Gas exchange responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. africana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. robusta</Emphasis> to varying soil moisture content in semi-arid (Thika) Kenya

A dramatic decline in forest cover in eastern Africa along with a growing population means that timber and poles for building and fuelwood are in short supply. To overcome this shortage, the region is increasingly turning to eucalyptus. But eucalyptus raises environmental concerns of its own. Fears that it will deplete water supply, affect wildlife and reduce associated crop yields have caused many countries in the region to discourage farmers from planting this exotic. This paper is part of a series of investigations on the growth and water use efficiency of faster growing eucalyptus hybrids, which was introduced from South Africa to Kenya. The hypothesis is that the new hybrids are more efficient in using water and more suitable for the semi-arid tropics than existing eucalyptus and two popular agroforestry species. Gas exchange characteristics of juvenile Eucalyptus grandis (W. Hill ex Maiden), two eucalyptus hybrids (E. grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.), Grevillea robusta (A. Cunn) and Cordia africana (Lam) was studied under field and pot conditions using an infrared gas analyzer was used to measure photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g _s) and transpiration rate (E) at CO₂ concentrations of 360 μmol mol⁻¹ and ambient humidity and temperature. A, E and g _s varied between species, being highest in eucalyptus hybrid GC 15 (24.6 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) compared to eucalyptus hybrid GC 584 (21.0 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), E. grandis (19.2 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹), C. africana (17.7 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and G. robusta (11.1 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹). C. africana exhibited high E values (7.0 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) at optimal soil moisture contents than G. robusta (3.9 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and eucalyptus (5.3 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) in field experiment and G. robusta (3.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and eucalyptus (4.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) in pot-grown trees. At very low soil moisture content, extremely small g _s values were recorded in GC 15 and E. grandis (8 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and G. robusta (14 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) compared to GC 584 (46.9 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and C. africana (90.0 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) indicating strong stomatal control by the species. Instantaneous water use efficiency ranged between 3 and 5 μmol mmol⁻¹ and generally decreased with decline in soil moisture in pot-grown trees but increased with declining soil moisture in field-grown trees.     

Identifying important biophysical and social determinants of on-farm tree growing in subsistence-based traditional agroforestry systems

Many expert-designed agroforestry projects enunciated in 1970s around the world, particularly in the developing countries, had uneven success due to inadequate adoption or abandonment after adoption. There are many empirical studies on factors affecting on-farm tree cultivation mainly where expert-designed agroforestry programmes were introduced but lacking in case of traditional agroforestry. Moreover, the concern to identify key factors influencing on-farm tree growing is gaining importance. The present study identifies key factors in on-farm tree growing based on investigation of traditional agroforestry using logistic regression approach. The study is based on household survey of 401 households located in Indian Western Himalaya. The factors affecting on-farm tree growing were grouped into: biophysical (included land use and infrastructural aspects) and social. Models predicting on-farm tree growing for each category were developed and key factors affecting on-farm tree growing in the respective category were identified. A composite model was also developed by combining biophysical and social factors. In the present study, farm size, agroclimatic zone, soil fertility, mobility and importance of tree for future generations respectively were the key factors which influenced tree growing. In contrast to many previous studies which considered either biophysical or social factors, the composite model in the present study reveals that both biophysical and social factors are simultaneously important in motivating the farmers to grow trees on their farms in traditional agroforestry. Moreover, the present study open vistas for using farmers’ experience and knowledge of adoption of agroforestry to stimulate on-farm tree growing. The wider implication of the study is that biophysical as well as social variables should be considered together in designing suitable agroforestry systems in various parts of the world.     

