Effect of clear-felling on runoff in two small watersheds in Central Sweden

Small watersheds were used in a study of the effect of clear-felling on runoff from coniferous forest areas in Central Sweden. After a 3-year calibration period, two watersheds were clear-felled (on one of them the slash was left and on the other slash was removed) and a third was left as a reference.Runoff under forested conditions was 271 and 246 mm year^?1, respectively for the treated watersheds, while the precipitation measured 732 mm year^?1 as a mean for the investigated period. Clear-felling resulted in an increase in runoff of 119 and 75% (371 and 215 mm per year), respectively. The increase occurred during the period of snowmelt (April–May) and the period without snow (June–October). During winter (November–March) a very small increase in runoff was noted. The effect of clear-felling on runoff appears to be greater than has been reported from most other Scandinavian investigations.The increase in runoff during snowmelt is probably due to an increased snow accumulation in the clear-felled area as compared to the forest. The increased runoff for the period without snow is explained by reduced transpiration from the vegetation and reduced evaporation caused by an increased aerodynamic resistance.No effects of slash removal could be detected, probably because of the natural variation between the two treated watersheds.     

Assessing the effect of broadleaf woodland expansion on acidic dry deposition and streamwater acidification

The study aim was to determine whether enhanced dry deposition of acidic atmospheric pollutants by broadleaf woodland expansion could increase the potential for acidification of surface waters in acid-sensitive areas. Dry sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) deposition was modelled with the Fine Resolution Atmospheric Multi-pollutant Exchange (FRAME) model using a roughness length value calculated specifically for birchwoods. Two scenarios were investigated for an acid-sensitive area in Scotland where broadleaf woodland expansion, mainly as birchwood, is occurring: (1) 2002 emissions and broadleaf woodland cover of 5.6%; (2) 2020 projected emissions and broadleaf cover of 29%. The roughness length calculated for birch with Raupach’s simplified drag-partition model was 0.73 m, lower than the value of 1.0 m for conifers which is the default for forest land cover in FRAME. Modelled dry S and N deposition increased between 2002 and 2020 from 8.7 to 29 × 10⁻³ keq ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of H⁺. However, modelled total dry and wet non-marine S and N deposition decreased during the same period from 1070 to 682 × 10⁻³ keq ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of H⁺ due to the lower projected emissions in 2020 and the dominance of wet deposition in the remote and upland study area (mean annual rainfall 2275 mm). The modelled total non-marine S and N deposition was used to calculate streamwater critical loads exceedance with the First-order Acidity Balance (FAB) model for five catchments in the study area. The modelled deposition for both the 2002 and 2020 scenarios was less than the calculated streamwater critical loads so the catchments were not considered at risk of streamwater acidification under the projected future emissions and increased broadleaf woodland cover. Nevertheless, broadleaf expansion could pose a greater risk of acidification in acid-sensitive areas with lower rainfall, closer to pollutant sources, where dry deposition accounts for a higher proportion of total S and N deposition.     

Stream water and soil solution responses to 5 years of nitrogen and sulfur additions at the Fernow Experimental Forest,West Virginia

To examine the effects of elevated N and S inputs on a central hardwood forest, a whole-watershed acidification experiment was initiated in 1989 on the Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia. Annual experimental additions of 40 kg S ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 35 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ as ammonium sulfate fertilizer were applied to a 34 ha watershed with a 25-year-old stand of central Appalachian hardwoods. An adjacent watershed served as the control. After 5 years of treatment (total additions of 275 kg S ha⁻¹ and 220 kg N ha⁻¹), stream water NO₃⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ concentrations and export increased. Soil solution concentrations provide evidence that the treatment watershed is nitrogen-saturated, which was unexpected for such a young stand. No statistically significant changes in annual SO₄²⁻ export were observed, but peak stream water concentrations of SO₄²⁻ did increase during the treatment period. Changes in soil solution chemistry suggest that the treated watershed also may be approaching SO₄²⁻ saturation.     

