On the sustainable productivity of planted forests

Planted forests have more than a millennium of history and represent the world's best hope for meeting global wood requirements in the twenty-first century. Advances in genetic improvement, nursery practices, stand establishment, and tending, harvesting, and manufacturing have boosted plantation yields to a higher level than at any point in history. Despite this, forest managers face a mounting challenge to demonstrate that plantation productivity is sustainable. Tackling this challenge requires a sound understanding of the principles of forest productivity, how they apply to a developing plantation, and how they are influenced by management. In this paper criticisms of plantation forestry are discussed from the basis of world experience, and examples of productivity decline are described. Obvious declines are rare, and can be attributed to poor soil management. However, ambiguities exist and controversy will continue until sustainable productivity can be demonstrated conclusively. Proposed programs aim to provide the technical base needed for sound soil management and sustainable plantation productivity.     

人工林长期立地生产力研究概述

本文首先对国内外人工林长期立地生产力问题研究的背景、历史沿革进行了回顾,阐述了从过去讨论单一树种连栽导致的生产力下降和土壤退化问题发展成为关注全球和区域的气候变化、大气污染、自然灾害以及所有与长期立地生产力有关的人工经营措施对长期立地生产力影响这样一个广阔领域研究的历史演变过程,并且列举了目前世界各国一些正在实施的相关研究项目的主要研究内容和目标.然后对长期立地生产力研究有关的概念和术语进行了比较分析,重点阐述了立地、立地生产力、长期森林生产力/持续森林生产力、长期立地生产力/持续立地生产力等概念在长期生产力研究中的意义和涵盖的范围,介绍了国内外一些学者对长期立地生产力研究时间周期的界定,并对我国几个树种(如杉木和毛竹等)的长期立地生产力研究的时间周期进行了探讨.最后简述了国内外在长期立地生产力研究上采用的技术方法、研究策略及今后的发展趋势.     

Intensive,site-specific silviculture: Manipulating resource availability at establishment for improved stand productivity. A review of South African research

An important window of opportunity to increase and sustain productivity in short-rotation plantations is the period from felling through re-establishment to canopy closure. This paper explores the effects, interactions and response mechanisms of intensive silvicultural practices on plantation productivity and sustainability, using five South African case studies (a–e). (a) Land preparation trials showed that complete surface cultivation by ploughing had a significant beneficial effect when afforestation is done for the first time in grasslands, improving basal area growth by 11–52% over pitting only. However, similar treatments have not resulted in significant growth responses under re-establishment conditions. (b) Stand growth suppression resulting chiefly from soil compaction during mechanised harvesting operations is strongly related to soil type, soil textural class and residue management options. Volume growth reduction in short-rotation eucalypt crops ranged from 25% on compaction sensitive loamy soils to less than 2% in resistant sandy soils. (c) The response mechanism whereby vegetation management improves stand productivity is a reduction in both inter-specific and intra-genotypic competition for resources, as well as a decrease in stand variability. Operationally, the most important criteria in a vegetation management programme relate to the timing of control operations across diverse site conditions. In local trials, the primary factors controlling the time taken for competition-induced tree growth suppression to occur were related to altitude, slash burning and the interaction between these factors, which facilitated the development of regional vegetation management strategies. (d) Empirical fertilizer trials in short-rotation hardwood stands have shown significant improvements in final productivity (commonly 20–90 m³ ha⁻¹ in eucalypts and 30–50 m³ ha⁻¹ in Acacia), as well as wood density (15–30 kg m⁻³ for eucalypts) following improvements in early nutrition. Improved nutrition was achieved through fertilization at planting or indirectly through residue management. The response mechanism is primarily due to early canopy development and associated increases in light capture, coupled with a more modest increase in canopy quantum efficiency and above-ground carbon allocation on a dry site. On sites with abundant water supply, increased quantum efficiency is likely to be the dominant response mechanism. (e) A series of operational gains trials tested the interactive effect of genetic tree improvement, site–genotype interaction, stand density and vegetation management + fertilization on eucalypt stand growth across five sites. There were no significant interactions between factors, but importantly, the results were additive, emphasizing the need to optimise each practice in the value chain to achieve maximum productivity.     