Spice crops agroforestry systems in the East Usambara Mountains,Tanzania: growth analysis

A scarcity of cultivation land calls for more intensive and productive land use in the East Usambara Mountains in NE Tanzania. Spice crops could generate cash in higher parts of the mountains, but the present cultivation methods are depleting the valuable forest resources. The trial was established at the end of 2000 to find out how the two popular cash crops, cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton.) and black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), normally grown under the natural forest, will produce in intensive agroforestry system with two multipurpose farm trees, Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. and nitrogen fixing Gliricidia sepium Jacq. Results from 6 years showed that cardamom produced better with grevillea than in natural forest; 5.5 times more in the fourth year than the average in the area. The Land Equivalent Ratios for black pepper and cardamom showed that pepper intercropped with grevillea produced 3.9 times more than in monoculture whereas cardamom intercropped with grevillea and pepper produced 2.3 times more than in monoculture. Gliricidia improved the nitrogen and organic matter content of the soil over the levels found in natural forest. Soil acidity was, however, preventing the plants from using the available mineral nutrients more effectively.     

Photosynthesis,growth and yield of soybean and maize in a tree-based agroforestry intercropping system on the Loess Plateau

Agroforestry is the most effective way to restore the disturbed lands on the Loess Plateau and to develop the poor local economy. In order to maximize the potential benefits of tree-based intercropping systems, photosynthesis, growth and yield of soybean and corn were studied by measuring photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), plant water deficit and soil moisture in a 4-year-old plantation of walnut (Juglans regia L.) and plum (Prunus salicina) grown at a spacing of 5 m × 3 m on the Loess Plateau. The effects of tree competition significantly reduced PAR, net assimilation (NA), growth and yield of individual soybean or corn plants growing nearer (1 m near tree row) to tree rows. NA was highly correlated with growth and yield of the both crops. These correlations were higher for corn than soybeans, with corn, rather than soybeans being more adversely impacted by tree shading. Plum, rather than walnut had the greatest competitive effect on PAR and NA. Daily plant water deficits were non-significantly and poorly correlated with NA and growth and yield of the both crops. However, soil moisture (20 cm depth) was significantly correlated with biomass and yield of both crops. Possible remediation strategies are discussed to reduce tree competitive interactions on agricultural crops.     

Diversity of the calabash tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crescentia cujete</Emphasis> L.) in Colombia

Germplasm of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) was collected in five major regions of Colombia, i.e. the Andes, Caribbean, Amazon, Orinoco, and Pacific regions. Collecting this multipurpose tree was guided by the indigenous knowledge of farmers and artisans in each region. Large variation in fruit shapes and sizes was found, of which some forms were typical for certain regions. Overall 56 accessions were collected and roughly classified into 22 types by eight fruit shapes and eight sizes. Molecular markers (Amplified fragment length polymorphisms) were applied to leaf tip tissue originating from vegetatively propagated plants in order to assess the diversity available in the germplasm collected as well as to detect patterns of geographical or morphological similarity. One accession each of C. alata H.B.&K. and C. amazonica Ducke were used as outgroups. Overall, genetic diversity was high (mean Nei and Li’s coefficient of 0.43). No relations could be established between either geographical provenance or fruit morphology and patterns of genetic diversity. Concerning the outgroups, the C. amazonica accession appeared to be a distinct species. The C. alata accession, however, did not seem to be sufficiently distinct from C. cujete to merit species status. The latter material may in fact be a hybrid or serve to challenge the validity of interspecific organization of the genus Crescentia.

Future orientation and planning in forestry: a comparison of forest managers’ planning horizons in Germany and the Netherlands

Long range (or strategic) planning is an important tool for forest management to deal with the complex and unpredictable future. However, it is the ability to make meaningful predictions about the rapidly changing future that is questioned. What appears to be particularly neglected is the question of the length of time horizons and the limits (if any) to these horizons, despite being considered one of the most critical factors in strategic planning. As the future creation of values lies within individual responsibility, this research empirically explored the limits (if any) of individual foresters’ time horizons. To draw comparisons between countries with different traditions in forest management planning, data were collected through telephone surveys of forest managers in the state/national forest services of the Netherlands and Germany. In order to minimize other cultural differences, the research in Germany concentrated on the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, which has considerable similarities with the Netherlands, e.g. in topography, forest types and forest functions. The results show that, in practice, 15 years appears to be the most distant horizon that foresters can identify with. This is in sharp contrast to the time horizons spanning decades and even generations that are always said to exist in forestry. The “doctrine of the long run”—the faith in the capacity of foresters to overcome the barriers of the uncertain future and look ahead and plan for long-range goals—which in many countries still underlies traditional forest management, can therefore be rejected.

