Tree shelters and weed control: Effects on protection,survival and growth of cherrybark oak seedlings planted on a cutover site

In the southern USA oaks (Quercusspp.) are often favored by forest owners havingmultiple objectives for forest ownership as oaksprovide mast for wildlife, are consideredaesthetically pleasing, and are valuable for timberproducts. Regeneration and early seedling growth isa concern to those forest owners interested insustaining oaks as a component of their forests. Theeffects of tree shelters and herbaceous weed controlon second-year seedling survival, browse by deer andrabbits, and seedling growth of hand-plantedcherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) wereexamined. The study was established on a cutovermixed pine-hardwood forest in Alabama. Fourtreatments were: weed control only, tree shelter only,tree shelter with weed control, and a controlconsisting of a seedling without a tree shelter orweed control. No significant difference in seedlingsurvival was found among the treatments after twoyears. Tree shelters were effective in preventingbrowsing. No seedlings in the tree-shelter-onlytreatment were browsed. There was no significant,difference, however, in the percentage of seedlingsbrowsed between the control treatment and the weedcontrol treatment. The use of tree shelters with weedcontrol was the most effective treatment for promoting2-year ground-line diameter, height, and stem volumegrowth.     

Effects of treeshelters and polyethylene mulch sheets on survival and growth of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings planted in northwestern Tunisia

Success of plantation establishment depends on the ability of seedlings to withstand animal browsing and competition from vegetation. This study in northwestern Tunisia examined the influence of browsing protection and vegetation control on seedling mortality, diameter, and height growth components of an evergreen sclerophyllous oak species, cork oak (Quercus suber L.) for the first 2 years after planting (2005 and 2006). Browsing protection was controlled by varying both treeshelter type (non-vented, vented, and control) and height (1.2-m and 1.8-m tall). Competing vegetation was controlled through increasing sizes of square-shaped black polyethylene mulch sheets: 0 m, 0.7 m, 1 m and 1.3 m large. Seedling mortality rate was relatively low during the first year (9%) and was not affected by any of the studied factors. During the following year, mortality was lower for seedlings in both types (non-vented and vented) of 1.2-m tall treeshelters than for unsheltered ones. Mortality was only slightly higher for 1.8-m tall shelters than for 1.2-m shelters. Compared to unsheltered seedlings, basal diameter was reduced during both seasons for seedlings inside non-vented treeshelters (1.2-m and 1.8-m tall), whereas for vented shelters it was reduced during the first year and then increased during the second year. Height growth was positively affected by tree shelters during both years. Seedlings inside non-vented 1.8-m tall shelters were the tallest having an average height of up to 140 cm at the end of the second year, while the unsheltered seedlings had only an average height of up to 42 cm. The greater height of the sheltered seedlings was attributed to the increase of: (1) the number of shoot flushes yearly established on the main stem (up to three), and (2) the length of all the growth units produced during each flush. Seedlings inside vented shelters had balanced growth with a low proportion of seedlings unable to support themselves without a stake (7%). However, non-vented shelters had unbalanced height and diameter growths resulting in both a higher height-to-diameter ratio and in a higher proportion of seedlings having stability problems (47%). Polyethylene mulch sheets did not affect early survival, seedling basal diameter, or number of shoot flushes established yearly, but did slightly improve seedling height at the end of the second season, mostly due to the significant improvement in shoot elongation of the first flush. Results suggest that both 1.8 m treeshelters and plastic mulches may enhance the growth of cork oak seedlings planted on harsh sites in northwestern Tunisia.     