土壤因子对立地生产力的影响定量研究进展

地位指数法是目前应用最广泛的评价立地生产力的方法,但对它与土壤因子的关系研究得较少。将土壤因子定量引入基于地位指数的生长模型,可直观地反映土壤对树木生长的影响。文中对国内外基于地位指数表达的立地生产力与土壤因子的关系研究所涉及的模型和方法进行了总结归纳,以期为立地生产力评价和土壤管理提供借鉴。     

人工林长期生产力保持机制研究的背景、现状和趋势

国内外普遍关注人工林的稳定性问题,人工林长期生产力能否维护是当前人工林研究上的一个重要方面。特别是关于人工林是否导致地力退化,针叶林是否引起土壤酸化,一直是国际上争论的焦点。本文收集了国内外大量资料,全面反映了国内外人工林长期生产力研究现状,包括研究策略、研究方法、生态系统基本过程研究、实施人工林后立地质量变化,包括采伐剩余物处理、整地、抚育、间伐、森林收获、人工林树种本身、人工林群落结构对立地生产力的影响,对各种研究结果与结论作简要概括,同时反映不同观点,并对人工林长期立地生产力研究趋势也作了扼要阐述。     

关于我国人工林长期生产力的保持

为了保持我国人工林的长期生产力和提高森林质量,达到可持续经营的目的。作者在以往研究工作的基础上,广泛收集了国内外有关成果与资料,概括论述了我国人工林森林生产力的现状、不能保持生产力的原因与机理以及长期保持人工林生产力的技术对策。按第八次清查的全国森林资源数据,每公顷蓄积量为89.79 m^3,其中天然林为104.6 m^3,人工林为52.76 m^3,人工林森林生产力明显低于天然林;我国优势树种人工林每公顷蓄积量也不高,如杉木为69.8 m^3,马尾松为56.2 m^3,落叶松为58.6 m^3,这些数据比日本2002年3月公布的人工林相似树种的数据低很多,如日本针叶树蓄积量为227.97 m^3·hm^-2,柳杉为295.83 m^3·hm^-2,落叶松为189.88 m^3·hm^-2。关于年生长量,按全国第七次资源清查的中龄林与近熟林的数据做统计:杉木人工林5.2~4.2 m^3·hm^-2,马尾松为3.2~1.8 m^3·hm^-2,柏木为3.4~3.2 m^3·hm^-2;但按作者掌握的我国重点或示范性、试验性小面积人工林生长量看,却很高,按我国编制的速生丰产林标准的生长量数据看比较高。我国大面积人工林生产力不高,短周期经营的杨树、桉树人工林也不高,主要原因是:(1)纯林化与针叶化严重。按第八次全国森林资源统计,纯林占人工林的85%,而且针叶化明显,人工乔木林10个优势树种中针叶林比例高达56.9%。人工纯林结构简单,生物多样性低,生物学上缺乏稳定性。人工纯林特别是针叶纯林,抗性低,抗自然灾害和大气污染能力均差,人工纯林维护地力的能力也弱。(2)集约育林的技术措施:立地控制技术未得到推广,适地适树适品种原则在育林中未能认真贯彻;密度、植被、地力控制技术也执行不力,大面积上的人工林仍属于粗放经营;连作引起林地土壤理、化、生物特性恶化,土壤质量衰退,导致林木生长不良,林分生产力逐代下降;造林作业造成水土流失,如杉木造林,传统的育林技术未得到明显改进,福建尤溪炼山后进行的3年观测结果表明,炼山和水土流失损失的有机质高达989.35 kg·hm^-2,养分586.26 kg·hm^-2。桉树在砖红壤进行的机耕整地,水土流失也很严重,不合理的造林作业,最终导致土壤质量与森林生产力下降。短周期培育人工林带来了2个重要问题,一是对林地肥力要求高,二是如何利用无性系才能保持长期生产力。短周期经营采用的无性系,生长速度快,生长量大,轮伐期短,养分需求量大,如刚果12号W5无性系,通常利用地上部分,以5~7 a的轮伐期计,消耗的养分达571.75 kg·hm^-2,我国培养短周期人工林的土壤质量本底原本普遍不高,如果采取连作,土壤有机质养分会明显下降,土壤质量衰退,并对其功能产生危害。我国杨树、桉树等人工林要达到短周期持续经营,还需要实行多无性系造林。我国人工林长期生产力保持的技术对策,应采取先进的集约育林措施,包括遗传控制、立地控制、密度控制、植被控制与地力控制。     

