Growth response to fertilisation and recovery of 15N-labelled fertiliser by young hoop pine plantations of subtropical Australia

The stand growth responses to fertilisation were investigated in 1-year-old and 5-year- old second rotation (2R) hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) plantations in subtropical Australia. At the 1-year-old plantation, 4 rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser (0, 20, 60 and 120 kg N ha-1) were banded either with or without basal fertilisers (BF) containing 60 kg P ha-1 and 50 kg K ha-1. In the 5-year-old plantation, 4 rates of N fertiliser (0, 100, 300, 600 kg N ha-1) were banded with or without the BF. At both sites N fertiliser was applied as ammonium sulphate in 4 equal split dressings over 2 growing seasons. 15N-labelled ammonium sulphate was also used at the 5-year-old plantation in conjunction with the 100 kg N ha-1 treatment. The 15N-labelled fertiliser was applied to 3 trees during the first split application in spring, and to 3 more trees during the second split application in midsummer. The 15N-labelled trees were harvested and the surrounding soil excavated 6 months after the second 15N application. In the 1-year-old plantation, no stand growth response to fertilisation was noted, indicating that fertilisation at plantation establishment was unlikely to increase plantation productivity. In contrast, a significant stand response to N fertilisation was demonstrated at the 5-year-old site. There were no significant differences between the plus N treatments and the increase in basal area and volume due to N fertilisation 2.3 years after commencement of the trial was 45.1 and 43.5%, respectively. No response to basal fertiliser was observed. The mean 15N recovery from the soil–plant system was 79%, with no significant difference noted between the two split applications. The mean 15N recovery in the tree biomass was 56%, with the majority being partitioned into the foliage. On average 21% of the applied 15N could not be accounted for, and was assumed to be lost from the soil–plant ecosystem.     

Longterm alley cropping with four hedgerow species on an Alfisol in southwestern Nigeria – effect on crop performance, soil chemical properties and nematode population

A longterm alley cropping trial was undertaken on an eroded Oxic paleustalf in the forest-savanna transition zone of southwestern Nigeria from 1981–1993. Two nitrogen fixing hedgerow species (Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala) and two non legume hedgerow species (Alchornea cordifolia and Dactyladenia barteri) were used in the trial compared to a control (with no hedgerow) treatment. Plots were sequentially cropped with maize (main season) followed by cowpea (minor season). With 4 m interhedgerow spacing and pruning at 0.75 m height, the mean annual pruning biomass yields were observed in the following order: Leucaena (7.1 t ha-1 ) > Gliricidia (4.9 t ha-1 ) > Alchornea (3.7 t ha-1) > Dactyladenia (3.0 t ha-1 ). Alley cropping with the four woody species greatly enhanced the total plot (woody species + crop) biomass yield/ha as follows; Leucaena (21.8 t ha-1) > Gliricidia (17.7 t ha-1) > Alchornea (11.7 t ha-1) > Dactyladenia (9.5 t ha-1). Total biomass yield of crops in control plot was 5.3 t ha-1. Higher biomass yields with alley cropping also increased nutrient yield and cycling. Gliricidia and Leucaena showed higher nutrient yields than Alchornea and Dactyladenia. Alley cropping with Gliricidia and Leucaena could sustain maize yield at moderate level (>2 t ha-1), which would require a N-rate of 45 kg N ha-1 with sole cropping. Application of N in Gliricidia and Leucaena alley cropping still improved maize yield. Higher nitrogen rates are required for alley cropping with Alchornea and Dactyladenia hedgerows. A low rate of phosphorus application is needed for sustaining crop yields with all treatments. Occasional tillage is recommended to increase maize yield. Alley cropping and tillage showed little effect on cowpea seed yield. Surface soil properties declined with time with continuous cultivation. Alley cropping with woody species maintained higher soil organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium levels. Plots alley cropped with Gliricidia and Leucaena showed lower pH and extractable calcium level. Leucaena alley cropped plot also showed lower magnesium level. The decline in soil pH and extractable cations may be due to increased cation leaching with application of high rates of Gliricidia and Leucaena prunings. Alley cropping with the four woody species showed no effect on population of parasitic nematodes.     

