scholarly journals The interrelations of herbage productivity with mouse-like rodents and forest litter in linden and ash flood oak grove of Prysamar'ya

Author(s):  
A. O. Dubina ◽  
O. A. Reva ◽  
M. V. Shulman

The relationships between the productivity of herbage as one of the structural elements of forest biogeocenosis with the nature of the formation and chemical composition of the forest litter and the activity of mouse-like rodents in linden and ash flood oak grove of Prysamar’ya were investigated. It was found that leaf-litter affects to the species composition and the degree of development of grass of investigated biogeocenose. It was revealed that the trophic removal of herbage phytomass by mouse-like rodents in the initial period of vegetation promotes its products. As a result, the above-ground herbage on rodent habitats increases by 1.2 times. The alienation of above-ground herbal phitomass in natural conditions under the influence of mouse-like rodents in the middle of the vegetation season increases in areas devoid of rodents’ influence by 1.05 times. It was found that in the final vegetation season, the above-ground herbage at the rodents’ exposure sites decreases by 1.3 times. It was investigated that the above-ground herbage for the whole vegetation season in the natural conditions of the flood oak grove was 115.4 g/m2, and in experimental areas, devoid of rodents’ exposure was 124.0 g/m2. Thus in the study biogeocenosis the value of herbage productivity was under the influence of mouse-like rodents and it reduced to 1.07 times during the whole growing period. In turn, the grass contributes to the increase in stocks of leaf-litter, ash elements including trace elements in forest litter. The quantitative proportion of herbaceous plants in leaf-litter and the chemical composition of grass in two synusias (wild chervil and starwort) were studied. It was revealed that the air-dry weight of the above-ground parts of herbage in synusia of wild chervil was higher than in synusia of starwort. It was determined that the accumulation degree of individual trace elements varies in different species of herbaceous plants. The maximum content of Mn, Pb and Cu more at wild chervil and Ti, Mo, V, Ni and Cr maximum contents were marked at starwort.

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Łukowski ◽  
Marian J. Giertych ◽  
Michał Żmuda ◽  
Ewa Mąderek ◽  
Dawid Adamczyk ◽  
...  

Leaves are the largest component of forest litter. Their decomposition rate depends mainly on plant species, leaf chemical composition, microorganism biodiversity, and habitat conditions. It is known that herbivory by insects can modify the chemical composition of leaves, such as through induction. The aim of this study was to determine whether the rate of leaf decomposition is related to the susceptibility of the plant species to insect feeding and how leaf damage affects this rate. For our research, we chose six species differing in leaf resistance to insect damage: Cornus sanguinea, Frangula alnus, and Sambucus nigra (herbivore resistant), and Corylus avellana, P. padus, and Prunus serotina (herbivore susceptible). The decomposition of these plant leaves was examined in two monoculture forest stands, deciduous (Quercus robur) and coniferous (Pinus sylvestris). Litter decay rate k and change of litter mass, content of defensive metabolites (total phenols (TPh) and condensed tannins), and substances beneficial for organisms decomposing litter (nitrogen (N) and nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC)) were determined. Contrary to our expectations, leaf litter of herbivore-resistant species decomposed faster than that of herbivore-susceptible species, and damaged leaves decayed faster than undamaged leaves. We found that faster decaying leaf litter had a lower content of defensive compounds and a higher content of TNC and N, regardless of the plant species or leaf damage. Leaf litter decomposition caused a large and rapid decrease in the content of defensive compounds and TNC, and an increase in N. In all species, the tannin content was lower in damaged than in undamaged leaves. This pattern was also observed for TPh, except in S. nigra. We interpret this as the main reason for faster decay of damaged leaves. Moreover, the loss of leaf mass was greater under oak than pine stands, indicating that the microorganisms in deciduous stands are more effective at decomposing litter, regardless of leaf damage.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (15) ◽  
pp. 1722-1736 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Freedman ◽  
T. C. Hutchinson

Forest soils and litter in the vicinity of a large nickel–copper smelter at Sudbury, Ont. are known to be contaminated with a variety of heavy metals. In view of this, studies were carried out to determine if forest litter decomposition processes have been affected. The effects of nickel and copper on the decomposition of forest litter were investigated using a variety of techniques in which contaminated and control sites were compared. At contaminated sites an increase in litter standing crop was found. This was related to lower rates of litter decomposition at these sites, as evidenced by reduced rates of breakdown of litter in mesh bags, compared with uncontaminated sites. Lower rates of CO2 flux and acid phosphatase activity were also found at the contaminated sites. In a laboratory experiment, the addition of copper and (or) nickel to a homogenate of leaf litter was shown to depress the rate of dry weight loss and CO2 flux. Negative effects commenced at metal concentrations comparable to those observed in litter at contaminated sites in the field.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (08) ◽  
pp. 1392
Author(s):  
Menovikho Hoshi ◽  
Kamla Dhyani ◽  
Shweta Sahni ◽  
Chhaya Singh*

The present investigation is carried out to study the effect of leaf litter extract on the other crop.  Allelopathic is the, phytotoxic effect of plants leaf on the other plants is well known. Some plants whether orchard crop or forest trees releases some chemicals which effects negatively sometimes positively to the growth of the other plants.  In the present study it was studied that how the soil treated with leaf litter powder of trees (Litchi, Mango, Forest tree) is effected the growth and development of other plant. In an orchard generally leaf litter is the important source of allelochemicals in the soil. Litchi, Mango and forest litter all inhibit the growth of the test crop(Rice) but maximum inhibition is recorded by Litchi leaf powder treatment followed by mango and Forest whether Agriculture soil is treated as control in this case. Germination %, MDA content, Root shoot dry weight is highly affected but chlorophyll was maximum recorded from litchi leaf treatment.


