枝扦插试验,采用ABT-1号生根粉对插穗进行处理,比较其扦插生根情况。结果表明:2个无性系的杨树及新疆杨采用不同处理时,插穗生根情况不同;ABT-1生根粉处理的截叶毛白杨插穗在500 mg·L^-1浓度时愈伤组织形成率最大,达58.33%;毛新×毛白73枝条在600 mg·L^-1浓度时愈伤组织形成率最大,为41.67%。未用ABT-1生根粉处理的截叶毛白杨、毛新×毛白73和新疆杨的生根率高于处理过的。不同品种的杨树扦插生根率存在极显著差异,新疆杨生根率高达82.14%,高于截叶毛白杨与毛新×毛白73的,更适合进行扦插扩繁。     

Bud activity of decapitated, nursery-grown plants ofTriplochiton scleroxylon in Nigeria: effects of light, temperature and humidity

This study is a continuation of earlier work on apical dominance inTriplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum., aimed at the development of an early clonal selection test for branching habit and yield in tree improvement programmes. Decapitated plants of five to seven clones were treated with either: (i) two photon flux densities (photosynthetically active radiation at full or 10% sunlight, approximately 2000 and 200 μmol quanta m⁻²s⁻¹ measured at midday on a clear day); (ii) two temperatures (ambient 30°C or 40°C in a polythene tent); (iii) two humidities (ambient=40–70% relative humidity at 30°C or with humidification=95–100% relative humidity at 28°C). Bud activity, shoot length and numbers of leaves produced following decapitation were all increased by high photon flux density and high humidity. In contrast to similar studies under glasshouse conditions in Britain, dominance was not re-established following the initial period of sprouting. The sprouting phase was similar in Nigeria and Britain. Clonal differences in bud activity were similar under different treatments, although there were minor changes in ranking. Increasing the air temperatures from 30 to 40°C resulted in leaf areas of 165 cm² and 23 cm², respectively. Normal polarity of lateral shoot production following decapitation was completely inverted by high temperature.     

Importance of weed control, fertilization, irrigation, and genetics in slash and loblolly pine early growth on poorly drained spodosols

Research reported here has evaluated interactions of factors limiting the biological potential of slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (P. Taeda L.). Water and nutrients were manipulated by irrigation, weed control, and intensive fertilization. Genetic factors were incorporated as (1) improved loblolly seedlings from a commercial clonal seed orchard and (2) slash seedlings from four fast-growing, open-pollinated seed-orchard clones. Three replications of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment were established on a Typic Haplaquod soil in northern Florida using four cultural treatments: no treatment (F0H0); weed control (F0H1); fertilizer (F1F0); and combination of weed control and fertilizer (F1H1) for each species. During the first year there were large, sustained responses to all cultural practices. Loblolly and slash pine showed similar growth responses and had a lengthened growing season (60–100 days). Slash pine growth was superior to that of loblolly. Growth responses observed during the first year continued. After 4 years, irrigation had no measurable effect on tree growth. Both pine species responded equally to F1H0 and F0H1, but slash retained a slight edge. Extra nutrients]available via fertilizer, reduced competition, or additional rooting space, increased slash-pine volume index from an average of 2.0 m³ ha⁻¹ (F0H0) to 11.90 and 13.59 m³ ha⁻¹ (F0H1 and F1H0, respectively). The F1H1 treatment produced the largest slash-pine response, diameter at breast height (D_bh) averaged 9.84 cm, height reached 5.02 m, and volume index rose to about 22.94 m³ ha⁻¹. With teh F1H1 treatment, average loblolly-pine height and volume exceeded that of the average slash pine. At age 4, the growth response due to increased nutrient supply was 13–29 times that of the best genetic response within F0H0 trees of the four slash-pine progenies. The best-growing slash-pine family (6–56) exceeded loblolly-pine growth under all four treatments and approximated the vigor shown by slash pine in the southern hemisphere.     

