scholarly journals Effect of Herbaceous Layer Interference on the Post-Fire Regeneration of a Serotinous Pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) across Two Seedling Ages

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Castro ◽  
Alexandro Leverkus
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Pinus Pinaster ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Herbaceous Layer ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Salvage Logging ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Pine Seedlings

Herbaceous vegetation is a major source of interference with the regeneration of woody species. This is particularly the case after forest fires, as a dense herbaceous layer usually regenerates naturally. Although the competitive effect of the herbaceous vegetation upon tree seedlings has been widely studied, there are still gaps in knowledge for management related to the effect of tree seedling age and size on the outcome of the interaction. In this study, we seek to determine the response of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) seedlings to herbaceous competition at two different seedling ages. For that, two treatments of herbaceous competition were implemented, namely unweeded (no action around pine seedlings) and weeded (herbaceous cover removed around pine seedlings). Treatments were conducted twice (2 and 4 years after the fire), and we monitored seedling survival and growth at the end of each growing season. The treatments were implemented across three adjacent landscape units that differed in the management of burned wood and that are representative of common post-fire scenarios: no intervention, salvage logging, and an intermediate degree of intervention. Weeding increased seedling survival from 44.7% to 67.8% when seedlings were 2 years old, but had no effect for four-year-old seedlings, which showed 99% survival. Seedling growth also increased in the weeding treatment, but only slightly. Moreover, growth (and survival for two-year-old seedlings) was strongly correlated with initial seedling size, particularly in the case of two-year-old seedlings. Initial pine seedling height was strongly and positively correlated with the height of the herbaceous layer, supporting the existence of microsite features that promote plant growth above competitive effects. The results support that management actions conducive to foster post-fire pine forest restoration in this Mediterranean ecosystem should reduce herbaceous competition at early stages after fire (second or third year) and focus on larger seedlings.

Soil water repellency persistence after recurrent forest fires on Mount Carmel, Israel

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naama Tessler ◽  
Lea Wittenberg ◽  
Noam Greenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Water Drop ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Water Repellency ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Soil Water Repellency ◽  
Chemical Properties Of Soils

Variations in forest fires regime affect: (1) the natural patterns of community structure and vegetation; (2) the physico-chemical properties of soils and consequently (3) runoff, erosion and sediment yield. In recent decades the Mediterranean ecosystem of Mount Carmel, north-western Israel, is subjected to an increasing number of forest fires, thus, the objectives of the study were to evaluate the long-term effects of single and recurrent fires on soil water repellency (WR) and organic matter (OM) content. Water repellency was studied by applying water drop penetration time (WDPT) tests at sites burnt by single-fire, two fires, three fires and unburnt control sites. Water repellency in the burnt sites was significantly lower than in the unburnt control sites, and the soil maintained its wettability for more than 2 decades, whereas after recurrent fires, the rehabilitation was more complicated and protracted. The OM content was significantly lower after recurrent than after a single fire, causing a clear proportional decrease in WR. The rehabilitation of WR to natural values is highly dependent on restoration of organic matter and revegetation. Recurrent fires may cause a delay in recovery and reduced productivity of the soil for a long period.

scholarly journals Seedling Survival and Growth of Tree Species: Site Condition and Seasonality in Tropical Dry Forest Restoration

2014 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
CLAUDIA ALVAREZ-AQUINO ◽  
GUADALUPE WILLIAMS-LINERA
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Cedrela Odorata ◽  
Guazuma Ulmifolia ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Tabebuia Rosea ◽  
Dry Forest Restoration ◽  
Ceiba Aesculifolia

