Comparison of 5th- and 14th-year Douglas-fir and understory vegetation responses to selective vegetation removal

The effects of early vegetation management on the survival and growth of Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] were examined 5 and 15 years after planting in the Oregon Coast Range. Our first objective was to document the effects of vegetation species competition upon key ecosystem properties. The second objective was to document the effects of vegetation removal during early Douglas-fir stand establishment upon long-term tree growth and on biomass production by vegetation components. Seven levels of manual vegetation removal were maintained for the first 5 years after planting: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% shrub removal; and 100% shrub removal combined with 50% or 100% herbaceous vegetation removal. Shrub and herb removal did not affect Douglas-fir survival at year five, but treatments providing less than 75% shrub removal significantly reduced Douglas-fir survival by year 15. Removing shrubs and herbs completely (100S + 100H) during the 5 years following tree planting allowed successful tree establishment, with a 366% increase in biomass accumulation per hectare for Douglas-fir in that treatment at the end of 14 years of growth. At 15 years stand age, even with shrub removal alone, a 304% gain in tree biomass per hectare was obtained compared to no vegetation removal (NVR). By stand age 15 years, any increase in the degree of understory removal beyond 75% did not contribute significantly to additional tree survival and growth. The understory vegetation on NVR treatment plots and the herbaceous vegetation on 100% shrub removal (100S) treatment plots, contained >90% and >80% of aboveground biomass N at 5 years, respectively, indicating possible competition for soil N. Soil moisture was not different among treatments at 5 years. Complete vegetation removal (100S + 100H) for 5 years resulted in a significant increase in soil bulk density (P < 0.05), a significant decrease in total soil C (P < 0.05) and no change in total soil N in the upper 15 cm of the mineral soil. By 14 years, however, only the soil bulk density remained greater (P < 0.05) on the 100S + 100H treatment. We conclude that greater tree survival and growth occurred with at least 75% shrub removal. Our results suggest that managers may have substantial flexibility in maintaining a partial understory component suitable for ecosystem productivity, canopy cover and wildlife habitat, while maintaining forests productive for timber resources.     

Performance of full-sib families of Douglas-fir in pure-family and mixed-family deployments

A major objective of tree improvement programs is to identify genotypes that will perform well in operational deployments. Relatively little is known, however, about how the competitive environment affects performance in different types of deployments. We tested whether the genetic composition and density of deployments affect the performance of full-sib families of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga meniziesii), and whether traits related to crown morphology could help to explain differences in family performance under competition. Seedlings from eight families were planted in pure-family and three mixed-family composition treatments at high, medium, and low densities (11,954, 2988, and 747 trees·ha⁻¹, respectively). Height (HT), diameter at breast height (DBH), and volume·ha⁻¹ (VOLHA) were measured at ages 8 and 15 years. Significant differences were found among composition treatments in all traits other than VOLHA8 and significant interactions between composition and density treatments were found for all traits at age 15 years. Family ranks for DBH15 and VOLHA15 in pure-family treatments changed considerably among densities, but ranks were more stable for HT15. The performance of two mixed-family treatments differed significantly from the average performances of the same families in pure-family treatments for several traits. Differences in DBH15 among families in high-density, pure-family treatments could be explained in part by differences in crown morphology, with better performance among families with relatively narrow crowns, stout branches, and high leaf area relative to branch length. Our results suggest that the competitive environment has a considerable effect on family performance, and that incorporating crown morphology traits into selection criteria in tree improvement programs may lead to greater productivity of Douglas-fir.     

Design of converter of DC-AC type contactless power transfer system

A new type of circuit topology for DC-AC type contactless power transfer(CPT) system is proposed, and the asymmetric DC-AC convert is used to imply the new topology. The topology simplifies the circuit and control of DC-AC type CPT system, reduces the power loss of power conversion of secondary circuit, and improves the overall efficiency and power density of the system. This paper presents the topology of the converter and investigated its control strategy. A model of the system has been derived, with which the system is simulated and studied. The measured experimental results have verified the theoretical and simulation results.     

