Impact of seedling type on early growth of poplar plantations on forest and agricultural land

Today, most poplar plantations in the temperate region are established on abandoned marginal agricultural land, but there is great potential for planting poplars on forest land as the available area is large and does not compete with food production. The objective of this study was to examine how different planting types (un-rooted cuttings, bare-rooted and containerized plants) affect the establishment and early growth of poplar plants on forest and agricultural sites. Our results suggest that on the agricultural site, survival and growth during the first two years are not influenced by plant type. However, at the forest sites, survival of rooted plants was superior compared to un-rooted cuttings. The height and biomass (stem and root) increment of bare-rooted plants was low; greater height and biomass growth was found for containerized plants. Container sizes had no effect on height growth, but leaf and stem biomasses were higher if the largest containers were used. When using the largest containers, concentrations of macronutrients (N, P) were increased compared to bare-rooted plants. Thus, these results suggest that practices for establishing poplar plantations of agricultural land include planting of un-rooted cutting, but on forest land, a plant grown in a container of 470?ml should be used. Together, this can reduce the cost of establishment, increase the available area for poplar plantations and have an impact on poplar plantation economics in Sweden.     

Towards practices favourable to plant diversity in hybrid poplar plantations

Much research effort is being devoted to developing forest management practices with limited impacts on biodiversity. While the impact of poplar Populus sp. plantations on biodiversity is relatively well-known at the landscape scale, the impact of alternative management practices at the plantation scale has received much less attention. Yet biodiversity is likely to be impacted by the choice of the poplar clone, stem density at plantation, type and duration of the understory control, and age at which the poplars are harvested. In this study, we investigated the impact of these factors on herbaceous plant communities with data from plant surveys conducted in 85 young (2–5 years) and 96 mature (11–17 years) hybrid poplar high-forest plantations in northern France. On average, ruderal or generalist plants contributed to 40.5% of the plot species richness; tall herbs (60.2%), forest (26%) and meadow plants (13.8%) contributed to the remaining 59.5% more specialised species. Soil moisture and soil nitrogen were major determinants of plant communities: wet soils were favourable to tall herbs, while meadow and forest species preferred moist soils; a significantly lower diversity of the three species groups was reported in the nutrient richer soils (in mature plantations only for forest plants). Mean species richness decreased with plantation age except for forest species. Plant communities in young plantations showed little differences in composition according to the type of understory control (chemical, mechanical or both). The development of a shrubby layer in mature plantations was restricted to the drier soils and was detrimental to both meadow plants and tall herb species. Effects of previous land use on forest and tall herb species were found only in young plantations, suggesting a rapid reset of plant communities for these two groups. This may not be the case for meadow species as the influence of previous land use was significant in mature plantations only. Finally, clone type and stem density at plantation had no significant impact on plant communities. Adjusting age at which the poplars are harvested seems the only effective way to drive plant communities in high-forest poplar plantations: delaying poplar harvest (probably beyond 15–20 years) would benefit forest plants, while advancing poplar harvest (about 10 years) would benefit tall herbs, especially in wet soil conditions.     

Early stand production of hybrid poplar and white spruce in mixed and monospecific plantations in eastern Maine

Forest plantations in the northeastern United States comprise a small proportion of the total forest area. Most plantations are typically softwood dominated and managed for sawlog and pulpwood production, while high-yield hardwood plantations for bioenergy feedstocks have not been as widely investigated. The objective of this study was to compare the biomass production of planted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) plantations (four clones) in monoculture, and in mixture of the two on a typical reforestation site in Maine. Three years following planting, hybrid poplar height and ground line diameter growth rates began to diverge among clones, and by 6?years, the Populus nigra?×?Populus maximowiczii (NM6) clone clearly outperformed three Populus deltoides?×?Populus nigra clones (D51, DN10 and DN70) both in pure stands and in mixtures with white spruce. In mixture, we found the yield of white spruce to decline as the yield of hybrid poplar increased. Overall, yields of white spruce monocultures were comparable to those reported in eastern Canada, while the hybrid poplar biomass yields were substantially lower than those reported from studies on abandoned agricultural lands, likely due to the harsher soil conditions at our site. The dominance of rocky and poorly drained sites (like the one tested in this study) across Maine will likely limit the feasibility of widespread hybrid poplar plantations, and thus constrains their potential use as a bioenergy feedstock.     