Community of Aphyllophorales and Root Rot in Stumps of Picea abies on Clear-felled Forest Sites in Lithuania

The community of Aphyllophorales fungi in stumps of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and the occurrence of root rot caused by Heterobasidion annosum were investigated at 38 clear-felled sites in Lithuania. Fruit-bodies were recorded on 36.0% of the 3924 examined stumps. The most common were Bjerkandera adusta, Phlebiopsis gigantea, Fomitopsis pinicola, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Stereum sanguinolentum, Trametes zonata and H. annosum. All species occurred in stumps both with and without established root rot, but B. adusta, F. pinicola, G. sepiarium, T. zonata and Trichaptum abietinum occurred less often in stumps containing root rot, while H. annosum was encountered more often. Greater numbers of fruit-bodies were found on stumps cut in summer than on those cut in winter. The fruiting became most abundant 3-4 yrs after the trees were felled. The abundance of nearly all Aphyllophorales correlated positively with the stump diameter, and on larger stumps, fruit-bodies of several different fungi were more common. The number of stumps containing H. annosum root rot in different sites varied from 9.8% to 68.8%, and was 27.6% on average. The incidence of root rot correlated neither with the age nor with the density of the felled stand, but it correlated negatively with the proportion of deciduous trees within a stand.     

Deposition pattern of precipitation and throughfall in a subtropical evergreen forest in south-central China

The effects of dry deposition, canopy leaching, precipitation ion concentration, and precipitation H⁺ concentration on net throughfall flux (NTF, throughfall minus bulk precipitation) were evaluated on a seasonal basis by using a multiple regression analysis approach based on an observation period of 4 years in Shaoshan subtropical mixed evergreen forest, south-central China. Regression analysis results indicated that the estimated canopy exchange flux was the dominant factor regulating the NTF and the calculated dry deposition was a minor term. The seasonal dry deposition of base cations accounted for 15%–43% of the NTF. The NTF analysis showed that K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and weak acids in throughfall were derived from foliar leaching and the canopy uptakes of H⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and NO₃ ⁻ were from precipitation. The retention rate of proton (H⁺ and NH₄ ⁺) in the canopy was close to the canopy leaching rate of base cations when corrected for weak acids because weak acid-induced canopy leaching did not exchange with protons, which suggested that the canopy leaching processes neutralized acid precipitation in Shaoshan forest.     

Fine Root Production and Nitrogen Content in Roots of Pinus sylvestris L. after Clear-felling

Effects of clear-felling on fine root production and N content in roots were studied in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand. A plot was clear-felled and root samples were compared with a control plot. Even if reduced by 50%, a significant fine root (diameter<2 mm) growth was noticed up to 1 yr after the clear-felling. For live roots (diameters 2-4 and 4-6 mm) nitrogen content in root-wood and root-bark samples from the clear-felling, compared with the reference plot, were 30-50% already higher 2 months after the clear-felling. The difference did not increase in later comparisons. Nitrogen content in buttresses did not differ during the period studied, except for a higher percentage in bark at the clear-felling after two summers. A second study confirmed the results. It is suggested that there exists a continued nitrogen uptake in live roots after a clear-felling.     

Multiple modelling of water chemistry flows assessed in a mountain spruce catchment

The study was carried out over a period of 1999–2003 in the Dupniański Stream catchment located in Silesian Beskid Mts. Region (Southern Poland). Analysis of the chemical composition of bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, surface flow, soil water (horizontal + vertical and vertical penetration) and outflow water samples was performed. The complex data matrix with more than 3,000 observations of water reaction, major anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻) and cations (NH₄ ⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were treated by regression modelling. The modelling approach took into account seasonal variability according to winter and growing season, as well as chronosequence of spruce stands. The retention of considerable levels of contaminants by the canopy, and their removal or washout from needles by rainfall caused changes in the concentration of anions and cations reaching the soil surface compared to the concentrations in bulk precipitation. In the youngest stand, most elements except NH₄ ⁺, SO₄ ²⁻ and K⁺ were retained in the canopy, and even H⁺ ions were neutralized. In the older stands, most elements increased in net throughfall fluxes, and the acidity increased strongly. Soil water was slightly correlated with throughfall, while outflow water showed no correlations with the above ground water flows, and seemed to depend mostly of the bedrock.     

