Long-term trends in growth of Pinus palustris and Pinus elliottii along a hydrological gradient in central Florida

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1661-1670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy E Foster ◽  
J Renee Brooks

Forest species composition in Florida is sensitive to changes in hydrology that accompany small shifts in elevation. In this study, we use dendrochronological techniques to determine how the growth of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm. (slash pine) and Pinus palustris Mill. (longleaf pine) along a hydrologic gradient from mesic flatwoods to xeric sandhills responds to fluctuations in climate (temperature, precipitation, river flow, and Palmer drought severity index). Interspecies and intraspecies comparisons of growth responses were made between a xeric P. palustris plot, a transition zone plot containing both species, and a mesic P. elliottii plot. Growth of P. elliottii individuals was negatively correlated with increased water availability on sites with a shallow water table (<1 m) but positively correlated on sites with a deeper water table. The basal area increment (BAI) of P. elliottii individuals on the drier site was 41% lower than the BAI of individuals on the wetter site. In contrast, the growth response of P. palustris, which only grows in the dryer sites, was similar along the hydrologic gradient, with growth being positively related to water availability and only a 16% lower BAI on the driest site.

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Jokela ◽  
Stephen C. Stearns-Smith

Abstract Data from six fertilizer trials established in semimature southern pine stands (five slash pine, Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii; one loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L.) were analyzed to determine the efficacy of single vs. split fertilizer treatments. Both fertilizer treatments supplied an elemental equivalent of 200 lb nitrogen (N)/ac and 50 lb phosphorus (P)/ac; however, the first treatment was delivered as a single dose, and the second treatment was a split N application (i.e., 50 lb N and 50 lb P/ac (initial); 150 lb N/ac (2 yr later). Cumulative responses of fertilized plots were still significantly greater than the controls in five trials after 8 yr and averaged 43% (15.7 ft²/ac) and 39% (607 ft³/ac) for basal area and stand volume growth, respectively. In general, no significant differences in either the magnitude or duration of response were detected between the single and split N fertilizer treatments. This suggests that delaying a portion of the N application for 2 yr will not diminish the level of growth responses attained. Therefore, land managers have flexibility in using either application method when implementing midrotation fertilizer prescriptions. South. J. Appl. For. 17(3):135-138.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Martínez-de la Torre ◽  
Gonzalo Miguez-Macho

Abstract. Groundwater plays an important role in the terrestrial water cycle, interacting with the land surface via vertical fluxes through the water table and distributing water resources spatially via gravity-driven lateral transport. It is therefore essential to have a correct representation of groundwater processes in land surface models, as land-atmosphere coupling is a key factor in climate research. Here we use the Land Surface and Groundwater Model LEAFHYDRO to study the groundwater influence on soil moisture distribution and memory, and evapotranspiration (ET) fluxes in the Iberian Peninsula over a 10-year period. We validate our results with time series of observed water table depth from 623 stations covering different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, showing that the model produces a realistic water table, shallower in valleys and deeper under hilltops. We find patterns of shallow water table and strong groundwater–land surface coupling over extended interior semi-arid regions and river valleys. We show a strong seasonal and interannual persistence of the water table, which induces bimodal memory in the soil moisture fields; soil moisture remembers past wet conditions, buffering drought effects, and also past dry conditions, causing a delay in drought recovery. The effects on land-atmosphere fluxes are found to be significant, on average over the region, ET is 17.4 % higher when compared with a baseline simulation with LEAFHYDRO's groundwater scheme deactivated. The maximum ET increase occurs in summer (34.9 %; 0.54 mm day−1). The ET enhancement is larger over the drier southern basins, where ET is water limited (e.g. the Guadalquivir basin and the Mediterranean Segura basin), than in the northern Miño/Minho basin, where ET is more energy limited than water limited. In terms of river flow, we show how dry season baseflow is sustained by groundwater originating from accumulated recharge during the wet season, improving significantly on a free-drain approach, where baseflow comes from water draining through the top soil, resulting in rivers drying out in summer. Convective precipitation enhancement through local moisture recycling over the semiarid interior regions and summer cooling are potential implications of these groundwater effects on climate over the Iberian Peninsula. Fully coupled land surface and climate model simulations are needed to elucidate this question.


2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 675-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Butnor ◽  
K.H. Johnsen ◽  
F.G. Sanchez ◽  
C.D. Nelson

To better understand the long-term effects of species selection and forest management practices on soil quality and soil C retention, we analyzed soil samples from an experimental planting of loblolly ( Pinus taeda L.), longleaf ( Pinus palustris Mill.), and slash ( Pinus elliottii Engelm.) pines under different management intensities in Mississippi. The treatments included stump removal and cultivation (CULT), a one-time application of fertilizer combined with stump removal and cultivation (CULT+F), and a control (CON). After 49 years, pine species had no significant effect on any soil physical or chemical parameter examined, despite species differences in basal area. CULT exhibited significantly higher soil bulk density and lower soil C and soil N than CON and CULT+F in the upper 10 cm of soil. Stump removal is not a common practice in southern pine silviculture today; however, as demand for bioenergy fuels or feedstocks increases, more complete biomass utilization will be considered. Residual stumps play an important role in soil nutrient and C retention in pine plantations. Our results show that stump removal can lead to reduced soil C (–21%) and soil N (–35%) compared with controls, although it is possible to mitigate nutrient losses on poor sites with fertilization.


1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan W. Hodges ◽  
Jon D. Johnson

Abstract A process is described for production of oleoresin from borehole wounds to the xylem in slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii). Advantages of this process over conventional oleoresin production methods include higher labor productivity, improved product quality, reduced tree damage and stress, and reduced insect pest problems. In experiments conducted in Florida and Georgia from 1991 to 1994, oleoresin yields averaged 657 g (1.45 lb) per borehole, or nearly 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) per tree with multiple boreholes. Tests of other species used commercially for oleoresin production, including longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), produced substantially lower yields. Borehole oleoresin yields were very sensitive to tree stem size, reflecting the capacity of preformed oleoresin stored in the resin duct system. Yields were significantly affected by treatment manipulations of borehole diameter, depth, number, spacing, orientation, chemical stimulants, and collection container type. Oleoresin flow was highest during the midsummer period and continued over a period of several months. Oleoresin flow potential was related to the percentage of tree stem basal area tapped. For optimal treatments affecting 35 to 40% of tree basal area, predicted yields ranged from 1.52 to 3.10 kg (3.35 to 6.83 lb) for trees 23 to 37 cm (9 to 14.5 in.) dbh, respectively. Tree growth rates were not measurably altered by borehole treatment. Comparisons with conventional bark-chipping oleoresin production systems in slash pine showed that the borehole system achieves a labor productivity two times greater than the best alternative, but sacrifices overall yields per tree. The borehole method offers new opportunities for utilization of the slash pine resource and an additional economic enterprise for forest lands. South. J. Appl. For. 21(3):108-115.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 4909-4932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Martínez-de la Torre ◽  
Gonzalo Miguez-Macho

Abstract. Groundwater plays an important role in the terrestrial water cycle, interacting with the land surface via vertical fluxes through the water table and distributing water resources spatially via gravity-driven lateral transport. It is therefore essential to have a correct representation of groundwater processes in land surface models, as land–atmosphere coupling is a key factor in climate research. Here we use the LEAFHYDRO land surface and groundwater model to study the groundwater influence on soil moisture distribution and memory, and evapotranspiration (ET) fluxes in the Iberian Peninsula over a 10-year period. We validate our results with time series of observed water table depth from 623 stations covering different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, showing that the model produces a realistic water table, shallower in valleys and deeper under hilltops. We find patterns of shallow water table and strong groundwater–land surface coupling over extended interior semi-arid regions and river valleys. We show a strong seasonal and interannual persistence of the water table, which induces bimodal memory in the soil moisture fields; soil moisture “remembers” past wet conditions, buffering drought effects, and also past dry conditions, causing a delay in drought recovery. The effects on land–atmosphere fluxes are found to be significant: on average over the region, ET is 17.4 % higher when compared with a baseline simulation with LEAFHYDRO's groundwater scheme deactivated. The maximum ET increase occurs in summer (34.9 %; 0.54 mm d−1). The ET enhancement is larger over the drier southern basins, where ET is water limited (e.g. the Guadalquivir basin and the Mediterranean Segura basin), than in the northern Miño/Minho basin, where ET is more energy limited than water limited. In terms of river flow, we show how dry season baseflow is sustained by groundwater originating from accumulated recharge during the wet season, improving significantly on a free-drain approach, where baseflow comes from water draining through the top soil, resulting in rivers drying out in summer. Convective precipitation enhancement through local moisture recycling over the semi-arid interior regions and summer cooling are potential implications of these groundwater effects on climate over the Iberian Peninsula. Fully coupled land surface and climate model simulations are needed to elucidate this question.