Juvenile growth of hybrid poplars on acidic boreal soil determined by environmental effects of soil preparation, vegetation control, and fertilization

The silviculture of hybrid poplars and other fast-growing tree species is a promising solution to reduce the pressure on natural forests while maintaining wood supplies to industries. However, hybrid poplars are very sensitive to competing vegetation and to inadequate soil conditions and fertility. Possible management tools include mechanical site preparation (MSP), vegetation control (VC), and fertilization. Experimental plantations of hybrid poplars (one clone, Populus balsamea × Populus maximowiczii) were established at eight formerly forested sites on acidic soil in the southern boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. The objective was to test the response of hybrid poplars to the interaction of several silvicultural tools, which has been rarely done. Four MSP treatments (in decreasing order of intensity: mounding, harrowing, heavy disk trenching, light disk trenching) and a control (unprepared) were all combined with four different frequencies of plant competition control by brushing (from never up to once a year). Fertilization with N or N + P was also tested in three selected MSP treatments. After five years, hybrid poplar tree growth among MSP treatments increased in the following order: unprepared < light disk trenching < heavy disk trenching < harrowing < mounding. MSP was also essential in favouring early tree survival, as illustrated by mortality rates of over 20% in unprepared plots and below 5% in all other MSP treatments. The effect of competition control on hybrid poplar growth was greatest in the less intensive MSP treatments, where competing vegetation was the most abundant. On the contrary, fertilization effect was significant only in the most intensive MSP (mounding). Moreover, neither fertilization nor VC could compensate for inadequate soil preparation. Of all the silvicultural treatments tested, mounding provided the best tree growth despite a nitrogen and carbon impoverished surface soil.     

Endangered lowland oak forest steppe remnants keep unique bird species richness in Central Hungary

The biodiversity of natural or semi-natural native,old oak woodlands have high conservation impor-tance,especially in landscapes of monocultural forest plan-tations and arable fields.With a wider variety of microhabi-tats and foraging sources,such old oak forests can provide essential habitat for native forest bird communities.We con-ducted a study using bird point counts to compare the forest bird communities of old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)remnants with native and non-native plantations in central Hungary in a landscape of mostly arable fields,settlements,and monocultural plantations.Avian surveys were carried out in old oak forest remnants,middle-aged oak,white pop-lar (Populus alba),hybrid poplar (Populus × euramericana),black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia),and pine (Pinus spp.)plantations.Fieldwork has been carried out in nine study sites,where all six habitat types were represented (with a few exceptions),to determine total abundance,species rich-ness,Shannon-Wiener diversity,species evenness,domi-nant and indicator species,and guild abundances.We found that old oak forest remnants were the most diverse habitats among the studied forest types,while hybrid poplar and pine plantations exhibited the lowest avian biodiversity.The avian guilds most sensitive to the loss of old oak forest remnants were ground foragers,bark foragers,cavity-nest-ers,residents,and Mediterranean migratory birds.Native habitats were more diverse than non-native plantations.Our results suggest that it is important to conserve all remaining high biodiversity old oak stands and to avoid clear-cutting of monocultural plantations in favour of practices such as mixed-species plantations,longer rotation lengths,or reten-tion forestry.     

Modeling nitrogen uptake for hybrid poplar with and without weed competition

Quantitative understanding of nutrient uptake by competing plants with different root systems can be a beneficial tool in designing the nutrient management strategies for competing plant environments. A field study was conducted at two sites (Alfalfa and Pasture site) near Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada to investigate the effect of weed competition on the growth and nitrogen (N) uptake by hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus × petrowskyana var. Walker) using the Soil Supply and Nutrient Demand (SSAND) model. Hybrid poplar was grown with and without weeds (mainly dandelion (Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.) and quackgrass (Elymus repens (L.) Gould) for 50, 79 and 100 days. Above-ground and below-ground growth of hybrid poplar was adversely affected by the presence of weeds at both sites. At the end of the experimental period, hybrid poplar in the control treatment took up 15.8 and 15.7 mmol N plant⁻¹ while seedlings in the weed treatments accumulated only 1.7 and 2.1 mmol N plant⁻¹ at the Pasture and Alfalfa sites, respectively. The SSAND model predictions for hybrid poplar N uptake at the Pasture site were in close agreement with measured N uptake in the control treatment (slope = 0.95-0.98). Model predictions for the Alfalfa site underestimated N uptake in the control treatment compared to measured values (slope = 0.75-0.77). The SSAND model greatly underestimated N uptake by both hybrid poplar and weeds grown in the weed treatment. Including N mineralization as a model input also did not improve the N uptake predictions; however, including changing soil water content greatly improved the prediction of N uptake by both hybrid poplar and weeds. Results from this study suggest that weed control is an essential practice to successful establishment of hybrid poplar plantations. Furthermore, the SSAND model can be a potentially useful tool for enhancing our understanding of plant nutrient uptake under field conditions where the dynamic nature of soil moisture and mineralization processes influence plant growth.     