Effect of clear-felling and slash removal on the acidity of Northern coniferous soils

Measurements of pH were carried out at two experimental sites in Sweden before and after clear-felling. At eleven sites, pH, cation-exchange capacity, base saturation and exchangeable hydrogen ions were compared in clear-felled areas where slash was left and removed, respectively. It is shown that pH increases significantly after clear-felling. The increase is larger than can be explained by the release of basic cations in connection with decomposition of slash and humus. The increase in pH is less in a clear-felled area when the slash is removed than when it is left. There is a decrease in exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ and an increase in H⁺ and Al³⁺. There is a decrease in base saturation of about 80%.     

Response of selected water chemical quality parameters to slight thinning in a mature oak–beech forest ecosystem under sub-humid climate conditions

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 18% thinning on streamflow nutrient flux from a mature oak–beech forest ecosystem by paired watershed approach. Two experimental watersheds including control (W-I) and treatment (W-IV) watersheds were used in the study. The experimental watersheds were monitored about 6 years from 2006 to 2011 for the calibration period and 4 years from 2012 to 2015 for the treatment period. The forest in the treatment watershed was thinned between October and December in 2011, and the forest in the control watershed was left untreated. Water grab samples were collected from the streams in the watersheds on weekly basis during both the calibration and treatment periods and analyzed for calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), Kjeldahl nitrogen (KN), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), iron (Fe³⁺), aluminum (Al³⁺), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N), and sulfate (SO₄ ²⁻). The simple linear regression equations were developed between mean monthly nutrient fluxes of two watersheds in the calibration period with significantly high correlation coefficients, and they were used to estimate nutrient fluxes from the treatment watershed during the treatment period as if thinning had not been applied. The changes in the monthly nutrient fluxes were estimated as the differences between measured and values calculated with the linear regression equations. Results showed that removal of 18% standing timber volume did not significantly change nutrient exports except for KN and Na⁺ from the treatment watershed.

     

盐胁迫对柳树无性系SH31离子含量及光合作用的影响

以柳树无性系SH31为试材,研究了NaCl溶液半抑制浓度胁迫下根、茎、叶中Na⁺、K⁺、Ca²⁺ 的分布规律及叶片光合特性的变化。结果表明:在NaCl溶液半抑制浓度(0.6%)下,SH31耐盐性较强;在0.6% NaCl溶液胁迫下,根部在前16 d积累大量Na⁺并拦截部分Na⁺向地上部运输;盐胁迫降低了根、茎部对 K⁺ 的吸收,而叶部却保持较高的K⁺ 含量来维持离子平衡;Ca²⁺含量在根、茎、叶中与对照的相当。在NaCl溶液半抑制浓度盐胁迫下,SH31 的净光合速率前7 d降低之后保持稳定,而气孔导度、蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂先降后升,表明前7 d的蒸腾速率下降的主要原因在于气孔限制。SH31根部对Na⁺ 选择性吸收并维持K⁺、Ca²⁺的高含量及维持较高光合作用是其重要的耐盐机制。     

