Soil saturation effects on forest dynamics: scaling across a southern boreal/northern hardwood landscape

Patch modeling can be used to scale-up processes to portray landscape-level dynamics. Via direct extrapolation, a heterogeneous landscape is divided into its constituent patches; dynamics are simulated on each representative patch and are weighted and aggregated to formulate the higher level response. Further extrapolation may be attained by coarsening the resolution of or lumping environmental data (e.g., climatic, edaphic, hydrologic, topographic) used to delimit a patch.Forest patterns at the southern boreal/northern hardwood transition zone are often defined by soil heterogeneity, determined primarily by the extent and duration of soil saturation. To determine how landscape-level dynamics predicted from direct extrapolation compare when coarsening soil parameters, we simulated forest dynamics for soil series representing a range of drainage classes from east- central Maine. Responses were aggregated according to the distribution of soil associations comprising a 600 ha area based on local- (1:12,000), county- (1:120,000) and state- (1:250,000) scale soil maps. At the patch level, simulated aboveground biomass accumulated more slowly in poorer draining soils. Different soil series yielded different communities comprised of species with various tolerances for soil saturation. When aggregated, removal of waterlogging caused a 20–60% increase in biomass accumulation during the first 50 years of simulation. However, this early successional increase and the maximum level of biomass accumulation over a 200 year period varied by as much as 40% depending on the geospatial data. This marked discrepancy suggests caution when extrapolating with forest patch models by coarsening parameters and demonstrates how rules used to rescale environmental data need to be evaluated for consistency.     

The effect of CCC on the initiation of potato tubers

Summary CCC, when applied to the roots of potato plants sufficiently early, brought forward the time of tuber initiation and growth. An increase in net assimilation rate at the time of rapid tuber growth was found for both CCC treated and control plants.     

ABSORPTION OF RADIO–ACTIVE PHOSPHORUS FROM TAP–AND NODAL ROOTS OF WHITE CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM REPENS L.)

Absorption by the tap-root and by different nodal roots of white clover S100 and translocation of ³²P were investigated to find to what extent nodal roots can compensate for the absence of a tap-root. ³²P absorbed from the tap-root was distributed evenly within the whole plant. When translocation from the 2nd and 7th nodal roots was studied, similar distribution was obtained only from the nodal root closer to the centre of the plant. The backward movement of ³²P absorbed from nodal roots at the base of the plant increased as the root size increased. Removal of tap-roots resulted in temporary depression of translocation; its effect disappeared within 3 weeks.
It is concluded that the ability of nodal roots to compensate for loss of the tap-root depends on their position and size.     

A COMPARISON OF THE REACTION OF DIFFERENT GRASS SPECIES TO FERTILIZER NITROGEN AND TO GROWTH IN ASSOCIATION WITH WHITE CLOVER. II. YIELD OF NITROGEN

Seven species or varieties of grass, and a mixture of 3 of them, were sown in pure swards, treated with 4 levels of nitro-chalk (0, 17·5, 35, and 70 Ib N/ac/cut) and cut 4 or 5 times each year. Each species and the mixture were also sown with white clover, and the effect of fertilizer N on the yield of N in each grass was compared with the effect of clover on the yield of N harvested from the grass/clover swards.
The regression line for response in yield of N with increasing levels of fertilizer N showed slight, but significant, upward curvature. The grasses differed in their uptake of N from the soil, S37 cocksfoot and S48 timothy showing relatively high uptakes, and the ability of each grass to take up fertilizer N was usually related to its uptake of N from the soil. Differences in the yield of dry matter between the species, at a similar level of N, are discussed, and it was concluded that perennial ryegrasses were most efficient and Agrostis tenuis was least efficient in using the N taken up in the production of DM.
In general, there were no significant differences between the yields of N of the grass/clover mixtures; the N yields of the grass components were significantly different and tended to be inversely related to the N yields of clover.
Grasses which gave high yields of N with fertilizer were also high yielding when grown in association with clover. Pure grass swards required more than 200 Ib fertilizer N/ac/yr in order to yield the same amount of N as the grass/clover swards. The amount of N estimated to have been derived by grass from clover (indirect effect of clover) increased each year; it was highest with S37 cocksfoot and lowest with Irish perennial ryegrass, averaging 46 and 23 Ib N/ac/yr, respectively.     

Non-random segregation of gene I for Fusarium resistance in the tomato

Significant deviations from the ratios expected, according to the single dominant gene hypothesis for resistance to Fusarium wilt, were found in crosses involving several susceptible and resistant tomato lines. The susceptible class was the deficient one in F₂ and F₃ populations, as well as in backcrosses in which the heterozygotic resistant F₁ served as the male parent. The reciprocal backcross, with the F₁ as the female and the homozygous susceptible as the male, gave segregations better approximating or consistent with the single gene hypothesis. Reciprocal F₁ and F₂ generations did not give any evidence of cytoplasmic effects.The results were interpreted assuming preferential fertilization of ovules by pollen grains carrying the dominant I allele for resistance.The practical implications of the phenomenon of preferential fertilization in breeding for Fusarium resistance are discussed.     

