The effects of the herbicide metsulfuron-methyl on litter invertebrate communities in a coastal dune invaded by Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata

We investigated the impacts of application of the sulfonylurea herbicide, metsulfuron-methyl, on soil and litter invertebrates in coastal vegetation where the weed Chrysanthemoides monilifera has invaded. We followed changes in litter invertebrates for 125 days following treatment to investigate direct toxic and indirect effects of treatment. Overall we found no effect of treatment on abundance, taxonomic richness or composition of litter invertebrates. In general, abundance and richness declined with time in both treated and untreated sites, suggesting that climatic factors were far more important in determining invertebrate communities than the effects of the treatment. Even changes in cover of vegetation as a result of death of the weed resulted in few measurable effects on invertebrates. It is concluded that metsulfuron-methyl had no impact on invertebrate communities up to 125 days following treatment.     

杉木林枯枝落叶层现存量的影响因素分析

通过收集杉木林枯枝落叶层现存量数据,分析杉木林枯枝落叶层现存量与年平均温度、年降水量、林分年龄、枝叶生物量、凋落物量、林下植被生物量的相关关系。结果表明,杉木林枯枝落叶层现存量与林龄、林下植被生物量、凋落物量、枝叶生物量呈显著正相关,其中与林下植被生物量相关性最大,与年均温呈负相关,而与年降水量无显著相关。多元线性回归分析表明,林龄可单独解释枯枝落叶现存量变化的21.2%,而林龄、降水量、年均温、枝叶生物量可以解释枯枝落叶现存量变化的38.6%。     

Variation in the chemical composition of green leaves and leaf litters from three deciduous tree species growing on different soil types

The chemical composition of green leaves and leaf litters of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), oak (Quercus robur) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) were determined for 26 sites grouped into high fertility (HF) and low fertility (LF) soils according to base saturation and N-mineralization potentials. Measurements were made of total carbon, acid detergent fibre (ADF), Klason lignin, holo-cellulose, sugar constituents of hemicellulose and phenylpropanoid derivatives of lignin, and nutrient concentrations (N, Ca, P, Mg, K and Mn). Leaf and litter constituents varied within and between species according to soil groups, but beech showed contrasting responses to oak and chestnut. Beech leaves had lower ADF, lignin and cellulose on HF soils than LF soils, whereas oak and chestnut leaves had higher ADF, lignin and cellulose on HF than the LF soils. Conversely, the same constituents in beech leaf litter were higher on HF soils than LF soils, but lower in oak and chestnut leaf litter on HF soils than LF soils. The phenylpropanoid derivatives of lignin and sugar constituents of hemicellulose also showed similar variations in relation to soil groups with contrasting patterns for in leaves and litters. Re-absorption of N from leaves before litter fall was negatively correlated with soil N mineralization potential for beech (highest on LF soils) but showed an unexpected, positive relationship for oak and chestnut (highest on HF soils). These intra-specific differences of leaf and litter chemistry in relation to soil fertility status are unprecedented and largely unexplained. The observed patterns reflect phenotypic responses to soil type that result in continuum of litter quality, within and between tree species, that have been shown in related studies to significantly influence litter decomposition rates.     

Spectrophotometrical characteristics in the near infrared region in beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus crenata</Emphasis>) and pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis>) litters at the various decomposing stages

We examined the relationships between the absorptional characteristics in the near infrared region and the chemical changes of decomposing beech (Fagus crenata) and pine (Pinus densiflora) litters. Spectra as well as the concentrations of chemical substances approached each other and converged with decomposition, although both initial characteristics differed markedly between beech and pine. This indicated that the fundamental chemical structures were almost the same, although their organochemical composition differed. Specific absorption bands for lignin, polysaccharide, and protein were identified at 2,140 and 1,670 nm, 2,270, 1,720, 1,590, and 1,216 nm, and 2,350 nm, respectively. Absorbance at 1,670 nm, peculiar band of aromatics, showed a positive correlation with lignin concentration, which suggested the relative increment of aromatics due to condensed lignin in decomposing litters. Absorbance at 2,140 nm, characterized as the C–H bond in HRC = CHR, showed a negative correlation with lignin concentration, which suggested the decrements of some structures such as side-chains in lignin polymers unrelated to aromatics. Absorbance at 2,270, 1,720, and 1,216 nm, specified to O–H/C–O/C–H bonds in saccharide, might reflect the change of polysaccharide during decomposition because they showed a positive correlation to polysaccharide concentration. In the same way, absorbance at 2,350 nm, identified to the C–H/CH₂ bonds in protein, showed a negative correlation to nitrogen concentration in decomposing litters, which might indicate that the C–H/CH₂ bonds in protein decreased with decomposition due to microbial consumption of carbon in protein. Our findings suggested the possibility that the spectral changes indicate the litter digestibility during decomposition and that also explain the compositional change in decomposing litters.     

