Comparison of Ground Cover Plants during Establishment of Cocoa on Clear-Felled Land in Ghana

1968 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
A. A. Opoku ◽  
D. Jordan

SummaryCocoa was used as a test crop to compare the use of nine plant species and natural regeneration as ground covers in plantations. The nine species were Tephrosia hookeriana and villosa mixtures, Indigofera sumatrana, Flemingia congesta, Desmodium asperum, Cassia tora, Indigofera spicata, Crotalaria longithyrsa, Mimosa invisa, and Tithonia diversifolia. F. congesta and T. diversifolia gave the best and most persistent ground cover. Significant differences appeared in the effects of the covers on cocoa jorquetting, heights of jorquette, stem diameter and yields. T. diversifolia retarded cocoa development (to as low as 34% of control) while the others appeared to improve it. Yields in plots of Tephrosia mixture, I. sumatrana, and F. congesta were respectively 72, 59 and 54 per cent higher than under natural regeneration.

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Dwi Rahayu Damayanti ◽  
Afif Bintoro ◽  
Trio Santoso

National Park Management Unit (SPTN) Region III Kuala Penet Resort Margahayu is part ofthe National Park Way Kambas (TNWK). SPTN Region III Kuala Penet as the buffer areaTNWK are maintained to keep a diversity of plants is very high in the composition of thestructure and composition of a certain type. This study aims to determine the speciescomposition, stand structure and condition of natural regeneration as a performancesnapshot succession of stands in Region III SPTN Kuala Penet. The study was conducted from August to September 2015 with the activities of the vegetation analysis using samplingmethods terraced lines as a way to obtain primary data, such as: the species stands, thenumber of species, stem diameter and a height of trees. The results showed that there are 32species in the region Region III SPTN Kuala Penet Resort Margahayu. Importance ValueIndex (IVI), shows that there are plant species that is most dominant, berasan, kopen, sempu,sonokeling and tiga urat, whereas the type belimbingan, bungur, keteja, keruing mahoni,tutup, and waru have low mastery level. Horizontal stand structure indicate that in generalstands dominated by plants with a diameter <10 cm and adiameter decreases to stand 10-<20cm to>60 cm. While the vertical stand structure indicate that the stratum C stands weredominated by as many as 28 species, followed by stratum D (22) types, stratum E (18) types,and the stratum B one types. The condition of Natural regeneration in SPTN Region IIIKuala Penet Resort Margahayu showed that the condition of the forest was normal becausethe density was dominated by the seedling phase, followed by phases of saplings and poleswith the curves shape resembles the letter "J" reversed.Keywords: Assisted Natural Regeneration, Composition Type, SPTN, Stand Structure,TNWK


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
I. N. Kovalenko

Reproduction in a broad sense is the process by which female parents generate some or other germs (diasporas) able to form new individuals that are genetically similar to the female parents. The two main types of reproduction are found in forest grasses and subshrubs: seed (or by spores in spore-bearing plants) and vegetative. The establishment of features of plan reproduction of grass and subshrub layer is an important scientific issue in the context of the preservation and restoration of forest ecosystems, because plants of grass and subshrub layer have a significant impact on the initial stages of natural regeneration of plants of the first layer. Some features of reproduction of plants of different layers of forest ecosystems – from grass to woody – have been studied on the basis of our own observations and literature data. The observations were carried out on the territory of Desnyansko-Starogutsky National Nature Park and the adjacent territories. Forest ecosystems of the north-east of Ukraine have been in active use for a long time. Currently, these forests, in part, have obtained conservation status, and the volume of logging has been sharply reduced. Therefore, the majority of forests are characterized by the progressive succession, during which the proportion of plant silvan species increases and, consequently, the number of motile vegetative plant species increases in the lower layers of forest. The eight plant species of grass and subshrub layer, such as Aegopodium podagraria L., Asarum europaeum L., Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull, Carex pilosa Scop., Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench., Stellaria holostea L. Vaccinium myrtillus L., Vaccinium vitis-idaea L., have been selected as models. It is established that the capacity for vegetative propagation and clone formation is an important feature of reproduction of most forest grasses. The key parameters of generative reproduction of clone forming plants of grass and subshrub layer and their dependence on the ecological and coenotic factors have been shown as well. To establish the level of reproduction the following morphometric parameters were determined: weight of generative organs (g), number of generative shoots (pieces), reproductive effort (%), share of generative individuals in the population (%). In case of generative reproduction, an important biological characteristic is the so-called reproductive effort, which characterizes the contribution of organic matters and energy in the reproductive process. It is typically shown as the percentage of phytomass of the reproductive structures of the total phytomass. In general, generativity of the investigated plants of grass and subshrub layer was determined by the ecological and cenotic conditions, and therefore varied from association to association. Forest grasses and subshrubs, in turn, are an important factor for regeneration of all types of woody species in forest ecosystems. Depending on the composition and abundance of plants of grass and subshrub layer, the number of seedlings and little undergrowth of all woody species of trees is reduced in varying degrees, and the indicators of their growth are getting worse. The impact of the live ground cover on undergrowth of woody species is ultimately determined by the specificity of the ecological and coenotic situation in the areas of regeneration and the specific ecological and phytocoenotic properties of undergrowth of certain woody species. The main environmental problems of recreational zones from the perspective of possibilities of natural regeneration of woody species are the effect of mechanical actions on the soil. Grass and subshrub layer as a sensitive indicator of the increase in anthropogenic load is the first to undergo such transformation in recreational forests. Under its influence its species composition varies and is depleted, distribution of certain species as well as their phytomass and projective cover decrease. Many forest species disappear from the cover, and weeds begin to grow. Protection of forests as holistic ecosystems is an important issue, being developed during the XX century, and not having lost its significance even today. The main directions of its solution are connected with the development of the ecological network of Ukraine and the proper use of all forest resources.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. ALVES ◽  
L. GALON ◽  
R.R. KAIZER ◽  
F.L. WINTER ◽  
C.M. HOLZ ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: The use of plant species for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with herbicides is an alternative that has been emphasized to minimize the effects of the persistence of agrochemicals in the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance potential of winter species in soils contaminated with sulfentrazone and fomesafen. The experiment was in a completely randomized design with four replications. Doses of fomesafen (0.0, 0.125, 0.250, and 0.5 kg ha-1) and sulfentrazone (0.0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 kg ha-1) were applied during the pre-emergence of phytoremediate species (black oat, vetch, birdsfood trefoil, radish and lupin). Forty five days after the emergence of the species, the phytotoxicity (%), leaf area (cm2), stalk and/or stem diameter (mm), height (cm) and dry matter (g) variables of the plants were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance by F test; when significant, linear or non linear regressions were applied to evaluate the effect of herbicide doses on the studied species. Birdsfood trefoil was the less tolerant species to fomesafen and sulfentrazone. Black oat was less affected by the application of fomesafen doses, but it was highly susceptible to sulfentrazone. Radish presented tolerance only up to the fomesafen dose of 0.25 kg ha-1; as for sulfentrazone, the species showed tolerance. The most tolerant species to fomesafen and sulfentrazone, regardless of the dose, was the lupine, which is a possible alternative for the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with these herbicides.