The characteristics of European,Mediterranean and other populations of white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Indigenous populations of white clover (Trifolium repens L) collected from Europe, the Mediterranean area, as well as other parts of the world have been grown as spaced plants at Aberystwyth. Data were collected on various morphological characters, green weight and leaf marks.Leaflet length, width, area, plant height and green weight were all strongly correlated, but not the flowering date or leaflet shape (= ratio length/width).The mean leaflet size of Mediterranean populations (the supposed centre of origin) was very variable, and decreased northwards. All British populations were uniformly small leaved.Most of the populations were much less vigorous than the bred control varieties and only a few equalled them. Nevertheless some of the introductions exhibited seasonal growth patterns, especially growth into the autumn, and large leaves that could be usefully incorporated in improved varieties. Populations originating one step back towards the centre of origin will probably be the most useful when immediate adaptation is the aim.     

III. Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

THE EFFECT OF FERTILIZER NITROGEN AND FREQUENCY OF DEFOLIATION ON YIELD OF GRASSLAND HERBAGE

The effects of 4 levels of applied nitrogen, ranging from nil to a maximum of 417 lb N/ acre/annum, in all combinations with 3 frequencies of defoliation, ranging from 2 to a maximum of 10 cuts per annum, on herbage production from a perennial ryegrass/ timothy/meadow fescue/white clover sward were measured. These treatments were operative for 2J years, and in a subsequent year the residual effect of cutting frequency was tested. Dry-matter yields of total herbage and of the clover fraction are quoted, together with N yields of total herbage. Yield response to N was higher than in some other experiments in the U. K. Cutting frequency had a very large effect and, in general, the longer the interval between cuts, the higher was the dry-matter (though not the N) yield. There was a marked interaction between cutting frequency and level of N: at the high cutting frequency, dry-matter yield increased linearly with increasing level of N; at the medium frequency, response tended to fall off at the highest level of N; at the low frequency, yield declined with increasing level of N beyond 139 lb N per acre per anum.     

Experiments on the germination of potato seeds. II

Summary The experiments reported fall into three groups: experiments on techniques of extraction and testing that reveal the maximal germination of which seed is capable; experiments on dormancy; and experiments on longevity. Dormancy is present in various degrees in most fresh potato seeds; it is preserved by dry or cool storage and broken by the application of gibberellic acid. Estimates of longevity vary widely from a few to many years, depending on plant material and storage conditions. A general review of the biology of potato seeds is presented in 4.Discussion.

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Zusammenfassung Einige Kartoffelbeeren (warscheinlich die meisten) sind im Alter von sechs Wochen reif. Samen von jüngeren Beeren zeigen eine herabgesetzte Lebensf?higkeit und eine kürzere Keimruhe-periode (Tab. 1). Mit Hilfe einer Mischmachine k?nnen die Samen auf sichere Art gewonnen werden, wenn auch dabei einige Samenschalen zerbrochen werden. Für Keimversuche eignen sich Petrischalen, die mit feuchtem Filterpapier ausgelegt und unter Licht bei ungef?hr 20 C gehalten werden; Schaumgummi kann ebenfalls verwendet werden, nicht aber Fliesspapier. Kleine Samenk?rner haben eine verminderte Lebensf?higkeit. Bei Samen, die sich nicht mehr im Stadium der Keimruhe befinden, wird die Keimung durch Dunkelheit etwas gehemmt (Abb. 1). Die meisten Kartoffelsamen sind noch im Zustand der Keimruhe, wenn sie aus den Beeren gewonnen werden. Die Keimung von Proben nach vier Wochen ergibt ein umgekehrtes Mass für die Keimruhe, vorausgesetzt dass die Muster wie oben erw?hnt behandelt werden. Die Keimruhe in heterogenen Samenmustern von diploiden und tetraploiden Gew?chsen nahm in 6 Monaten merklich ab, doch verschwand sie auch nach 18 monatiger luftiger Lagerung nicht vollst?ndig (Abb. 2) Bei Versuchen, die Keimruhe zu unterbrechen, blieben verschiedene physikalische Vorbehandlungen wirkungslos; Sch?len war teilweise. Gibberellins?ure sogar sehr wirksam. Gibberellins?ure, in suboptimaler Menge angewendet, erzeugte mit Cystein synergistische Wechselwirkung (Tab. 2, 3 und 6). Licht begünstigt das Heraustreten aus dem Zustand der Keimruhe und hat, zusammen mit chemischen Behandlungen, komplexe Wechsel-wirkungen zur Folge (Tab. 3). Die Aufbewahrung von Samen w?hrend 8 Monate unter kalten oder trockenen Lagerungsbedingungen verz?gert das Erwachen aus dem Ruhezustand, und trockene Lagerung scheint die Keimruhe sogar zu verst?rken (Tab. 4). Das Auswechseln des als Keimmedium gebrauchten Filterpapiers f?rdert die Keimung ruhender Samen (Abb. 3); dies deutet auf das Vorhandensein eines wasserl?slichen Hemmstoffes, aber die Anstrengungen zu Identifizierung endigten nur in der Feststellung, dass in allen geprüften Samen unspezifische Hemmstoffe vorhanden waren (Tab. 5). Es gibt keinen Beweis dafür, dass phenolische Stoffe für den Zustand der Keimruhe ausschlaggebend sind. Die Keimf?higkeit von luftig aufbewahrten Samenmustern von Wildarten dauerte 6–8 Jahre, nach 11–12 Jahren war sie nur noch gering (Tab. 7). Einige alte Samenmuster zeigten eine h?chst unregelm?ssige “sekund?re Keimruhe” unbekannter Natur. Eine übersicht bezüglich der Korngr?sse von Wildkartoffelsamen ergab eine Schwankung zwischen 22 und 96 mg pro 100 Samen. Die Unterschiede sind nicht fest an die Zahl der Erbs?tze oder die Artzugeh?rigkeit gebunden. Ein allgemeiner überblick über die Biologie der Kartoffelsamen wird in der Diskussion geboten.