The reclamation of bracken-dominated pastures in Bulgaria using asulam and fertilizers

Bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum ) is a major weed of considerable economic concern in upland pastures in Bulgaria and elsewhere in Europe. Between 1993 and 1998, a field experiment was carried out to test methods for restoring productive meadows. Initially, spraying asulam (4·8 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) was used to control the bracken on the site; this was achieved in terms of reduced frond densities and a higher level of grassland establishment. This grassland was dominated by Vicia cassubica and the perennial grasses Agrostis vulgaris , Dactylis glomerata , Festuca rubra , Holcus lanatus and Poa pratensis .
After 2 years, a fertilizer addition experiment was started with four treatments (no fertilizer; addition of phosphorus; addition of nitrogen and phosphorus; addition of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied annually in the early spring at 80 kg of P  ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 50 kg of K ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, and nitrogen was added at the start of grass growth at 60 kg of N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. At the same time, a twice-yearly hay-cutting regime was implemented. Fertilizer addition increased both the quantity and the quality of the resulting grassland. The herbage dry matter was increased by at least a factor of two depending on fertilizer combination, and there was an increase in grass and legume cover and a decrease in both weed cover and bracken recovery. However, although bracken recovery was inversely related to grassland production, there was a consistent increase in bracken density across all treatments between 1997 and 1998, suggesting that increasing herbage biomass merely delays bracken recovery. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Competition of Leymus chinensis and Bromus inermis in response to gap size and neighbouring root exclusion

A two‐year small‐plot field experiment was carried out to investigate the competitive relationship between seedlings of two important forage grasses, Leymus chinensis and Bromus inermis, under three levels of gap size (distance between seedlings and their neighbours) of 10, 20 and 40 cm in diameter, with neighbouring roots present or absent. Seeds of the two species were sown into artificially created gaps, in either monoculture or mixtures at equal rates. Results indicated that gap size had significant effects on seedling emergence, seedling survival and the growth performance of the two species, grown alone or in a mixture. Excluding the roots of neighbouring plants enhanced all the measured attributes and had significant effects on both the number of inflorescences and the biomass of B. inermis and on the biomass of L. chinensis. The performance of the two species differed significantly, both alone and in mixtures, with B. inermis outperforming L. chinensis consistently. The number of inflorescences of B. inermis was 2·6‐fold higher than L. chinensis when grown in a mixture, and L. chinensis displayed a large and significant reduction in biomass when grown in a mixture with B. inermis (5·7 g plot^?1) as compared with a monoculture (25·9 g plot^?1). The relative yield (RY) for B. inermis exceeded 0·5, but for L. chinensis, it was below 0·5 in all treatments, and aggressivity (A) in all treatments was above 0. In addition, the relative competition intensity (RCI) of B. inermis was less than that of L. chinensis in all treatments, both separately and when averaged across treatments. We conclude that B. inermis is a superior competitor to L. chinensis in gaps, whereas the performance of L. chinensis was greatly suppressed in mixtures. This indicated that under similar conditions, B. inermis outcompetes L. chinensis during early growth stages. The results have practical implications for the restoration and revegetation of grasslands in northern China.     

枸杞—苜蓿间作地上生物量分布变异及其竞争强度

[目的]探究枸杞—苜蓿间作地上生物量分布变异及其竞争强度,为林草间作的种间配置调控和可持续经营提供科学依据。[方法]以枸杞—苜蓿间作为研究对象,采用空间分割法对枸杞和苜蓿的地上生物量进行取样,定量分析间作模式各组分地上生物量的分布变异及空间竞争。[结果]单作条件下,水平方向上枸杞树地上生物量分布于距离枸杞行0—90 cm范围内,且随着距离枸杞行距离增加而减少;垂直方向上,枸杞树地上生物量分布重心在距离地面40—60 cm范围内。间作苜蓿条件下,水平方向上枸杞地上生物量分布向枸杞行方向移动,垂直方向上枸杞地上生物量分布重心向上移动,在距离地面60—80 cm范围内。在水平方向距离枸杞树行30—90 cm和垂直方向0—60 cm范围,苜蓿的竞争能力强于枸杞,且随着距离枸杞行距离和地面高度的增加,苜蓿的竞争能力逐渐减弱。枸杞—苜蓿间作的种间竞争强度随距离枸杞行距离的增加而降低,竞争强度可分为3个区域,即高强度竞争区域、中等强度竞争区域和低强度竞争区域,分别距枸杞行0—60,60—90 cm和90—150 cm。建议间作苜蓿应距离枸杞行60 cm外开始种植。[结论]林草过度间作使处于地上空间竞...     