Development of oak and beech seedlings planted under varying shelterwood densities and with different site preparation methods in southern Sweden

Effects of site preparation, shelterwood density and planting depth on the survival and growth of planted beech and oak seedlings were studied. Experiments were performed in one oak and one beech stand in southern Sweden. Two areas with different densities of shelterwood and one clearcut were established in each stand. Growth, damage and survival of the planted seedlings were observed for three years. Soil water potential was recorded weekly and radiation and soil temperatures were recorded continuously during the growing seasons.Neither site preparation methods nor planting depth affected oak seedling growth, when planting was carried out on fresh clearcuts or in shelterwoods, while growth of beech seedlings was positively affected by mounding. Growth of oak seedlings was inhibited by the shelterwood treatments. In beech seedlings, growth was lowest in dense shelterwood, while there was no difference in growth between seedlings on the clearcut area and in the shelterwood of low density. Differences in growth may be explained by differences in radiation and soil water potential.When planting was carried out on a one-year-old clearcut, site preparation improved the subsequent growth of oak and beech seedlings.     

Pisolithus tinctorius increases the size of nursery grown red oak seedlings

Inoculation of nursery beds with vegetative mycelia of P. tinctorius (Pt) significantly increased the number of salable 1–0 red oak seedlings produced in two of three years and the average stem height and diameter each year. The percentage of Pt mycorrhizal primary lateral roots on seedlings in the inoculated plots was significantly correlated with stem diameter and weight of lateral roots. The high rates of colonization of short roots by Pt in inoculated plots suggested the test fungus could successfully compete with indigenous fungi in forming mycorrhizae.     

Response of two oak species to extensive defoliation: Tree growth and vigor, phytochemistry, and herbivore suitability

This study was developed to experimentally determine whether the differential mortality of white oak versus black oak observed following defoliation events in the oak-dominated forests of the central hardwoods region of the eastern USA may be due to differences in carbon allocation between the two species. Black oak and white oak growing in a common garden were artificially defoliated (90%) using scissors in two consecutive years. Concurrent with the second defoliation event, herbivore performance and phytochemical characteristics were measured, followed immediately by measures of tree growth. In the dormant season following the second defoliation event, roots were sampled to assess tree vigor. Species-specific differences in foliar chemistry and herbivory were evident, regardless of defoliation. Defoliation-induced changes in above-ground biomass were evident in white oak, but not black oak. Defoliation-induced changes in foliar chemistry were more evident in black oak; these were reflected in greater differences in herbivore suitability. Herbivore consumption was correlated with depressed foliar C:N ratios and elevated foliar nitrogen. White oak root starch concentrations were markedly lower in defoliated trees, suggesting that white oak vigor is especially sensitive to resource limitations in the form of photosynthate loss. The implications of these results with respect to defoliation events and white oak mortality, as well as potential phylogenetic differences in response to severe defoliation between the red and white oak groups, are discussed.     

Physiological and field growth responses of oak seedlings to warm storage

The effect of warm storage (15°C) for 0, 15 or 31 days, applied after cold storage until April, and date of lifting to cold storage on the physiological condition and field performance of two-year-old oak seedlings (Quercus robur L.) was investigated. Assessments before planting included plant moisture status, root and shoot dry weight, root growth potential (RGP), while after planting root growth, shoot growth phenology, shoot and root dry matter accumulation and stem quality were assessed. Warm storage effects were large, but lift date effects were small. Warm storage for 31 days reduced height and diameter growth, stem quality, total biomass, root growth, and reduced stem quality in the field, but 15 days storage had a smaller effect. Warm storage delayed bud break and shoot growth cessation but survival was unaffected. The depletion of food reserves during storage and low moisture availability might have caused shoot dieback leading to the development of poor quality stems. There was evidence that dry weight fraction of both the shoot tip and the taproot provided good information on the quality of the stock before planting. RGP was also a good indicator of quality. Electrolyte leakage readings from fine and taproots were not reliable indicators of plant quality.     

