Modelling agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) with laurel (Cordia alliodora) and poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) in Costa Rica III. Cycles of organic matter and nutrients

Models for cycles for organic matter and nutrients element (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) are presented for the agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) withCordia alliodora orErythrina poeppigiana in Turrialba, Costa Rica.For the models, system reserves (soil, humus, vegetation divided into leaves, branches, stems, fine roots, fruits) and transference between compartments (production and decomposition of litter residues) inputs (fertilizer, rainfall) and outputs (harvests) of the system are considered.The implications of the models are discussed in detail.Aspects of net primary production in the systems studied are considered.N fixation is calculated on the basis of balances. Analysis of soil water showed high variations that coincided with rainfall patterns and pruning of theE. poeppigiana.For part I see Vol. 4, No. 3, 1986 For part II see this issueAgroforestry Project, CATIE/GTZ (Tropical Agricultural Research and Training Center/Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit), Turrialba, Costa Rica     

落叶松干燥过程水分扩散性的研究—Crank方法与Dincer方法的使用(英文)

采用两种改进的多孔固体材料水分扩散偏微分方程分析求解方法,即Dincer方法与Crank方法,分析并计算落叶松干燥过程的水分扩散系数(D)与水分传递系数(k)。使用扩散型微分方程对落叶松干燥过程进行数学模拟,木材试件被理想化为无限大平板状材料,假定木材内部水分的扩散过程是一维的。实验测定了不同干燥介质条件下木材干燥动力曲线。基于取得的实验数据,通过Dincer方法计算了木材水分扩散系数(D)与水分传递系数(k);使用传统的Crank方法分析计算了木材动态水分扩散系数(D)。研究表明,使用Dincer方法计算的木材水分扩散系数(D)均大于相应实验条件下Crank方法计算数值,接近1个数量级。这种结论应该是由于两种分析求解方法间的差异以及水分扩散与热量传递数学求解间的差异。因此相关的水分扩散微分方程的分析求解方法有待改进。随干燥介质温度的升高,木材水分扩散系数(D)与水分传递系数k均显著增大,可以采用Arrhenius方程与木材结合水传递理论来分析解释实验条件下的扩散系数(D)与干燥介质温度(T)间的变化趋势。图2表3参6。     

Temporal changes in soil carbon and nitrogen in west African multistrata agroforestry systems: a chronosequence of pools and fluxes

The conversion of forests to agroecosystems or agroforests comes with many changes in biological and chemical processes. Agroforestry, a tree based agroecosystem, has shown promise with respect to enhanced system nutrient accumulation after land conversion as compared to sole cropping systems. Previous research on tropical agroforestry systems has revealed increases in soil organic matter and total organic nitrogen in the short term. However, research is lacking on long-term system level sustainability of nutrient cycles and storage, specifically in traditional multi-strata agroforestry systems, as data on both the scope and duration of nutrient instability are inconclusive and often conflicting. This study, conducted in Ghana, West Africa, focused on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a twenty-five year chronosequence of cacao (Theobroma cacao Linn.) plantations. Three treatments were selected as on-farm research sites: 2, 15 and 25-year-old plantations. Soil carbon (C, to a depth of 15 cm) varied between treatments (2 years: 22.6 Mg C ha⁻¹; 15 years: 17.6 Mg C ha⁻¹; 25 years: 18.2 Mg C ha⁻¹) with a significant difference between the 2- and 15- and the 2- and 25-year-old treatments (p < 0.05). Total soil nitrogen in the top 15 cm varied between 1.09 and 1.25 Mg N ha⁻¹ but no significant differences were noted between treatments. Soil nitrification rates and litter fall increased significantly with treatment age. However, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and soil temperature showed a significant decrease with age. No difference was found between decay rates of litter at each treatment age. By 25 years, system carbon sequestration rates were 3 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, although results suggest that even by 15 years, system-level attributes were progressing towards those of a natural system.     

Variations in soil chemical properties and microbial biomass in artificial gaps in silver fir stands

Changes in soil chemical and microbiological parameters in small (185 m²) and medium (410 m²) gaps, created in mature silver fir (Abies alba Mill) stands (mean height 30 m) in the Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy), were studied over 2 years. Medium gaps had high soil temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and low soil moisture. Within small gaps we detected a greater amount of organic matter, with respect to under canopy cover sites and medium gaps. Moreover, a different trend of the organic matter between small and medium gaps was observed. In the medium gaps, with respect to under canopy cover sites and small gaps, we found a relatively low content of organic matter, associated to a lower amount of humic acid, which suggested that the organic substrate undergoes a mineralization rather than a humification process. An opposite trend was observed in small gaps, where the increase of organic matter content, associated to an increase of humic acid and microbial biomass, suggested a better humification process. Moreover, in small gaps the highest level of urease and the greatest fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis were observed. The different trend of organic matter observed in small and medium gaps may be related to changes in the environmental conditions. PAR transmittance, significantly higher in medium gaps, contributed to increase soil temperature and decrease soil moisture, affecting soil microbial populations and organic matter trend. These results suggest that the creation of small gaps represents the silvicultural practice with minor environmental impact.     