Growth, allocation and leaf gas exchanges of hybrid poplar plants in their establishment phase on previously forested sites: effect of different vegetation management techniques

The effect of different vegetation control methods (mowing and cultivation between plantation rows, herbicide application and cover plant sowing) on hybrid poplar (P. maximowiczii × balsamifera) growth, biomass allocation and leaf carbon assimilation was investigated in two plantations (1- and 2-year-old) established in previously forested sites of south-eastern Québec. Any vegetation control treatment applied the same year in which the plantation was established did not have an effect on hybrid poplar aboveground growth. However significant differences among treatments were observed belowground, where the removal of the competing vegetation at the tree base increased the fine root:leaf biomass ratio of plants, thus probably facilitating their establishment. In contrast, 2-year-old plants grew better when treated with herbicides, but no positive effect of the mechanical treatments was detected. In both sites, trees growing on herbicide-treated plots showed considerably higher leaf carbon assimilation and leaf N concentration which were both strongly correlated. We conclude that a strong vegetation competition for nutrients takes effect on hybrid poplar plantations on previously forested sites since there was no water shortage for any treatment during the study period.     

Some Key Issues Concerning Current Poplar Production and Future Marketing in the United Kingdom

This paper presents survey evidence concerning the UK poplar (Populus spp.) plantation with particular emphasis applied to production systems, markets, and trends. Our results are based on primary data and information that were sourced from a survey of poplar growers in summer 2000. The results show a growing interest in planting poplars throughout the 1990s. Between 1989 and 1998, poplar plantations were established mainly on land previously used for arable purposes and pastureland, and to a lesser extent, on other lands. Growers perceive that a robust value-added market for poplar products may be developed providing poplar cultivars are properly managed. The most common interamericana clones planted are the varieties Beaupré and Boelare. Specifically, plantation sites are currently using the polyclonal system and are growing on sites that have a diversity (mixture) of other forest species. Loss of resistance to disease organisms (e.g., rust fungi of the genus Melampsora) appears to be one of the main current threats to successful poplar exploitation.     

滩地林业有害生物防控技术研究

环洞庭湖拥有滩地20多万hm2,近几年来,随着杨木市场需求的迅速增长,中、高住滩地成为营造杨树速丰林基地重要区域.滩地杨树人工林的兴起,不仅使滩地的自然景观发生了变化,同时滩地的水分、光照、植被等环境因子也发生了改变,有害生物种类随地面高程提高呈递增态势,成为制约滩地杨树生长量和木材材质的瓶颈.连续6年调查研究结果表明...     

Effect of vegetation and land use on soil fertility in Wutai Mountains of Shanxi Province

IntroductionSoilpropertiesdependonclimate,vegetationtypes,parentmaterials,landformandsoilderivedage(Bei-jingForestryCoIlege1982).VegetationpIaysasig-nificantroIeintheformationofsoiIparticuIarIyforthepropertiespfSurfBcesoil.PlantsabsorbselectivelynutrientfromsoilandbuiIdtheirbodies.ThenutrientpartofIitterdecomposedgradualIybymicrobeswouldraturntoground-TheroOtsystemOfplantaIsoplaysasignificantroleinsoiIproperties.EffectofpIantsonsoildependonthevegdstiontype,speciescomposi-tion,age,dens…     

Comparing growth and fine root distribution in monocultures and mixed plantations of hybrid poplar and spruce