桉树人工林可持续的土壤经营——以广西东门林场为例

桉树人工林在全世界的发展迅速,没有比在中国南部地区更需要一种新的木材和木纤维产品的需求。在桉树迅猛的扩张过程中,人工林可持续的生产力和合理的生态系统管理将扮演至关重要的角色。以往非可持续的农业经营导致了东门林场的土地严重退化,东门项目期间,在这些立地上重新造林证明了土壤营养的缺乏严重影响了退化立地的潜在生产力。1988年在东门进行了一个巨桉(E.grandis)早期施肥试验林植株地上部分不同器官的生物量和养分库的研究,以便更好地了解一些经营管理措施的养分结论。另一方面,林木采伐过程中养分的丧失,枯枝落叶的收集和燃烧使得土壤表面裸露,并加剧了土壤侵蚀。目前,在东门第3代、第4代集约经营的人工林的高生产力证明是高标准的经营管理的结果,林地上枯枝落叶和采伐剩余物的保留,细致的整地,土壤侵蚀的控制以及科学的施肥是关键因素;另外加上改良的遗传材料增强了生产力和收益,也增强了东门桉树人工林土壤可持续经营。一个国际林业研究中心网络得以建立,为了调查研究在同一立地上是否有可能进行连续的种植速生丰产林而对立地土壤和水资源没有损害,研究提供了大量的热带人工林有关立地管理的信息。为了优化集约经营人工林的生产力、收益率及可持续性,在华南地区有必要继续进行土壤和养分研究。     

Assessing the effects of early silvicultural management on long-term site productivity of fast-growing eucalypt plantations: the Brazilian experience

Eucalyptus is the dominant and most productive planted forest in Brazil, covering around 3.4 million ha for the production of charcoal, pulp, sawtimber, timber plates, wood foils, plywood and for building purposes. At the early establishment of the forest plantations, during the second half of the 1960s, the eucalypt yield was 10 m³ ha^?1 y^?1. Now, as a result of investments in research and technology, the average productivity is 38 m³ ha^?1 y^?1. The productivity restrictions are related to the following environmental factors, in order of importance: water deficits > nutrient deficiency > soil depth and strength. The clonal forests have been fundamental in sites with larger water and nutrient restrictions, where they out-perform those established from traditional seed-based planting stock. When the environmental limitations are small the productivities of plantations based on clones or seeds appear to be similar. In the long term there are risks to sustainability, because of the low fertility and low reserves of primary minerals in the soils, which are, commonly, loamy and clayey oxisols and ultisols. Usually, a decline of soil quality is caused by management that does not conserve soil and site resources, damages soil physical and chemical characteristics, and insufficient or unbalanced fertiliser management. The problem is more serious when fast-growing genotypes are planted, which have a high nutrient demand and uptake capacity, and therefore high nutrient output through harvesting. The need to mobilise less soil by providing more cover and protection, reduce the nutrient and organic matter losses, preserve crucial physical properties as permeability (root growth, infiltration and aeration), improve weed control and reduce costs has led to a progressive increase in the use of minimum cultivation practices during the last 20 years, which has been accepted as a good alternative to keep or increase site quality in the long term. In this paper we provide a synthesis and critical appraisal of the research results and practical implications of early silvicultural management on long-term site productivity of fast-growing eucalypt plantations arising from the Brazilian context.     

Crown radius of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) depending on stem size,stand density and site productivity

Crown size is a good indicator of the growth potential of trees and is often used in forest management for outlining thinning guidelines or constructing forest growth models. The aim of this study was to analyse mean crown radius as a function of stem size, stand density and site productivity in even-aged stands of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). Data included measurements of 620 trees from 53 plots in nine thinning experiments and one operational stand in Sweden, Denmark and Great Britain, representing a wide spectrum of thinning practices ranging from the strictly unthinned control to extremely heavy thinning with essentially solitary trees. Three sets of models were constructed based on different predictor variables, including indicators of individual stem size (diameter at breast height, DBH), stand density/thinning grade (quadratic mean diameter and stand basal area) and site productivity (stand top height). Preliminary results indicated a significant effect of DBH and (nominal) thinning grade on crown radius. The response pattern of the final models indicated an increasing crown radius with increasing DBH, with increasing thinning grade (decreasing stand density) and with decreasing site productivity. The models are valid for predicting the crown radius of pedunculate oak in even-aged forest stands.     