纳米纤维素阻燃膜的制备及阻燃性检测概述

分别介绍了阻燃性能指标评价、阻燃纤维素纤维的制备、纳米纤维素的制备等方法,比较了阻燃防护服和森林防火服的阻燃性能指标评价国家标准,森林防火服的阻燃性能指标评价还另外采用了GB／T5454—1997纺织品燃烧性能试验氧指数法国家标准,探讨了纳米纤维素复合阻燃膜的制备方法及其应用前景。     

高浓度泥浆法在冶炼烟气制酸污水处理中的应用

介绍了葫芦岛锌业硫酸厂高浓度泥浆法(HDS)加电石渣-铁盐法污水处理系统的工艺流程及设备选型情况。与常规低浓度石灰法(LDS)相比,高浓度泥浆法具有投资少、石灰消耗少、设备运转率高、自动化程度高、运行成本低等优点。采用高浓度泥浆法改造后污水处理系统排水水质指标全部达到GB 25466—2010《铅、锌工业污染物排放标准》排放指标,每年可节约运行费用约119万元。     

Phenols in Leaves and Bark of Fagus sylvatica as Determinants of Insect Occurrences

Beech forests play an important role in temperate and north Mediterranean ecosystems in Greece since they occupy infertile montane soils. In the last glacial maximum, Fagus sylvatica (beech) was confined to Southern Europe where it was dominant and in the last thousand years has expanded its range to dominate central Europe. We sampled four different beech forest types. We found 298 insect species associated with beech trees and dead beech wood. While F. sylvatica and Quercus (oak) are confamilial, there are great differences in richness of the associated entomofauna. Insect species that inhabit beech forests are less than one fifth of those species living in oak dominated forests despite the fact that beech is the most abundant central and north European tree. There is a distinct paucity of monophagous species on beech trees and most insect species are shared between co-occurring deciduous tree species and beech. This lack of species is attributed to the vegetation history and secondary plant chemistry. Bark and leaf biophenols from beech indicate that differences in plant secondary metabolites may be responsible for the differences in the richness of entomofauna in communities dominated by beech and other deciduous trees.     

Shade tree effects in an 8-year-old cocoa agroforestry system: biomass and nutrient diagnosis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Theobroma cacao</Emphasis> by vector analysis

Farm product diversification, shade provision and low access to fertilizers often result in the purposeful integration of upper canopy trees in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. Subsequent modification to light and soil conditions presumably affects nutrient availability and cocoa tree nutrition. However, the level of complementarity between species requires investigation to minimize interspecific competition and improve resource availability. We hypothesized beneficial effects of upper canopy trees on cocoa biomass, light regulation, soil fertility and nutrient uptake. We measured cocoa standing biomass and soil nutrient stocks under no shade (monoculture) and under three structurally and functionally distinct shade trees: Albizia zygia (D.C.) Macbr, a nitrogen fixer; Milicia excelsa (Welw.), a native timber species; and Newbouldia laevis (Seem.), a native small stature species. Vector analysis was employed to diagnosis tree nutrition. Cocoa biomass was higher under shade (22.8 for sole cocoa versus 41.1 Mg ha⁻¹ for cocoa under Milicia), and declined along a spatial gradient from the shade tree (P < 0.05). Percent canopy openness differed between the three shade species (P = 0.0136), although light infiltration was within the optimal range for cocoa production under all three species. Soil exchangeable K was increased under Newbouldia, while available P decreased and total N status was unaffected under all shade treatments. Nutrient uptake by cocoa increased under shade (43–80% and 22–45% for N and P, respectively), with K (96–140%) as the most responsive nutrient in these multistrata systems. Addition of low-density shade trees positively affected cocoa biomass close to the shade tree, however proper management of upper stratum trees is required for optimum cocoa productivity and sustainability.     

橡树资源——优质林木生物质能源发展战略研究

论述了发展橡树优质林木生物质能源的重要意义、本身所具有的优势,生物质资源的培育和转换技术与工艺流程以及发展橡树优质生物质能源的重大举措.     

Relations between damage symptoms and nutritional status of Norway spruce stands (Picea abies Karst.) in southwestern Germany

Since the mid-1970s new types of forest damage are observed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Typical damage symptoms in coniferous tree species are needle yellowing, reddening and premature loss of older foliage. Needle analysis carried out in damaged Norway spruce stands indicated that these phenomena, most of all needle yellowing, are influenced by the nutritional status of the trees. For the investigated sites Mg but also other elements, particularly P, S, K, Ca and Zn may play a causal role. As N is the most abundant element in the plant its form of uptake is important for a balanced nutrition. On the contrary to NO₃-N high NH₄-N uptake reduces the uptake of cations, particularly Mg and Ca, eventually inducing foliar discoloration symptoms on specific sites. Fertilizer experiments indicated that Mg fertilization is an appropriate tool to mitigate forest damages associated with Mg deficiency for a sustained time period. The application of N in the form of NH₄-N may impede Mg uptake. This mechanism may cause severe damage in forest areas receiving continuously high NH₄-N deposition.     

