Fabrication of amphiphobic softwood and hardwood by treatment with non-fluorinated chemicals

Amphiphobic wood has successfully been fabricated using a combination of O₂ plasma surface activation and coating of pre-hydrolyzed methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS). The effect of O₂ plasma activation on surface chemistry and surface roughness was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and laser scanning confocal microscope profilometry, respectively. Pre-hydrolyzed MTMS was used to impart oleophobicity to both softwood and hardwood samples with tunable hydrophilicity by adjusting the sonication time during pre-hydrolysis. Depending on hydrolysis time, the coated wood samples display wetting behavior ranging from superhydrophilic/oleophobic (immediate water absorption; motor oil contact angles 63.5° for hardwood and 62.4° for softwood) to amphiphobic (water contact angles 104.3° for hardwood and 91.1° for softwood; motor oil contact angles 68.7° for hardwood and 63.9° for softwood), without affecting visual appearance of the wood. For all plasma-activated MTMS-coated wood samples, no absorption of motor oil is observed for several months, indicating stable oil resistance. The intrinsic porosity of wood is also partially retained after coating.     

Stiffness moduli of various softwood and hardwood species determined with ultrasound

Abstract

Comprehensive data sets of the elastic constants are available for only a few European wood species. The goal of this study was to provide stiffnesses for the principal directions and planes for further selected European softwoods and hardwoods, to extend the currently existing data sets. For this purpose, a dynamic technique was chosen: the moduli were estimated on the basis of sound velocity and density measurements. The collected data may be helpful for specialists in the relevant research and practical fields, particularly when stresses and strains of structural elements have to be calculated using modelling approaches.     

Effect of heat treatment intensity on some conferred properties of different European softwood and hardwood species

Effect of heat treatment intensity on some conferred properties like elemental composition, durability, anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of different European softwood and hardwood species subjected to mild pyrolysis at 230 °C under nitrogen for different durations has been investigated. Independently of the wood species studied, elemental composition is strongly correlated with the mass losses due to thermal degradations which are directly connected to treatment intensity (duration). In all cases, an important increase in the carbon content associated with a decrease in the oxygen content was observed. Heat-treated specimens were exposed to several brown rot fungi, and the weight losses due to fungal degradation were determined after 16 weeks, while effect of wood extractives before and after thermal treatment was investigated on mycelium growth. ASE and EMC were also evaluated. Results indicated important correlations between treatment intensity and all of the wood conferred properties like its elemental composition, durability, ASE or EMC. These results clearly indicated that chemical modifications of wood cell wall polymers are directly responsible for wood decay durability improvement, but also for its improved dimensional stability as well as its reduced capability for water adsorption. All these modifications of wood properties appeared simultaneously and progressively with the increase in treatment intensity depending on treatment duration. At the same time, effect of extractives generated during thermal treatment on Poria placenta growth indicated that these latter ones have no beneficial effect on wood durability.     

On-board computing in forest machinery as a tool to improve skidding operations in South African softwood sawtimber operations

The government of Bangladesh has placed the utmost priority on participatory forestry (PF) since the 1980s, and this approach was commenced in the degraded Sal forest areas through a donor-funded project in 1989. These forest reforms aim to eliminate the main causes of forest depletion as well as alleviate poverty through the participation of local people, who depend on the forests for their livelihoods. This study explores the impact of PF initiatives on the livelihoods of the local ethnic and non-ethnic populations, drawing empirical data from the participatory forestry programs (PFPs). The findings indicate that the most common feature of PFPs were the contribution of financial capital to the participants, whereas other livelihood capitals faced constraints and difficulties. In addition, inequity issues and social capital differences were created between the ethnic and non-ethnic participants, and a lack of commitment by the local Forest Department resulted in PFPs having limited success in creating sustainable livelihoods for the participants. The overall situation revealed that PFPs alone were not sufficient to conserve and develop the Sal forests or assure people's basic needs. Therefore, a long-term-integrated approach by the Forest Department is necessary to address the diversified needs of low-income forest-dependent people in a more sustainable way.     