1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 1851-1855 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Telfer

Prediction equations are presented for use in estimating total aboveground weight and maximum leaf weight for 22 species of woody plants. Stem diameter at the ground line was found to be closely correlated with both total and leaf weights. This diameter was therefore used in the equations as the measurement from which weights were predicted.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1542
Author(s):  
Nadezhda V. Genikova ◽  
Viktor N. Mamontov ◽  
Alexander M. Kryshen ◽  
Vladimir A. Kharitonov ◽  
Sergey A. Moshnikov ◽  
...  

Bilberry spruce forests are the most widespread forest type in the European boreal zone. Limiting the clear-cuttings size leads to fragmentation of forest cover and the appearance of large areas of ecotone complexes, composed of forest (F), a transition from forest to the cut-over site under tree canopy (FE), a transition from forest to the cut-over site beyond tree canopy (CE), and the actual clear-cut site (C). Natural regeneration of woody species (spruce, birch, rowan) in the bilberry spruce stand—clear-cut ecotone complex was studied during the first decade after logging. The effects produced by the time since cutting, forest edge aspect, and the ground cover on the emergence and growth of trees and shrubs under forest canopy and openly in the clear-cut were investigated. Estimating the amount and size of different species in the regeneration showed FE and CE width to be 8 m—roughly half the height of first-story trees. Typical forest conditions (F) feature a relatively small amount of regenerating spruce and birch. The most favorable conditions for natural regeneration of spruce in the clear-cut—mature bilberry spruce stand ecotone are at the forest edge in areas of transition both towards the forest and towards the clear-cut (FE and CE). Clear-cut areas farther from the forest edge (C) offer an advantage to regenerating birch, which grows densely and actively in this area.


Jurnal Solum ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Agustian Agustian ◽  
Rimadhani Syafei ◽  
Lusi Maira

Research on biodiversity of  N-fix bacteria was performed on rhizosphere  of Tithonia diversifolia grown at acid soil Ultisol. This study aimed to determine the biodiversity and populations of N-fix bacteria along with the growth rate of Tithonia and characterized the bacterial isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of this plant. Soil rhizosphere samples were taken from rhizospheres of Tithonia with different criteria of stem diameter i.e Ø <3 cm, and 3 to 6 cm that grown  at Faculty of Agriculture Andalas University experimental station.From these results it can be concluded that the diverse and larger population were  found in Tithonia with 3 to 6 cm stem diameter  an average of 19.7 x 103 cfu per g of soil. N-fix bacterial isolates obtained have a round, slimy, slippery and convex colonies and gram variable. Based on the color of their colonies, N-fix bacterial isolates obtained were classified into 3 groups with the following characteristics: (1) white milk isolates (A1ps, a2ps, B3ps), flourescent white and yellow, have flagella and produce auxin, (2) yellow isolate (B2K and B3K), with yellow flourescent, have flagella and produce auxin, and (3) the clear isolates that could separated into two groups i.e the flourescent group and produce auxin and has flagella isolates (A2b, A3b, and B2b) and non flourescent group, no flagella and does not produce auxin isolates (B1b, B3B). The optimum growth conditions for the all isolates were pH media nearly 7 with 35o C incubation temperature. The translucent isolates (A3b and B3B) have a optimum range pH from 4.36 to 6.17, while isolates with a yellow colonies (B2K) has a range of incubation temperature 25oC to 35oC. However, from the characterization performed could not permit to specify the isolates obtained into species.Key words : Biodiversity, N-fix bacteria, rhizosphere, Tithonia diversifolia