Nutrient cycling in a clonal stand of Eucalyptus and an adjacent savanna ecosystem in Congo: 3. Input–output budgets and consequences for the sustainability of the plantations

Clonal plantations of Eucalyptus have been introduced since 1978 on savanna soils of the coastal plains of Congo. Atmospheric deposition, canopy exchange and transfer through the soil were estimated on the whole rooting depth (6 m) over 3 years, in an experimental design installed in a native savanna and an adjacent 6-year-old Eucalyptus plantation. Complementary measurements after planting the experimental savanna made it possible to establish input–output budgets of nutrients for the whole Eucalyptus rotation and to compare them with the native savanna ecosystem.

In this highly-weathered soil, atmospheric deposits and symbiotic N fixation by a legume species balanced the nutrient budgets in savanna, despite large losses during annual burnings. After afforestation, weeding in the Eucalyptus stands eliminated the leguminous species responsible for a N input by symbiotic fixation of about 20 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Whereas the budgets of P, K, Ca and Mg were roughly balanced, the current silviculture led to a deficit of about 140 kg N ha⁻¹ in the soil, throughout a 7-year rotation. This deficit was large relative to the pool of total N in the upper soil layer (0–50 cm), which was about 2 t ha⁻¹. Therefore, the sustainability of Congolese plantations will require an increase in N fertilizer inputs over successive rotations to balance the N budget. These results were consistent with field trials of fertilization. Practical consequences of these budgets were identified, in order to: (i) direct field trials of fertilization, (ii) select appropriate methods of soil preparation, weed control and harvest, (iii) highlight the importance of fire prevention in this area, and (iv) support the implementation of field trials aiming at introducing a biological nitrogen fixing understorey in Eucalyptus stands.     

Hybrid and clonal variability of nutrient content and nutrient use efficiency in Eucalyptus stands in Congo

For 20 years, there has been 42,000 ha estate of clonal Eucalyptus plantations around Pointe-Noire in Congo on sandy soils that have very low reserves of available nutrients. These plantations have been based on a natural hybrid (E. PF1). This hybrid is being replaced by E. urophylla × E. grandis (UG), a more productive hybrid developed by the breeding program of UR2PI. A study of biogeochemical cycles showed that nutrient removal by harvesting is the main nutrient output in the E. PF1 ecosystem. It is therefore important to quantify the nutrient content (NC) in both hybrids to compare corresponding nutrient removal values.

The work dealt with four UG clones and the most planted clone of E. PF1. Twelve trees per clone were sampled at the logging age (8 years) in a clonal test for UG clones and in a nearby stand for E. PF1. Tables were established to predict, from girth at breast height (C_1.30 m), the biomass and nutrient content of stemwood, bark, dead and living branches, leaves, and were applied to the inventory of the different stands to evaluate corresponding biomass, NC and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) on a per-hectare basis.

Total biomass differed between the two hybrids and among UG clones: 109 t ha⁻¹ for E. PF1 and 108–155 t ha⁻¹ for UG clones. In E. PF1 trees, total NC was globally lower for N, K, and Mg, but greater for P and Ca. In stemwood, nitrogen content was similar for both hybrids. By contrast, in UG clones, NC was much lower for P (−72%) and Ca (−40% to −55%). The same trends were observed for NUE: equivalent for both hybrids for N, but higher in UG clones for P (+72%) and Ca (+43% to +59%). A marked variability among clones was observed for K and Mg. UG clones allocated proportionally more nutrients in leaves than E. PF1.

These results show that clones should not be selected only on growth traits but also on NUE and on the concentration of nutrients in tree components removed by harvesting. It will be then possible to limit the cost of fertilising needed to maintain stand growth and soil fertility.     

