A comparison between excavator-based harvester productivity in coppiced and planted Eucalyptus grandis compartments in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Due to the labour challenges in South Africa, mechanised forestry equipment has increasingly been required to operate in complex forest conditions – such as coppiced Eucalyptus compartments – where they have not operated before. For this reason, harvesters are either used in certain coppiced compartments with uncertain productivity expectations, or harvesters are not used in these compartments due to a lack of productivity knowledge. This research aimed to determine the influence of tree volume and tree form on the productivity of an excavator-based harvester in coppiced regrowth – with either double or single stems, or planted single stems – in Eucalyptus grandis pulpwood compartments. In addition, the stem felled first and the distance between stems were investigated for coppiced double stems. The stem felled first is whichever stem between the two coppiced double stems the harvester grabbed, felled and processed first. The tree volume was determined; thereafter the trees were classified into different form classes. The tree volume and the cycle time were used to determine productivity. The research results showed that planted trees had the highest productivity across all tree sizes, followed by coppiced single stems and then coppiced double stems. When harvesting a 0.2 m³ tree, the mean harvester productivity was 8.7 m³ per productive machine hour (PMH₀) in coppiced double stems, 13.8 m³ per PMH₀ in coppiced single stems and 16.1 m³ per PMH₀ in planted trees. In coppiced double stems the productivity was significantly influenced by the size of the stem felled first. In coppiced double stems the productivity was not significantly influenced by the distance between stems. The productivity for both coppiced single stems and coppiced double stems was significantly influenced by stem form. The poorly formed trees had lower productivity compared to the trees with good form.     

Assessment of the effect of Nectria flute canker on wood quality within mature <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus radiata</Emphasis> using multiple methods

Nectria flute canker is a fungal disease that results in cankers on Pinus radiata stems. The disease, caused by the pathogen Neonectria fuckeliana, is associated with commercial pruning operations that limit knot defect to a central core to promote growth of high-quality clearwood. Nectria flute canker is present in commercial plantation forests in parts of New Zealand and Chile. Symptoms of the disease, bark cracks, stem flattenings or depressions and flute cankers, were identified on 25 mature Pinus radiata trees. Trees were felled, and discs crosscut from within, and adjacent to, the disease symptoms. The discs were photographed, and three different methods were used to determine the extent of Nectria damage beyond the defect core into the valuable clearwood sheath. These methods included a visual assessment of photographs of internal damage and two quantitative methods, based on calculations of defect extent using image processing software. Overall, flute cankers were associated with the greatest degree of encased bark and severe decay pockets, and stem flattenings the least. None of the flattened stems had internal decay. The average damage to the clearwood sheath due to flute canker was 43%, whilst that for bark cracks and flattenings was 19 and 8%, respectively. Similar results were achieved using all three methods, and the preferred method would depend on the context of the study. Using a combination of all three methods provides a robust method for measuring the damage to internal wood quality by stem pathogens and other abiotic agents.     

Attack density and brood production of Tomicus piniperda in thinned Pinus sylvestris stems as related to felling date and latitude in Sweden

The attack density and brood production of Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Col., Scolytidae) were recorded on stems of Pinus sylvestris L. felled in southern, central, and northern Sweden before, during, and after the spring flight period in 1977 and 1978. The study sites were adjacent to stands clear‐felled during the last or the previous winter. The attack density (i.e., the number of egg galleries per m² inner bark area) varied considerably between localities and years. At all sites high attack densities were recorded in trees felled before or soon after the flight commencement, whereas few attacks occurred in trees felled in late May or later. The availability of brood material did not affect the seasonal attack pattern in any consistent way. The brood production varied from zero to more than 900 individuals per m².     

