Seasonal variations in radiation and energy balance in a deciduous broad-leaved forest

This study was conducted to document the effects of canopy change on radiation and energy balances in a deciduous broad-leaved forest. Global solar radiation was highly variable with a maximum close to 28.7 MJ m⁻² day⁻¹ and a minimum of about 0.7 MJ m⁻² day⁻¹. The high daily variation of net radiation was the result of the frequency and duration of rainfall. The mean annual albedo in this study site was 0.126. Seasonal variation of albedo was characterized by steadily decreasing values with leaf-fall, but at the time when new leaves sprouted the trend did turn upwards. The mean annual radiation efficiency at this study site was 0.564, and the seasonal variation of the radiation efficiency was dependent upon the net long-wave radiation rather than albedo. This study also illustrated the seasonal variation of the proportion of the actual evaporation to the equilibrium evaporation as a means for estimating the latent heat flux from forest using the equilibrium evaporation model. Seasonal variation of the proportion of the actual evaporation to the equilibrium evaporation reflected the physiological and productive activities of trees. Latent heat flux dominated the energy balance and, in particular, reached about 96% of net radiation in July.     

Hydrolysis kinetics of hexosanes entering into the composition of white water coming from the fiber board industry

Summary Hydrolysis kinetics of hexosanes entering into the composition of white water coming from the fiber board industry to hexoses, catalyzed by sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid has been investigated. Constant rates of the reaction, catalyzed by 0.31 m sulphuric acid, determined at the temperatures 353 °K, 363 °K, 373 °K are respectively equal to: 1.40·10^-5s^-1, 5.75·10^-5s^-1, 30.06·10^-5s^-1.Constant rates of the reaction, catalyzed by 1 m hydrochloric acid, determined at the temperatures 343 °K, 353 °K, 363 °K are respectively equal to: 0.2008·10^-5s^-1, 0.82·10^-5s^-1, 3.63·10^-5s^-1.Constant rates of the reaction, catalyzed by 2 m hydrochloric acid, determined at the temperatures 343 °K, 353 °K, 363 °K are equal respectively to: 0.52·10^-5s^-1, 2.25·10^-5s^-1, 8.15·10^-5s^-1. Constant rates of the reaction, catalyzed by 3 m hydrochloric acid, determined at the temperatures 343 °K, 353 °K, 363 °K are respectively equal to: 3.824·10^-5s^-1, 8.596·10^-5s^-1, 13.10·10^-5s^-1.The activation enthalpy of the reaction, catalyzed by 0.31 m sulphuric acid, determined in the range of temperatures 353 °K–373 °K is equal to 168.36 kJmol^-1. The activation entropy of the reaction, catalyzed by 0.31 m sulphuric acid is equal to 136.19 JK^-1mol^-1. The activation enthalpy of the reaction, catalyzed by 1 m, 2 m, 3 m hydrochloric acid, determined in the range of temperatures 343 °K–363 °K is equal to 145.37 kJmol^-1. The activation entropy of the reaction catalyzed by 1 m, 2 m, 3 m hydrochloric acid is respectively equal to: 68.97 J K^-1mol^-1, 75.73 J K^-1mol^-1, 79.68 JK^-1mol^-1.     

Nitrogen and fine root length dynamics in a tropical agroforestry system with periodically pruned Erythrina poeppigiana

The effect of pruning all branches (complete pruning) or retaining one branch (partial pruning) on the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in aboveground biomass, nitrogen supplying power of an amended Eutric Cambisol, and fine root length, was studied in an Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook—tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) alley cropping practice in Turrialba, Costa Rica during 1999–2000. Over the 1 year pruning cycle, in which trees were completely or partially pruned four times, respective aboveground biomass production was 4.4 Mg or 7 Mg ha⁻¹ (2-year-old trees) and 5.5 Mg or 9 Mg ha⁻¹ (8-year-old trees); N cycled in aboveground biomass was 123 kg or 187 kg ha⁻¹ (2-year-old trees) and 160 kg or 256 kg N ha⁻¹ (8-year-old trees); mean fine root length was 489 or 821 m (2-year-old-trees), 184 or 364 m per tree (8-year-old-trees). Pruning intensity did not significantly affect net N mineralisation and net nitrification rates during the tomato-cropping season. For the tomato crop, pre-plant mean net N mineralisation rate of 2.5 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ was significantly lower than 16.7 or 11.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ at the end of vegetative development and flowering, respectively. Mean net nitrification rates of 3.5, and 4.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹, at pre-plant and end of vegetative development, respectively, were significantly higher than 0.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil day⁻¹ at end of flowering. In humid tropical low-input agroforestry practices that depend on organic inputs from trees for crop nutrition, retention of a branch on the pruned tree stump appears to be a good alternative to removal of all branches for reducing N losses through higher N cycling in aboveground biomass, and for conserving fine root length for higher N uptake, although it might enhance competition for associated crops.     