Fuel model development for the Greek East‐Mediterranean forest litter layer

In order to develop fuel models used as input in wildland fire propagation models, it is necessary to determine relevant vegetation properties concerned with the prediction of the combustion process. This research considers property measurements of two biomass species, namely Pinus halepensis and Pinus brutia. Both species are commonly found in Greece and other Eastern Mediterranean countries. The physical application of the biomass properties relates to the structure of pine forest litter. Measurements have been recorded of the characteristics of the litter layer in situ, and common fuel properties have been determined in the laboratory using samples of the two litter species. In addition, DTA, TG and DTG analysis were performed of the two litter species. The results of the measurements are presented in a format suitable for input in fire propagation models. Comparisons of data have been made with those from other literature sources. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compensatory fertilization of Scots pine stands polluted by heavy metals

The results from four compensatory fertilization experiments located at different distances (0.5, 2, 4 and 8 km) along a heavy metal deposition gradient extending from the Harjavalta Cu-Ni smelter in SW Finland are presented. The experiments were established in middle-age Scots pine stands growing on dryish sites of sorted glaciofluvial sediments. The soil type in all the experiments is ferric podsol. The treatments in the experiments consisted of liming, a powdered slow-release mineral mixture and stand-specific fertilization which comprised at least methylene urea and ammonium nitrate.Monitoring of deposition and soil solution and studies on soil chemical and microbiological properties, on the nutrient status of trees and needle litterfall, on fine root dynamics and on the growth of the tree stands were carried out during a 5-year period.There was a severe shortage of exchangeable Ca and Mg in the organic layer of the most polluted stands. Although the uppermost mineral soil layer had relatively high exchangeable Ca and Mg concentrations, the trees were not able to utilize these nutrient reserves presumably due to the toxic effects of Cu and Ni on the plant roots and mycorrhizas.The treatments that included limestone markedly decreased the Cu and Ni concentrations in the soil solution and soil organic layer, presumably due to immobilisation through precipitation or absorption. The Ca and Mg concentrations correspondingly increased, which certainly contributed to the partial recovery of fine root and stand growth. The powdered mineral mixture and the combination of methylene urea and ammonium nitrate had no short-term effect on the microbial biomass and activity. All the fertilizer treatments increased volume growth in the most polluted stand. The stand-specific fertilization increased needle mass in heavily polluted stands, but the response of the needle mass to fertilizer treatments was low in the less polluted stands. No clear evidence was found to support the role of nutrient status in tree resistance.     

The role of legume fallows in intensified upland rice-based systems of West Africa

Traditional upland rice-based cropping systems in West Africa rely on periods of fallow to restore soil fertility and prevent the build-up of insect pests and weeds. Demographic growth and increased demand for land is forcing many farmers to intensify their rice production systems. Declining fallow length and increasing number of crops before leaving the land to extended fallow result in a significant yield reduction. Promising cropping system alternatives include the use of site specific, weed-suppressing, multi-purpose cover legumes as short duration fallows. Constraints to rice production related to intensification were determined in 209 farmers' fields in four agro-ecological zones during 1994 and 1995. Nitrogen accumulation and weed suppression were evaluated in 54 legume accessions, grown for six months during the dry season, under a range of hydrological and soil conditions in 1994/95. Their effect on the yield of upland rice was determined in 1995. To increase benefits from improved fallow technology, the timing of legume establishment in relation to rice and the effect on crop and weed growth of removing, burning, mulching, or incorporating fallow residues prior to the rice crop were determined. Intensified land use resulted in a significant plot-level yield reduction that was highest in the derived savanna and the bimodal forest zones where it was associated with a doubling of the weed biomass in rice and a significant reduction in soil N supply. Legume fallows appear to offer the potential to sustain rice yields under intensified cropping. Legume biomass was in most instances significantly greater than in the weedy fallow control and several legume species suppressed weed growth. Nitrogen accumulation by legumes varied between 1–200 kg N ha-1 with 30–90% Ndfa. Rice grain yield following legume fallows increased by an average of 0.2 mg ha-1 or 29% above the weedy fallow control. Relay establishment substantially increased legume biomass. However, seeding of the legume at 28 days or earlier significantly reduced grain yield due to interspecific competition. Incorporating or mulching of fallow residues provided no significant yield advantage as compared to burning. Absolute effects varied as a function of site, legume species, and management practice.     