1963 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Bergman ◽  
Rune Söremark

SummaryBy means of neutron activation and gamma-ray spectrometry the concentrations in the human mandibular articular disc of the following elements have been determined: Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cd, W, and Au. The discs were obtained at necropsy from seven men and nine women, ranging in age from 56 to 71 years.The activation was carried out in a thermal neutron flux of about 1.7 XlO12 neutrons × cm−2 × sec.−1 for about 20 hours. A chemical group separationwas performed before the gamma-ray spectrometry. Quantitative data based on the dry weight of the cartilage samples were obtained by comparing the photo-peak area of the identified elements with those of appropriate standards.


1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 113-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Simeon ◽  
M. Silhol

The study of thermal wastes from the nuclear plants around Pierrelatte for agricultural, piscicultural, energy and environmental protection purposes resulted in the establishment of a pilot facility as early as 1976. An aquatic macrophyte pilot facility has been operational since 1983 to study the use of water hyacinths from the aspects of energy and ecology. The results obtained suggest that production yields for the 7 month growing period should exceed 60 metric tons (MT) (dry weight) per hectare in a European climate, and that such crops can feasibly be cultivated in temperate regions. The pilot facility is supplied with pisciculture effluent water, making it possible to quantify the stabilization power of the plants. Without primary decantation, with a retention time of 4 days and stabilization with water hyacinths only, the organic matter waste pond surface area required is 3.5 m2/m2 of pisciculture pond. Any primary or secondary facilities will lead to a reduction of these areas. The final decision will depend on the economical optimization of all the wastewater.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 889
Author(s):  
Aviad Perry ◽  
Noemi Tel-Zur ◽  
Arnon Dag

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is a wax crop cultivated mainly in arid and semi-arid regions. This crop has been described as an alternate-bearing plant, meaning that it has a high-yield year (“on-year”) followed by a low-yield year (“off-year”). We investigated the effect of fruit load on jojoba’s vegetative and reproductive development. For two consecutive years, we experimented with two high-yielding cultivars—Benzioni and Hazerim—which had opposite fruit loads, i.e., one was under an on-year load, while the other was under an off-year load simultaneously. We found that removing the developing fruit from the shoot during an off-year promotes further vegetative growth in the same year, whereas in an on-year, this action has no effect. Moreover, after fruit removal in an on-year, there was a delay in vegetative growth renewal in the consecutive year, suggesting that the beginning of the growing period is dependent on the previous year’s yield load. We found that seed development in the 2018 season started a month earlier than in the 2017 season in both cultivars, regardless of fruit load. This early development was associated with higher wax content in the seeds. Hence, the wax accumulation rate, as a percentage of dry weight, was affected by year and not by fruit load. However, on-year seeds stopped growing earlier than off-year seeds, resulting in smaller seeds and an overall lower amount of wax per seed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. IQBAL ◽  
H.A. RAUF ◽  
A.N. SHAH ◽  
B. SHAHZAD ◽  
M.A Bukhari

ABSTRACT Selection of tree species under agroforestry systems is crucial to sustain the productivity of a crop. In present study, allelopathic effects of the leaf litters of 5 trees named Rose wood (Dalbergia sissoo), Guava (Pisidium guajava), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Sacred fig (Ficus religiosa) and Jaman (Syzygium cumini) species on wheat growth and yield was examined. Leaf litter of each tress species was mixed in soil with two doses @ 100 and 200 g of leaves of each species per pot. Higher shoot length, shoot dry weight, number of spikelets per spike and biological yield were recorded in 200 g sun dried Jaman (Syzygium cumini) leaves. Total number of tillers per plant and number of ears per plant were higher under the application of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves (200 g sun dried) as compared to other treatments. Spike length, grain yield per pot, number of grains per pot and harvest index were maximum in 200 g sun-dried Sacred fig (Ficu sreligiosa) leaves. Majority of the parameters were promoted at lower doses of leaves per pot, however, at higher doses they started inhibiting the growth and grain yield of wheat.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
David Candel-Pérez ◽  
J. Bosco Imbert ◽  
Maitane Unzu ◽  
Juan A. Blanco

The promotion of mixed forests represents an adaptation strategy in forest management to cope with climate change. The mixing of tree species with complementary ecological traits may modify forest functioning regarding productivity, stability, or resilience against disturbances. Litter decomposition is an important process for global carbon and nutrient cycles in terrestrial ecosystems, also affecting the functionality and sustainability of forests. Decomposition of mixed-leaf litters has become an active research area because it mimics the natural state of leaf litters in most forests. Thus, it is important to understand the factors controlling decomposition rates and nutrient cycles in mixed stands. In this study, we conducted a litter decomposition experiment in a Scots pine and European beech mixed forest in the province of Navarre (north of Spain). The effects of forest management (i.e., different thinning intensities), leaf litter types, and tree canopy on mass loss and chemical composition in such decomposing litter were analysed over a period of three years. Higher decomposition rates were observed in leaf litter mixtures, suggesting the existence of positive synergies between both pine and beech litter types. Moreover, a decomposition process was favoured under mixed-tree canopy patches. Regarding thinning treatments significant differences on decomposition rates disappeared at the end of the study period. Time influenced the nutrient concentration after the leaf litter incubation, with significant differences in the chemical composition between the different types of leaf litter. Higher Ca and Mg concentrations were found in beech litter types than in pine ones. An increase in certain nutrients throughout the decomposition process was observed due to immobilization by microorganisms (e.g., Mg in all leaf litter types, K only in beech leaves, P in thinned plots and under mixed canopy). Evaluating the overall response in mixed-leaf litters and the contribution of single species is necessary for understanding the litter decomposition and nutrient processes in mixed-forest ecosystems.


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