Oxidation of hardwood kraft-lignin to phenolic derivatives with oxygen as oxidant

 A hardwood kraft lignin was oxidized in alkaline medium to obtain phenolic compounds (syringaldehyde, vanillin and its acids). To avoid lignin condensation, the lignin was precipitated from a black liquor with a calcium salt dissolved in a water soluble alcohol. Oxygen was the oxidant employed, and copper (II) and cobalt (II) salts were used as catalysts. Effect of temperature, reaction time, oxygen pressure, alkali concentration and catalyst on yield and product distribution were studied. In all the range of variables lignin conversion and aldehyde yield remains low and the more important effect on aldehyde yield was due to the alkali concentration, which must be fixed at about 2 N. The precipitation method did not significantly increase the aldehyde yield, in contrast with the results of nitrobenzene and CuO oxidations. In catalyzed oxidations, no increase in phenolic aldehydes was observed and, with some catalyst, the conversion into phenolic derivatives was reduced. Lignin conversion into low molecular weight products is responsible for the low phenolic product yield and the type of catalyst could lead the oxidation into phenolic products or into low molecular weight acids. Received 23 November 1998     

The use of numerical simulation as a cognitive tool for studying the microwave drying of softwood in an over-sized waveguide

A previously developed mathematical model, which uses a comprehensive two-dimensional heat and mass transport code coupled with a three-dimensional code for resolving Maxwell's equations in the time domain, will be used to investigate numerous aspects of the microwave enhanced convective drying of softwood in an over-sized waveguide. At first, in order to highlight the predictive capabilities of the developed model, comparisons will be made between theory and experiment for spruce heartwood. It will be shown that the model is able to identify most of the important heat and mass transfer phenomena that arise throughout the drying process. After validation of the numerical simulation results, the work focuses on using the model as a cognitive tool for investigating important issues for closed microwave systems which include the effect of varying the sample dimensions and changing the location of the material within the applicator. Finally, a study will be presented that compares the overall drying kinetics generated within two different types of applicator designs. The first design uses a wave-trap located at the end of the waveguide to prevent reflected energy from back-propagating into the over-sized section of the guide, while the second design uses a short-circuit plane to ensure that this reflected energy is back – propagated towards the material. The advantages and disadvantages of these two designs will be deliberated. Received 25 May 1997     

刨花形态,树皮含量及石膏质量与石膏刨花板性能的关系

对刨花形态、树皮含量及石膏粉质量与石膏刨花板性能之间关系的研究结果表明:保持一定的刨花长度有利于提高石膏刨花板的静曲强度;石膏刨花板的静曲强度随着木刨花中树皮含量的增加而下降,但把树皮作为填料加入石密刨花板能使板子强度得以提高,不同产地的石膏粉制成的石膏刨花板性能差异很大,按建筑石膏粉标准测定的性能指标及相组成与石膏刨花板的性能之间无显著的相关关系。     

不同采伐方式对阔叶林物种多样性的影响研究

对阔叶林皆伐人促更新和择伐人促更新对物种多样性影响的研究,结果表明不同采伐方式对群落物种丰富度、物种多样性指数和物种多样性均匀度指数均有一定的影响.皆伐人促更新林分物种比择伐人促更新少10种,乔木树种少了14种;不同采伐方式对群落的物种多样性指数和物种多样性均匀度指数影响不大,但对各层片有较大的影响,皆伐人促更新的乔木层物种多样性指数和物种多样性均匀度指数均比择伐人促更新林分低,但草本和藤本层物种多样性指数和物种多样性均匀度指数均比择伐人促更新林分高.     

Post-breeding bird responses to canopy tree retention, stand size, and edge in regenerating Appalachian hardwood stands

Avian use of even-aged timber harvests is likely affected by stand attributes such as size, amount of edge, and retained basal area, all characteristics that can easily be manipulated in timber harvesting plans. However, few studies have examined their effects during the post-breeding period. We studied the impacts of clearcut, low-leave two-age, and high-leave two-age harvesting on post-breeding birds using transect sampling and mist-netting in north-central West Virginia. In our approach, we studied the effects of these harvest types as well as stand size and edge on species characteristic of both early-successional and mature forest habitats. In 2005-2006, 13 stands ranging from 4 to 10 years post-harvest and 4-21 ha in size were sampled from late June through mid-August. Capture rates and relative abundance were similar among treatments for generalist birds. Early-successional birds had the lowest capture rates and fewer species (∼30% lower), and late-successional birds reached their highest abundance and species totals (double the other treatments) in high-leave two-age stands. Area sensitivity was evident for all breeding habitat groups. Both generalist and late-successional bird captures were negatively related to stand size, but these groups showed no clear edge effects. Mean relative abundance decreased to nearly zero for the latter group in the largest stands. In contrast, early-successional species tended to use stand interiors more often and responded positively to stand size. Capture rates for this group tripled as stand size increased from 4 to 21 ha. Few birds in the forest periphery responded to harvest edge types despite within-stand edge effects evident for several species. To create suitable habitat for early-successional birds, large, non-linear openings with a low retained basal area are ideal, while smaller harvests and increased residual tree retention would provide habitat for more late-successional birds post-breeding. Although our study has identified habitat use patterns for different species in timber harvests, understanding habitat-specific bird survival is needed to help determine the quality of silvicultural harvests for post-breeding birds.     

Improved ecoeffectiveness of interior hardwood products in the house-building industry as a way to promote sustainable forestry

Abstract

Sawn hardwood is required by the market to be homogeneous, even in texture and colour, but the products produced by Swedish hardwood sawmills exhibit a wide variation in characteristics. This makes it difficult for hardwood sawmills to find profitable markets for all their products. By developing new products with other properties for the building industry it may be possible to utilize hardwood more efficiently and increase the prices. This would result in higher ecoeffectiveness (defined as value in relation to environmental impact) of the forest-related business system by giving an incentive to grow deciduous forests, which leads to richer biological diversity. Diversity is fundamental to achieving sustainable forestry. At the same time, other less ecoefficient materials in buildings may be replaced. Exploring the requirements of the customers is essential before developing new products, in order to maximize the value of a product. In this study, the requirements of interior hardwood products in the Swedish house-building industry were studied in interviews and through questionnaires. The most important requirements, ranked higher than price, are delivery on time, shape stability, packaged products, rapid delivery and accurate moisture content. The results make it possible to focus on critical factors to gain market shares for hardwood as an ecoeffective building material.     

Improved ecoeffectiveness of interior hardwood products in the house-building industry as a way to promote sustainable forestry

Sawn hardwood is required by the market to be homogeneous, even in texture and colour, but the products produced by Swedish hardwood sawmills exhibit a wide variation in characteristics. This makes it difficult for hardwood sawmills to find profitable markets for all their products. By developing new products with other properties for the building industry it may be possible to utilize hardwood more efficiently and increase the prices. This would result in higher ecoeffectiveness (defined as value in relation to environmental impact) of the forest-related business system by giving an incentive to grow deciduous forests, which leads to richer biological diversity. Diversity is fundamental to achieving sustainable forestry. At the same time, other less ecoefficient materials in buildings may be replaced. Exploring the requirements of the customers is essential before developing new products, in order to maximize the value of a product. In this study, the requirements of interior hardwood products in the Swedish house-building industry were studied in interviews and through questionnaires. The most important requirements, ranked higher than price, are delivery on time, shape stability, packaged products, rapid delivery and accurate moisture content. The results make it possible to focus on critical factors to gain market shares for hardwood as an ecoeffective building material.     