Abscisic Acid in Soil Facilitates Community Succession in Three Forests in China

Plants release secondary metabolites into the soil that change the chemical environment around them. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) is an important allelochemical whose role in successional trajectories has not been examined. We hypothesized that ABA can accumulate in the soil through successional processes and have an influence on forest dynamics. To this end, we investigated the distribution of ABA in forest communities from early to late successional stages and the response of dominant species to the gradient of ABA concentrations in three types of forests from northern to southern China. Concentrations of ABA in the soils of three forest types increased from early to late successional stages. Pioneer species’ litters had the lowest ABA content, and their seed germination and seedling early growth were the most sensitive to the inhibitory effect of ABA. Mid- and late-successional species had a much higher ABA content in fallen leaves than pioneer species, and their seed germination and seedling early growth were inhibited by higher concentrations of ABA than pioneers. Late-successional species showed little response to the highest ABA concentration, possibly due to their large seed size. The results suggest that ABA accumulates in the soil as community succession proceeds. Sensitivity to ABA in the early stages, associated with other characteristics, may result in pioneer species losing their advantage in competition with late-successional species in an increasingly high ABA concentration environment, and being replaced by ABA-tolerant, late-successional species.     

Forest understory biomass heterogeneity is “moisture complex” or associated litter the cause?

Understory biomass heterogeneity underPlatanus occidentalis L.,Quercus alba L.,Celtis occidentalis Pursh., andUlmus americana L. was studied. Soil pH, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, NH₄ nitrogen, total N, and soil moisture were significantly different under all dominant species. The pattern of soil moisture levels under different tree species was not consistent from one sampling period to the next. The aboveground biomass of understory vegetation also varied significantly under different tree species and was not correlated with variation in any of the soil properties. Maximum understory biomass gain (340%) from May to September occurred under oak trees, where soil moisture and most nutrients were the lowest. On the other hand, sycamore and hackberry had continuous release of allelochemics and the smallest understory biomass gain (103%) during the growing season, even though soil under both species had more moisture and nutrients than the soils under white oak. Eliminating all the factors studied leads to the conclusion that organic substances released in the immediate environment of dominant trees and their litter influenced soils and associated herb growth. In each dominant niche system, understory species may have to develop their own system (microniche) to minimize the stresses of competition and allelochemics.     

Base cations and micronutrients in forest soils along three clear-cut chronosequences in the northeastern United States

Determining effects of clear-cutting on base cations and micronutrients is essential for ensuring the sustainability of forestry for biofuels and wood products. The objective of this study was to quantify long-term changes in forest floor and mineral soil base cations (Ca, Mg, and K) and micronutrient (Mn, Zn, and Cu) concentrations and pools following clear-cutting in forests aged 1–120 years. We studied forest soils along three clear-cut chronosequences located in the Adirondack Ecological Center in Newcomb, NY, Bartlett Experimental Forest in Bartlett, NH, and Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. We utilized a strong-acid extraction to quantify base cations and micronutrient concentrations and pools, which may better assess nutrients over the chronosequences than the conventional exchangeable extraction. Generalized linear mixed-effect models (GLMMs) show forest floor and mineral soil Ca, Mg, Mn, and Cu concentrations and pools decreased with increasing forest age across the three study areas. Potassium and Zn concentrations and pools were not significantly different with stand age and neither did soil C and N pools and pH using GLMMs. We calculated that 32–67% of the Ca pool decrease can be attributed to uptake by regenerating vegetation but only 0.02–9% of Mg, Mn, and Cu after harvest. Thus, leaching was likely to the dominant loss process for Mg, Mn, and Cu following clear-cutting. Our results suggest nutrient pools decreased for over a century following clear-cutting, but it is unclear if this will impact plant growth.     

军山湖大型底栖动物群落结构及其水质生物学评价

于2012年8月、11月以及2013年4月对军山湖大型底栖动物群落进行了3次调查,并且利用了Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef多样性指数和Simpson多样性指数对其水质进行了生物学评价。10个采样点中,共鉴定出大型底栖动物12种,其中:环节动物们4种,软体动物门5种,摇蚊幼虫3种。寡鳃齿吻沙蚕、半折摇蚊、河蚬以及洞穴丽蚌是现阶段军山湖底栖动物的优势种。全湖底栖动物的平均密度和平均生物量分别为362.7 ind./m2和91.09 g/m2。不同水情现存量也存在差异,平水期的密度和生物量均比丰水期、枯水期的大;枯水期的密度比丰水期大,而生物量且比丰水期小。3种指数评价结果都表明军山湖整体水质处于重污染状态。     