La restauración del bosque tropical seco es prioritaria por ser el bosque más amenazado. En Veracruz, el bosque seco se ha reducido al 7% de su cobertura original. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar el efecto de la condición del sitio a restaurar y la estacionalidad en la supervivencia y tasa de crecimiento relativo en altura y diámetro de especies de árboles nativos. Estudiamos el desempeño de plántulas durante dos estaciones secas y dos lluviosas, y el efecto de la vegetación leñosa existente > 1 m de altura. Se trasplantaron 960 plantas: 40 individuos de seis especie (Cedrela odorata, Ceiba aesculifolia, Guazuma ulmifolia, Ipomoea wolcottiana, Luehea candida, Tabebuia rosea) en cuatro sitios abandonados. La supervivencia y la tasa de crecimiento relativo se registraron cada cuatro meses durante dos años. La mayor supervivencia se observó en sitios con mayor riqueza de especies arbóreas y la tasa de crecimiento relativo en altura estuvo positivamente correlacionada con la altura de la vegetación existente. La mayor tasa de crecimiento relativo para especies y sitios se registró durante la estación lluviosa. En el sitio con menos vegetación, el desempeño de las plántulas fue pobre y sólo Guazuma sobrevivió. Ceiba mostró la mayor supervivencia (82-90%) pero una tasa de crecimiento relativo baja; Guazuma presentó una supervivencia elevada (20-94%) y la mayor tasa de crecimiento relativo; Cedrela mostró la menor supervivencia (3-7%) y tasa de crecimiento relativo alta. Los resultados sugieren que la vegetación del sitio, la estacionalidad y las especies afectan el desempeño de las plántulas durante el establecimiento temprano. La implicación en términos de la restauración ecológica es la importancia de aprovechar la vegetación existente aunque ésta sea escasa.

Evaluation of gypsum and organic matter additions for improving soil structure in a radiata pine nursery at Benalla, Victoria

1983 ◽  
Vol 23 (121) ◽  
pp. 208 ◽  
Author(s):  
DW Flinn ◽  
RJ Waugh
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Radiata Pine ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Coarse Sand ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Block Experiment

A randomized block experiment was carried out in a radiata pine nursery at Benalla where the soil is weakly aggregated and slakes severely on wetting. Sunflower hulls or sudax ST6 hay or gypsum/dolomite were added during one cycle of a summer green crop, winter cover crop and a pine crop. Plots were also split for a deep ripping treatment. The aim was to improve soil conditions for the growth of pine seedlings. The addition of 170 t/ha of sunflower hulls reduced bulk density (P<0.01) and surface crust resistance (P< 0.05) and markedly increased infiltration capacity (P<0.01). Water-stable aggregation was not statistically affected by any of the treatments because the soil has a clay content of only 18%, though there was an encouraging trend of more water-stable aggregates within the size range 0.25-2 mm following the application of sunflower hulls. Germination of the pine crop was unaffected by treatments as the seed was covered with coarse sand. Seedling survival was low (range 41.1 -47.6%), due in part to saline conditions following fertilizer application. Early growth of seedlings was greater (P<0.05) where additional organic matter was incorporated, but differences between treatments were not statistically significant at harvest. We conclude that soil conditions can be improved for pine growth by adding a large quantity of organic matter, reducing cultivation and maintaining an intensive green cropping program.

scholarly journals Nursery Cultural Techniques Facilitate Restoration of Acacia koa Competing with Invasive Grass in a Dry Tropical Forest

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1124
Author(s):  
Douglass F. Jacobs ◽  
Anthony S. Davis ◽  
R. Kasten Dumroese ◽  
Owen T. Burney
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Acacia Koa ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Kikuyu Grass

Anthropogenic activity has caused persistent and prominent losses of forest cover in dry tropical forests. Natural regeneration of forest trees in grazed areas often fails due to lack of seed sources and consumption by ungulates. To address this, the effective restoration of such sites often requires fencing and outplanting nursery-grown seedlings. In the degraded, dry forests of tropical Hawaii, USA, an additional challenge to restoration of native forest trees is the introduced kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus). This invasive, rapidly growing rhizomatous plant forms deep, dense mats. We studied the use of nursery cultural techniques to facilitate the establishment of koa (Acacia koa) seedlings outplanted amidst well-established kikuyu grass on a volcanic cinder cone on the dry, western side of Hawaii Island. Seedlings were grown four months in three container sizes (49, 164, 656 cm3) and with four rates (0, 4.8, 7.2, and 9.6 kg m−3) of 15–9–12 (NPK) controlled-release fertilizer incorporated into media prior to sowing. After 16 months in the field, seedling survival was > 80% for all treatments with two exceptions: the non-fertilized 49 cm3 (78%) and 164 cm3 (24%) containers. After 10 years, only these two treatments had significantly lower survival (35% and 10%, respectively) than the other treatments. One year following planting, none of the non-fertilized seedlings had transitioned to phyllodes from juvenile true leaves, regardless of container size. For the fertilized 656 cm3 container treatment, 78%–85% of seedlings had phyllodes, with mean values increasing by fertilizer rate. Phyllodes are known to confer greater drought resistance than true leaves in koa, which may help to explain the improved survival of fertilized trees on this relatively dry site. Overall, nursery fertilization was more influential on seedling height and diameter response than container size after outplanting. However, the largest container (656 cm3) with the addition of fertilizer, produced significantly larger trees than all other treatments during the early regeneration phase; early growth differences tended to fade at 10 years due to inter-tree canopy competition. Although koa is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through rhizobium associations, our data confirm the importance of nursery fertilization in promoting regeneration establishment. Nursery cultural techniques may play an important role in forest restoration of dry tropical sites invaded by exotic vegetation.