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Résumé Certaines baies de pomme de terre (la plupart, probablement) sont m?res à l'age de six semaines, et les graines provenant de baies plus jeunes présentent une certaine réduction de la viabilité et de la dormance (Tableau 1). Les graines peuvent être extraites sans risque au moyen d'un malaxeur, bien qu'une certaine proportion ait le tégument endommagé par l'opération. Pour les tests de germination, des bo?tes de Pétri contenant du papier-filtre humide, conservées à la lumière à 20 C environ donnent satisfaction. Le plastiquemousse convient également comme milieu de germination, mais le papier buvard n'est pas approprié. Les graines de petite dimension se révèlent moins viables. La germination de graines non dormantes est légèrement inhibée par l'obscurité (fig. 1). La plupart des graines de pomme de terre sont en état de dormance au moment où elle sont récoltées, et la germination d'échantillons à quatre semaines suivant le procédé décrit ci-dessus fournit une mesure inverse de la dormance. La dormance de lots hétérogènes de graines de variétés cultivées diplo?des et tétraplo?des diminuait nettement en 6 mois, mais il en restait encore des traces jusque après 18 mois de conservation en plein air (fig. 2). Dans les essais de suppression de l'état de dormance, différents traitements physiques restèrent sans effet, l'enlèvement du tégument avait un effet partiel et l'administration d'acide gibérellique se révéla très efficace; ce dernier, administré à une dose inférieure à la dose optimale, produisait un effet synergique avec la cystéinc (Tableaux 2, 3 et 6). La lumière hate la fin de la dormance et présente des interactions complexes avec les traitements chimiques (Tableau 3). Le stockage des semences pendant huit mois dans un milieu froid ou sec retarde la fin de la dormance, et la sécheresse semble même rendre la dormance plus profonde pendant cette période (Tableau 4). Le renouvellement du papier-filtre servant de milieu de germination stimule la germination des graines en dormance (Fig. 3); cela implique la présence d'un substance inhibitrice hydrosoluble, mais les efforts tendant à l'identification de cette substance ont uniquement permis de démontrer la précence d'une ou de plusieurs, substances inhibitrices non specifiques dans toutes les semences étudiées (Tableau 5). Rien ne porte à croire que des corps phénoliques soient responsables de la dormance. La durée de vie des échantillons d'espèces sauvages conservées en plein air se trouva être de 6 à 8 ans, et on ne trouva que peu de faculté germinative après 11 à 12 ans (Tableau 7). Il existe très irrégulièrement une “seconde dormance” de nature inconnue dans certains lots de semences anciens. Un aper?u des grosseurs des graines de pommes de terre sauvages présente une variation de 22 à 96 mg les 100 graines, cette variabilité n'étant pas liée systématiquement à la plo?die ni à la taxonomie. La Discussion donne un aper?u général de la biologie des graines de pomme de terre.

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Continuation of —Fortserzung von —contiuation de: Europ. Potato J., Vol. 6 (1963) No. 1 (March) 45–60.