Diversity and production of Ethiopian dry woodlands explained by climate- and soil-stress gradients

Dry woodlands cover about 14% of the total African land surface and represent about 25% of the natural vegetation. They are characterized by a seasonal climate, with a dry season of 4-7 months. Large parts of these ecosystems are degrading due to grazing, fire or exploitation by people. We studied species richness and productivity patterns of dry woodlands in Ethiopia. For such ecosystems, classic productivity and diversity hypotheses predict that species richness and productivity increase as the wet season length increases, and decrease when soil conditions create water stress. We inventoried and measured trees in 18 2-ha plots distributed in two sites, one higher altitude site with a shorter wet season than the lower altitude site. We found that the stand volume per hectare was lower in the site with a shorter wet season. Across all 18 plots we observed that stand volume decreased with soil water stress (estimated from texture and depth). This was in line with the prediction. The species richness was lower in the short-wet-season woodlands, but was unaffected by variation in soil conditions. This suggests that climate driven constraints (wet season length) set the limits to species richness, and not soil conditions. As far as we know, this study is one of the first studies that evaluated these productivity and diversity hypotheses for dry African woodlands.     

整地方式对塞罕坝华北落叶松人工林生产力的影响

对机械整地、人工整地方式下塞罕坝华北落叶松人工林林分生长、生物量及生产力进行了研究,结果表明:机械整地条件下,34a生林分生物量为166.94t/hm2,人工整地条件下,34a生林分生物量为155.08t/hm2,可见采用机械整地方式可以比人工整地方式提高林木生物量7.65%;不同整地方式下,华北落叶松各组分的含碳量差别较小,树干的含碳量大约45.00t/hm2,大约占总碳储量的50.00%;通过对不同整地方式下生产力的比较,得出采用机械整地方式可以比人工整地方式提高华北落叶松人工林平均生产力12.40%。     

The value of six key soil variables for incorporation into a South African forest site classification system

The intensive nature of management practices in the exotic monoculture plantations of South Africa requires reliable decision support systems. Recent socio-economic developments, the need for optimal forest productivity, as well as increasing awareness of broader ecosystem values and environmental risks, highlight the importance of a unified approach to forest site classification and evaluation. This paper highlights the value of specific soil characteristics and its application value for a range of silviculture and management aspects related to site-specific forestry. A limited set of six soil variables are proposed for ecological mapping of forest landscapes at high-resolution operational-level scales. The variables proposed are parent material, soil classification, effective soil depth, depth limiting material, topsoil organic matter and topsoil texture. Each variable is discussed in terms of its significance as well as relevance to plantation forestry in South Africa. Shortcomings in our knowledge base and research requirements are highlighted, and the format of incorporation into a national forest site classification system is proposed. This paper will contribute to unity of purpose and understanding of forest site classification and evaluation in South Africa, and will promote management frameworks and decision support systems with desired environmental, economic and social benefits.     

北京山区主要造林树种刺槐的适地性研究

以北京山区主要造林树种刺槐为研究对象,采用数量化理论Ⅰ的方法,通过研究不同立地因子对人工刺槐林高生长与径生长的影响来分析刺槐的适地性。结果表明:土壤厚度、坡度是制约人工刺槐林高生长的最重要因子,坡位、土壤类型是影响人工刺槐林高生长的重要因子;土壤厚度是制约人工刺槐林径生长的最重要因子,坡度是影响人工刺槐林径生长的重要因子。研究结果确定了影响北京山区刺槐人工林生长的主导因子,可以为刺槐造林地的选择和科学经营提供依据。     

Effects of thinning and site productivity on culmination of stand growth: results from long-term monitoring experiments in Japanese cedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> D. Don) forests in northeastern Japan

We analyzed data from 28 long-term experimental monitoring plots installed in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) plantations in northeastern Japan to examine how site productivity and thinning practices relate to culmination in stand growth. Site productivity and thinning practices in the plots were evaluated by site index (dominant tree height at 40-years old) and by cumulative thinning rate (cumulative thinning volume divided by cumulative gross production during the entire period of measurement). Culmination of stand growth was evaluated by culmination age of the mean annual increment (MAI) and its maximum value (Max MAI). Max MAI for the mean annual gross increment (MAIgross) and mean annual net increment (MAInet) increased with increasing site index, but did not change with cumulative thinning rate. Culmination age for MAIgross decreased with increasing site index, but did not change with cumulative thinning rate. Culmination age for MAInet decreased with increasing site index. Additionally, culmination age for MAInet increased with increasing cumulative thinning rate in sites with a high site index (>19.3 m) but not in those with a low site index (<19.3 m). These results indicate that thinning extends the culmination age without changing Max MAInet under high site productivity. Therefore, thinning increases total net yield in sites with high productivity based on a long-term perspective.     

