Decomposition and phosphorus release from organic residues as affected by residue quality and added inorganic phosphorus

The combined use of organic residue and inorganic fertiliser-phosphorus (P) is appropriate in meeting both the short and long-term P requirement of crops. To assess the influence of added inorganic fertiliser-P on the processes of decomposition and P release from the residue and the relationships with quality, prunings of Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephela, Senna siamea, Acacia mangium and Paraserienthus falcataria were incubated without and with added inorganic fertiliser-P for 56 days. Soil was added only as inoculum. Decomposition rate and amounts of acid extractable-P (P release) were in the same order: G. sepium >S. siamea > L. leucocephela >P. falcataria > A. mangium. Unlike the other residues, A. mangium released no P despite the loss of half its mass during the 8 weeks of incubation. The residue P content correlated with P release. However, decomposition rate did not correlate with residue P content but with the lignin, polyphenol and cellulose content, and ratios to P. These ratios were negatively correlated with P release suggesting that lignin and polyphenol contents influence P release more when the residue-P content is low. Results suggest that rate of decomposition influences the release of P. The critical residue P content for P release was estimated to be 0.12% < P < 0.19%. Added P had no effect on decomposition and P release from the residues.     

Spatial variations in xylem sap flux density in the trunk of orchard-grown,mature mango trees under changing soil water conditions

Circumferential and radial variations in xylem sap flux density in trunks of 13-year-old mango (Mangifera indica L.) trees were investigated with Granier sap flow sensor probes under limiting and non-limiting soil water conditions. Under non-limiting soil water conditions, circumferential variation was substantial, but there was no apparent relationship between sap flux density and aspect (i.e., the radial position of the sensor probes on the trunk relative to the compass). Hourly sap flux densities over 24 hours at different aspects were highly pair-wise correlated. The relationships between different aspects were constant during well-watered periods but highly variable under changing soil water conditions. Sap flux density showed marked radial variation within the trunk and a substantial flux was observed at the center of the trunk. For each selected aspect on each tree, changes in sap flux densities over time at different depths were closely correlated, so flux at a particular depth could be extrapolated as a multiple of flux from 0 to 2 cm beneath the cambium. However, depth profiles of sap flux density differed between trees and even between aspects within a tree, and also varied in an unpredictable manner as soil water conditions changed. Nevertheless, over a period of non-limiting soil water conditions, depth profiles remained relatively constant. Based on the depth profiles obtained during these periods, a method is described for calculating total sap flow in a mango tree from sap flux density at 0-2 cm beneath the cambium. Total daily sap flows obtained were consistent with water use estimated from soil water balance.     

Response of Douglas-fir seedlings to a brief pulse of 15N-labeled nutrients

The temporal distribution of soil nutrients is heterogeneous, and thus the uptake, storage and later remobilization of brief nutrient pulses may be critical for growth in nutrient-limited habitats. We investigated the response of 2-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings receiving a low nutrient supply to a 15-day nutrient pulse (containing 250 ppm nitrogen (N) as 10 atom % 15NH4 15NO3). The nutrient pulse was imposed in late July, toward the end of the seedlings' third growing season, and subsequent changes in dry mass and N content over the following 3 months were determined from destructive harvests. We tested three hypotheses: (1) N from the nutrient pulse is rapidly assimilated and accumulated primarily in needles and roots; (2) this accumulated N is later remobilized to support new growth; and (3) the nutrient pulse leads to a larger second flush of shoot growth. Seedlings increased their N content by 175 mg (67%) in response to the nutrient pulse. Nitrogen was taken up preferentially into younger tissues, especially the secondary flush and current-year roots. Immediately after the nutrient pulse, tissue N concentrations were high and supported subsequent increases in dry mass. Over 3 months, seedlings receiving the nutrient pulse added twice as much dry mass as control seedlings, and even after 3 months of growth, N concentrations remained greater than in controls. Current-year and older needles were the only components whose dry mass did not increase over this period. The nutrient pulse increased the size of the second flush, but it was still a minor component of increments in dry mass (approximately 10% of the total dry mass increment) and N content (23%). The relatively modest increases in N content during autumn could be accounted for by soil uptake and there was no evidence that N was remobilized to support growth of new tissues. Short-term (15 days) elevated N uptake led to sustained growth in the long term (> 3 months), and thus growth rate was to a large extent decoupled from current nutrient supply.     

Expanding opportunities for agroforestry education in the U.S. and Canadian universities

A telephone survey of 39 U.S. and Canadian University forestry schools accredited with the Society of American Foresters, conducted in November 1988, showed that 25 had courses in tropical and international forestry, and 14 university faculties had been conducting research in agroforestry. Field-oriented training in agroforestry is also offered in North America, especially for voluntary and relief organization personnel. Many of the agroforestry courses have been established recently in response to desires of students with international interests and/or experience. Most of such courses are integrated programs, initiated by forestry faculty, and most of these are seminars or colloquia incorporating the experience of both faculty and students with focus on systems and issues rather than technical proceses. Ideas for agroforestry course content offered by North American forestry faculty include: integration of social and technical aspects of agroforestry and social forestry, involvement of multidisciplinary teams, focus on managing marginal, lands and consideration of the importance of agroforestry systems in North America and other temperate zones.