Short-term community-level response of arthropods to group selection with seed-tree retention in a northern hardwood forest

We examined the short-term effects of group-selection harvesting with seed-tree retention on ground-dwelling and bark-dwelling arthropod communities in a northern hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Arthropods were sampled in 16 group-selection openings and 8 closed canopy reference plots. Two opening sizes were examined—radii of 0.5 (320 ± 27 m², n = 8) and 1.0 (1217 ± 62 m², n = 8) times the mean canopy height (22 m). Each opening and reference plot was centered on a single Betula alleghaniensis Britt. (yellow birch). Ground-dwelling arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps that were opened for two 1-week periods (rounds 1 and 2), and bark-dwelling arthropods were sampled with sticky traps attached to the centrally located B. alleghaniensis trees. Family-level diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods was lower in reference plots than in the openings, but the only significant difference occurred during round 2, between the matrix and large openings (P < 0.01). During both sampling periods, the ground-dwelling community exhibited a distinct clustering of family-level composition along environmental gradients such as opening size. Families such as Staphylinidae (rove beetles) and Trombidiidae (red velvet mites) were not favored by higher canopy openness while families such as Acrididae (grasshoppers) and Lycosidae (wolf spiders) were captured more in openings than in the forest matrix. Landing rates of wood-boring insects such as Buprestidae (metallic wood-boring beetles) and Xiphydriidae (wood wasps) were significantly higher on seed trees in group-selection openings than in reference plots (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that integrating group-selection openings within northern hardwood forests can lead to an increase in the family-level diversity of ground-dwelling arthropods, at least in the short term. Furthermore, seed trees left in such openings may be more attractive to bark- and wood-boring insects, which warrants further investigation into the susceptibility of these seed trees to damage by certain insect pests.     

Changes in soil organic carbon fractions in a tropical Acrisol as influenced by the addition of different residue materials

Residues of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (L), Senna siamea (S) and maize stover (M) were tested to evaluate their effect on soil organic matter accumulation and composition under sub-humid tropical conditions. On an Imperata cylindrica (I) dominated grass fallow, a total amount of 30?Mg?ha^?1 DM were applied within 18?months. Two months after the last application, changes in the light and heavy soil organic carbon fraction (LF and HF) and in the total soil organic carbon content (LF?+?HF) in the topsoil were observed. All organic materials increased the proportion of the LF fraction in the soil significantly. The increase in HF was 39 to 51% of the increase in total organic carbon, depending on the source of the organic material. The potential of the tested organic materials to increase total soil organic carbon content (including all soil organic carbon fractions) was in the order L?>?S?>?M?>?I, whereas the order of increase of the HF fraction was L?=?S?>?I?>?M. Cation exchange capacity of the newly formed heavy soil organic carbon was highest with L and lowest with M. Ranking of the transformation efficiency of applied plant residues into the heavy soil organic carbon fraction was I?>?L?=?S?>?M. Transformation efficiency of the residues could neither be explained by lignin nor lignin/N ratio, but rather by extractable polyphenols (Folin?CDenis extraction). The results show that accumulation of the HF fraction in tropical soils is feasible through the application of large quantities of plant residues, but depends strongly on the composition of the applied materials.     

Tree bark as a non-timber forest product: The effect of bark collection on population structure and dynamics of Garcinia lucida Vesque