Water,salt and nutrient fluxes of tropical tidal salt flats

The water budget of a tropical tidal salt flat in dry tropical Australia has been studied with particular emphasis on estimating the groundwater fluxes. Salt was used as a passive tracer to determine some of these fluxes. Groundwater salt accumulation (or loss) was less than 1 kg/m³/month. Surface water leaving the flat at a higher salt concentration than flood water causes a net outwelling of salt of between 0.4 and 1 kg/m²/month. Evaporation from the salt flat was estimated to be 70 mm/month. Using these measurements and a simple model of the groundwater flows, it is concluded that the groundwater loss is less than 40 mm/month. The accuracy of the salt budget was insufficient to rule out the possibility that the net groundwater motion was upwards. Measurements of Si and PO_{_4} fluxes indicated that the net outwelling due to surface water flows were respectively 3 mmole/m²/month and 0.014 mmole/m²/month. A net groundwater loss of 10 mm would produce a similar magnitude outwelling due to groundwater discharge. The mangrove-fringed tropical tidal salt flats are the source of large quantities of nutrients that are released to the near-shore zone.     

Tree Performance and Root-Zone Salt Accumulation in Three Dryland Australian Plantations

Doubts exist about the effectiveness of establishing trees near saline discharge areas on farmland to manage dryland salinity. These centre on low rates of water uptake from saline water tables, salt accumulation in tree root zones and the consequent poor growth and survival of trees. Despite this, trees still survive in many plantations established adjacent to saline discharge areas and land-holders often favour such locations, as they do not compete for arable land such as that occurs with plantings in recharge areas. Tree performance and salt accumulation were assessed in three experimental plantations established adjacent to saline discharge areas 20–25 years ago. These were all in the 400–600 mm rainfall zone of south-western Australia. Mean soil salinity, within 1 m of the surface, ranged from 220 to 630 mS m⁻¹, while permanent ground-waters occurred within 2–5 m of the surface and had electrical conductivities ranging from 175 to 4150 mS m⁻¹. The study confirmed the low growth rates expected for trees established over shallow, saline water tables in a relatively low rainfall environment, with estimated wood volumes in Eucalyptus cladocalyx, E. spathulata, E. sargentii, E. occidentalis and E. wandoo of between 0.5 and 1.5 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Values of up to 3 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ were obtained on soils with low salinity (<200 mS m⁻¹). The excellent survival (>70%) of several Eucalyptus species confirms that discharge plantations species can persist, despite increasing soil salinity. However, the long-term sustainability of such plantings (50–100 years) without broader landscape treatment of the present hydrological imbalance must be questioned.     

Comparison of soil nitrogen dynamics under beech,Norway spruce and Scots pine in central Germany

To investigate the effect of tree species on soil N dynamics in temperate forest ecosystems, total N (Nt), microbial N (Nmic), net N mineralization, net nitrification, and other soil chemical properties were comparatively examined in beech (64–68 years old) and Norway spruce (53–55 years old) on sites 1 and 2, and beech and Scots pine (45 years old) on site 3. The initial soil conditions of the two corresponding stands at each site were similar; soil types were dystric Planosol (site 1), stagnic Gleysols (site 2), and Podzols (site 3). In organic layers (LOf₁, Of₂, Oh), Nmic and Nmic/Nt, averaged over three sampling times (Aug., Nov., Apr.), were higher under the beech stands than under the corresponding coniferous ones. However, the Nmic in the organic layers under beech had a greater temporal variation. Incubation (10 weeks, 22 °C, samples from November) results showed that the net N mineralization rates in organic layers were relatively high with values of 8.1 to 24.8 mg N kg^–1 d^–1. Between the two corresponding stands, the differences in net N mineralization rates in most of the organic layers were very small. In contrast, initial net nitrification rates (0.2–17.1 mg N kg^–1 day^–1) were considerably lower in most of the organic layers under the conifer than under the beech. In the mineral soil (0–10 cm), Nmic values ranged from 4.1–72.7 mg kg^–1, following a clear sequence: August>November>April. Nmic values under the beech stands were significantly higher than those under the corresponding coniferous stands for samples from August and April, but not from November. The net N mineralization rates were very low in all the mineral soils studied (0.05–0.33 mg N kg^–1 day^–1), and no significant difference appeared between the two contrasting tree species.     