Red oak responses to nitrogen addition depend on herbivory type,tree family,and site

Elevated atmospheric N deposition is predicted to increase plant growth and C storage in N-limited systems, but this assumes that no mitigating ecological factors are influenced by N deposition. Many herbivores are also N-limited and so increased herbivore damage in response to N deposition may moderate, or even eliminate, gains in plant growth under elevated N. Thus the response of herbivores to N deposition could influence the onset and magnitude of N saturation resulting in expedited decreases in C storage. Since tree susceptibility to herbivores is partially under genetic control and will be influenced by site characteristics, we tested whether the interaction between N deposition, tree growth, and herbivore damage depends on tree genetic variation in susceptibility to herbivores at different locations. By monitoring 12 half-sib families of northern red oak (Quercus rubra) saplings at two common garden sites in south-central Pennsylvania, we found that herbivores were pervasive at both sites, resulting in 13% chewing damage, 16% galling damage and 28% browsing damage. N addition significantly affected browsing damage (8% overall increase) and chewing damage (19% overall increase) but did not affect galling damage. However, this effect was strongly dependent on the Q. rubra family and location, both of which influenced oak susceptibility to herbivore damage independent of N additions. Greater browsing damage on trees under N addition caused reductions in relative height growth, and this effect also depended on tree family and location. Our result suggests that herbivory, mediated by tree genetic lineage and site-specific conditions, may represent an important component of C sinks and N saturation under elevated N deposition.     

Site preparation of abandoned fields and early establishment of planted small-sized seedlings of silver birch

Field experiments at two sites in Sweden investigated the possibility of establishing silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) on abandoned fields by planting small (5–10 cm tall) seedlings. The effects of five modes of soil preparation (no preparation, rotary cultivation, deep ploughing, soil inversion, and removal of topsoil) with or without preliminary herbicide weed control on seedling performance were studied for three growing seasons following plantation. Both a split-plot design and a randomized block design were used to evaluate the experiments. Where there was no site preparation, seedling survival was close to nil. The highest seedling survival rates on the site with sandy soil were obtained on sites prepared by removing topsoil, or by transposing it by deep ploughing. On the site with silty soil, the best survival was observed on sites created by soil inversion or rotary cultivation. The tallest seedlings were found on sites with topsoil retained within the soil profile. Herbicide application with glyphosate promoted seedling survival and seedling height in combination with no soil preparation, but was of little effect when followed by mechanical soil preparation.     

Effect of alley cropping with Leucaena leucocephala and fertilizer application on yield of vegetable crops

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of alley cropping vegetable crops with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit for two seasons on a sandy loam Oxic paleustalf in southwestern Nigeria. Four vegetable crops (Amaranthus cruentus L.; Celosia argentea L.; Okra, Hibiscus esculentus L.; and tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were grown in control plots and in 4-m wide alleys between established Leucaena hedgerows without and with fertilizer (30 N-13 P-24 K kg ha^–1). Leucaena prunings yielded large dry biomass and nutrients during both seasons. Yield of four vegetable crops responded more to fertilizer in control than in alley cropped treatments. Better yield of vegetables in alley cropped plots was in part due to following effect of the Leucaena hedgerows. Fertilizer application increased mean yields of Amaranthus, Celosia, okra and tomato by 325, 164, 47 and 94% in control plots and by 36, 26, 4 and 20% in alley cropped plots, respectively. For both seasons, yields were not significantly different between alley cropped with and without fertilizer and the control with fertilizer treatments. Yield was least in control without fertilizer. Alley cropping with Leucaena can reduce fertilizer requirement for vegetable production. Cost and return analysis using 1988 prices indicated that alley cropping with vegetable crops can be profitable.c/o Miss Maureen Larkin, L. W. Lambourn & Company, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, England     

Wild boars (Sus scrofa) affect the recruitment rate and spatial distribution of holm oak (Quercus ilex)

The role of herbivores in controlling plant population abundance and distribution is unclear. We experimentally determine the effect of damage by wild boars (Sus scrofa) in recruitment rate and spatial pattern of a Mediterranean tree, the holm oak (Quercus ilex). We monitored oak establishment in the Sierra Nevada of southeastern Spain during 4 years (1999–2002) in four plots, two fenced and two unfenced that were used as controls. In addition, we planted 1-year-old seedlings in all microhabitats, both in fenced and control plots, to experimentally determine the effect of wild boar on their microhabitat-dependent survival. Despite seedling abundance being similar inside and outside the fences, sapling abundance diminished up to 50% in unfenced plots compared to fenced plots. Wild boars also seemed to modify the spatial distribution of seedlings and saplings. Whereas seedlings were most abundant under pines both in fenced and control plots, sapling abundance was highest under pine trees in fenced plots, but similarly abundant under pines or shrubs in control plots. This change in spatial pattern was due to the effect of wild boars killing seedlings when looking for food under pines. The effects of the different mortality factors were not additive. Where ungulates are absent, recruitment is high and occurs under oaks and especially under pines. Where wild boars are present, recruitment diminishes and occurs mostly under shrubs and pines. Wild boars arrest population growth and modify the spatial pattern of recruitment.     