A 2-year demographic field study was carried out on the understorey tree Garcinia lucida in the humid Atlantic forests of South Cameroon. The bark and the seeds of the species are exploited for medicinal purposes and palm wine processing in West and Central Africa. The bark is often removed over almost the entire circumference of the stem, leading to high mortality rates. The goal of the study was to assess the impact of bark harvesting on population structure and dynamics, in order to obtain an indication to what extent the actual harvesting practices can be sustained for longer periods, and to provide information on the future availability of the resource. Comparison of populations that had been subject to different harvest regimes allowed assessment of the effects of G. lucida bark harvesting on population stand structure. In lightly exploited populations, unharvested individuals represented more than the half of the trees (>10 cm DBH), while this was only one-third in heavily exploited stands. The percentage of dead exploited trees (>20 cm DBH) was more than 40 and 70%, for lightly and heavily exploited populations, respectively. This reflects the high intensity of bark harvesting, mainly directed at large trees. For the assessment of bark harvesting on population dynamics, we constructed matrix models for each of the three common bark harvest practices: (1) partial debarking of stem, (2) ring-barking trees and (3) felling trees at approximately 1 m height above ground level to extract bark. For all harvest practices, the asymptotic population growth rates (λ) were not significantly different from 1 indicating that populations were neither growing nor decreasing in size. Nevertheless, model projections showed that the stock of available trees decreased. Under an annual regime of partial debarking of all trees >10 cm DBH, the amount of harvestable trees gradually declined and reached 50% of the initial size after 20 years. For ring-barking and felling trees, the projections showed a sharp drop in the amount of harvestable trees directly after the start of the simulations, and the amount continued to decline below 4% of the initial size under an annual harvest regime. Even after a long time, populations did not recover to their pre-harvest numbers. The stable size of harvested populations predicted by λ values suggest that current harvest practices of bark do not jeopardize the future existence of G. lucida populations. However, as the frequently applied harvest practices of ring-barking and felling strongly reduced the stock in our simulations, commercial bark exploitation cannot be sustained over long periods. Nevertheless, as long as populations can recover from the loss of exploited individuals, by continuous recruitment, there is still prospect for sustained bark extraction.     

Short- and long-term responses of total soil organic carbon to harvesting in a northern hardwood forest

The long-term response of total soil organic carbon pools (‘total SOC’, i.e. soil and dead wood) to different harvesting scenarios in even-aged northern hardwood forest stands was evaluated using two soil carbon models, CENTURY and YASSO, that were calibrated with forest plot empirical data in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Overall, 13 different harvesting scenarios that included four levels of aboveground biomass removal (20%, 40%, 60% and 90%) and four different rotation lengths (60 year, 90 year, 120 year, and No Rotation (NR)) were simulated for a 360 year period. Simulations indicate that following an initial post-harvest increase, total SOC decreases for several decades until carbon inputs into the soil pool from the re-growth are greater than losses due to decomposition. At this point total SOC begins to gradually increase until the next harvest. One consequence of this recovery pattern is that between harvests, the size of the SOC pool in a stand may change from −7 to 18% of the pre-harvest pool, depending on the soil pool considered. Over 360 years, the average annual decrease in total SOC depends on the amount of biomass removed, the rotation length, and the soil pool considered. After 360 years a stand undergoing the 90yr-40% scenario will have 15% less total SOC than a non-harvested stand. Long-term declines in total SOC greater than 10% were observed in the 60yr-60%, 60yr-90%, and 90yr-90% scenarios. Long-term declines less than 5% were observed in scenarios with 120 year rotations that remove 60% or less of the aboveground biomass. The long-term decreases simulated here for common management scenarios in this region would require intensive sampling procedures to be detectable.     

PHENIPS—A comprehensive phenology model of Ips typographus (L.) (Col., Scolytinae) as a tool for hazard rating of bark beetle infestation