Allelopathic effects of hackberry in a bottomland forest community

Hackberry was previously found to produce toxins that inhibit the growth of associated herbaceous species in a grassland community. Nevertheless, it was hypothesized that bare areas under hackberry trees in a bottomland forest community may not be caused by allelopathy, since inhibitory compounds may be leached or metabolized faster than in a grassland community. Investigations indicated that the relatively bare areas under hackberry were not due to competition for minerals, light, or water, or to differences in texture or pH. The percent of soil moisture was always higher under hackberry trees than under bur oak trees where herbaceous species were prominent. Decaying hackberry leaves, leaf leachate, and soil collected from under hackberry trees significantly reduce seed germination and seedling growth of test species. Ferulic, caffeic, gentisic, andp-coumaric acids, and scopolin, and scopoletin were identified as phenolic phytotoxins produced in hackberry leaves. Thus it appears that the reduced growth of herbaceous vegetation associated with hackberry trees in both grassland and forest communities is due primarily to allelopathy, with the initial inhibition being accentuated by competition.     

Performance of fluorine-added CoMoS/Al2O3 prepared by sonochemical and chemical vapor deposition methods in the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene

The performance of a new type of CoMoS/Al₂O₃ catalyst, with added fluorine and prepared by sonochemical and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods, was investigated in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT). The catalyst, which was designed to contain optimum amounts of fluorine and cobalt, exhibited a higher activity, ca. 4.6 times higher activity particularly in the HDS of 4,6-DMDBT, than a fluorine-free catalyst prepared by a conventional impregnation method. The enhanced activity of the new catalyst can be attributed to the cumulative effects of individual factors involved in the catalyst preparation. That is, the use of a sonochemical synthesis led to a high dispersion of small MoS₂ crystallites on the alumina, and the addition of the Co species to the catalyst by CVD caused a close interaction between the Co species and the MoS₂ crystallites to produce numerous CoMoS species, which are the catalytically active species for HDS. The addition of fluorine increased the amounts of acidic sites in the catalyst, which promoted hydrogenation (HYD) route to a greater extent than the direct desulfurization (DDS) route in DBT HDS and both HYD and DDS routes to similar extents in the case of 4,6-DMDBT HDS. Accordingly, the addition of fluorine led to a greater increase in catalytic activity for 4,6-DMDBT HDS than for DBT HDS.     

生物质中元素分布特征的聚类分析研究

测定了稻草秆、小麦秆、玉米秆、棉花秆、大豆秆、玉米芯、花生壳和柳树、松树、桦树、杨树、杉树 1 2个农业生物质和林业生物质种类 2 7个样品中主要元素 K,Ca,Na,Mg,Al,Fe,P和痕量元素 As,Cr,Co,Cu,Cd,Mn,Mo,Ni,Pb,Ti,Zn,V,Si,Ba,Be,Se,Sb,Ge,Hg的含量 ,并用SPSS聚类分析法分别进行了 R型和 Q型聚类研究 ,对这些元素在生物质中的分布特征进行了研究 .结果显示 :杨木、杉木和桦木与松木和柳木归成一大类 ,经济类作物黄豆秆和棉花秆分别归类后又归入一大类 ;农业生物质稻草秆和小麦秆、玉米秆被归入一类 ;虽然 2 7种生物质样品分别取自我国东北、华东、华北和西南地区 ,在地理位置上相距极远 ,但样品聚类谱系图表明 ,元素的分布特征与生物质的种类的关系显著 ,与产地的关系不明显 ,即元素的分布特征受种类的影响大 ,而受生长环境、气候、土壤条件的影响小 .     

西北沙区4种能源树种评价研究

运用开放式气体交换Li-6400便携式光合作用测定系统和热值测定仪对乌兰布和沙漠4种人工林能源树种进行了测试分析,研究了生物量、热能产出、净光合速率、蒸腾速率及水分利用效率特征.结果表明:4种植物均具有较高的生物量、平茬后再生能力强、热能产出高等特点.6年生植株生物量均在8 t/hm²以上,其中梭梭、沙棘、沙枣和沙拐枣分别为23、17、12和8.9t/hm²;单位面积热能产出:梭梭、沙棘、沙枣和沙拐枣分别为435、322、222和158 GJ/hm²;4种植物按单位面积生物量和热能产出指标综合排序:梭梭>沙棘>沙枣>沙拐枣;按水分利用效率排序:沙枣>梭梭>沙棘>沙拐枣.研究指出:选择沙生植物作为能源树种,除了考虑其生物量、热值指标外,还应注意植物在平茬后的再生能力及其水分生态生理特征.