Impacts of changing climate on the productivity of Norway spruce dominant stands with a mixture of Scots pine and birch in relation to water availability in southern and northern Finland

A process-based ecosystem model was used to assess the impacts of changing climate on net photosynthesis and total stem wood growth in relation to water availability in two unmanaged Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominant stands with a mixture of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and birch (Betula sp.). The mixed stands were grown over a 100-year rotation (2000-99) in southern and northern Finland with initial species shares of 50, 25 and 25% for Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch, respectively. In addition, pure Norway spruce, Scots pine and birch stands were used as a comparison to identify whether species' response is different in mixed and pure stands. Soil type and moisture conditions (moderate drought) were expected to be the same at the beginning of the simulations irrespective of site location. Regardless of tree species, both annual net canopy photosynthesis (P(nc)) and total stem wood growth (V(s)) were, on average, lower on the southern site under the changing climate compared with the current climate (difference increasing toward the end of the rotation); the opposite was the case for the northern site. Regarding the stand water budget, evapotranspiration (E(T)) was higher under the changing climate regardless of site location. Transpiration and evaporation from the canopy affected water depletion the most. Norway spruce and birch accounted for most of the water depletion in mixed stands on both sites regardless of climatic condition. The annual soil water deficit (W(d)) was higher on the southern site under the changing climate. On the northern site, the situation was the opposite. According to our results, the growth of pure Norway spruce stands in southern Finland could be even lower than the growth of Norway spruce in mixed stands under the changing climate. The opposite was found for pure Scots pine and birch stands due to lower water depletion. This indicates that in the future the management should be properly adapted to climate change in order to sustain the productivity of mixed stands dominated by Norway spruce.     

经营措施对林地长期生产力影响的研究策略

随着社会对木材需求量的增大及更多的天然林被划为环境保护林,人工林在未来木材生产中将起越来越大的作用,致使林地长期生产力的维护问题引起了全世界的重视.主要介绍了经营措施对林地长期生产力影响的研究策略,并比较了演替时序研究、追溯研究及长期定位试验3种研究方法的优缺点及应用概况.     

杉木林迹地不同树种更新的生态效应

根据杉木人工林连栽容易引起产量下降和地力衰退等问题,对杉木林采伐迹地采用火力楠、湿地松和马尾松进行更新对比试验,研究结果表明,以火力楠为更新树种形成的人工林生长快、蓄积量大,林下生物多样性丰富,土壤水分物理性质得到较大的改善,土壤肥力提高快。火力楠是杉木林采伐迹地更新较为理想的树种。     

立地指数—环境因子模型评价森林立地生产力研究进展

立地质量评价和林分生产力预估对于树种选择、森林经营决策至关重要。目前常利用优势高直接估测立地指数以评价同龄纯林立地生产力,而对于混交林、异龄林、无林地以及随时间不断变化的立地则很难用该方法进行立地质量评价,往往通过立地指数—环境因子模型模拟,应用环境因子预测立地指数。文中简述了环境因子与立地指数关系研究概况,从研究尺度、数据来源、关键环境因子选择、预测模型及其拟合评价等方面进行综述,并讨论和展望了立地指数—环境因子的未来研究重点,以期为我国人工林立地质量评价和科学经营提供参考。     

人工林长期立地生产力研究的现状和前景

目前很少有直接的证据证明经营措施（特别是收获技术）导致了立地质量下降,并使人工林立地生产力下降。直接依据的缺乏,主要是由于专门研究这一问题的设计完善的试验林的不足。为了提高人们对森林生态系统功能的认识并使研究结果具有推广应用价值,开展设计完善的长期田间试验和过程研究势在必行。虽然立地分类系统和计算模型能够综合现有的知识以表达立地生产力的高低,但它们本身不能用作立地生产力下降或提高的依据。因此,建立长期田间试验是准确预测长期立地生产力变化的唯一途径。