We developed the model PHENIPS for spatial and temporal simulation of the seasonal development of Ips typographus at the Kalkalpen National Park in Austria. The model is based on a digital elevation model used for interpolation of temperature and solar radiation to calculate the microclimatic conditions (bark temperature) for the beetles’ development. Additionally, the beetles’ phenology at Kalkalpen National Park was monitored along with air and bark temperature measurements. The onset of host tree infestation in spring was estimated using a lower threshold of 16.5 °C for flight activity and a mean thermal sum of 140 degree-days (dd) from beginning of April 1st onward. Rate of brood development was calculated from accumulated degree-days of hourly temperature data using upper and lower temperature thresholds of 38.9 and 8.3 °C, respectively, and a nonlinear function for calculating effective thermal sums. Re-emergence of parental beetles occurred at a time when 49.7% of the thermal sum for total development (557 dd) was reached. The model includes the discontinuance of the beetle's reproductive activity at a day length <14.5 h. The rate of successful hibernation of established broods is predicted by assessing the developmental stage of initiated generations at the beginning of the cold period. For validation we compared the timing of phenological events in the field with predicted events using both, hourly recorded data at trap trees in the terrain and generated daily topoclimatic data. Using topoclimatic data, the onset of infestation was predicted with a mean absolute error of 1.3 days. The observed onset of emergence of filial beetles in the field was estimated with a mean error of 39 dd. Our PHENIPS explicitly considers the strong effects of regional topography and stand conditions on local air and bark temperature and can be used for precise monitoring of the actual state of bark beetle development at the specific stand/tree level. Using topoclimatic data, PHENIPS simulates the maximum number of generations which is necessary to assess the potential impact of bark beetle outbreaks at regional scale. Further applications of PHENIPS for site-specific hazard rating of bark beetle infestation are discussed.     

Stable carbon isotopes of tree rings as a tool to pinpoint the geographic origin of timber

Illegal logging is a major cause of worldwide deforestation, and demands for scientific methods to identify the geographic origin of timber are increasing. “Dendroprovenancing” is one such method, in which the origin of unknown wood is estimated by calculating correlations of the ring-width series of the unknown wood with reference trees of known geographic origins. We applied the dendroprovenancing method to carbon isotope network data of pinyon pines (Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla) from the southwestern United States to test the efficacy of using a carbon isotope time series for provenancing wood. First, we calculated correlations (t values) between test trees temporarily assumed to be of unknown origin and reference trees from 13 surrounding sites. Then, we plotted the t values on a map. When provenancing was successful, the tested trees showed the strongest correlation with reference trees from sites close to the actual origins of the test trees, and the correlations decreased with the distance between the original sites of test and reference trees. This conical distribution of t values enabled provenancing of wood with precision of 114–304 km. Although isotope measurement is more expensive and laborious than ring-width measurement, our tests of provenancing pinyon pines in the southwestern United States showed a higher success rate with carbon isotopes.     

Autumnal changes of sulfur fractions and the ratio of organic sulfur to total nitrogen in leaves and adjacent bark of eastern cottonwood, white basswood and actinorhizal black alder

Autumnal changes in organic-S, sulfate-S, total-S and the ratios of organic-S to total-N and sulfate-S to organic-S were followed in leaves and adjacent bark of actinorhizal (Frankia-nodulated) black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) trees growing on a minespoil site high in extractable soil sulfate, and in black alder and white basswood (Tilia heterophylla Venten.) trees growing on a prairie-derived soil in Illinois. Organic-S concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during autumn only in foliage of trees growing on the prairie-derived soil where losses of leaf organic-S were 65% for black alder and 100% for white basswood. Leaf sulfate concentrations were relatively stable throughout autumn in white basswood growing on prairie-derived soil and in black alder at both sites. Sulfate-S concentrations in leaves were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in trees at the minespoil site than in trees growing in the prairie-derived soil (5.1 mg g(-1) for the minespoil site and 1.2 mg g(-1) for the prairie-derived soil), and in the non-actinorhizal species during late summer. During the autumn, the ratio of organic-S to total-N doubled in leaves of eastern cottonwood at the minespoil site, but in black alder and white basswood growing on the prarie-derived soil, it decreased by 60 and 74%, respectively. Organic-S concentrations in bark increased more during autumn in species unable to fix atmospheric N(2), than in black alder. The results suggest that patterns of autumnal translocation of leaf S can be site-dependent and that leaf S and leaf N are, at least in part, translocated independently in the fall. Black alder and eastern cottonwood seemed to incorporate sulfate-S readily into organic substances in leaves when grown in soils with a high sulfate content.