Contents
01.12.2020.
Research paper
Field performance of Austrian pine bareroot seedlings in comparision to seedlings pattern and density in the nursery
The Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) is a species often used in afforestation/reforestation programs in Serbia and region. Seedlings quality has a great role in outplanting survival and growth. Nursery cultural practice has a central influence on seedlings morphological attributes, so we tested seedlings quality from different seedbed densities and seedlings patterns and their outplanting success. Two-year-old bareroot seedlings were grown in very high densities (110 seedlings m-1 in rows and 750 seedlings m-2 across all seedbed space) and high densities (65 seedlings m-1in rows and 450 seedlings m-2 across all seedbed space). Morphological attributes (root collar diameter - RCD, height - H, sturdiness coefficient - SQ, root length – Rl, dry weight of shoot - SDW and root - RDW, shoot to root ration - S:R and quality index - QI) of seedlings from different densities were tested in the nursery before outplanting and compare with seedlings survival and growth (root collar diameter – RCD1 and height – H1) one year after field growing. Seedlings from different densities had accepted RCD (>3 mm) for field planting and there were significant differences in their morphological attributes, except Rl and S:R. The best survival was recorded at seedlings from highest seedbed densities (93.33%), opposite with many previous researches. Seedlings grown across all seedbed space (450 seedlings per m-2) keep their advantage in growth after first year, although survival was lowest (46.67%).
Jovana R Devetaković, Slavko Pavlović, Lučian Krinulović, Ivona Kerkez Janković
01.12.2020.
Research paper
Budburst dynamics of Norway spruce seedlings (Picea abies Karst.) – selection for late spring frosts resistence
Norway spruce is one of the most commonly used species for new forest planting in Europe. It is planted in a large number of habitats, often without following the previous results in the success of afforestation. In order to improve Norway spruce afforestation, open field tests were established in which developmental phenophases are monitored. The use of planting material of different provenances, which had not previously been tested for habitat conditions, was often the cause of the decline of newly planted forests. Early budburst of Norway spruce causes losses due to the freezing of terminal buds. Norway spruce testing for different habitat conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) was conducted at two ecologically different localities: Srebrenica (eastern part of B&H) and Drinić (western part of B&H). During 3 years, the budburst on the seedlings originating from 6 populations (Han Pijesak 1, Han Pijesak 2, Foča, Olovo, Kneževo and Potoci) was monitored. The budburst dynamics was monitored in 2013, 2015 and 2016 and it was recorded for each seedling in two progeny tests. Seedlings from the Kneževo population budbursted the earliest. The seedlings would start budburst on different days of the year, depending partly on the temperature sums and their origin. The earliest budburst was recorded in 2013 (119th day of the year in Srebrenica and 121st day of the year in Drinić). During 2015 and 2016, the budburst started later (125th day in Srebrenica and 129th day in Drinić). Temperature cumulants indicate that a smaller sum of temperatures was required for the buburst in the Srebrenica test than in the Drinić test. However, the temperature sums did not clearly indicate the budburst pattern because they were different for each observed year, but the populations ranking was almost the same. This indicates the influence of some other variables on the budburst. The knowing of the data on the budburst dynamics are a prerequisite for a successful selection of starting populations from which planting material is produced and new forests are later planted. Population Kneževo had the earliest budburst but population Han Pijesak 2 had the latest budburst.
Branislav Cvjetković, Milan Mataruga, Vanja Daničić, Mirjana Šijačić-Nikolić
Forests in Women’s Hands - brief information
The "Forests in Women's Hands" project (Fem4Forest) has started in July 2020 and involves 14 partners from 10 countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Romania, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine). The project is funded under the Interreg Danube Transnational Program. The leading partner is the Forestry Institute of Slovenia. In Serbia, the project partner is the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Forestry, and the associated strategic partner is the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management - Directorate for Forests.
Forests in Women's Hands
01.12.2020.
Research paper
The effect of temperature on the Fusarium sambucinum growth from the one-year-old Fraxinus excelsior seedlings in Montenegro
Species complex Fusarium sambucinum was frequently isolated from ash stands in Montenegro. Previous researches revealed that it is dangerous pathogen for one-year-old seedlings. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of temeperature on growth and morphological characteristics of morphotype isolated from one-year-old common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) seedlings in Montenegro. Growth of Fusarium sambucinum pure cultures on different temperatures was the fastest on 25°C while the absence of growth occurred on 32.5°C. Cultures on optimum temperature were white reddish, aerial and with a lot hyaline, curved multi septate conidia. This research covers basic ecological and morphological characteristics of Fusarium sambucinum strain responsible for high pathogenicity towards one-year-old common ash seedlings in Montenegro.