祁连山南麓退耕地人工植物群落的枯落物容水性能

对位于祁连山南麓的青海省大通县退耕地人工植物群落的枯落物容水性能进行了研究。该地区从20世纪80年代初期陆续退耕还林的人工植物群落年龄虽只有10~27 a,但其枯落物层厚度已达2.9 cm,相当于天然植物群落(30~200 a)的56.9%;其枯落物容水量平均达4 mm,相当于天然植物群落的35.7%。研究表明退耕地植物群落的林龄越大,植物垂直层数越丰富,则枯落物干物蓄积量和容水率越大,枯落物容水量也越大。在人为去除枯落物层后,其地表径流速度较去除前增加了33%~35%,枯落物层的缓流、滞流作用十分明显。经逐步回归分析,影响植物群落枯落物容水量的因素99.8%的为枯落物干物的蓄积量、林龄、植物层数和枯落物容水率。     

嘉陵江流域低山丘陵区几种主要森林类型水文特征研究

本文分析了嘉陵江低山丘陵区碗厂沟小流域湿地松林、桤木林、刺槐林以及桤松混交林四种森林类型垂直结构水文特征,得出不同森林类型呈现出不同的水源涵养特征。林冠截流:湿地松>刺槐林>混交林>桤木林;枯枝落叶持水:刺槐林>桤木林>混交林>湿地松林;森林土壤层贮水:桤木林>混交林>刺槐林>湿地松林。     

Branch mortality and potential litterfall from Douglas-fir trees in stands of varying density

Forest floor characteristics influence nutrient cycling and energy flow properties of forest ecosystems, and determine quality of habitat for many forest plants and animals. Differential crown recession and crown development among stands of differing density suggest that an opportunity may exist to control the input of fine woody litter into the system by manipulating stand density. The objective was to measure the rate of branch mortality among stands of differing density and to estimate the range in total per hectare necromass inputs. Although litter traps are reliable for estimating per hectare rates of litterfall, branch mortality dating on sectioned stems uniquely allows assessment of several other litterfall components: (1) individual tree contributions to total litterfall; (2) the amount of branch material released by mortality, regardless of whether the branches are shed to the forest floor; (3) the distribution of basal diameters characterizing the litterfall from a given tree and stand. Twenty-four trees were felled and sectioned on permanent plots that were part of a silvicultural study of stand density regimes in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco.). Whorl branches were dissected out of bole sections to determine the dates of mortality, and a branch biomass equation was applied to estimate potential rate of litterfall. Periodic annual rates were expressed in four ways: (1) number of branches per tree; (2) mass of branches per tree; (3) mass of branches per unit of crown projection area; (4) mass of branches per hectare. For the growth periods investigated, larger trees and trees growing on denser plots tended to release a greater necromass through branch mortality. Average branch basal diameter generally decreased with increasing stand density. Annual branch mortality ranged from 33 to 430 g m⁻² crown projection area for individual trees, and from 236 to 1035 kg ha⁻¹ for individual plots. These rates approached the low end of the range of previously published fine litterfall rates for Douglas-fir. Rates on these plots were relatively low owing to the temporary delay in crown recession imposed by artificial thinning. A conceptual model of branch litter dynamics is presented to depict consistencies with crown development among stands managed under different density regimes.     