Effects of deer browsing on the survival and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies homolepis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea jezoensis</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">hondoensis</Emphasis> seedlings after fencing on Mt. Ohdaigahara

We evaluated the survival and growth of Abies homolepis and Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis seedlings on Mt. Ohdaigahara, where the population of sika deer (Cervus nippon) is high and an experimental fence has been in place for 13 years. No significant differences were detected in the survival of small seedlings between fenced and unfenced plots. The growth of A. homolepis was significantly higher in the fenced plot, but growth of P. jezoensis var. hondoensis did not show significant differences between fenced and unfenced plots. Seedlings of height ≤5 cm in the forest floor vegetation of the unfenced plot were probably too small for deer to find and browse, so they survived.     

Influence of canopy structure on the survival and growth of underplanted seedlings

This study explores the indirect relationship between forest structural measures and initial seedling survival and growth along a structural gradient between 64% to 92% canopy closure. The gradient was created by applying various levels of midstory removal to fifty 0.05 ha areas located within a mixed-hardwood riparian forest corridor. Twelve yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) and cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) containerized seedling pairs were underplanted within each area. Canopy closure was estimated using hemispherical photography; height-to-canopy and basal area were recorded at each seedling pair. Survival, basal diameter, and height were monitored through two growing seasons. Species-specific mortality and height growth models were developed for one and two growing seasons following underplanting. The interaction of height-to-canopy and basal area along with canopy closure were found to be the most strongly related to mortality. Height to the forest canopy and initial seedling size explained the most variance in height increment. Although the height increment models possess limited predictive power (R² range from 0.22 to 0.36), both mortality and growth analyses emphasize the importance of quantifying vertical canopy structure, along with the more commonly considered horizontal measures of forest structure (basal area and stem density), when evaluating seedling development beneath a forest canopy.     

Effect of thawing regime on growth and mortality of frozen-stored Norway spruce container seedlings planted in cold and warm soil

One-year-old frozen-stored Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) container seedlings were planted in a controlled environment providing an air temperature of 22°C and soil temperature of 9±1 or 18±1°C. At planting the root plugs were either frozen or had been thawing for 4 days at 9°C. During a 5-week growing period, in both cold and warm soil the root growth and height growth were less in frozen-planted seedlings than in thawed seedlings. In addition, frozen-planting delayed bud burst and increased mortality. Soil temperature, however, had no effect on bud burst or mortality. Low soil temperature retarded root growth of seedlings thawed before planting but resulted in both retarded root growth and height growth if root plugs were frozen when planted. These results indicate that planting Norway spruce seedlings with frozen root plugs constitutes a considerable risk for successful forest regeneration at soil temperatures normally prevailing in Fennoscandia in spring or early summer especially if the soil is dry at the time of the planting.     

Indirect effects of precipitation variation on the decomposition process of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) leaf litter