Aleksandar Vemić, Zlatan Radulović
01.12.2020.
Research paper
Restoration of degraded forest reserves in Ghana
Deforestation in Ghana has led to a forest loss of almost 20% from 9,924,000 ha in 1990 to 7,986,000 ha today. To restore degraded lands, Forest Landscape Restoration has become a critical approach globally. This study was conducted in Ghana focusing on the examples of two forest landscape restoration projects in the Pamu Berekum Forest Reserve: 10-year-old mixed-stands of two to four native tree species and an exotic species stands, including Triplochiton scleroxylon, Terminalia ivorensis, Ceiba pentandra, Nauclea diderrichii and Cedrela odorata at Pamu Berekum 1 and 4-year-old Tectona grandis and 2-year-old Gmelina arborea monoculture stands at Pamu Berekum 2. Estimates of productivity in the restored forests are described, as well as the effects of the restoration on provision of ecosystem service and benefits obtained by local communities. Stand productivity was assessed as mean annual increment of diameter and height, biomass production, and standing volume. For ecosystem services, carbon stocks were calculated for the restored forests; other ecological benefits, as well as financial benefits, were obtained through interviews with fringe communities. The results indicate that FLR can be implemented successfully using different models provided that local communities are involved during the planning and implementation of interventions. When all stands were projected to 10 years, results show higher productivity in T. grandis (331.77 m3 ha-1) and G. arborea stands (1,785.99 m3ha-1) compared to mixed stand (160.41 m3 ha-1). The Gmelina arborea stand was more productive and had higher carbon stocks (1,350.10 Mg ha-1) relative to the T. grandis stand (159.89 Mg ha-1). Both restoration projects were found to deliver important benefits and ecosystem services at the local and national levels, including direct and indirect benefits. The results provide an example for forest/environmental managers on how FLR might be implemented to create multiple benefits at different levels from local communities to the national level. Thus, these results may be useful for guiding successful restoration activities within the context of the ongoing global Forest Landscape Restoration efforts.
Reginald T. Guuroh, Ernest G. Foli, Shalom D. Addo-Danso, John Stanturf, Michael Kleine, Janice Burns
01.12.2020.
Research paper
Two studies of the potential of drought preconditioning to enhance deep root production in seedlings of western larch (Larix occidentalis)
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of drought in the western USA. Evidence suggests that drought preconditioning of plants may improve the survival of planted seedlings under dry conditions through enhanced water uptake by roots, but the mechanisms underlying enhanced survival under drought remain unknown. We tested whether the vertical distribution of roots in root plug cross-sections varied with drought preconditioning and seed source. We subjected western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) seedlings from eight different provenances to Low (50-65% gravimetric water content), Moderate (65-75%), and High (≥75%) watering regimes in a nursery. We then investigated dry root mass across four root-plug sections, including the taproot and three lateral root cross-sections (top 1/3rd, middle 1/3rd, and bottom 1/3rd of root plugs). We also tested for carry-over effect of drought preconditioning on the mass of egressed roots observed among cross-sections of potting soil in a 30-day potted study. Root plug mass varied significantly (P< 0.001) with watering regime, root plug cross-section, and an interaction between watering regime and cross-section. Overall, seedlings that received less water produced lateral root plug cross-sections of greater mass, which coincided with taproots of less mass. In contrast to findings from the root plug study, the distribution of egressed root mass among cross-sections of potting soil did not vary with drought preconditioning. This is the first study to assess seedling root growth in response to drought preconditioning in western larch with a focus on the distribution of root mass in root plugs and egressed root mass among soil cross-sections. We expect this work to facilitate future efforts to improve drought hardiness of western larch seedlings. Future improvement of western larch seedlings will require investigation into whether altered root plug mass distribution translates to improved seedling performance in outplanting trials.
Ashleigh Vale, Ehren Moler, Andrew Nelson
01.12.2021.