Disease prevention, biodiversity, productivity improvement and ecological considerations are all factors that contribute to increasing interest in mixed plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate early growth and productivity of two hybrid poplar clones, P. balsamifera x trichocarpa (PBT) and P. maximowiczii x balsamifera (PMB), one improved family of Norway spruce (Picea glauca (PA)) and one improved family of white spruce (Picea abies (PG)) growing under different spacings in monocultures and mixed plots. The plantations were established in 2003 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada, in a split plot design with spacing as the whole plot factor (1 × 1 m, 3 × 3 m and 5 × 5 m) and mixture treatments as subplot factor (pure: PBT, PMB, PA and PG, and 1:1 mixture PBT:PA, PBT:PG, PMB:PA and PMB:PG). Results showed a beneficial effect of the hybrid poplar-spruce mixture on diameter growth for hybrid poplar clones, but not for the 5 × 5 m spacing because of the relatively young age of the plantations. Diameter growth of the spruces decreased in mixed plantings in the 1 × 1 m, while their height growth increased, resulting in similar aboveground biomass per tree across treatments. Because of the large size differences between spruces and poplars, aboveground biomass in the mixed plantings was generally less than that in pure poplar plots. Leaf nitrogen concentration for the two spruce families and hybrid poplar clone PMB was greater in mixed plots than in monocultures, while leaf nitrogen concentration of clone PBT was similar among mixture treatments. Because of its faster growth rate and greater soil resources demands, clone PMB was the only one showing an increase in leaf N with increased spacing between trees. Fine roots density was greater for both hybrid poplars than spruces. The vertical distribution of fine roots was insensitive to mixture treatment.     

Evaluating the ecological niche of American chestnut for optimal hybrid seedling reintroduction sites in the Appalachian ridge and valley province

This study examines the ecological niche of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh) and the latest blight resistant American chestnut?×?Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) hybrids. Planted seedlings of chestnut, tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) and chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.) were subjected to two levels of light and two soil types in parallel field and greenhouse studies. The field study took place in the Appalachian ridge and valley province of Virginia. Growth and survival were quantified after three growing seasons. The interaction between light levels and topographic position (soil type) was significant for growth rates in the field and greenhouse. Species were significantly different from each other although hybrid varieties were not significantly different from each other or from pure American chestnut. Tulip poplar showed the greatest growth rates under all treatments in the field. Both tulip poplar and chestnut had the greatest growth rates in large gaps within mesic, mid and lower slope (MML) sites in the field. In contrast to growth, optimal conditions for survival differed among species. Tulip poplar had the greatest survival (71%) within large gaps in MML sites while chestnuts and oaks had the greatest overall survival (64%) in small gaps within xeric, upper slope and ridge (XUR) sites. In the greenhouse, tulip poplar did not outperform chestnut. Discrepancies in field and greenhouse studies were accounted for by uncontrolled factors, such as rodent predation. We conclude that optimal sites for planting American chestnut hybrids are in small gaps located within XUR sites.     

多坝沟绿洲杨树速生丰产林造林初期技术

通过对多坝沟绿洲杨树造林初期技术,包括选苗、选地、整地方式、整地时间、造林时间、造林技术、营林密度等方面的调查总结,为当地营造速生丰产杨树林提供科学的参考依据。     

法国杨树良种选育与短轮伐期林培育及其研究方向

杨树在法国林业中占有重要地位。法国的杨树良种选育及短轮伐期林培育研究都处于世界先进水平。本文概述了法国杨树无性系登记、杂交育种、种源试验和用于短轮伐期林培育的优良无性系、营林抚育技术及经济效益, 并介绍了法国杨树良种选育与短轮伐期林培育的发展进程及研究方向。     

杨树混交模式养分变化及林木增长率的研究

通过杨树与豆科乔、灌木树种混交以及轮作等生物措施，定量研究不同处理对土壤营养元素和林地生产力的影响，河南与北京的两地试验，采用统一的试验设计，５个处理，３次重复，试验林分别为３．２ｈｍ＾２和１．８ｈｍ＾２。     

Sweet trees, sour circumstances: the long search for sustainability in the North American maple products industry

Maple sugar and maple syrup have long been important non-timber forest products in North America. We examined the historical and the scientific literature to determine the long-term sustainability of the industry in an economic, an ecological, and a cultural context. During the 18th and 19th centuries, maple sugar was an inexpensive substitute for cane sugar and a cash crop that fit into the work schedule of the northern farmer. Maple syrup replaced maple sugar as the mainstay of the industry at the end of the 19th century as increasingly cheaper cane sugar and other sweeteners undercut the sugar market. Active government intervention and support have made Quebec the major bulk supplier of maple syrup today. Quebec alone produces approximately 80% of the world’s supply of maple products. A series of good sap years and production in excess of demand, however, has recently reduced the price of bulk syrup and the profit of producers in Quebec. Producers in the United States have focused on the more lucrative and price stable retail syrup market.