Genetically Improved Ponderosa Pine Seedlings Outgrow Nursery-Run Seedlings with and without Competition—Early Findings

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. McDonald ◽  
Gary O. Fiddler ◽  
Jay H. Kitzmiller
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Northern California ◽  
Stem Height ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Competing Vegetation ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Genetically Improved

Abstract Three classes of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings (nursery-run, wind-pollinated, control-pollinated) were evaluated for stem height and diameter at the USDA Forest Service's Placerville Nursery and the Georgetown Ranger District in northern California. Pines in all three classes were grown with competing vegetation or maintained in a free-to-grow condition. Control-pollinated seedlings were statistically taller (P < 0.05) than nursery-run counterparts when outplanted, and after 1 and 2 growing seasons in the field with and without competition. They also had significantly larger diameters when outplanted and after 2 growing seasons in the field when free to grow. Wind-pollinated seedlings grew taller than nursery-run seedlings when free to grow. A large amount of competing vegetation [bearclover (Chamaebatia foliolosa)—29,490 plants per acre; herbaceous vegetation—11,500; hardwood sprouts—233; and whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) seedlings—100] ensure that future pine development will be tested rigorously. West. J. Appl. For. 9(2):00-00.

Container Volume Affects Survival and Growth of White Spruce, Black Spruce, and Jack Pine Seedlings: A Literature Review

1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Craig Sutherland ◽  
Robert J. Day
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Greenhouse Production ◽  
Production Phase ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Survival And Growth

Abstract This paper is the first general review of the affects of container volume on the survival and growth of containerized white spruce, black spruce, and jack pine seedlings. The review shows that the literature on this topic is fragmentary and inconsistent. Seedling growth in the greenhouse production phase has been more completely quantified than subsequent establishment and growth after out-planting in the field. In the greenhouse production phase, seedling growth increased from 72 to 360% when the container volume was tripled in size. After outplanting in the field, seedling growth trends were more variable. Seedling height growth increased from 34 to 84% when container volume was tripled in size. Seedling survival was more difficult to assess because of limited data. Only white spruce showed a 10% increase in survival with an increase in container volume. The indications from this literature review suggest that nursery managers and practicing foresters should become more aware of the limitations imposed on seedling survival and growth due to container volume. To maintain optional survival and growth for white spruce, black spruce and jack pine, the container volume should range from 90 to 120 cm3. North. J. Appl. For. 5:185-189, Sept. 1988.

scholarly journals Forest Fire Regime in a Mediterranean Ecosystem: Unraveling the Mutual Interrelations between Rainfall Seasonality, Soil Moisture, Drought Persistence, and Biomass Dynamics

Fire ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Nunzio Romano ◽  
Nadia Ursino
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystem ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Rainfall Frequency

Frequent and severe droughts typically intensify wildfires provided that there is enough fuel in situ. The extent to which climate change may influence the fire regime and long time-scale hydrological processes may soften the effect of inter-annual climate change and, more specifically, whether soil-water retention capacity can alleviate the harsh conditions resulting from droughts and affect fire regimes, are still largely unexplored matters. The research presented in this paper is a development of a previous investigation and shows in what way, and to what extent, rainfall frequency, dry season length, and hydraulic response of different soil types drive forest fires toward different regimes while taking into consideration the typical seasonality of the Mediterranean climate. The soil-water holding capacity, which facilitates biomass growth in between fire events and hence favors fuel production, may worsen the fire regime as long dry summers become more frequent, such that the ecosystem’s resilience to climate shifts may eventually be undermined.

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