Contrasting rooting patterns of some arid-zone fruit tree species from Botswana – I. Fine root distribution

To assess the possible degree of root competition from fruit trees which could potentially be used in agroforestry systems, fine root density of fruit trees Strychnos cocculoides Bak., Strychnos spinosa Lam. (Loganiaceae) and Vangueria infausta Burch. (Rubiaceae), as well as from the shrubby species, Grewia flava DC. (Tiliaceae) was investigated. Vangueria infausta had the highest fine root densities in both vertical and horizontal extensions. In Vangueria infausta fine root density decreased with increasing soil depth. For the other species in the 80 cm soil profile investigated, no significant changes in fine root density with soil depth were found. For Strychnos cocculoides almost no fine roots were detected in the upper soil horizon (0–20 cm). Using fine root surface area densities, exploration and exploitation indices were calculated. Vangueria infausta had the highest value of the exploration index compared to the other species. For use in agroforestry systems Vangueria infausta was estimated to be the most competitive of the investigated species, whereas Strychnos cocculoides seems to be the less competitive. Strychnos cocculoides has additionally spatial arrangements of fine roots favourable for agroforestry, slowly increasing with depth and additionally low concentrations in upper soil layers.     

Dimensional instability of cement bonded particleboard

This paper examines the dimensional instability of cement bonded particleboard (CBPB) and discusses the behaviour of CBPB during cyclic changes in relative humidities (RH). The results indicated that the changes of CBPB in both mass and dimensions reflected the changes in RH; in a cycle 90–65–35–65–90%RH the change of per percentage change in RH was 1.0:1.3:1.3:2.5 for mass, 1:2:2:1 for length and 1.3:1.1:1.0:1.0 for thickness. The changes were closely related to the structure of CBPB and the nature of the cement paste and wood chips. Thickness change was double that of the length change between 65 and 35%RH and triple that between 65 and 90%RH. The rate of change in mass was much higher than that in dimensions. The hysteresis loops were dissimilar to those of other wood and wood-based materials, with the loops of mass change closed between 65 and 90%RH, while the loops for dimensional changes were open. A set of the former loops moved upward and the latter moved downward with increasing number of cycles, corresponding to an accumulated increase in mass, but decrease in dimensions. The models developed for CBPB under constant and a single changing RH were successfully applied to changes under cyclic RH.The sorption behaviour and dimensional movement of CBPB has been shown to be influenced not only by RH, but also by its intermediate history, with the maximum values for change within every phase of sorption, in both mass and dimensions, being higher for the cycling between 35–90%RH than the cycling regime 35–65–90%RH. The ratios of dimensional changes to mass change of CBPB were greater under the latter regime than under the former regime.The senior author wishes to thank Professor W.B. Banks of University of Wales, Bangor for his constructive discussions and assistance and the British Council for partly financial support.     

Effects of density and resin content on the physical and mechanical properties of scrimber manufactured from mulberry branches

The silk industry in China produces a large amount of mulberry branches as by-product every year. Mulberry branches have high longitudinal toughness and good overall mechanical properties. However, these branches are incinerated because their utility in other industries is limited by their small size. This study determines the feasibility of manufacturing scrimber from mulberry branches by using cold pressing method, followed by thermo-curing with different densities and resin contents. Results show that density [ranging from (0.81–1.24) g/cm³] exerts a greater effect on the shear strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) than resin content (changing from 8 to 20 %). The increase rate slows down when the density exceeds 1.1 g/cm³ and the resin content reaches more than 12 %. The strength-to-weight ratio analysis shows that the MOR/density and MOE/density maximum at 1.02–1.10 g/cm³. The density and resin contents of mulberry scrimber with cold compress and heat setting can be set to 1.0–1.1 g/cm³ and at approximately 12 %, respectively. The mechanical properties of the product meet the maximum requirement indicated in the Chinese national standard for construction. Mulberry scrimber can be a very promising supplement for wood because of its good performance, abundant supply, and renewability.     

Effects of closing mountain for forest restoration in the watershed of Miyun reservoir,Beijing

The paper provides a systematical analysis of ecological restoration effects of natural secondary forest of closurearea in Chao Guanxi Gou, Miyun County, Beijing. The results indicate that through more than twenty years of hillclosing afforestation since 1983, canopy closure has improved almost by 0.2; forest cover rate has raised from 7.2% to 93.8%; biodiversity, tree biomass and vegetation community have increased to a great extent. Compared with the average canopy closure before hillclosing afforestation in this area, it has improved to over 0.4 in average and increased by 0.1-0.2. The forest coverage degree has reached more than 90%. Consequently, the forest plays more important roles in intercepting precipitation, improving water storage capacity of soil, decreasing the surface runoff, and preventing soil and water loss.     