The effect of precipitation variation on the chemistry of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) leaf litters was examined by analyzing litters of Mongolia oak saplings under four precipitation gradients. The decomposing process of these leaf litters in the Mongolian oak dominated forest was assessed using litter bag method. Compared with the litters of the Mongolian oak saplings from the natural precipitation site (A), litters produced by Mongolian oak from the driest precipitation gradient (A₄₅₀) had significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) while lower acid-insoluble fraction (AIF) concentration. The decomposition study showed that A₄₅₀ exhibited significantly higher decomposition rate, mineralization rates of N, P and K as well as much shorter N and P net immobilization periods. On the contrary, litters produced by seedlings from wettest gradient (A₈₅₀) showed a totally opposite pattern. Litters from saplings that received comparable precipitation (A₆₅₀) to those at the natural site (A) had significantly higher N concentration and faster decomposition rate as well as release rates of N, P and K. The mass loss patterns for the four litter types fitted the exponential model and the decay constant (k) can be well predicted by initial AIF/N. During the decomposition period, N concentration was best related to the percentage of mass remaining of the litters with relatively higher AIF concentrations and lower N concentrations, but the percentage of mass remaining of litters with lower AIF concentrations and higher N concentrations correlates strongly with AIF con centration. Our study proved that changes in precipitation significantly altered the litter quality, and therefore indirectly changed the decay process of leaf litters. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2007, 18(2): 261–266 [译自: 应用生态学报]     

Effects of overstory retention and site preparation on growth of planted white spruce seedlings in deciduous and coniferous dominated boreal plains mixedwoods

Survival and growth of planted white spruce was assessed under partial harvest treatments and different site preparation techniques in mixedwood forests of two compositions prior to logging: deciduous dominated (d-dom) – primarily comprised of mature trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and coniferous dominated (c-dom) – primarily comprised of mature white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Levels of overstory retention were 0% (clearcut), 50% and 75% of original basal area, and site preparation techniques were inverted mounding, high speed mixing, scalping and control (no treatment). The survival and growth of white spruce were assessed seven years after planting. The experiment was established as a part of the Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) experiment located in northern Alberta, Canada. In the c-dom, the 50% and 75% retention of overstory resulted in reduced growth and survival of white spruce seedlings compared to clearcuts. In contrast, in the d-dom, the seedlings performed best in sites that had 50% of the overstory retained. For the c-dom, the mounding and mixing treatments yielded the best growth of spruce seedlings, while scalping yielded the worst. In the d-dom, spruce growth was highest in sites with the mixing treatment. In the d-dom, growth and survival of the planted spruce was greater than in the c-dom. The natural regeneration of deciduous trees was suppressed by the retention of canopy regardless of original composition.     

The effects of collection date and pre-storage treatment on the germination of blue oak acorns

Concern about poor natural regeneration of blue oak in California has prompted efforts to artificially regenerate this species. Two studies examined the best time to collect acorns and the effect various pre-storage treatments, including soaking and drying, have on germination. Results indicated that acorns can be successfully collected over a fairly wide interval, extending from late August until late October. Acorns from all harvest dates had high germination, as long as they were not allowed to dry out before storage. However, the earlier the acorns were collected, the earlier they tended to germinate. Soaking acorns for a day prior to storage had little effect. Drying acorns, however, reduced both the rate and amount of germination. A 10% reduction in moisture content resulted in almost 40% less total germination, and all acorns that lost 25% or more of their mositure failed to germinate during the 10-week test interval. To ensure good seed quality, blue oak acorns should be collected directly from tree branches and placed immediately in cold storage.     

Genetic structure of the green oak leaf roller (Tortrix viridana L.) and one of its hosts, Quercus robur L.

An herbivorous insect, the green oak leaf roller (Tortrix viridana) and one of its host species, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), were investigated for their genetic variation within and among populations on the basis of mitochondrial, chloroplast, and anonymous markers. Oaks and green oak leaf rollers from 10 oak stands in North Rhine-Westphalia (North-Western Germany) were examined. The genetic variation of pedunculate oaks is much lower within than among populations when assessed using chloroplast gene markers and higher among populations when assessed using anonymous markers. When using mitochondrial and AFLP markers, the genetic variation of the green oak leaf roller populations was higher within than among the populations, which suggests a high gene flow between the populations. Mantel tests on the gene diversities of oaks and the green oak leaf roller yielded a significant negative correlation for both marker types. To sum up, the reasons for the differences in the spatial patterns of the genetic variation of the host and herbivorous insect may be found in their different generation times, mechanisms and capacities for dispersal.The results for the green oak leaf roller revealed a higher migration rate than assumed before which has consequences for the prediction of the dynamics of future outbreak events.     