Nitrogen-fertilization impacts on carbon sequestration and flux in managed coastal Douglas-fir stands of the Pacific Northwest

We examined whether N-fertilization and soil origin of Douglas-fir [Psuedotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] stands in western Washington state could affect C sequestration in both the tree biomass and in soils, as well as the flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) through the soil profile. This study utilized four forest sites that were initially established between 1972 and 1980 as part of Regional Forest Nutrition Research Project (RFNRP). Two of the soils were derived from coarse-textured glacial outwash and two from finer-textured volcanic-source material, primarily tephra, both common soil types for forestry in the region. Between 1972 and 1996 fertilized sites received either three or four additions of 224 kg N ha⁻¹ as urea (672–896 kg N ha⁻¹ total). Due to enhanced tree growth, the N-fertilized sites (161 Mg C ha⁻¹) had an average of 20% more C in the tree biomass compared to unfertilized sites (135 Mg C ha⁻¹). Overall, N-fertilized soils (260 Mg C ha⁻¹) had 48% more soil C compared to unfertilized soils (175 Mg C ha⁻¹). The finer-textured volcanic-origin soils (348 Mg C ha⁻¹) had 299% more C than glacial outwash soils (87.2 Mg C ha⁻¹), independent of N-fertilization. Soil-solution DOC collected by lysimeters also appeared to be higher in N-fertilized, upper soil horizons compared to unfertilized controls but it was unclear what fraction of the difference was lost from decomposition or contributed to deep-profile soil C by leaching and adsorption. When soil, understory vegetation and live-tree C compartments are pooled and compared by treatment, N-fertilized plots had an average of 110 Mg C ha⁻¹ more than unfertilized controls. These results indicate these sites generally responded to N-fertilization with increased C sequestration, but differences in stand and soil response to N-fertilization might be partially explained by soil origin and texture.     

Effect of branch position and auxin treatment on clonal propagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tectona grandis</Emphasis> Linn. f.

The main objective of our clonal propagation program is the production of high quality timber and faster tree growth. Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) is an important plantation species in the tropics but the demand of teak timber is increasing globally. Teak planting stock is still produced from seeds of unselected elite genotypes which may lead to poor stand establishment. The number of seeds per fruit and their germination ability are also variable and limited by several factors. Therefore an alternative method i.e., clonal propagation is required for mass multiplication of elite trees. It is an established fact that the clonal propagation or adventitious root formation in cuttings is markedly affected by several external and internal factors. Considering these, an experiment was conducted on leafy soft wood shoot cuttings of 3-year-old hedged teak stock plants grown in a hedge garden to study the effects of branch position and auxin treatment on adventitious root formation. A factorial completely randomized design was used for experimentation. Coppice shoots were collected from basal, middle and upper positions of the hedge garden; and mono-nodal leafy cuttings were prepared. These cuttings were treated with different concentrations of IBA and NAA; and were cultured in a mist chamber for rooting where the relative humidity was maintained at 85 ± 2% with maximum and minimum day-night temperature at 32 ± 1°C and 26 ± 1°C respectively. After 45 days the cuttings were removed from the rooting medium and observations were made. It was observed that the rooting parameters viz., percent rooting and percent sprouting, mean number of leaves, mean number of shoots and length, and mean number of roots and length per cutting were significantly influenced by the branch position and auxin treatment. Treatment with 4000 ppm IBA increased percent rooting and percent sprouting whereas NAA suppressed it. Treatment with 4000 ppm IBA also increased the mean number of leaves and shoots, and the length, and the mean number of roots per cutting. The highest mean number of roots and length were observed in cuttings taken from the branch emerging at the upper position followed by branches of middle and lower position. Cuttings of branches at a middle position showed the highest values of percent rooting, percent sprouting, mean number of leaves and shoots and mean shoot length per cutting. Furthermore, the interactive effect of branch position and auxin treatment on rooting and sprouting response was also found to be significant. Overall, the findings of this investigation suggest that middle branch position in hedge plants and 4000 ppm IBA can be made to induce maximum rooting and to produce high quality planting stock material for clonal forestry program of teak.     