An investigation of the influence of harvesting practice on the development of blue-stain in Corsican pine logs

In September 1991, at Thetford, East Anglia and at Inverness,north-east Scotland, a comparison was initiated between blue-staindevelopment in Corsican pine logs from trees felled and processedby harvesting machine and similar logs from trees felled andtrimmed out by chain-saw. Blue-stain was assessed in discs from batches of logs destructivelysampled at 2-week intervals after felling. At the more southerlysite of Thetford, stain was first observed after 4 weeks. Themaximum recorded area was 10 per cent of the wood surface ina sample analysed after 10weeks. In contrast, stain never exceeded,1.1 per cent of the wood surface at Inverness. Amounts of stainwere significantly greater with machine-harvested logs thanwith chainsaw-harvested logs and were correlated with the amountof bark removed or loosened during harvesting. The use of spikedrollers resulted in more stain than did the use of rubber rollers. The fungi isolated from stained wood included Sphaeropsis sapinea,Potebniamyces coniferarum and Ceratocystis coerulescens. Theseare species adapted to the colonization of wood exposed throughdamage to the overlying bark     

Effect of thinning on the development of compression wood in stems of Corsican pine

This study considered the effects of thinning on the development of compression wood in stems of 35-year-old stand of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra L.). Part of the stand had been thinned at 5-yearly intervals and part left unthinned. Twenty trees each from the thinned and unthinned stands were randomly selected and felled. Measurements were made on tree height, stem diameter, stem slenderness and canopy depth. Wood samples were removed from the central part of the main log and cross-sectional measurements made on ring width, basic density and compression wood content. Cross-sectional area of compression wood was found to be three time higher in stems from the unthinned trees in comparison with those from the thinned trees. No significant differences in mean radial ring width or basic density were found between treatments. Correlations indicated that, with increasing in stem diameter, compression wood content increased in the unthinned trees, while a decline in compression was observed in the thinned trees. Tree height was also positively correlated with compression wood content in unthinned trees, while no equivalent relationship was observed in thinned trees. Observations from this study, while not conclusive, suggest that phototropic stimulus may be producing stem inclinations in the unthinned stand as trees compete for space in the canopy, whereas crown competition has been largely eliminated in the thinned stand; and that this is responsible for compression wood levels recorded in this study.     

Phenology of Quercus ithaburensis with emphasis on the effect of fire

Observations on the phenology of Quercus ithaburensis were carried out during three consecutive years in Yahudia Nature Reserve, Israel. Bud-break occurred mostly in February with minor bud breaks in March–April, May and September–October. Trees shed leaves in October through January with a peak in December–January, but even during these months at least 10% of the trees remained evergreen. Branch growth took place during February–April. Shedding of 1-year old branches was recorded in half of the observations, accompanied by the formation of abscission tissue. Acorns generally began to ripen in November and shedding extended from December until January. The percentage of acorns attaining full ripeness varied considerably from branch to branch and from year to year, reaching approx. 20% of the number of acorns found in May. Ripe acorns appeared exclusively on 2-year old branches. The degree of fire damage to trees greatly depended on the intensity of the fire, which in turn depended on weather conditions, quantity of dry pasture vegetation, and the location of the tree relative to cairns. Most trees were located within cairns, which constituted insulation belts, as no herbaceous vegetation grows on them. The effect of grazing intensity was decisive to the extent that fire damaged trees. Reduction of the bulk of dry pasture vegetation, affected the number of trees harmed, both as to their revival and their re-budding potential. Heavy grazing reduced to nearly half the number of trees suffering damage. After an early summer fire, budding was monitored, but not after a late summer fire.     

Cambial Anatomy and Annual Rhythm of Secondary Xylem Development in the Twigs of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae) Growing in Different Forests of Gujarat State

Abstract

Seasonal behavior of vascular cambium and development of secondary xylem were studied in the 2-3-years-old branches of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae) growing in moist deciduous (MDF), dry deciduous (DDF) and scrub land (SF) forests of Gujarat State. Development of xylem began with the sprouting of new leaves in January in both MDF and DDF. Xylem production culminated in July in MDF whereas it reached peak in April and July in DDF. Cambial cells ceased to divide with the maturation of leaves in November and October in MDF and DDF, respectively. Mature xylem and phloem derivatives surrounded the cambium in December in MDF and November in DDF. Radial growth in the branches of trees growing in SF was found continuous throughout the year with peak cambial activity in April, July and November. In all the three forests, maximal radial growth was encountered in July when the rains were heavy. Cambial activity and xylem development showed significant correlation with the phenology of the trees in MDF and DDF whereas cambium was found active throughout the year and no correlation was found between the cambial activity and phenology in SF.     