广州市酸雨对不同森林冠层淋溶规律的研究

１９９８年４月至１９９９年３月对广州市白云山马尾松林和常绿阔叶林、广州市龙眼洞马尾松林两试验点进行了酸雨的监测,并测定和分析了林内穿透雨物理量及化学量,旨在探讨酸雨对不同森林冠层养分淋溶规律的影响。结果表明：（１）广州市酸雨占次数的７９．７％或占降雨量的９５．１％。（２）酸雨通过林冠层后,ｐＨ值明显增加。（３）在马尾松林和常绿阔叶林中,某些单次降雨出现ＳＯ４＾２－、ＮＯ３＾－、ＮＨ４＾＋Ａｌ＾３＋、Ｎａ＾＋的负淋溶现象,说明森林对这些离子（特别是ＮＯ３＾－、Ａａ＾３＋）具有吸收作用;阔叶林全年的ＮＯ３＾－和Ａｌ＾３＋净淋溶为负值,说明阔叶林比马尾松林对这两种离子具有更强的吸收能力。（４）雨水酸度增加（即ｐＨ值减小）,明显提高阳离子Ｃａ＾２＋、Ｍｇ＾２＋、Ｋ＾＋和Ｎａ＾＋冠层淋溶面分率。（５）ＮＨ４＾＋、ＳＯ４＾     

Effects of Different Nitrogen Sources on Transformation and Availability of Inorganic Phosphorus in Root-Soil Interface of Pinus thunbergii Seedlings

The calcareous fluvo-aquic soil was collected and a microcosm study was carried out with root-mat and frozenslicing method in laboratory. The pH in the root-soil interface with the control treatment was just slightly lower than in the bulk soil.However,the addition of NH₄^- -N significantly decreased the pH value in the root-soil interface and the addition of No₃ -N slightly increased the pH value in the root-soil interface.The magnitude of pH changes in the root-soil interface depended upon the concentrations of the nitrogen sources added.The contents of Ca₂-P,Fe-P and Al-P in the root-soil interface were much lower after treated with NH₄ -N and slightly higher after treated with No₃ -N compared with control treatment.After treated with 100,200 and 400 mg·kg^-1NH₄⁺ -N,the deficiency rates of Ca₂-P in the area 0-1 mm from the root plane were 37.1%,45.9%and 57.7%,respectively,the deficiency rates of Fe-P were 23.4%,29.1%and 38.2%,respectively,and the deficiency rates of Al-P were 25.1%,28.0%and 33.2%,respectively. Compared with the control the deficiency rates of Ca₈-P in NH₄⁺ -N and No₃-N treatments decreased and increased,respectively,but the differences were not obvious.The contents of Ca₁₀ -P and O-P in the root-soil interface did not significantly change after treated with NH₄⁺ -N or No₃ -N,suggesting that Ca₁₀- P and O-P were remarkably difficult to be mobilized even at the presence of high concentration of NH₄⁺ -N.The lowered pH in the root-soil interface induced by the addition of the NH₄ -N promoted the transformation of phosphates in the root-soil interface,enhanced the mobilization and bioavailability of phosphates,and thereby remarkably increased the absorption of phosphorus by roots.     

Post-fire soil nitrogen content and vegetation composition in Sub-Boreal spruce forests of British Columbia's central interior,Canada

Forest fires are known to influence nutrient cycling, particularly soil nitrogen (N), as well as plant succession in northern forest ecosystems. However, few studies have addressed the dynamics of soil N and its relationship to vegetation composition after fire in these forests. To investigate soil N content and vegetation establishment after wildfire, 13 sites of varying age class were selected in the Sub-Boreal spruce zone of the central interior of British Columbia, Canada. Sites varied in time since the last forest fire and were grouped into three seral age classes: (a) early-seral (<14 years), (b) mid-seral (50–80 years) and (c) late-seral (>140 years). At each site, we estimated the percent cover occupied by trees, shrubs, herbs and mosses. In addition, the soil samples collected from the forest floor and mineral horizons were analyzed for the concentrations of total N, mineralizable N, available NO₃⁻-N and available NH₄⁺-N. Results indicated that soil N in both the forest floor and mineral horizons varied between the three seral age classes following wildfire. Significant differences in mineralizable N, available NO₃⁻-N and available NH₄⁺-N levels with respect to time indicated that available soil N content changes after forest fire. Percent tree and shrub cover was significantly correlated to the amount of available NH₄⁺-N and mineralizable N contents in the forest floor. In the mineral horizons, percent tree cover was significantly correlated to the available NH₄⁺-N, while herb cover was significantly correlated with available NO₃⁻-N. Moss cover was significantly correlated with total N, available NO₃⁻-N and mineralizable N in the forest floor and available NO₃⁻-N in the mineral horizons. We identified several unique species of shrubs and herbs for each seral age class and suggest that plant species are most likely influencing the soil N levels by their contributions to the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the organic matter.     