Biomass and carbon sequestration of ponderosa pine plantations and native cypress forests in northwest Patagonia

Fast growth tree plantations and secondary forests are considered highly efficient carbon sinks. In northwest Patagonia, more than 2 million ha of rangelands are suitable for forestry, and tree plantation or native forest restoration could largely contribute to climate change mitigation. The commonest baseline is the heavily grazed gramineous steppe of Festuca pallescens (St. Yves) Parodi. To assess the carbon sequestration potential of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa (Dougl.) Laws) plantations and native cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis (Don) Flor. et Boutl.), individual above and below ground biomass models were developed, and scaled to stand level in forests between 600 and 1500 annual rainfall. To calculate the carbon sequestration baseline, the pasture biomass was simulated. Also, soil carbon at two depths was assessed in paired pine-cypress-pasture sample plots, the same as the litter carbon content of both forest types. Individual stem, foliage, branch and root log linear equations adjusted for pine and cypress trees presented similar slopes (P>0.05), although some differed in the elevations. Biomass carbon was 52.3 Mg ha⁻¹ (S.D.=30.6) for pine stands and 73.2 Mg ha⁻¹ (S.D.=95.4) for cypress forests, given stand volumes of 148.1 and 168.4 m³ ha⁻¹, respectively. Soil carbon (litter included) was 86.3 Mg ha⁻¹ (S.D.=46.5) for pine stands and 116.5 Mg ha⁻¹ (S.D.=38.5) for cypress. Root/shoot ratio was 19.5 and 11.4%, respectively. The low r/s value for cypress may account for differences in nutrient cycling and water uptake potential. At stand level, differences in foliage, taproot and soil carbon compartments were highly significative (P<0.01) between both forest types. In pine stands, both biomass and soil carbon were highly explained by the rainfall gradient (r²=0.94). Nevertheless, such a relationship was not found for cypress, possibly due to stand and soil disturbances in sample plots. The carbon baseline estimated in pasture biomass, including litter, was 2.6 Mg ha⁻¹ (S.D.=0.8). Since no differences in soil carbon were found between pasture and both forest types, additionality should be accounted only by biomass. However, the replacement of pasture by pine plantations may decrease the soil carbon storage, at least during the first years. On the other hand, the soil may be a more relevant compartment of sequestered carbon in cypress forests, and if pine plantation replaces cypress forests, soil carbon losses could cause a negative balance.     

Performance of twelve selected Australian tree species on a saline site in southeast Queensland

The establishment and early growth of 12 species within the genera Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Melaleuca and Tipuana was tested on a saline site in southeast Queensland. Electrical conductivity (EC) in the top 50 cm of soil was measured using an electromagnetic induction method and calibrated against the EC of 1:5 soil:water suspensions. The site was then stratified into five salinity classes: 0.75–1.0, 1.0–1.25, 1.25–1.5, 1.5–1.75 and over 1.75 dSm⁻¹. Relationships were developed for predicting the survival and height production of 18-month-old trees. These regressions explained 15–88% of the variation in survival and 2–66% of the variation in height production. Tree species were grouped by determining the EC level where height production declined by 25% relative to that at 0.75 ds m⁻¹. Casuarina glauca, Melaleuca bracteata, Eucalyptus moluccana, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tericornis and Eucalyptus raveretiana were all highly salt tolerant (25% reductions over 1.5 dS m⁻¹). Casuarina cunninghamiana, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus melliodora and Eucalyptus robusta exhibited moderate salt tolerance (25% reductions between 1.0 and 1.5 dS m⁻¹). The responses to increased salinity of Tipuana tipu and Eucalyptus intermedia (25% reductions at less than 1.0 dS m⁻¹) suggest that these species are not suitable for revegetating similar saline sites.     