Poplar leaf biomass distribution and nitrogen dynamics in a poplar-barley intercropped system in southern Ontario, Canada

The effect of hybrid poplar (Populus spp. clone DN 177) leaf biomass distribution on soil nitrification was investigated in two experiments during the 1993, 1994 and 1995 growing seasons in a poplar-barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. OAC Kippen) intercropping experiment established at Guelph, Ontario, Canada. In experiment 1, poplar was intercropped with barley during all three years and the poplar leaves shed during the fall season were removed from the soil surface during 1993 and 1994. In experiment 2, poplar was intercropped with barley in 1993 and with corn (Zea mays cv. Pioneer 3917) in 1994 an 1995, respectively, and the shed poplar leaves were not removed. In experiment 1, the nitrification rates were lower during 1994 and 1995 when the dropped leaves were removed from the field. The total above-ground biomass of barley within 2.5 m of the tree row was 517, 500 and 450 g×m⁻², respectively during the three years, whereas in the middle of the crop row (4–11 m), the corresponding figures were 491, 484 and 464 g×m–2. Mean nitrification rates, N availability and carbon content were higher in soils close to the poplar tree rows (2.5 m) compared to the corresponding values in the middle of the crop alley (4–11 m from the tree row). In experiment 2, where poplar leaves were not removed from the field, nitrification rates in soils within 2.5 m distance from the poplar row were fairly constant (range 100 to 128 μg 100 g⁻¹ dry soil day⁻¹) during the three years. Results suggest that soil nitrification rates, soil carbon content and plant N uptake adjacent to the poplar tree rows are influenced by poplar leaf biomass input in the preceding year. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inorganic sediment budget in the mangrove-fringed Fly River Delta,Papua New Guinea

Six oceanographic moorings were maintained for 8 weeks across the mouth of the mangrove-fringed Fly River estuary from April to June 1995 in the southeast trade wind season. A further 4 moorings were deployed for 8 weeks along the estuary channel in 1992, also in the southeast trade wind season. These data were used to estimate net exchange of suspended sediment between the estuary and the Gulf of Papua. A net inflow of fine sediment into the estuary from the coastal ocean was found to be considerable, about 40 tonnes s^-1 or about 10 times the riverine inflow rate, resulting in a calculated, spatially averaged vertical accretion rate of 2 mm year^-1. Mangroves may account for trapping 6% of the riverine sediment inflow or about 1/4 of the riverine clay inflow. If this sediment was distributed only over the observed accumulation zones near islands the local accumulation rates in these zones would reach 4 cm year^-1. Estimates of soft sediment mass accumulation rates (1–10 kg m^-2 year^-1) in the channel from Pb-210 and C-14 measurements from cores of deltaic mangrove mud cannot account for this accumulation rate on a 100–1000 year time scale. The fate of the remaining sediment is unknown, it may be exported from the estuary in the monsoon season.     

Inorganic Sediment Budget for the North Inlet Salt Marsh,South Carolina,U.S.A.

Most salt marshes along the east coast of North America appear to accumulate sediment at a rate sufficient to keep pace with the rise in eustatic sea level and local subsidence. Thus, these marshes must be importing sediment from the coastal ocean and/or the adjacent estuaries. The sediment accumulating in the North Inlet salt marsh, South Carolina, is 80% inorganic, and, based on ²¹⁰Pb dating, is accreting at a rate of 0.098 g cm^–2 yr^–1, equal to a 2.7 mm yr^–1 vertical sedimentation rate. Tide gauge records show a relative sea level rise of 2.2 to 3.4 mm yr^–1, indicating this marsh is maintaining its elevation relative to mean sea level rise. The North Inlet salt marsh has two avenues of sediment exchange: (1) through the tidal inlet to the ocean and (2) through Winyah Bay, the adjoining estuary. Long-term inorganic suspended sediment flux through the inlet is calculated to be a net import of 1.35 kg s^–1, based on application of a tidal hypsometric flow model to seven years of daily suspended sediment concentrations. However, the import required to balance relative sea level rise is only 0.80 kg s^–1, implying an excess net import of 0.55 kg s^–1. The difference between import and accumulation is explained by the progradation of the marsh toward Winyah Bay, a conclusion which is supported by the geomorphology and stratigraphy of the marsh-estuary border. Thus, the North Inlet marsh imports sediment on the average through the tidal inlet, at a rate which allows for both vertical accumulation at a rate approximately equal to the relative sea level rise and also lateral expansion of the marsh.     

H-NMR studies of water interactions in sitka spruce and western hemlock: moisture content determination and second moments

Summary The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the moisture level on the cell-wall material in wood using pulsed proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The wood species used were western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.), distinguishing between heartwood and sapwood regions. The moisture contents of the specimens were below the fibre saturation point and they were conditioned to equilibrium moisture contents based on initial desorption, adsorption and secondary desorption processes. From the FID experiments, the NMR-based moisture contents and the solid-wood lineshape second moments were determined. Average relative proton-spin densities, which were needed to calculate the NMR-based moisture contents, were determined from known moisture contents and they were: hemlock sapwood: 0.616; hemlock heartwood: 0.537; spruce sapwood: 0.679; and, spruce heartwood: 0.446. The average RSD value, considering both heartwood and sapwood, for western hemlock species was 0.577 and for sitka spruce was 0.563; these are close to published RSD values for other species. The condition as to how the equilibrium moisture content was attained did not influence the second moment for hemlock; however, for spruce sapwood, the second moments were sorption dependent. The hemlock M₂ decreased from about 5.1 × 10⁹ s^-2 at low M_NMR to 4.5 × 10⁹ s^-2 (heartwood) and 4.3 × 10⁹ s^-2 (sapwood) at higher m_nmr. The adsorption and secondary desorption M₂ for the spruce sapwood region decreased from about 5.0 × 10⁹ s^-2 at low m_nmr to about 4.1 × 10⁹ s^-2 near the M_F, whereas M₂ for the spruce heartwood decreased from about 4.3 × 10⁹ s^-2 at low M_NMR to about 3.5 × 10⁹ s^-2 near M_F. Extractives may have a key role in obtaining the RSD and second moments.This project was financially supported by the Science Council of British Columbia, MacMillan Bloedel Research. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is acknowledged for their support of the NMR spectrometer measurements     

Validation of plantation transpiration in south-eastern Australia estimated using the 3PG+ forest growth model

Forest plantations for wood production are an increasingly important land use in southern Australia, and there are potentially important hydrologic consequences of what is mostly a change in land use from agriculture to silviculture. An ability to predict, with some degree of accuracy, the impact of plantation expansion on surface water and groundwater resources is essential. A validated process-based modelling approach, integrating the many interacting environmental and management factors which may influence plantation growth and transpiration, can be used for this purpose. The 3PG forest growth model has been evaluated for a number of species from widely differing climate and site conditions. While growth predictions have been validated, little attention has been given to testing the accuracy of the transpiration predictions or the model's representation of the water balance. We enhanced the 3PG forest growth model (known as 3PG+) and then integrated it into the Catchment Analysis Tool (CAT), so that it now interfaces with a more detailed multi-layered, daily time step representation of the soil water balance. Simulated transpiration using 3PG+ in CAT was compared with field measurements in 30 plots (across 15 sites) representing 5 common plantation species (Eucalyptus globulus, E. nitens, E. grandis, E. regnans and Pinus radiata) across ages 2–31 years. Mean daily plot transpiration during the measurement periods ranged between 0.4 and 4.2 mm day⁻¹ (average 2.0 mm day⁻¹). Simulated mean daily plot transpiration using 3PG+ in CAT for Eucalyptus was good (coefficient of efficiency = 0.80; R² = 0.81). While the model tended to slightly under-predict transpiration at higher measured rates (>3.5 mm day⁻¹), predictions at monthly timescales had acceptable accuracy. The integration of 3PG+ into CAT resulted in an improvement in accuracy and applicability of CAT, and provides for the spatial application of 3PG+ across diverse and mixed land use catchments for investigation into carbon and water movement in forest systems.     