Effects of differences in forest floor and canopy vegetation on ectomycorrhizas ofBetula platyphylla var.japonica: A test using seedlings planted into soils taken from various sites

Effects of different forest floor vegetation types in secondary forest and of conversion to plantation on the quality and quantity of ectomycorrhizas are mostly unknown.Betula platyphylla var.japonica seedlings were used for bioassays of ectomycorrhizal fungal inoculum using soils from four 50-year-oldB. platyphylla var.japonica forests that had different types of forest floor vegetation: two with shrub types, one with aSasa type, and one with a grass type. Seedlings were also grown in soil from a nearby monospecific plantation ofChamaecyparis obtusa. Ectomycorrhizas formed 13 to 26% of root length of seedlings grown in soil from the five different sites. The maximum percentage of ectomycorrhizal formation was obtained from the grass-type forest. The dominant type of ectomycorrhiza in the two shrub-type forest soils was the same as that in theSasa-type forest soil. The dominant types of ectomycorrhizas in the grass-type forest soil and in theC. obtusa plantation soil were different from that in the two shrub-type forest soils and in theSasa-type forest soil. The results of this investigation suggest that the type of forest floor vegetation, accompanied with changes in thickness of the A₀ horizon, might affect the ectomycorrhizal fungi in the soils ofB. platyphylla var.japonica forests. Establishment of artificial plantations ofC. obtusa might change the ectomycorrhizal fungi that could associate withB. platyphylla var.japonica seedlings in soil.     

Effect of thinning and fertilizer on the cellulose crystallite width of Eucalyptus globulus

An analysis of cellulose crystallite width, microfibril angle and wood density after the time of thinning (at 8 years) in straight vertical trees was undertaken in a 13-year-old E. globulus trial designed to assess the effect of thinning on tension wood formation. The most important effect was on cellulose crystallite width, which increased with thinning intensity and this was mitigated where fertilizer was applied at the time of thinning. Given the relationship between high crystallite width and tension wood occurrence the results demonstrate that heavy thinning of E. globulus at this age can contribute to tension wood formation. However, tension wood production may be significantly reduced where fertilizer is applied. This is possibly because increased diameter growth as a response to fertilizer application stabilises the stems and this is the mechanism by which trees cope with internal stresses that are generated from wind in destabilsed stands following thinning. In contrast, trees that respond poorly to thinning produce tension wood.     

The influence of different forest organic matter on the growth of one-year old planted Norway spruce seedlings in a greenhouse experiment

A greenhouse trial was carried out to improve the knowledge of how forest organic matter could be utilized in site preparation and the choice of planting spot for Picea abies (L.) Karst. One-year old Norway spruce seedlings were grown for 26 weeks in pots containing pure mineral soil, forest organic matter in three different states of decomposition and combined treatments where the organic matter was mixed with or placed on the surface of the mineral soil (volume proportions of organic:mineral of 1:2). Watering was adapted to the water retention characteristics of each growing medium in order to keep the soil water potential between -4 and -5 kPa in all pots.In its pure form as well as combined with mineral soil, the moderately decomposed mor organic matter gave a higher seedling dry weight increment than the corresponding growing media containing the more decomposed humus. Adding mor or humus to mineral soil increased the seedling dry weight increment by 30–140% and 10–40%, respectively. The largest seedlings grew in the pure mor and humus. Mixing these forms of organic matter with mineral soil appeared to reduce seedling growth as compared to placing them on the mineral soil surface. The increment increase compared to plain mineral soil mostly consisted of proleptic growth and was probably due to the improved nutrient availability of the growing media. Fresh organic matter (chopped needles and twigs) seemed to impair seedling root function and reduced the dry weight increment by 30–50% as compared with pure mineral soil.The results suggest that as long as the water and temperature requirements are fulfilled planting Norway spruce seedlings without scarification and/or gathering extra mor and humus to the planting position should improve seedling growth as compared to the growth following scarification. Unmixed fresh needles and twigs or fresh needles and twigs combined with plain mineral soil should be avoided when planting Norway spruce seedlings.