绿玉树扦插繁殖的研究

通过研究不同生理程度、不同激素处理、不同基质对绿玉树扦插的影响。结果表明：绿玉树可进行嫩枝扦插，其生根率80%以上；激素处理有利于扦插生根，但浓度不宜太高，浸泡时间不宜过长，以ABT6根粉浸泡1h为宜；生理成熟度以一年生木质化和半木质化的最好；在基质选择中，应以肥力条件、透气性、保水等较好的河沙1 珍珠岩1 腐质土1为较好。     

Nitrogen mineralization in irrigated plantations of shisham and mulberry

Ammonification and nitrification rates and nitrogen uptake were measured using the buried-bag technique in irrigated mixed plantations of shisham (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC.) and mulberry (Morus alba L.). Nitrogen transformations were rapid in these stands, particularly following thinning to reduce stand density. In young stands, net N mineralization was 26.72 mg N kg⁻¹ soil month⁻¹ (approximately 480 kg ha⁻¹ month⁻¹), but, as the end of the 22-year rotation approached, nitrification slowed to 13.41 mg N kg⁻¹ soil month⁻¹ (approximately 241 kg ha⁻¹ month⁻¹). N₂-fixing shisham appeared to respond after thinning only to the increased space and temporarily reduced competition for light and moisture, but mulberry appeared to benefit greatly from the nitrogen released through mineralization following thinning.     

Biomass distribution and productivity ofPinus edulis—Juniperus monosperma woodlands of north-central Arizona

Above-ground biomass distribution, leaf area, above-ground net primary productivity and foliage characteristics were determined for 90- and 350-year-oldPinus edulis-Juniperus monosperma ecosystems on the Colorado Plateau of northern Arizona. These ecosystems have low biomass, leaf area and primary productivity compared with forests in wetter environments. Biomass of the 350-year-old pinyon-juniper stand examined in this study was 54.1 mg ha⁻¹; that of the 90-year-old stand was 23.7 mg ha⁻¹. Above-ground net primary production averaged 2.12 mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for the young and 2.88 mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for the mature stand; tree production was about 80% of these values for both stands. Projected ecosystem leaf area (LAI) of the stands was 1.72 m² m⁻² and 1.85 m² m⁻², respectively. Production efficiency (dry matter production per unit leaf area) was 0.129 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ for the young, and 0.160 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ for the mature stand. Production efficiency of the study sites was below the 0.188 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ reported for xeric, pure juniper stands in the northern Great Basin. Biomass of pinyon-juniper ecosystems of northern Arizona is generally below the 60–121 mg ha⁻¹ reported for pinyon-juniper stands of the western Great Basin in Nevada. A climatic gradient with summer precipitation decreasing between southeast Arizona and northwest Nevada occurs in the pinyon-juniper region. Great Basin pinyon-juniper ecosystems lie at the dry-summer end of this gradient while pinyon-juniper ecosystems of the Colorado Plateau lie at about the middle of this gradient. In spite of wetter summers, pinyon-juniper ecosystems of northern Arizona are less productive than those of the Great Basin.     

Stand growth scenarios for Tectona grandis plantations in Costa Rica

Management scenarios with rotation lengths of 20 and 30 years were developed for different site qualities (high, medium and low) under two different management options (high individual tree growth versus high stand growth) for teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) in Costa Rica. The scenarios are based on data collected in different regions in Costa Rica, representing different site conditions, offering a variety of possible management options for high-quality teak yield.

Three competition indices were used for modeling the competition and for the definition of intensities and the plantation age at thinning. The maximum site occupation (MSO) and the Reineke density index (RDI) provide conservative stand density management limits, resulting in the need to execute several thinning frequently. The competition factor (CF) matches the field observations and seems to be more appropriate for the growth characteristics of the species.

Final stand densities varied between 120 and 447 trees ha⁻¹, with mean diameter at breast height (dbh) of 24.9–47.8 cm, and mean total heights between 23.0 and 32.4 m, depending on rotation length and site quality. The mean annual increment of total volume (MAI_Vol) at the end of the rotation varied from 11.3 to 24.9 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, accumulating a total volume over rotation of 268–524 m³ ha⁻¹.

The most suitable scenario for teak plantations for high-quality sites is the 30-year-rotation scenario with five thinnings of intensities between 20 and 50% (of the standing trees) at the ages of 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 years. After the sectioning of the merchantable stem in 4-m length logs, the merchantable volume varied between 145 and 386 m³ ha⁻¹, with an estimated heartwood volume of 45–195 m³ ha⁻¹, both depending on rotation length and site quality.