Productivity of single-grip harvesters in clear-cutting operations in the northern European part of Russia

A field-based study was carried out to broaden our knowledge of fully mechanized cut-to-length harvesting productivity in naturally grown forests in the northern European part of Russia (NEPR). The recorded data comprised 38 midsized single-grip harvesters (JD 1270D) in clear-cutting operations in the Karelia, Komi, Vologda, Leningrad, Tver, and Kirov regions in NEPR, 4.3 million felled trees, and 1.4 million m³ u.b. (under bark) of processed timber. Harvesting operations were conducted in forest stands composed of spruce (48% on average), pine (19%), birch (22%), and aspen (11%), with an average stem volume 0.31 m³ u.b. The cut-to-length harvesters produced from 4.3 to 14.9 m³ u.b./productive machine hour (PMH) and 16.0–49.5 m³ u.b./stem processing machine hour (S _proc MH). A machine evaluation analysis and a regression analysis were used to formulate models for predicting cutting productivity of modern single-grip harvester. The regression models were developed to estimate the productivity of the harvesters in the regions taking into account two significant factors influencing the productivity: the stem volume and tree species of the felled trees. Productivity/cubic meter u.b. of processed timber/PMH was calculated according to stem volume and tree species distributions in most forest-covered NEPR regions. Further research is suggested to improve the developed productivity models and to allow prediction of system performance over a broad range of stand and site conditions.     

Intra-annual variations in climate influence growth and wood density of Norway spruce

Intra-annual radial growth variations of two Norway spruce trees (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were monitored over 4 years, at four heights up the stem, by means of point-dendrometers. The trees were then felled and radial wood samples were cut from the radii that had been monitored by the dendrometers and analyzed for density. From the radial growth measurements recorded by the dendrometers, we related positions within the rings to dates, thus making possible investigation of the relationships between changes within the rings in wood density and fluctuations in climate or growth rate. Radial growth started in early April and ended, with large intra-annual differences, in August or September. Short-term variations in growth rate were related to fluctuations in climate parameters and soil water reserves. The sensitivity of radial growth to climate decreased with stem height. Wood density responded strongly to drought events, and a dry period in June 1996 induced false-ring formation. Wood density was relatively independent of growth rate and climatic conditions during the first part of the growing season, but increased with decreasing radial growth rate later in the growing season.     

Traumatic resin canals as markers of infection events in Douglas‐fir roots infected with Armillaria root disease

In response to an infection, traumatic resin canals (TRCs) are formed in the roots of many conifers, which may be used to determine the timing and sequence of infection events essential for epidemiological studies of root diseases. Juvenile Douglas‐fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) tree roots at coastal and interior sites in British Columbia were wounded at various times of the year or were inoculated with an isolate of Armillaria ostoyae, and root sections were taken to determine the timing and extent of TRC formation. Naturally infected Douglas‐fir were also examined to determine the extent of the TRCs in infected and uninfected roots on infected trees and in the lower stem. Wounds made in March and October had poor or no TRC formation while the summer wounds responded strongly and were associated with resin soaking. Roots wounded in October did not respond until the following year in all trees except one. Trees produced TRCs and resin soaked tracheids at all times in response to the fungal inoculations. The most striking difference between wounding or fungal inoculation was the multiple bands of TRCs produced in response to the fungus. TRCs at natural A. ostoyae infections were found 92% of time in roots at the stem junction and 74% of the time in the stem at soil line. TRCs were produced in uninfected roots on infected trees but disappeared with increasing distance from the initiating lesion. TRCs can be used to time yearly and seasonal root infections when they can be traced from an identified lesion.     

Effect of topography and geology on the site index of Picea abies in the West Carpathian,Poland

Abstract

The effects of topographic features and the soil parent rock on the site index of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] were examined. Field data were collected on 347 plots located in the Polish West Carpathian. On these plots, the diameter at breast height and the height of trees were measured and the age of trees was determined. On 64 plots one dominant or codominant tree was felled for stem analysis. In addition, topographic features of each site were measured, including elevation above sea level, aspect and slope. Stem analysis data were used in the development of a local site index system, which was used for calculating the site index for particular plots. In order to interpret site index as functions of elevation, aspect, slope, size of a mountain massif and soil parent rock, the multiple regression model was used, which explained 79.0% of the variation in Norway spruce site index. Elevation above sea level was the major factor responsible for variation in site index, and was negatively correlated (R ² _adj=0.610) with site index. Site index also depended on the soil parent rock. The stands growing on the tertiary Magura sandstones had considerably higher site indices than those located on the geological substratum composed of Istebna and Godula sandstones formed during the Cretaceous period. The site index of Norway spruce is also determined by the aspect, slope and height of mountain massif.     

