Homogeneous shear stress field of wood in an Arcan shear test configuration measured by means of electronic speckle pattern interferometry: description of the test setup

Wood Science and Technology - Several studies have dealt with the problem of how to measure the shear modulus of small clear wood specimens, avoiding bias from normal compression, bending, tension...     

Concept and feasibility study for the integrated evaluation of environmental monitoring data in forests

In the 1970s unexpected forest damages, called “new type of forest damage” or “forest decline”, were observed in Germany and other European countries. The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Federal States implemented a forest monitoring system in the early 1980s, in order to monitor and assess the forest condition. Due to the growing public awareness of possible adverse effects of air pollution on forests, in 1985 the ICP Forests was launched under the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution (CLRTAP) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE). The German experience in forest monitoring was a base for the implementation of the European monitoring system. In 2001 the interdisciplinary case study “concept and feasibility study for the integrated evaluation of environmental monitoring data in forests”, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, concentrated on in-depths evaluations of the German data of forest monitoring. The objectives of the study were: (a) a reliable assessment of the vitality and functioning of forest ecosystems, (b) the identification and quantification of factors influencing forest vitality, and (c) the clarification of cause-effect-relationships leading to leaf/needle loss. For these purposes additional data from external sources were acquired: climate and deposition, for selected level I plots tree growth data, as well as data on groundwater quality. The results show that in particular time series analysis (crown condition, tree growth, and tree ring analysis), in combination with climate and deposition are valuable and informative, as well as integrated evaluation of soil, tree nutrition and crown condition data. Methods to combine information from the extensive and the intensive monitoring, and to transfer process information to the large scale should be elaborated in future.

Modeling spatial variability in the life-cycle costs of low-volume forest roads

Cost estimation is probably the most decisive factor in the process of computer-aided, preliminary planning for low-volume road networks. However, the cost of construction is normally assumed to be route-independent for a specific project area, resulting in sub-optimal layouts. This is especially true for mountainous terrain and in areas with unstable subsoil. Here, we present a model for more accurately estimating spatial variability in road life-cycle costs, based on terrain surface properties as well as geological properties of the subsoil. This parametric model incorporates four structural components: embankment, retaining structures, pavement, and drainage and stream-crossing structures. It is linked to a geo-database that allows users to derive location-specific parameter values as input. In applying this model, we have demonstrated that variability in costs ranges widely for mountainous areas, with the most expensive construction being approximately five times greater there than on more favorable sites. This variability strongly affects the optimal layout of a road network. First, when location-specific slope gradients are considered, costs are reduced by about 17% from those calculated via currently available engineering practices; when both slope gradient and geotechnical formations are included, those costs are decreased by about 20%. Second, the length of the road network is increased by about 4% and 10% respectively, compared with current practices.     

Effects of the needle bladder rust (Chrysomyxa rhododendri) on Norway spruce: implications for subalpine forests

Norway spruce trees in the subalpine forests of the European Alps are frequently attacked by the needle rust Chrysomyxa rhododendri. The obligate parasite undergoes a complex life cycle with a host shift between rhododendrons (Rhododendron sp.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karsten] and causes a yellowing and defoliation of the current-year needles in summer. Infected trees show several anatomical, morphological and physiological modifications, including a decrease in pigment content and net photosynthesis of infected needles, lower biomass production and reduced radial and height growth. The consequences are diminished timber yield and cripple growth. Because of repeated heavy infections in recent years, forest managers report increasing difficulties in both natural regeneration and afforestation at high elevation sites, where rhododendrons occur. This review gives a summary of the present knowledge about the effects of C. rhododendri infections on Norway spruce, including so far unpublished findings and with particular attention to the phenomena of resistant trees. Implications for subalpine forests and counter strategies are discussed.     