不同水热调控方式对苹果-大豆间作系统土壤温度和根系分布的影响

为探究适于黄土区果农间作系统的水热调控方式,选取该区典型的苹果—大豆间作系统为对象,分析不同水热调控方式对间作系统耗水量、土壤温度及根系分布的影响。试验设置3个灌水量上限：田间持水量的50%(W1),65%(W2)和80%(W3);2个覆膜时间：大豆播种至结荚期(M1)和全生育期覆膜(M2)。结果表明：灌水处理的耗水量与灌水量呈正相关,其耗水量较对照提高1.02%～79.11%。土壤温度在分枝和结荚期随土层深度的增加先增后减,最大值出现在15 cm,而在鼓粒期却呈减小趋势。覆膜在生长前期可增温1.13～3.09℃,而在后期降温0.05～2.36℃。间作系统中作物根系在竖直和水平方向上主要分布范围为0—80 cm深度和距树行0.3～1.8 m。土壤有效积温和根系竞争强度总体上随灌水量的增加先增后减,最大值出现在W2;同时,M1组根系竞争强度较M2提高12.69%。相关分析表明,土壤水分与根系呈极显著负相关性。中等水平的灌水结合播种至结荚期覆膜能最大程度地提升作物根系密度,改善土壤物理性质。建议在幼龄果树间作大豆系统中采用半生育期覆膜(M1)结合田间持水量的65%作为灌水上限(W2)。     

Effects of phosphorus and light intensity on the growth and competition of the two weed species,Veronica persica and Chorispora tenella

Veronica persica Poir. (Persian speedwell) is an invasive alien weed species in the upland soils throughout China. Its dominance in weed flora could be alleviated by Chorispora tenella (Pall.) (tender chorispora) in P‐poor soils and in an intense light environment. Here, three experiments in growth chambers were carried out in order to explore the effect of P and light intensity on the growth and competition of V. persica and C. tenella, the pH value in their rhizospheres, and the kinetic parameters (K_m and V_max) of the H₂PO₄^‐ uptake by the two weed species. The ANOVA results showed that the light intensity and P level in the soil obviously influenced the growth of the two weed species. However, the effect of the P level in the soil was greater for V. persica and the effect of the light intensity was greater for C. tenella. The restriction of the growth of V. persica by a low P level in the soil was much more than that of C. tenella, but it was reversed in the two species in relation to a low light intensity. In addition, the pH was lower in the rhizosphere of C. tenella after the P‐deficient treatment and there was a lower K_m in the uptake of H₂PO₄^‐ than for V. persica, suggesting that C. tenella could adapt to a low‐P environment more easily. In conclusion, C. tenella growing together with V. persica had a competitive advantage under high‐light‐intensity and low‐P‐level conditions, but it lost its advantage with an increase in P fertilization and a decrease in light intensity.     

The importance of light quality in crop–weed competition

Plant competition is thought to be driven by limiting resources. We propose that plant competition is triggered initially by the red to far-red light ratio (R:FR) originating from neighbouring plants, followed by a series of complex physiological processes, which exclude direct resource competition. Field experiments were conducted in 2005 and 2006 in which maize ( Zea mays ) was grown hydroponically. The effect of R:FR signal being reflected from the leaf surface of Amaranthus retroflexus was isolated by avoiding direct competition for light, water and nutrients. Results showed that the low R:FR reflected from the leaf surface of A. retroflexus did alter the carbon allocation pattern of maize when compared with maize growing free of weeds. Prior to silking, maize grown under low R:FR experienced temporal changes in plant height, persistent changes throughout the sampling period in root and shoot dry weights and rate of leaf appearance, but no changes in leaf area. At silking, low R:FR reduced ear and total plant dry weight. These results support the hypothesis that changes in R:FR acts as an early signal of pending competition by initiating a shade avoidance response. Data from this experiment suggest that once a plant is physiologically triggered into a shade avoidance response, these plants do so at a physiological cost, which may constrain plant development and possibly reduce reproductive fitness.     

庞泉沟自然保护区建群种种间竞争规律研究

根据野外调查数据，采用Lotka-Voherra竞争模型，以山西省庞泉沟自然保护区内华北落叶松与云杉为优势树种的群落为研究对象，研究了华北落叶松和云杉种间的竞争关系。结果表明：以华北落叶松种群占优势的混交针叶林将由华北落叶松和云杉种群共优组成。从竞争结果来看，华北落叶松与云杉在同一资源空间中总优势度为452592cm^2／hm^2，皆大于任一树种的优势度。因而，华北落叶松和云杉组成的混交群落，能够更充分地利用环境资源，进而提高林地生产力。