Etiology of the resinous stem canker ofChamaecyparis obtusa: Cistella japonica as the causal agent

In order to confirm the pathogenicity ofCistella japonica, inoculation experiments were conducted onto several coniferous trees. Resinous lesions similar to those of the resinous stem canker developed by the inoculation withCi. japonica only onChamaecyparis obtusa. Chamaecyparis trees were heavily affected when inoculated with the fungus in November, but slightly in May and August. Resin flows occurred when inocula ofCi. japonica were put into the holes made on stem barks and on pruning scars. Isolates ofCi. japonica varied greatly in the pathogenicity. On the lesions caused by the fungus, resinous and necrotic areas expanded in fusiform or oblong shape, and resin cysts were formed in inner barks. Beneath some necrotic inner barks, sapwood was suppressed in growth for the damages in cambial cells and stained.Ci. japonica was reisolated from the inoculated lesion tissues, though isolation frequency of the fungus became lower in some lesions two or more years after the inoculation. The results of these inoculations proved thatCi. japonica was the causal agent of the resinous stem canker ofCh. obtusa.     

Breeding efficiency in Tomicus piniperda and shoot damage after late autumn thinning of young Pinus sylvestris stands

The breeding of the pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda) after thinning of young Scots pine stands in late autumn, and subsequent shoot damage, were studied in southern, central and northern Finland during three successive years (1977–79). No distinct increase in the attack density or beetle population was observed on the felled trees during the study period. Shoot damage on the standing trees remained low, and was not considered to have any marked negative effect on tree growth or further development of the pine stand. No noticeable difference was found between the different parts of the country. The economic importance of beetle damage resulting from late autumn thinnings was estimated to be low.     

Detection of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus from old discs of dead Pinus armandii var. amamiana trees using a new detection kit

We examined the effectiveness of a new Bursaphelenchus xylophilus detection kit, based on loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), in old discs taken from the stem base of B. xylophilus‐infested dead trees of Pinus armandii var. amamiana (PAAm) occurring in their natural habitats. LAMP products, representing a past B. xylophilus infection, were detected in two consecutive trials from 16 of 20 discs collected from PAAm trees that died between 2003 and 2006. Bursaphelenchus xylophilus were more frequently detected using LAMP in wood samples taken from sapwood than from heartwood. No significant differences in the detection of B. xylophilus using LAMP were observed in relation to the disc collection time (from 3 to 6 years before the analysis). Bursaphelenchus xylophilus were not detected using LAMP in four discs, although a B. xylophilus infection had been confirmed for the original PAAm trees at the time they were found dead. This may have resulted from the small amount of wood chips needed for the LAMP test or the reduced number and uneven distribution of the nematode in the old dead trees. The results indicate that the new B. xylophilus detection kit will be a very efficient tool for conducting retrospective analysis of PAAm mortality factors.     

Models for Predicting Dry Matter Content of Norway spruce

Models were developed for predicting the dry matter content of single Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stems from non-destructive field measurement data such as tree height, diameter and age. The material under study comprised 1612 stem discs originating from 235 trees grown at nine locations in Denmark and southern Sweden. In total, 153 trees (1054 discs) originating from a thinning experiment in southern Denmark were used for establishing the models, which were later validated on independent material. Results of the validation were that the 95% confidence interval for single stem density was ±9 to ±16% when based on average ring width at breast height, but within ±7% when based on wood samples taken at breast height. The density models were combined with standard volume models in order to predict dry matter content. Validation on independent material showed that in general the dry matter content of single stems can be estimated with less than 10% error (RMSE).     