Yield decrease in sugar beet caused by reduced tillage and direct drilling

In a long-term series of on-farm tillage trials (10 loessial sites in southern and eastern Germany; annual mouldboard ploughing 0.25–0.3 m deep, mulching with a rigid-tine cultivator 0.1–0.15 m deep, direct drilling with no tillage except seedbed preparation for sugar beet solely) sugar beet yield was significantly decreased by direct drilling compared to ploughing. This study was conducted to (i) show that the lower plant density caused by mulching and direct drilling contributes to yield decrease but explains effects just partially, and (ii) determine the relation between soil structural properties and sugar beet yield. In 2003–2005 plant density experiments (53,000, 65,000 and 82,000 plants ha^?1) were introduced to tillage plots on five selected environments. Yield and soil structural properties of four layers representing 0–0.43 m soil depth were determined.White sugar yield (WSY) significantly declined with direct drilling compared to ploughing treatment, whereas mulching treatment diminished WSY less pronounced. Moreover, decreasing plant density significantly lowered WSY. No interactions between tillage and plant density occurred, revealing that both factors additively affected WSY.Decreasing tillage depth increased penetration resistance (PR) and dry bulk density (DBD), and diminished air filled pore volume (AFPV) in the topsoil down to 0.27 m depth. Several soil structural parameters were closely correlated with each other as well as WSY. Variation of single parameters explained up to 60% of WSY variance attributed to tillage. Combining DBD from 0.03 to 0.07 m depth, average PR from 0.03 to 0.27 m and AFPV from 0.03 to 0.18 m soil depth explained 77% of the tillage effect. Nevertheless, multi-collinearity of soil physical parameters allowed no clear conclusions on the cause-and-effect mechanisms.Conclusively, lowered plant density and soil structure degradation due to reduced tillage may independently decrease sugar beet yield. When grown on loessial soils this crop requires mechanical loosening down to 0.15–0.20 m depth to produce high yields.     

Relation between soil organic matter and yield levels of nonlegume crops in organic and conventional farming systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between yield levels of nonleguminous crops and soil organic matter (SOM) under the specific conditions of organic and conventional farming, respectively, and to identify implications for SOM management in arable farming considering the farming system (organic vs. conventional). For that purpose, correlations between yield levels of nonlegume crops and actual SOM level (C_org, N_t, C_hwe, N_hwe) as well as SOM‐level development were examined including primary data from selected treatments of seven long‐term field experiments in Germany and Switzerland. Yield levels of nonlegume crops were positively correlated with SOM levels, but the correlation was significant only under conditions of organic farming, and not with conventional farming treatments. While absolute SOM levels had a positive impact on yield levels of nonlegumes, the yield levels of nonlegumes and SOM‐level development over time correlated negatively. Due to an increased demand of N from SOM mineralization, higher yield levels of nonlegumes obviously indicate an increased demand for OM supply to maintain SOM levels. Since this observation is highly significant for farming without mineral‐N fertilization but not for farming with such fertilization, we conclude that the demand of SOM‐level maintenance or enhancement and thus adequate SOM management is highly relevant for crop production in organic farming both from an agronomical and ecological point of view. Under conventional management, the agronomic relevance of SOM with regard to nutrient supply is much lower than under organic management. However, it has to be considered that we excluded other possible benefits of SOM in our survey that may be highly relevant for conventional farming as well.     

Pedotransfer function to predict density of forest soils in Switzerland

Soil density is an important soil property, but respective measurements are usually scarce. With data from 559 mineral soil horizons (134 sites) we developed a linear regression pedotransfer function (PTF) for the density of forest soils (sieved to ≤ 2 mm). The field estimate of density was the most important covariate. RMSE of 0.205 Mg m^?3 and R² of 0.67, calculated on independent data (131 horizons), were better than the statistics obtained by published, recalibrated PTF (RMSE 0.271–0.324 Mg m^?3; R² 0.28–0.42).     

Input of Atmospheric Particles into Forest Stands by Dry Deposition

In this study the dry input of atmospheric particles into a forest stand is quantified. A wash-off-method using the natural leaf surfaces as collectors of the dry deposition was chosen. The direct on-site-measurement on living branches were achieved in a spruce stand (Picea abies (L.) Karst) at Solling, Germany. The ion exchange processes occurring on natural branches can reliably be quantified through immediate sequential washings. In order to calculate also the gas dry deposition of those trace elements which occur in both particle and gas phases, a resistance model was used. From these results the deposition velocity of particulate aerosol components into the forest stand was calculated. Dry particle deposition constitutes an important part of the total matter input into the forest ecosystem. Just the nitrogen input into Solling only by dry deposition (from particle-, mist-, and gas-deposition) with about 30 kg N ha^?1 a^?1 already exceeds the critical load of 20 kg N ha^?1 a^?1 by far, and this is without even considering the additional load by wet deposition which amounts to 15 kg ha^?1 a^?1. These findings are of greatest ecological importance, as the damage to the stability of the forest ecosystem caused by increased nitrogen input is considerable. Only a quick and drastic reduction of sulphur and nitrogen emissions could stop the further increase of the nutritient imbalance and the progressing acidification of this ecosystem.