Tropical forest burning in Brazilian Amazonia: measurement of biomass loading,burning efficiency and charcoal formation at Altamira,Pará

Mass transformations were estimated in burns in the clearings of three colonist lots near Altamira, Pará, Brazil. In each lot, two groupings of six 60-m² plots were established in sites where the forest had been recently felled; plots were arranged as rays in a star-shaped pattern, with pre- and post-burn measurements made in alternate rays. Pre- and post-burn above-ground biomass was estimated by cutting and weighing the felled vegetation in 15 pre-burn and 18 post-burn plots (three pre-burn plots could not be weighed before one of the colonists burned the clearing) and by line intersect sampling (LIS) done along the axis of each of the 36 plots. Because of the high variability of the initial biomass present in the plots, volume data from LIS were more reliable for assessing change in the biomass of material over 10 cm in diameter (because this technique permits measuring the same trees before, and after, burning); other quantities relied on data from direct weighing. The best estimate of the mean pre-burn above-ground biomass at the site is 263 metric tons per hectare (t ha⁻¹); considering available measurements of the proportion of below-ground biomass elsewhere in Amazonia, the total dry weight biomass at the Altamira site corresponds to ≈322 t ha⁻¹. Assuming 50% carbon (C) content for biomass, the above-ground biomass at Altamira represents a carbon stock of 130 t ha⁻¹. Assuming a carbon content of 75% for charcoal, 1.3% of the pre-burn above-ground carbon stock was converted to charcoal, substantially less than is generally assumed in global carbon models.Measurements at Altamira imply a 42% reduction of above-ground carbon pools if calculated along with the scattered trees that farmers leave standing in their clearings, or 43% if these trees are excluded from the analysis. These values are substantially higher than the 27.6% measured in an earlier study near Manaus. However, most of the difference between results at the two sites is explained by differences in the distribution of initial biomass among the fractions, especially greater quantities of vines and of litter (including dead wood <5 cm in diameter) than at Manaus. Smaller diameter pieces burn more thoroughly than larger ones. At Altamira, the large percentage of above-ground carbon in vines (12.0%) is less typical of Amazonian forests than the lower percentage at Manaus (3.1%). The lower overall burning efficiency found at Manaus is, therefore, believed to be more typical of Amazonian burning. High variability indicates a need for further studies in many localities, and for perfecting less laborious indirect methods. Both a high biomass and low percentage of charcoal formation suggest significant potential contribution of forest burning to global climate changes from CO₂ and trace gases.     

Stand development and production dynamics of loblolly pine under a range of cultural treatments in north-central Florida USA