Farming practices in the late 18th and early 19th centuries tended to clear away sugar maple on the more fertile, level sites and preserve sugar maple as a source of fuel wood, sugar and syrup on the less accessible, marginal sites. The crude tapping procedures employed at the same time often killed the trees. Widespread grazing in the 20th century and more recently diameter-limit cutting of even-aged stands have hindered the regeneration of the sugarbush. An emphasis on monocultures and global warming currently threatens the sustainability of the sugarbush. On the whole, however, the maple products industry has probably increased sugar maple’s representation in the forest. From a cultural standpoint, the industry represents a positive work experience that unites families, connects one to the land, and provides a sense of continuity with the past.     

晋西北不同植被类型土壤水分空间分异

采用土钻法对晋西北朔州地区杨树林、柳树林、草地3种植被类型0~600 cm土层土壤水分动态进行研究。结果表明:土壤平均含水量表现为草地杨树林地柳树林地。草地土壤平均含水量比杨树林地高1.25%,比柳树林地高1.9%。随着土壤深度的增加,土壤含水量先减小后上下波动,然后趋于稳定。0~100cm土层范围内,土壤水分变异系数大小为草地柳树林地杨树林地;在200~300 cm、400~500 cm土层范围内,变异系数表现为柳树林地草地杨树林地;300~400 cm、500~600 cm土层范围内,变异系数大小为柳树林地杨树林地草地。越靠近表层,土壤干化现象越严重,柳树林地干化现象最明显,含水量变化最剧烈,杨树林地次之,草地最稳定。     

Influence of the thermo-hydro-mechanical treatments of wood on the performance against wood-degrading fungi

Hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus trichocarpa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) wood specimens were densified with three variations of thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) treatment. The THM treatments differed in the steam environment, including transient steam (TS), saturated steam (SS), and saturated steam with 1-min post–heat treatment at 200 °C (SS+PHT). The bending properties, FTIR spectra, and colour of the THM wood specimens were studied before and after exposure to two different wood decay fungi, brown rot Gloeophyllum trabeum, and white rot Trametes versicolor. The results showed that the performance of densified hybrid poplar wood was considerably poorer than the performance of Douglas-fir heartwood. The FTIR spectra measurements did not show changes in the densified hybrid poplar wood, while some changes were evident in densified Douglas-fir specimens. After fungal degradation, the most prominent changes were observed on the SS+PHT specimens. Colour is one of the most important parameter predominantly influenced by the wood species and the intensity of the densification process for both wood species, while after fungal exposure, the colour of all densified Douglas-fir specimens obtained more or less the same appearance, and densified hybrid poplar specimens resulted in lighter colour tones, indicating that the pattern of degradation of the densified and non-densified specimens are similar. The 3-point bending test results determined that the THM treatment significantly increased the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the densified wood specimens, while fungal exposure decreased the MOE and MOR in hybrid poplar and Douglas-fir specimens.     

农田营造杨树速生丰产林对地力的影响及效益分析

通过对湖北省杨树主产区石首、公安等县(市)杨树造林地和周边农田20个样本的调查分析,结果表明:粗放经营(未施肥)的杨树林地较农田(常规施肥)土壤板结,有机质、全氮、全磷、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾、有效镁、有效锌含量均较低;平衡施肥能有效改善杨树林地土壤肥力水平。施肥后杨树林土壤有机质,全效氪、磷、钾,速效氮、磷、钾含量均高于农田,农田营造杨树速生丰产林与种植农作物比较,经济效益显著。     

基于RS的黄土高原天然林资源时空动态变化分析

以黄土高原天然林典型分布地区黄龙山林业局蔡家川林场为研究对象,以1997年和2004年两期TM(专题制图仪)影像为主要数据源,结合同年的森林资源二类调查资料,在遥感数字图像处理系统支持下,研究了该林场天然林资源的时空变化.结果表明,1997年至2004年之间,该林杨优势树种面积增加,其中栎类增加了1.8%,油松增加了8.4%,杨树增加了6.7%;同时,其水平空间分布也发生了一定的变化;森林覆盖率增加了16.9%;林地类型之间发生了明显的动态变化,其中,55.5%的采伐迹地变成了油松林地,21.1%的采伐迹地变成了杨类林地.这些明显变化与天然林保护工程的实施有着密切的联系.