Non-additive Effects of Leaf Litter Mixtures from Robinia pseudoacacia and Ten Tree Species on Soil Properties

ABSTRACT

Litter decomposition plays a critical role in both nutrient cycling and the interspecific relationships between tree species. In this study, leaf litter from Robinia pseudoacacia was mixed with litter from 10 other species, this mixture was then ground and incubated in soil. The soil indexes (i.e., quantity of microbes, activities of enzymes, and chemical properties) were analyzed to study the effects of litter decomposition on soil properties and the interaction between the litters. If mixed separately with Larix principis-rupprechtii or Betula platyphylla, R. pseudoacacia litter exerted synergistic effects on the activities of most enzymes. The mixed litters of R. pseudoacacia and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica or Ulmus pumila exerted synergistic effects on the soil available P. With regard to the soil properties as a whole, the mixed litters of R. pseudoacacia and B. platyphylla, Pinus tabulaeformis, P. sylvestris var. mongolica, or L. principis-rupprechtii exerted synergistic effects on soil during their decomposition. However, the mixed litters of R. pseudoacacia and Populus simonii, Quercus liaotungensis, U. pumila, or Caragana microphylla did not. This indicated that R. pseudoacacia mixed with the litter of other needle-leaf tree species benefits the development and regeneration of soil and thus can be used for sustainable forest management.     

Modelling agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) with laurel (Cordia alliodora) and poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) in Costa Rica II. Cacao and wood production,litter production and decomposition

During 7 years (1979–1985) cacao harvests (beans and husks) have been recorded for the agroforestry systems ofTheobroma cacao underCordia alliodora andErythrina poeppigiana shade trees. The mean oven dry cacao yields were 626 and 712 kg.ha⁻¹.a⁻¹ cocoa beans underC. alliodora andE. poeppigiana respectively. Harvests have gradually increased over the years and the plantation has now reached maturity. Annual extraction of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in fruits, which is relatively small, was calculated on the basis of chemical analyses. The following average values were found (kg.ha⁻¹.a⁻¹): At the age of 8 years, theC. alliodora trees have reached 26.7 cm diameter (DBH) and 14.0 m in height. Mean annual growth (from age 5 to 7) is 14.6 m³.ha⁻¹.a⁻¹. Natural plant residue production has been measured for 4 years (Nov. 1981–Oct. 1985). UnderE. poeppigiana it has reached a value of 8.91 t.ha⁻¹.a⁻¹ and underC. alliodora 7.07 t.ha⁻¹.a⁻¹. The shade trees have contributed 57 and 47% respectively. Transference and decomposition rates are high and important in the nutrient cycles. The nutrient content of the litter was analysed and corresponding average yearly transfers were (kg.ha⁻¹.a⁻¹): For part I see Vol. 4, No. 3, 1986. Agroforestry Project, CATIE/GTZ (Tropical Agricultural Research and Training Center/Gesselschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit), Turrialba, Costa Rica     

黄土高原沟壑区油松侧柏与沙棘混交的人工林的水文影响

采用国家标准森林分析方法进行了沙棘与油松、侧柏人工混交林的水文影响研究,结果表明:混交林内年均降水量较林外减少了20.1%;林内月降水量的季节变化以夏、秋、春、冬依次递减;年均气温比纯林内低0.1℃,相对湿度高4.5%;乔木层年均截留量较纯林提高了56.6%,灌木层提高了395.7%;年均地表径流量105.8 L,径流摸数为10.58 m3·km-2·a-1,纯林分别为1 349.05 L和134.9 m3·km-2·a-1,土壤侵蚀模数为0.65 t·hm-2·a-1,纯林为9.2 t·hm-2·a-1;枯枝落叶层现存量增加了200%;平均容水量为自身质量的3.1倍;土壤密度和土粒密度分别减少了6.3%和17.7%,含水量、孔隙度和通气度分别提高了6.1 %、13.9%、20.3%.不同土层土壤密度和土粒密度由上到下逐渐增大,孔隙度和通气度表层较高,向下逐渐减少;底层、中层和表层土壤非毛管孔隙度分别提高了113.3%、38.6%和32.6%;最大持水量、最小持水量、毛管持水量分别较纯林平均高11.0%、9.8%、10.5%,较荒地高36.0%、16.0%、25.6%;储水量和0～40 cm储水量分别较纯林和荒地提高了12.4%、22.7%,排水能力也较强.