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of stand development and soil nutrient supply on processes affecting the productivity of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) over a period approximately equal to a pulpwood rotation (18 years). The experiment consisted of a 2×2 factorial combination of complete and sustained weed control and annual fertilization treatments (C: control treatment, F: fertilization, W: weed control, FW: combined fertilization and weed control), located on a Spodosol in north-central Florida, USA. The reduction of soil nutrient limitations through fertilization or control of competing vegetation resulted in dramatic increases in almost every measure of productivity investigated, including height (19.7 m in the FW treatment versus 12.5 m in the C treatment at age 18 years), basal area (FW=44.2 m² ha⁻¹, F=39.6 m² ha⁻¹, W=36.6 m² ha⁻¹, C=19.9 m² ha⁻¹ at age 16 years), stemwood biomass accumulation (114 Mg ha⁻¹ in FW versus 42.8 Mg ha⁻¹ in C at age 18 years), foliar nitrogen concentration (1.53% in plots receiving fertilization versus 1.06% in unfertilized plots at age 17 years) and leaf area index (age 16-year peak projected of approximately 3.3 at age 9–10 years in F and FW plots, 2.5 in the W treatment and 1.5 in the C plots). Cultural treatments also decreased the growth ring earlywood/latewood ratio, and accelerated the juvenile wood to mature wood transition. While soil nutrient supply was a major determinant of productivity, production changes that occurred within treatments over the course of stand development were equally dramatic. For example, between age 8 and 15 years, stemwood PAI in the FW treatment declined by 275%; similarly large reductions occurred in the F and W treatments over the same time period. The reductions in PAI in the treated plots were linearly related to stand BA, suggesting the decline in productivity was associated with the onset of inter-tree competition. Responses of stemwood PAI to re-fertilization treatments at age 15 years suggests that the declines in growth and growth efficiency with time were partially attributable to nutrient limitations.     

An assessment of rainfall modification in mountainous ecosystems dominated by Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Western Balkans,Bulgaria) by multivariate analyses

Bulk precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow samples were collected in Petrohan site (Western Balkan, Bulgaria), operating in the framework of the Long-Term Ecological Research network, during a 6-year period (1995–2000). This mountain area is characterized by the presence of beech and spruce forests (Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and is utilized for drinking water supply. All samples were analyzed for pH and major inorganic anions (Cl^?, NO₃ ^?, and SO₄ ^2?) and cations (Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and NH₄ ⁺). Results show that bulk precipitation in this region is mainly acidic (pH = 5.1), and the dominant neutralization components in the rainwater are Ca²⁺ and NH₄ ⁺. As for Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^?, and SO₄ ^2?, they are not originated by marine source. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used for investigating the possible sources contributing to the chemical composition of the bulk precipitation and its possible modifications during the passing through beech and spruce stands. Results highlight that local and long-range transport-related anthropogenic sources and natural sources contribute to the anion and cation content of the bulk precipitation. The enrichment of the solution through the foliage made up of dry depositions is significant in both stands, but canopy leaching processes are much greater in the spruce forest, especially for Ca²⁺. As for the stemflow, it follows the same pattern as the throughfall, but N uptake and a strong K⁺ and Mg²⁺ leaching are observed mainly in the spruce stand.     

Attack density and brood production of Tomicus piniperda in thinned Pinus sylvestris stems as related to felling date and latitude in Sweden

The attack density and brood production of Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Col., Scolytidae) were recorded on stems of Pinus sylvestris L. felled in southern, central, and northern Sweden before, during, and after the spring flight period in 1977 and 1978. The study sites were adjacent to stands clear‐felled during the last or the previous winter. The attack density (i.e., the number of egg galleries per m² inner bark area) varied considerably between localities and years. At all sites high attack densities were recorded in trees felled before or soon after the flight commencement, whereas few attacks occurred in trees felled in late May or later. The availability of brood material did not affect the seasonal attack pattern in any consistent way. The brood production varied from zero to more than 900 individuals per m².     