Effect of site preparation on survival and growth of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziessi Mirb. Franco.) seedlings

The performance (survival and growth) of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco.) seedlings planted in minimally disturbed, scalped, and bedded soils, both with and without herbicidal control of weeds, were compared. Douglas-fir growing for 3 years in bedded soils treated with herbicide were heavier, taller, and had deeper root systems than trees growing in other preparations. Scalping did not improve seedling performance when compared to minimally disturbed soils. Soils rich in organic matter benefited tree growth. Competing vegetation in raised beds was detrimental to seedling performance.     

Effect of pruning intensities of three woody leguminous species grown in alley cropping with maize and cowpea on an alfisol

Field trials were carried out on an Oxic Paleustalf in the humid zone of southwestern Nigeria withLeucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit,Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. andSesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. alley cropped with maize and cowpea. The three leguminous woody species were grown in hedgerows spaced at 2 m. Trials were carried out one year after establishment of the hedgerows using a split-plot design with four replications. TheLeucaena trial had twenty pruning combinations consisting of five pruning heights (25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 cm) and four pruning frequencies (monthly, bi-, tri- and six-monthly). TheGliricidia andSesbania hedgerows were subjected to nine pruning intensities consisting of three pruning heights (25, 50 and 100 cm) and three pruning intensities (monthly, tri- and six-monthly).For the three woody species, biomass, dry wood and nitrogen yield from the hedgerow prunings increased with decreasing pruning frequency and increasing pruning height. Biomass, dry wood and nitrogen yields were in the following orderLeucaena >Gliricidia >Sesbania.The various pruning intensities had no effect on survival ofLeucaena plants. Pruning frequency had a larger effect than pruning height on survival ofGliricidia andSesbania plants. With monthly pruning, about 25 percent of theGliricidia and all of theSesbania plants died within six months of repeated pruning. Even with lower pruning frequencySesbania plants showed lower survival rates thanGliricidia orLeucaena.The various pruning intensities of all the hedgerow species had more pronounced effects on the grain yield of the alley cropped cowpea than on maize grain yield. Higher maize and cowpea yields were obtained with increasing pruning frequency and decreasing pruning height.IITA Journal paper number 335     

Modelling agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) with laurel (Cordia alliodora) and poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) in Costa Rica

The agroforestry systems of cacao (Theobroma cacao) under laurel (Cordia alliodora) and cacao under poro (Erythrina poeppigiana) were studied at CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica. An inventory was taken of the organic matter and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) separating the species into their compartments (leaves, branches, trunks and roots). Studies of the litter and of the mineral soil (0–45 cm) yielded these results: Patterns of nutrient accumulation are discussed in relation to the characteristics of these agroforestry systems.     

浅谈锯材干燥产生干裂问题

本文阐述了锯材在干燥过程中出现的干裂问题及产生的原因和防止办法。     

燃煤烟气脱硫副产物对桉树生长影响的研究

通过盆栽和大田试验,探讨脱硫副产物及以其为原料制作的土壤调理剂对提高桉树生长量的作用,结果表明:(1)适量施用脱硫副产物可有效提高桉树生长量,将其制作成土壤调理剂施用,可进一步提高产量。(2)供试物量过高或过低会导致肥效下降而引起桉树生长量下降。(3)适量施用供试物可有效防治因桉树微量元素供应不足导致的缺素垂梢病。     

西南桦种子贮藏试验

本研究设置干燥、布袋与保鲜袋包装以及系列温度处理，开展了3a西南桦种子贮藏试验。结果表明：布袋与保鲜袋处理对西南桦种子贮藏影响极不影响；在常温常规条件下，西南桦种子贮藏3个月即失去生活力，而在常温干燥条件下，西南桦种子贮藏10个月种子发芽率尚未显著下降；在15℃条件下贮藏10个月几乎丧失发芽能力，非常有趣的，西南桦种子在10、5、0℃和－5℃各温度条件下贮藏3a，效果十分理想，10℃似乎是西南桦种子低温贮藏的临界温度。本研究促进了西南桦的扩大栽培和基因资源的保存。