2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Stämpfli ◽  
Chandra A. Madramootoo

Abstract Recent studies have shown subirrigation (SI) to be effective in reducing nitrate losses from agricultural tile drainage systems. A field study was conducted from 2001 to 2002 in southwestern Québec to evaluate the effect of SI on total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) losses in tile drainage. In an agricultural field with drains installed at a 1-m depth, a SI system with a design water table depth (WTD) of 0.6 m below the soil surface was compared with conventional free drainage (FD). Subirrigation increased drainage outflow volumes in the autumn, when drains were opened and water table control was interrupted for the winter in the SI plots. Outflows were otherwise similar for both treatments. Throughout the study, the TDP concentrations in tile drainage were significantly higher with SI than with FD for seven out of 17 of the sampling dates for which data could be analyzed statistically, and they were never found to be lower for plots under SI than for plots under FD. Of the seven dates for which the increase was significant, six fell in the period during which water table control was not implemented (27 September 2001 to 24 June 2002). Hence, it appears that SI tended to increase TDP concentrations compared with FD, and that it also had a residual effect between growing seasons. Almost one-third of all samples from the plots under SI exceeded Québec's surface water quality standard (0.03 mg TDP L-1), whereas concentrations in plots under FD were all below the standard. Possible causes of the increase in TDP concentrations in tile drainage with SI are high TDP concentrations found in the well water used for SI and a higher P solubility caused by the shallow water table.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1517-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Smiatek ◽  
Harald Kunstmann ◽  
Andreas Heckl

Abstract The impact of climate change on the future water availability of the upper Jordan River (UJR) and its tributaries Dan, Snir, and Hermon located in the eastern Mediterranean is evaluated by a highly resolved distributed approach with the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5) run at 18.6- and 6.2-km resolution offline coupled with the Water Flow and Balance Simulation Model (WaSiM). The MM5 was driven with NCEP reanalysis for 1971–2000 and with Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3 (HadCM3), GCM forcings for 1971–2099. Because only one regional–global climate model combination was applied, the results may not give the full range of possible future projections. To describe the Dan spring behavior, the hydrological model was extended by a bypass approach to allow the fast discharge components of the Snir to enter the Dan catchment. Simulation results for the period 1976–2000 reveal that the coupled system was able to reproduce the observed discharge rates in the partially karstic complex terrain to a reasonable extent with the high-resolution 6.2-km meteorological input only. The performed future climate simulations show steadily rising temperatures with 2.2 K above the 1976–2000 mean for the period 2031–60 and 3.5 K for the period 2070–99. Precipitation trends are insignificant until the middle of the century, although a decrease of approximately 12% is simulated. For the end of the century, a reduction in rainfall ranging between 10% and 35% can be expected. Discharge in the UJR is simulated to decrease by 12% until 2060 and by 26% until 2099, both related to the 1976–2000 mean. The discharge decrease is associated with a lower number of high river flow years.


Ground Water ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 964-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Shanley ◽  
K. Niclas Hjerdt ◽  
Jeffrey J. McDonnell ◽  
Carol Kendall

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Chaouki Khalfi ◽  
Riadh Ahmadi

Summary This study consists of an assessment of the ecological accident implicating the Continental Intercalaire-11 (CI-11) water well located in Jemna oasis, southern Tunisia. The CI-11 ecological accident manifested in 2014 with a local increase of the complex terminal (CT) shallow water table salinity and temperature. Then, this phenomenon started to spread over the region of Jemna, progressively implicating farther wells. The first investigation task consisted of logging the CI-11 well. The results revealed an impairment of the casing and cement of a huge part of the 9⅝ in. production casing. Historical production records show that the problems seem to have started in 1996 when a sudden production loss rate occurred. These deficiencies led to the CI mass-water flowing behind the casing from the CI to the CT aquifers. This ecological accident is technically called internal blowout, where water flows from the overpressurized CI groundwater to the shallower CT groundwater. Indeed, the upward CI hot-water flow dissolved salts from the encountered evaporite-rich formations of the Lower Senonian series, which complicated the ecological consequences of the accident. From the first signs of serious water degradation in 2014 through the end of 2018, several attempts have been made to regain control of annular upward water flow. However, the final CT groundwater parameters indicate that the problem is not properly fixed and communication between the two involved aquifers still persists. This accident is similar to the OKN-32 case that occurred in the Berkaoui oil field, southern Algeria, in 1986, and included the same CI and CT aquifers. Furthermore, many witnesses claim that other accidental communications are probably occurring in numerous deep-drilled wells in this region. Concludingly, Jemna CI-11, Berkaoui OKN-32, and probably many other similar accident cases could be developing regional ecological disasters by massive water resource losses. The actual situation is far from being under control and the water contamination risk remains very high. In both accidents, the cement bond failure and the choice of the casing point are the main causes of the internal blowout. Therefore, we recommend (1) a regional investigation and risk assessment plan that might offer better tools to predict and detect earlier wellbore isolation issues and (2) special attention to the cement bond settlement, evaluation, and preventative logging for existing wells to ensure effective sealing between the two vulnerable water table resources. Besides, in the CI-11 well accident, the recovery program was not efficient and there was no clear action plan. This increased the risk of action failure or time waste to regain control of the well. Consequently, we suggest preparing a clear and efficient action plan for such accidents to reduce the ecological consequences. This requires further technical detailed study of drilling operations and establishment of a suitable equipment/action plan to handle blowout and annular production accidents.


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