Water quality of ephemeral forest streams after site preparation with the herbicide hexazinone

Four small watersheds (1 ha) in the upper Piedmont of north Georgia were treated with 1.68 kg ha⁻¹ active ingredient of hexazinone [3-cyclohexyl-6-(dimethylamino)-1- methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione] pellets. Residues in stormflow peaked in the first strom (442 mg m⁻³, declined rapidly thereafter, and disappeared within 7 months. Loss of hexazinone in stormflow averaged 0.53% of the applied herbicide. Suspended solids concentrations in runoff from the treated watersheds averaged 50.4 ± 7.9 g m⁻³ and were slightly more than those of the control (36.4 ± 5.4 g m⁻¹). Total sediment yields were increased by a factors of 2.5 due to increased runoff associated with site preparation using herbicide and salvage logging. However, sediment loadings remained below those produced by mechanical techniques and well within levels common in relatively undistributed forests. Hexazinone treatment produced a large increased in NO₃N concentrations (peak of 5328 mg m⁻³), but NO₃N levels returned to normal within 2 years. Data indicate that hexazinone may have produced some stimulation of nitrifying bacteria. Cation concentrations increased 30–100% as a result of hexazinone application, but these increases were also transient. Overall, water quality changes were small and short-lived.     

Harvesting intensity versus sustainability in Indonesia

In East Kalimantan (Indonesia), impacts of conventional (CNV) and reduced-impact logging (RIL) on forest ecosystems were compared on the basis of pre- and post-harvesting stand inventories. There was a positive and significant correlation between the proportion of trees damaged by felling and the density of trees felled. Logging intensity ranged from 1 to 17 trees ha⁻¹(9–247 m³ ha⁻¹) and averaged 9 trees ha⁻¹ (86.9 m³ ha⁻¹). The study has shown that with RIL techniques, logging damage on the original stand can be significantly reduced by 50% compared with conventional logging. However, this 50% reduction in logging damage, was dependent on the felling intensity. With a felling intensity of 8 stems ha⁻¹ or less, RIL techniques only damaged 25% of the original tree population whereas 48% were damaged with conventional techniques. Above this felling intensity (i.e. 8 stems ha⁻¹), the effectiveness of RIL in limiting forest damage was significantly reduced, mainly because of the increasing felling damage. Moreover, the removal of all harvestable timber trees, leaving only few potential crop trees, will result in a seriously depleted residual stand. Because of the high damage involved by high felling intensity, leaving few potential crop trees, and the yield capacity of the remaining stand, acceptable harvesting volume will not be reached within the felling rotation of 35 years. It is concluded that silvicultural system based on diameter limit alone, as is the Indonesian system (TPTI), cannot be compatible with sustainability and more sophisticated harvested-selection rules are needed.     

The long-term effects of catchment liming and reduced sulphur deposition on forest soils and runoff chemistry in southwest Sweden

Whole catchment liming or forest liming has been proposed and implemented as a countermeasure to the effects of elevated sulphur deposition. Since the end of the 1980s the Swedish Forest Agency has undertaken experimental forest liming experiments in selected catchments in southern Sweden. These studies were with low doses (3 tonnes ha⁻¹) of lime (CaCO₃) and dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂). Data from both soil samples and stream water samples have been collected for the 16 years following treatment. The stream data has been complemented with data from untreated catchments, from the Swedish monitoring stream network. Significant differences due to treatment were seen for Ca, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) in the humus layer, none of these variables showed a statistically significant change in the mineral soil due to treatment alone. Soil samples from both the treated and untreated sites showed temporal changes in both the humus layer and the mineral soils with increases in pH, Ca and CEC and decreases in BS and Al which were independent of treatment. A combination of treatment and time, gave significant changes in BS and TA down to 10 cm in the mineral soil. In the stream water samples no statistically significant differences were observed between treated and untreated sites. Regardless of treatment, the streams exhibited a general pattern of declining concentrations of SO₄, Ca, sum of base cations (BC) and increasing acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). In summary, the application of a low dose of lime (3 tonnes ha⁻¹) did not result in significant changes in surface water chemistry in the study catchments and changes in soil chemistry were mainly restricted to the humus layer during the 16 years following treatment. The natural recovery, as a result of reductions in sulphur deposition, dominated the effects and was clearly seen in both the treated and untreated study sites. MAGIC simulations indicate that this recovery will continue in the coming decades.