Research paper
Early pine root anatomy and primary and lateral root formation are affected by container size: implications in dry-summer climates
Although the presence of root anatomical structures of young Pinus ponderosa seedlings grown in containers of contrasting volume (164 vs. 7000 cm3) was similar, seedlings reared 60 days in the large container had more vascular cambium although the xylem thickness was similar. In addition, seedlings in large containers had nearly twice as many resin ducts within the vascular cambium as their cohorts in small containers. Taproot length closely matched container depth. Though lateral root emission rates were similar between container sizes, large container seedlings had more than 2X the number of lateral roots as those from small containers. These differences in morphophysiological characteristics may be important to seedling establishment on sites that experience dry summer conditions, or for seedlings destined to drier, harsher sites. Further work to elucidate the ramifications of these morphophysiological differences on seedling establishment is warranted.
Antonio Montagnoli, Donato Chiatante, Anastazija Dimitrova, Mattia Terzaghi, Jeremiah R. Pinto, R. Kasten Dumroese
Use of boron in conifer and hardwood nurseries
Nursery seedlings with visual boron (B) deficiencies are rare, especially for broadleaf species but they may have occurred in conifer nurseries in Florida, Oregon and the UK. Factors favoring a deficiency include high soil pH, high soil calcium and low soil moisture (i.e. withholding irrigation). Symptoms of a boron deficiency in pine include dead terminals, resin exudation from buds, dark green foliage, and terminal needles with less than 3 μg g-1 B. Chlorosis is an iron deficiency symptom but is not a boron deficiency symptom. At some nurseries (with more than 2% organic matter and more than 0.05 μg g-1 B in irrigation water), seedlings do not have a hidden hunger for B. As a result, there are no published trials that demonstrate a positive growth response from adding boron to managed nursery soils (when seedbed density is not reduced by boron). This review highlights some of the past and current uses of B in nurseries with a focus on deficiency and toxicity effects.
David B. South
01.12.2019.
Research paper
Effect of pre-soaking substrate and light availability on seed germination and seedling establishment of Dracaena draco (L.) L., a threatened species
The Dragon tree, Dracaena draco (L.) L., is an extremely threatened species. Its natural regeneration is disturbed and population appears to decrease rapidly. To design appropriate germination and seedling establishment protocols for a species conservation and restoration program, we studied the effects of pre-soaking, substrate and light availability treatment on seed germination for 15-day period. The condition for light availability corresponded to the sowing depth (at surface or at 2 cm depth). Germination occurred better in the dark when seeds were sown at 2 cm depth. Our results showed that D. draco seeds sown in the sand under dark condition and after 24 hours pre-soaking in warm water germinated better and recorded 82.5% of final germination percentage (FGP). However, seedlings grew better in potting soil and recorded 54 mm of length. The maximum FGP of 51.3% was recorded under light condition. These results indicate that sowing depth and light availability could be a limiting factor for D. draco seed germination in natural condition. Furthermore, the establishment of D. draco seedlings (shoot and root length) during an 8-week period in pots was also assessed and illustrated. More research on seed ecophysiology is required to understand the mechanisms controlling seed germination of D. draco in arid and semi-arid conditions viz. salinity and drought.
Abdenour Kheloufi, Mohamed Boukhecha, Aziza Ouachi
01.12.2019.
Research paper
Afforestation in barren laterite lands with Swietenia macrophylla G. King and plant growth promoting microbes
Barren laterite lands are available plenty in Kasargode District of Kerala, India and being used mainly for extracting laterite bricks for building construction. These lands are found barren due to lack of vegetation and rocky nature. Afforestation in these lands is very essential to avoid extraction of laterite bricks so as to prevent degradation of lands. To develop vegetation in these laterite lands the soil properties of laterite was examined as a first step of afforestation process. It was found that the soils have lack of plant growth promoting microbes (PGPM) and poor in major nutrients (N, P, K). Therefore, the PGPM specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus fasciculatum and Glomus geosporum) and bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus megaterium) were used for afforestation in laterite lands along with Swietenia macrophylla G. King a commercially important tree of Kerala, India. The laterite soils were collected and used as potting media for growing seedlings of S. macrophylla in nursery and the cultured PGPM were inoculated in to the seedlings of S. macrophylla and maintained for 3 months. The PGPM inoculated seedlings showed improved growth, biomass and nutrient uptake. Thereafter the seedlings were transplanted at laterite lands at Karmanthodi, Bovikanam, Kasargode, Kerala, India and monitored their growth for 12 months. The seedlings inoculated with PGPM showed up to 98% survival rate with improved growth. From this study it was understood that PGPM have the potential to increase the efficiency of plant growth system in S. macrophylla seedlings through supply of essential levels of N, P and K that helped for successful afforestation in hardy laterite lands.
Karthikeyan Arumugam