Manufacture and mechanical properties of binderless boards from kenaf core

Binderless boards were prepared from finely ground powders of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) core under varying manufacturing conditions. This research was designed to investigate their mechanical properties and evaluate the various manufacturing conditions: pressing temperature and time, pressing pressure, board density, board thickness, grain size of raw materials, and addition of furfural. The mechanical properties (i.e., modulus of rupture and elasticity, internal bonding strength) of boards increased with increasing board density and met the requirement for 15 type medium-density fiberboard (MDF) by JIS A 5905-1994. Thickness swelling and water absorption of boards exceeded the maximum permitted levels for 15 type MDF and S20 grade hardboard by JIS A 5905-1994, which indicates the low water-resistant property of binderless boards. In contrast to that in usual wood-based materials, internal bonding strength showed significant correlations with other board properties: modulus of rupture and elasticity, thickness swelling, and water absorption. We confirmed experimentally that the best manufacturing conditions proved to be as follows: pressing temperature 180°C, time 10min; pressing pressure 5.3MPa; board thickness 5mm; board density 1.0g/cm³; average grain size 53µm; and powder with no furfural content.Part of this paper was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002     

Spatial pattern of soil carbon and nutrient storage at the alpine tundra ecosystem of Changbai Mountain,China

气候变化对土壤碳和养分的影响越来越受到生态学家的关注,尤其是对高山冻原生态系统的影响。本研究目的是长白山高山冻原系统土壤碳和养分的空间异质性。结果表明:不同土层深度的土壤碳在Meadow alpine tundra vegetation (MA)中显著地高于其他植被类型(p<0.05);在每一植被类型中,表层(010 cm)碳含量显著地高于1020 cm的土层;土壤氮的分布格局是氮素在表层和1020 cm土层变化规律相似;不同土层深度的土壤磷在Lithic alpine tundra vegetation (LA) 中显著地低于其他植被类型(p<0.05);土壤钾浓度在Felsenmeer alpine tundra vegetation (FA) 和LA中显著地高于其他植被类型,但在每一植被类型中土壤钾浓度随土壤深度没有明显的变化;不同深度土壤硫在MA中显著地高度其他植被类型;对每一植被类型而言,C: N, C: P, C: K 和C: S随土壤深度增加而降低。除了在SA的表层外,表层的土壤C: N高于1020 cm的土层。在长白山高山冻原系统中,随植被类型的变化,土壤碳和养分储量有着显著的空间异质性。参29表3图1。     

Assessing raindrop impact energy at the forest floor in a mature Japanese cypress plantation using continuous raindrop-sizing instruments

The raindrop size distribution of throughfall and open rainfall was monitored continuously during a rainfall event using laser raindrop-sizing instruments (LD gauges), in order to calculate the raindrop impact energy in a plantation of mature Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), where surface erosion at the forest floor had been a problem. Data from two rainfall events were analyzed. The LD gauges recorded qualitative raindrop size distribution, and the capture rate during each rainfall event was used to manipulate raindrop data quantitatively. Throughfall and open rainfall comparisons revealed several important differences. First, throughfall raindrops were fewer in number and larger in size than open rainfall drops. In one rainfall event, for example, throughfall raindrops were less than one-fifth as frequent as open rainfall raindrops; in addition, the maximum throughfall raindrop diameter was 6.35mm compared to 3.31mm for open rainfall raindrops. Second, throughfall raindrops that were larger than the largest open rainfall raindrops comprised 63.8% of the throughfall precipitation by volume. Third, total raindrop impact energy from throughfall was over twice that of open rainfall. Moreover, comparison of throughfall events implied that throughfall raindrops did not always have a uniform distribution between different events or among different periods of time in one rainfall event, in contrast to findings in previous studies which showed that throughfall raindrops had a uniform size distribution independent of rainfall intensity. It is possible that an abrupt transition of throughfall intensity from low to high changes the distribution of throughfall raindrops.     

Characterization of the correlation structure of lumber strength properties

Spatially averaged data from the literature for along-the-length correlation of lumber flatwise bending modulus of elasticity and tensile strength was analyzed to determine the correlation of the base process for each property. The cross correlation between the two properties was also examined. The exponential correlation function, equivalent to a first-order auto-regressive process, was the best model for both correlation and cross correlation, based on the sum of squared errors between the correlations from the test data and the fitted model. The fitted functions can be used to generate correlation and cross correlation information for spatially averaged processes averaged over lengths different from the lengths used to obtain the test data.     

Accurate determination of the limiting viscosity number of pulps

The viscosity of copper ethylenediamine (CED) solutions of pulps exhibits a decrease with time, while the viscosity loss is insignificant when the time between dissolution and measurement is just 15–20 min. Time of 1 h or longer would lead to noticeable differences from the initial viscosity. The viscosity of the solution at the beginning can be estimated from a series of measurements performed under strict conditions. In particular, tight control of the temperature of the solution and accurate measurement of the flow time are of importance. The plot of efflux times against elapsed times to the measurements results in a almost linear correlation, which enables to determine the initial viscosity.