Speciation of phosphorus in a tidal floodplain forest in the Amazon estuary

The processes of release and retention of phosphorus (P) in soils of a tidal floodplain were studied at Combu Island (Belém/Brazil). Three parcels of 220m² were chosen: low floodplain (LF), intermediate floodplain (MF) and high floodplain (HF). Two cores to 0.4 m depth were collected in each parcel, one week after the highest and lowest tides of the year. Organic phosphorus (P—OM) concentrations ranged from 0.02 ± 0.01 to 0.07 ± 0.02 mg/g, the highest concentrations were found in the HF parcel. On the other hand the HF parcel had the lowest concentrations of total inorganic phosphorus (TIP): 0.10 ± 0.03 to 0.11 ± 0.33 mg/g. The speciation of inorganic P suggested that P—Fe/Al is the main chemically bound P in soil (0.05 ± 0.01 to 0.20 — 0.04 mg/g). The tidal inundation of the floodplain appears to influence these chemical reactions involving phosphate retention and release.     

Evaluation of sap flow density of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia melanoxylon</Emphasis> R. Br. (blackwood) trees in overstocked stands in north-western Iberian Peninsula

Sap flow density and meteorological variables were monitored in a very dense Acacia melanoxylon stand (about 9,000 trees/ha) in north-western Iberian Peninsula during the growing season of 2006 (from 8 June to 24 August). Evidences of an increment of stomatal control on transpiration were observed during the study period, probably as a consequence of higher evaporative demand of the atmosphere. However, high sap flow density values observed for the whole study period (from 1.14 to 52.73 dm³ dm⁻² day⁻¹) were similar than those found for other fast-growing species. Mean transpiration for the whole study period was 2.21 mm day⁻¹, with a maximum value of 3.17 mm day⁻¹ and a minimum of 1.23 mm day⁻¹. Mean sap flow density values were correlated with crown length and crown ratio, relationships being fairly weak with other dendrometric parameters such as tree diameter or height. Mean transpiration values were correlated with main dendrometric parameters (diameter at breast height, total height, crown length, sapwood area and leaf biomass). It was found that the degree of competition per tree could be used as a good index for sap flow density. Taking into account the high tree density of the stand and the sap flow density values, water consumptions of A. melanoxylon can be very high, playing a relevant role in the hydrological balances of the watersheds where it grows.     

Fine root dynamics, coarse root biomass, root distribution, and soil respiration in a multispecies riparian buffer in Central Iowa, USA

By influencing belowground processes, streamside vegetation affects soil processes important to surface water quality. We conducted this study to compare root distributions and dynamics, and total soil respiration among six sites comprising an agricultural buffer system: poplar (Populus × euroamericana‘ Eugenei), switchgrass, cool-season pasture grasses, corn (Zea mays L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The dynamics of fine (0--2 mm) and small roots (2--5 mm) were assessed by sequentially collecting 35 cm deep, 5.4 cm diameter cores from April through November. Coarse roots were described by excavating 1 × 1 × 2 m pits and collecting all roots in 20 cm depth increments. Root distributions within the soil profile were determined by counting roots that intersected the walls of the excavated pits. Soil respiration was measured monthly from July to October using the soda-lime technique. Over the sampling period, live fine-root biomass in the top 35 cm of soil averaged over 6 Mg ha^-1 for the cool-season grass, poplar, and switchgrass sites while root biomass in the crop fields was < 2.3 Mg ha^-1 at its maximum. Roots of trees, cool-season grasses, and switchgrass extended to more than 1.5 m in depth, with switchgrass roots being more widely distributed in deeper horizons. Root density was significantly greater under switchgrass and cool-season grasses than under corn or soybean. Soil respiration rates, which ranged from 1.4--7.2 g C m^-2 day^-1, were up to twice as high under the poplar, switchgrass and cool-season grasses as in the cropped fields. Abundant fine roots, deep rooting depths, and high soil respiration rates in the multispecies riparian buffer zones suggest that these buffer systems added more organic matter to the soil profile, and therefore provided better conditions for nutrient sequestration within the riparian buffers. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