Active root distribution pattern of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hevea brasiliensis</Emphasis> determined by radioassay of latex serum

The active root distribution pattern of mature rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) up to a lateral distance of 250 cm from the tree and to a soil depth of 90 cm was studied in an oxisol by employing ³²P soil injection technique in Kerala, the state which accounts for 83% of rubber cultivation in India. The trees were aged 18 years and grown at a spacing of 4.9 × 4.9 m. The extent of absorption of applied ³²P by the tree from various placements was assessed by radio assay of leaf and latex serum. Latex serum registered higher counts and variability was less compared to leaf indicating the suitability of latex serum as a potential source for radio assay for ³²P studies in rubber. The results revealed that rubber is a surface feeder with 55% of the root activity confining to the top 10 cm of soil layer. Root activity declined with increasing depths and the concentration of physiologically active roots at 90 cm depth was only 6%. A more or less uniform distribution of root activity was noticed with respect to lateral distance indicating more extensive spread of lateral roots. Concentration of physiologically active roots in the surface layer suggests the possibility for competition under intercropped situation in mature plantations.     

Dry matter partitions and specific leaf weight of soybean change with tree competition in an intercropping system

In 2004 and 2005, the yield, leaf area, dry weight and dry weight partitions of soybeans were determined at the Agroforestry Research Site (ARS) (est. 1987, Ontario, Canada). Soybean was intercropped with poplar (Populus deltoides x nigra DN-177 L., 556 m³crown tree⁻¹), silver maple (Acer saccharinum L., 308 m³), black walnut (Juglans nigra L., 148 m³) and pecan (Carya illinoensis Wangenh., 114 m³), or grown alone (monoculture). Yield of soybean was not different in either year between the monoculture and the black walnut or pecan intercrops. In the poplar and silver maple treatments, yield was 66 and 85% (2004 and 2005) lower than in the monoculture. Despite the fact that different tree species were used, there was a significant negative linear regression between yield and tree crown volume (R ² = 0.76, P = 0.0049 and R ² = 0.93, P < 0.0001 in 2004 and 2005, respectively). With increasing tree crown volume, soybean tended to partition more dry matter to the photosynthetic and reproductive parts and less to structural tissue and petiole. This demonstrates the phenotypic flexibility of the crop component in agroforestry systems. Contrary to theoretical predictions, soybean leaves were thicker as shade increased (increase by 6.2 × 10⁻⁴–1.2 × 10⁻³ mg cm⁻², per unit of crown volume), pointing to competitive interactions specific to tree-based intercrops.     

神农架地区珍衡植物沿河岸带的分布格局

Due to the importance of riparian zone in maintaining and protecting regional biodiversity, increasingly more ecologists paid their attentions to riparian zone and had been aware of the important effects of riparian zone in basic study and practical management. In this study, 42 sampling belts (10 m×100m) parallel to the bank of Xiangxi River at different elevations in Shennongjia Area were selected to investigate the riparian vegetation and rare plants. 14 species of rare plants were found distributing in riparian zone, accounting for 42.4% of the total rare plant species in Shennongjia Area. The main distribution range of the 14 rare plant species was the evergreen and deciduous mixed broadleaved forest at elevation of 1200–1800 m, where, species diversity of plant community was the maximum at the moderate elevation. The analysis of TWINSPAN divided the 14 rare species into 3 groups against the elevation, namely low elevation species group, moderate elevation species group, and high elevation species group. The analysis of DCA ordination showed similar results to that of TWINSPAN. In the paper, the authors discussed the reasons forming the distribution pattern of rare plant species, and pointed out that the important function of riparian zone on rare plant species protection. Foundation item: This project was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC39970123), and Changbai Mountain Open Research Station, Chinese Acadamy of Science. Biography: JIANG Ming-xi (1965-), male, associate professor in Wuhan Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai