The dehesa: an agrosilvopastoral system of the Mediterranean region with special reference to the Sierra Morena area of Spain

A multidisciplinary team undertook a six-year investigation on the agro-ecological and socio-economic aspects of the dehesa system in the Sierra Norte area, a part of the Sierra Morena of the Sevilla Province, Western Andalusia, Spain. This paper summarizes its findings on the various agro-ecological features of the system and evaluates the system's functional aspects vis-a-vis the trends and developments in land use in the region over the past few centuries. The synergistic effects of tree cover on understorey grassland vegetation is discussed in terms of soil fertility build-up and favourable micro-climatic and hydrological features, and the potential use of this information in future research and development programmes to improve the dehesa system in the Mediterranean region is outlined.     

Ten-year regeneration responses to varying levels of overstory retention in two productive southern British Columbia ecosystems

We investigated survival and growth responses of planted and advance natural regeneration species of varying shade tolerance to partial retention harvesting in moist warm Interior Cedar-Hemlock (ICHmw2) and dry cool Montane Spruce (MSdk) ecosystems of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Treatments included three levels of overstory basal area retention (none, light (∼25%), or heavy (∼50%)) installed by two harvest methods (handfelled or a pushover falling technique being tested for its ability to control the spread of root disease). After 10 years, growth of both planted and natural regeneration species of varying shade tolerance tended to increase with decreasing overstory retention and associated increases in light availability. In contrast, significant survival responses to retention level were lacking except in the case of shade-intolerant western larch. Harvest method had a variable effect on regeneration survival and growth. Where significant responses did occur, they were generally attributed to harvesting effects on the characteristics of planting microsites rather than root disease spread. Natural regeneration densities at the ICHmw2 site were high at all retention levels, whereas stocking was less consistent at the MSdk site. We concluded that moderately shade-tolerant to shade-tolerant interior spruce and western redcedar can, under conditions similar to those of our study sites, be successfully established under overstories of up to approximately 25 m²/ha basal area, but that growth performance is likely to be significantly lower than in clearcuts. Despite early survival issues, conclusions regarding Douglas-fir were similar. Poorer survival and vigour of shade-intolerant western larch suggested this species is not suitable for regeneration in partial retention systems where timber production is the primary objective. Where non-timber objectives predominate, survival and acceptable growth of even a small proportion of larch could add to the diversity of the regenerating stand.     

Organic residue mass at planting is an excellent predictor of tree growth in Eucalyptus plantations established on a sandy tropical soil

Tropical plantation forests are meeting an increasing proportion of global wood demand and comprehensive studies assessing the impact of silvicultural practices on tree and soil functioning are required to achieve sustainable yields. The objectives of our study were: (1) to quantify the effects of contrasting organic residue (OR) retention methods on tree growth and soil nutrient pools over a full Eucalyptus rotation and (2) to assess the potential of soil analyses to predict yields of fast-growing plantations established on tropical sandy soils. An experiment was set up in the Congo at the harvesting of the first rotation after afforestation of a native herbaceous savanna. Six treatments were set up in 0.26 ha plots and replicated in 4 blocks, with OR mass at planting ranging from 0 to 46.5 Mg ha⁻¹. Tree growth over the whole rotation was highly dependent on OR management at planting. Over-bark trunk volume 7 years after planting ranged from 96 m³ ha⁻¹ in the treatment with forest floor and harvest residue removal at planting to 164 m³ ha⁻¹ in the treatment with the largest amount of OR. A comparison of nutrient stocks within the ecosystem at planting and at the end of the rotation suggested that nutrient contents in OR were largely involved in the different response observed between treatments. OR management treatments did not significantly modify most of the nutrient concentrations in the upper layers of the mineral soil. Conventional soil analyses performed before planting and at ages 1 and 3 years were unable to detect differences between treatments despite large differences in tree growth. In contrast, linear regressions between stand aboveground biomass at harvesting and OR mass at planting (independent variable) showed that OR mass was an excellent predictor of stand yield (R² = 0.99). A large share of soil fertility comes from organic material above the mineral soil in highly weathered sandy soils and OR mass at planting might be used in conjunction with soil analyses to assess the potential of these soils to support forest plantations.     

Are composts from shredded leafy branches of fast-growing forest species suitable as nursery growing media in arid regions?

The morpho-physiological quality of seedlings is negatively affected by the wide scale use of forest soils as substrates in developing countries. With the objective of finding long-term sustainable supply of growing media, compost was produced from shredded branches of three fast growing species (Acacia cyanophylla (AA), Acacia cyclops (AS) and Eucalyptus gomphocephala (EG). The composting process covered three different periods over the course of a year. Pile temperatures were monitored daily and the composts were routinely sampled and analyzed for 19 chemical variables. Although composting is feasible year-round in arid climates, compost produced in the humid cool conditions of autumn, winter and early spring reaches the maturation phase more quickly than compost produced under hot, dry summer conditions. It also requires less turning and water. The evolution of the composting process and quality of the final product can be assessed using three chemical variables (C/N, pH, EC). Seed germination rates in the three types of compost were similar to that in a peat:vermiculite substrate and vigorous high quality seedlings were produced in the two acacia composts. However, compost-grown seedlings had significantly smaller shoots and root systems than those produced in peat substrate. Principal components analyses showed that the quality of a compost-based substrate is reproducible and that its final chemical composition can be predicted from its raw organic materials. The EG composts had higher pH than the acacia composts, whereas the AA and EG composts were higher in mineral salts than the AS.     

Novel, cyclic heat dissipation method for the correction of natural temperature gradients in sap flow measurements. Part 1. Theory and application

Natural temperature gradient (NTG) can be a significant problem in thermal sap flow measurements, particularly in dry environments with sparse vegetation. To resolve this problem, we propose a novel correction method called cyclic heat dissipation (CHD) in its thermal dissipation probe (TDP) application. The CHD method is based on cyclic, switching ON/OFF power schema measurements and a three-exponential model, extrapolating measured signal to steady state thermal equilibrium. The extrapolated signal OFF represents NTG, whereas the extrapolated signal ON represents standard TDP signal, biased by NTG. Therefore, subtraction of the OFF signal from the ON signal allows defining the unbiased TDP signal, finally processed according to standard Granier calibration. The in vivo Kalahari measurements were carried out in three steps on four different tree species, first as NTG, then as standard TDP and finally in CHD mode, each step for ～1-2 days. Afterwards, each tree was separated from its stem following modified Roberts' (1977) procedure, and CHD verification was applied. The typical NTG varying from ～0.5 °C during night-time to -1 °C during day-time, after CHD correction, resulted in significant reduction of sap flux densities (J(p)) as compared with the standard TDP, particularly distinct for low J(p). The verification of the CHD method indicated ～20% agreement with the reference method, largely dependent on the sapwood area estimate. The proposed CHD method offers the following advantages: (i) in contrast to any other NTG correction method, it removes NTG bias from the measured signal by using in situ, extrapolated to thermal equilibrium signal; (ii) it does not need any specific calibration making use of the standard Granier calibration; (iii) it provides a physical background to the proposed NTG correction; (iv) it allows for power savings; (v) it is not tied to TDP, and so can be adapted to other thermal methods. In its current state, the CHD data processing is not yet fully automated.     

Satisfaction across urban consumers of smallholder-produced teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) poles in South Benin

The study used the expectancy-disconfirmation framework to investigate the satisfaction among urban consumers of teak pole in South Benin, so as to identify the areas where interventions are needed to secure market opportunity for smallholder forestry. A survey was conducted in five cities; and 223 household-heads were interviewed using systematic sampling, with a random start. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, teak pole consumption forms, behaviour patterns, and motivations. Respondents also rated their expectations and perceptions for a set of nine attributes on a 7 points Likert scale. Hierarchical ascending cluster analysis was performed to identify consumer segments; and satisfaction level was analysed per segment, by determining the gap between expectations and perceptions, for all attributes. Four consumer segments were identified; and sociodemographic profiles differed across those segments. Competitive price was an important purchasing motivation across the identified segments. Consumers were dissatisfied with price, availability, knot frequency, bending, length, hardness, and durability of teak pole. The efforts to meet the consumer expectations should be concentrated on building farmers' capacity in silvicultural management, and ensuring the availability of good planting material. The issue of competitive price might be addressed, through the improvement of the overall efficiency in the value chain.     

Retrospective analysis of tree architecture in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.): ontogenetic trends and responses to environmental variability

Context

Understanding the effects of exogenous factors on tree development is of major importance in the current context of global change. Assessing the structure development of trees is difficult given that they are large and complex organisms with lifespan of several decades.

Aims

We used a retrospective analysis to derive the ontogenetic trends in silver fir development and assess the effects of climate or light environment on tree architecture.

Methods

Thanks to the identification of relevant growth markers (bud cataphylls and pseudo-whorl branches), a retrospective analysis allowed to record annual shoot extension and to date them on silver firs of various sizes under different environmental conditions.

Results

The length of successive annual shoots located on different axes clearly show gradual trends related to the physiological age of meristems. Within- and between-tree variations are noted due to the plasticity of development and growth induced by light environment and climate.

Conclusion

Retrospective analysis is an efficient method for getting information on the history of trees architecture and subsequently to relate it to environmental factors.     

The first records of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii in the South American continent

This paper presents the first report of the occurrence of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in South America. Several samples were collected during various seasons in 2012 and 2013, and a significant number of individuals were obtained and identified. Based on the data recorded during each sampling campaign, including the locality, temperature, time of year, and number of individuals collected, several conclusions were drawn about the development of this invasion in southern Brazil.     

The reproductive biology of okra. 1. Study of the breeding system in four Abelmoschus species

Summary The breeding system of Abelmoschus species is not well known. Although being self-compatibles allogamy reaches 63%. The aim of the study was to place four Abelmoschus species on the log P/O scale devised by Cruden (1977). On this scale P = pollen grains per anther × anthers per flower and O = ovules production. Pollens and ovules productions were therefore assessed for 68 accessions of two cultivated species, A. esculentus and A. caillei, and two wild, A. manihot and A. moschatus. Extreme log P/O values ranged from 1.69 for the variety Clemson Spineliss (A. esculentus) to 2.94 for ORS 278 (A. manihot). Averages of wild species A. moschatus (2.17) and A. manihot (2.19) indicate facultative autogamy. Averages for cultivated species A. esculentus (2.00) and A. caillei (2.05) suggest more autogamy.