尾叶桉纸浆林造林密度控制技术的研究

对 5 9年生尾叶桉纸浆林生长分析表明 :(1)密度与树高、胸径呈反比。 3种密度的树高、胸径大小均为密度B >C >D。两配置树高、胸径也以配置B >A。 (2 )密度对单株材积的影响与对胸径影响的规律一致。 5 9年生时单株材积生长量以密度B最高 ,达到 0 0 85 33m3·株 - 1,是最低单株材积密度D的 2 0 4倍。两配置单株材积以配置B >A。 (3) 4 7年生时单位面积蓄积量大小为密度B >C>D ,密度B达到 94 185m3·hm- 2 ,是最低D处理蓄积量的 1 15倍 ;5 9年生时蓄积量最大者为密度C ,达到 12 7 6 0m3·hm- 2 ,是最低蓄积密度D的 1 17倍。随着时间的变化 ,密度控制尤为重要。 4 7、5 9年生时单位面积蓄积均以配置B >A ,配置B分别比配置A高 2 4 82 %、2 3 5 3%。 (4)对胸径D和冠幅CW 值用方程进行回归拟合 ,结果以乘幂CW=a×Db 拟合最好。方程表达式为CW=0 4 72 4×D0 6 715。 (5 )编制的经营密度表反映出 ,随着胸径D的递增 ,基本经营密度N0 逐渐下降 ;当D≥ 18cm时 ,N0 的下降趋势渐趋平缓     

Estimation of the self-thinning boundary line within even-aged Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) stands: Onset of self-thinning

The trajectory of self-thinning was studied using data from Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) stands measured 17 times over 26 years to elucidate the relationship between the maximum average stem volume (dm³) and the stand density (stems/ha). The study examined five initial density levels (2 m × 3 m, 2 m × 1.5 m, 2 m × 1 m, 1 m × 1.5 m, and 1 m × 1 m) with three replications at each level, but only 10 plots were used in the final analysis. Subsets of the data were constructed using 0-67%, 2-67%, 5-67%, 10-67%, 15-67%, 20-67%, 23-67%, 25-67% and 30-67% mortality rate classes. Ordinary least squares and reduced major axis (RMA) regression techniques were employed to obtain self-thinning parameters for each mortality rate class subset. The RMA method combined with jackknife estimation (RMA + jackknife) was the most appropriate regression method based on standard error estimations. The self-thinning exponent with a mortality rate class of 2-67% adequately represented the maximum volume-density relationship. The self-thinning exponents changed systematically with the mortality rate classes, and −1.5 was a transitory value in the course of self-thinning. It is also concluded that self-thinning in closed Chinese fir stands may occur when the ratio of the live crown length to tree height approaches 0.3.     

Litter decomposition can detect effects of high and moderate levels of forest disturbance on stream condition

Considerable research efforts have been devoted to determining what forest management practices most affect stream ecosystems, and how those impacts might be mitigated. Recent studies have stressed the relevance of litter decomposition to assess the conditions of headwater streams affected by riparian and upland forest harvest. Here we specifically examined whether litter decomposition can detect ecological effects of clearcutting to stream edges on headwater streams eight years after logging and if large (30 m) and narrow (10 m) riparian reserves (8-year post-harvest), and selection logging at 50% removal of basal area of riparian trees (1-year post-harvest), are effective protection measures for streams. We measured decomposition rates of red alder (Alnus rubra) leaf litter in sixteen stream reaches, including reference reaches in a 70-year-old forest. We further examined assemblages of two main litter consumer groups, shredder invertebrates in riffles and aquatic hyphomycete fungi developing on decaying alder leaves. Alder decay rate was significantly lower in clearcut reaches than in reference reaches, and we found no evidence that any alternative riparian management practices examined in this study were able to mitigate against such an effect of logging. In unlogged reaches, rapid litter decomposition (0.0050–0.0118 day⁻¹) was associated with high density and diversity of shredders (up to ten taxa). Slower litter decomposition in wide and narrow reserve reaches (0.0019–0.0054 day⁻¹) and clearcut reaches (0.0024–0.0054 day⁻¹) was attributed to lower density and richness of shredders. By contrast, the low decay rate in recently established thinned reaches (0.0031–0.0049 day⁻¹) was not associated with a numerical response of shredders. Smothering of submerged leaves by sediments may have caused the reduction in alder decay rate in thinned reaches. Across all forest treatments fungal biomass or diversity remained fairly similar. Our findings suggest that stream ecosystems are extremely sensitive to small changes in riparian and upland forest cover. We propose that litter decomposition as a key ecosystem function in streams could be incorporated into further efforts to evaluate and improve forestry best management practices.     

Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4 napthoquinone) and soil nitrogen transformation interactions under a walnut plantation in southern Ontario, Canada

Juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), a chemical substance produced by black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), inhibits the growth and existence of some beneficial soil microorganisms, especially Frankia spp. isolate ArI3 and Rhizobium japonicum. However, no studies to date have reported on the effect of juglone on soil ammonification and nitrification. A field study and laboratory incubation study to investigate this were conducted. In the field, in situ soil ammonification and nitrification were measured within and outside of a 60-year-old black walnut plantation and a eight-year-old poplar (Populus spp. clone DN 177) plantation. In the lab, soil (Sandy Fox Loam), collected in the absence of black walnut trees, was incubated for periods of one to six weeks in the presence of varying concentrations of juglone. In the field, peak summer mean nitrate accumulation rates in soils within the black walnut and poplar plantation were 163 and 95 μg 100 g^-1 dry soil day^-1 respectively and in soils outside the plantations, 104 (black walnut) and 78 (poplar) μg 100 g^-1 dry soil day^-1 respectively. No accumulation of ammonium at the end of the incubation period was noted. Therefore, no inhibition effect of juglone on nitrification in the field was observed, and laboratory incubation results confirmed the results of the field study. Results from these studies should address concerns about nitrification inhibition under walnut based intercropping systems. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transpiration along an age series of Eucalyptus globulus plantations in southeastern Australia

Many of the world's Eucalyptus plantations are grown on short rotations of 15 years or less, which often covers the most rapid phase of stand development and peaks in growth rates and leaf areas. Since transpiration is related to stand leaf area these short rotations that make use of rapid early growth rates, may also maximise plantation water use, which has implications for predicting their water requirements and impacts on catchment hydrology. This study examined the transpiration, leaf area and growth rates of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations aged 2–8 years. Transpiration (E), estimated using the heat pulse technique, increased from 0.4 mm day⁻¹ at age 2 years to a peak of about 1.6–1.9 mm day⁻¹ in stands aged 5–7 years. This was associated with similar trends for stand leaf area index (LAI) and periodic annual increments of aboveground biomass, which both peaked at about age 4–6 years resulting in a linear relationship between E and LAI. While stand sapwood areas were continuing to increase at age 8 years, E was already declining due to reductions in sap velocity, from 13.5 cm h⁻¹ at age 2 years to 6.3 cm h⁻¹ at age 8 years and reduced sapwood area growth rates. Trees compensated for this reduction in sap velocity with declines in the leaf area (A_L) to sapwood area (A_S) relationship (A_L:A_S) with age. There was also a reduction in growth efficiency (aboveground biomass increment per LAI) with age. However, reductions in WUE were small after age 4 years, which explained the linear relationship between E and LAI. If E continues to decline successive short rotation lengths may not only make use of rapid early growth rates but could also increase plantation water use compared to longer rotations over the same period of time.     

Early growth performance and water use of planted West African provenances of Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn (karité) in Gonsé, Burkina Faso

A participatory selection trial of five provenances from Burkina Faso (3), Mali (1) and Senegal (1) was established in Burkina Faso in 1997 with the aim of addressing issues of the long juvenile phase and the large variability in annual fruit yields of Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn in West Africa. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate survival rate and the growth performance of the five provenances, characterize the wetting profile under which the trees of these provenances are growing and quantify the variation in their seasonal transpiration. The design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with single tree as the experimental unit which was replicated 70 times. The results showed a mean survival rate of 50% for all provenances. Passoré (Burkina Faso), Djonon-Karaba (Mali) and Botou-Fada (Burkina Faso) provenances showed the highest height and collar diameter whereas the provenance of Gonsé (Burkina Faso) performed poorly. Djonon-Karaba provenance displayed the highest water use (2.70 l day⁻¹ tree⁻¹ in 2004 and 2.85 l day⁻¹ tree⁻¹ in 2005). Soil water content under Passoré provenance was the lowest (9.38%) whereas its content under Gonsé provenance (11%) was the highest with no clear pattern according to the distance from tree trunk. Samecouta and Djonon-Karaba provenances showed the highest transpiration values per sapwood unit area in 2004 (0.079 l cm⁻² day⁻¹) and in 2005 (0.069 l m⁻² day⁻¹), respectively. Based on growth performance and water use, it can be recommended at this early stage the selection of Djonon-Karaba and Passoré provenances as the most suitable for semi-arid regions of West Africa. However, there is a need for further data to model the long term effects of these provenances on soil water balance and their fruit production before reliable recommendations can be made to farmers.