吉林省主要林型森林火灾释放碳量的月变化

根据吉林省1969—2004年的森林火灾统计数据,计算出了吉林省主要林型森林火灾碳释放量的月变化。为了充分减少由于森林火灾排放的碳量,应重点防范白桦林9、10和2月,阔叶林9、5、10、4、3和11月,针阔混交林9、11、4和10月,落叶松林4、3、10和5月,柞树林5、4、9、10和3月,杨树林和红松林9月的森林火灾。     

Transfer of the P-type of Heterobasidion annosum from old-growth stumps of Picea abies to Picea abies and Larix×eurolepis

The infection of Picea abies and Larix x eurolepis by Heterobasidion annosum was studied in felled trees in Sweden. Thinnings were carried out in two stands of L. x eurolepis, 15 and 20 years old, and in a 25-year-old stand of P. abies, established on a site heavily infected by H. annosum. The 15- and 20-year-old L. x eurolepis stands exhibited the greatest incidence of butt rot with infections amounting to 38 and 57%, respectively, of removed trees. The incidence of butt rot in the P. abies stand was only 5%. Heterobasidion annosum was the main butt rot causing fungus. All isolates of H. annosum were of the P-intersterility group. Transfer of H. annosum from old-growth P. abies stumps to trees felled in the thinning of the next generation was demonstrated by somatic incompatibility tests. However, the majority of infections could not be connected with decay already established in the previous generation. In L. c eurolepis, rot columns were frequent, including also several genotypes in the same stem, and typically positioned in the inner sapwood. The few infections of P. abies were situated in the heartwood.     

Individual-level analysis of damage to residual trees after single-tree selection harvesting in northern Japanese mixedwood stands

Quantifying tree damage and mortality caused by single-tree selection harvesting is critical to understanding postharvest forest dynamics and management. In this study, we quantified the effects of tree size and species and the distance from residual trees to felled trees and skid trails on damage to residual trees and mortality in mixed coniferous–broadleaved stands of Hokkaido, northern Japan. Among the 4,961 trees that we studied, 373 (7.5 %) were damaged, and 148 of these trees (3.0 %) died during or immediately after logging. Hierarchical Bayesian modeling showed that the risk of damage to residual trees increased with increasing size of the felled trees and with increasing proximity to felled trees and skid trails. Smaller residual trees had the greatest risk of damage. Species differed in their susceptibility to damage; Abies sachalinensis (Fr. Schm.) Masters and Picea jezoensis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Carr. were the most susceptible species in our sample plots. Smaller damaged trees had the highest risk of mortality. The damaged trees that did not die at the time of logging had a higher risk of postharvest mortality than undamaged trees. Our results indicate that, to minimize logging-induced damage and mortality: (1) the spatial arrangement of skid trails should be optimized and fixed, (2) the risk of skidding damage should be considered before marking the trees to be harvested and choosing the felling direction, and (3) logging operators should be instructed to avoid damaging small trees, especially those of the species that are most susceptible to damage.     

Long-term trends in height growth of Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris during the past 100 years in Komi Republic (north-western Russia)

Abstract

Adapting forest management practices to the changing environment of Komi Republic requires an understanding of the response of unmanaged natural forests to climatic changes. Komi Republic is a region of north-western Russia where large areas of natural boreal forest still exist. Apical growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (108 trees, 529 discs) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) (88 trees, 423 discs) was analysed using stem analysis techniques. Mean apical growth curves were calculated for four zones of boreal forests in two subsequent 50 year periods starting from 1900. A statistically significant increase in height increment of 40% for Siberian spruce and 30% for Scots pine was identified from samples representing the Komi Republic. Within this region statistically significant height increment increases were found in the middle taiga zone for Siberian spruce of 240% and Scots pine of 140%, while northern taiga Siberian spruce increased by 164%. Taking into account that trees were samples in remote untouched pristine forests, the main causes of increased height increment are suggested to be climatic, which shows a large increase in temperature (0.43°C during the past 30 years) and a modest decrease in precipitation (2.2% over the past 30 years).     

Effect of growth on wood properties for Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi): Differences of annual ring structure between corewood and outerwood

To investigate the relations between growth and the wood properties of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), six sample trees of varied ages and radial growth were felled and the ring width, ring density, percentage of latewood, and some other factors were determined. There were significant differences in ring density and percentage of latewood between sample trees with vigorous growth and those with poor growth. In corewood the ring density decreased with increasing ring width for all sample trees, whereas in outerwood this trend did not appear. Moreover, the latewood width increased with the increment of ring width only in outerwood, whereas there was almost no change in the corewood. The variation in patterns of ring width, ring density, and percentage of latewood in the radial direction and the relation with height was also studied.Part of this report was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997