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. McDonald ◽  
Gary Fiddler ◽  
Martin Ritchie ◽  
Paula Anderson

Abstract The purpose of this article was to determine whether natural regeneration or planted seedlings should be used in group-selection openings. The answer depends on the survival and growth rate of both types of seedlings, and that could depend on the size of the openings and the effect of trees on their edge. In this side-by-side study, the natural pine seedlings originated from the 1988 seed crop and the 1–0 nursery-grown seedlings were outplanted in spring 1989. Openings ranged from 0.01 to 0.65 ha. The plant community consisted of many species of shrubs, forbs, and grasses with manzanita having the highest density and greatest development. After 9 years, manzanita had an average density of 13,870 plants/ha, 2,050 m2/ha of foliar cover, and was 125 cm tall. From 1990 to 1997, planted ponderosa pine seedlings were taller (P < 0.05) than natural seedlings, and from 1995 to 1997, mean stem diameter at 30 cm of planted seedlings was larger than natural counterparts (P < 0.05). Development for 1 year in the nursery apparently gave the planted seedlings a growth advantage over the natural seedlings. For natural seedlings, distance from opening edge had little effect on pine height or diameter growth regardless of opening size. Planted seedlings, however, appeared to increase in height and diameter growth with both opening size and distance from edge.


Pastura ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Roni N.G.K. ◽  
S.A. Lindawati

The productivity of forage depends on the availability of nutrients in the soil where it is grown, so fertilization to replace harvested produce is absolutely necessary. This study aims to study the response of gamal and indigofera forage on application of inorganic and organic fertilizers. Research using a completely randomized design factorial pattern of two factors, the first factor is the type of plant (G = Gamal; I = Indigofera) and the second factor is the type of fertilizer (T = without Fertilizer; A = Inorganic fertilizer NPK; K = commercial organic fertilizer; O = conventional organic fertilizer; B = bioorganic fertilizer), repeated 4 times so that it consists of 40 experimental units. The variables observed were plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, total dry weight of leaves, ratio of dry weight of leaves/stems and leaf area per pot. The results showed that there was no interaction between plant species and types of fertilizer in influencing the response of gamal and indigofera plants. Plant species have a significant effect on stem diameter, while fertilizer types have a significant effect on plant height, leaf dry weight, total dry weight of leaves and leaf area per pot. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the response of gamal plants is similar to indigofera, all types of fertilizers can improve the response of plants and organic fertilizers produce the same crop response with inorganic fertilizers. Keywords: gamal, indigofera, inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 01007
Author(s):  
N. Delabays ◽  
A.F. Grogg ◽  
M. Mota ◽  
U. Piantini

The installation of a permanent ground cover in vineyards offers numerous agronomic (soil protection, soil fertility) and environmental (reduced leaching of nutrients and of plant protection products, reduced use of herbicides, biodiversity) benefits. Nevertheless, such ground covers are not always free of drawbacks (competition for water and nitrogen, increased risk of frost, management). For the growers, the challenge is to manage the green ground covers in such a way as to preserve their advantages while limiting these drawbacks. Among the tools available to the winegrower is the sowing of a seed mixture composed of selected species: a choice depending of the soil and climatic conditions of the parcel, but also of the different, and sometime contradictory, objectives of the grower. This paper lists the agronomic and environmental issues addressed by the installation of a permanent ground cover in vineyards. It describes two concrete situations – ground cover for vineyards integrated in agro-ecological networks and green cover on the row of vines (as alternative to glyphosate) – for which, according to the objectives and the impacts, a choice of plant species is proposed. At last, it presents the trials now carried out to validate and optimize those selections, as well as the first observations and results gathered to date.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1172-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Dobrowolska

The aims of the investigation were to (i) quantify the changes in natural regeneration and stand structure, (ii) determine the role of deadwood in the process of regeneration following the disturbance, and (iii) determine the effect of disturbance severity on tree recruitment. The study was conducted in the Szast Protected Forest, which was established after a blowdown in 2002. The results showed that the trees were mainly wind-snapped. The basal area of the slightly disturbed stands increased over time. Herb cover increased, whereas moss cover decreased in 2011. The disturbance severity influenced the density of tree species regeneration, moss and herb ground cover, species diversity, average tree height, tree vitality, and damage caused by herbivores. The density of natural regeneration increased and new species became established after the disturbance. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was the dominant tree species during the regeneration process except in the severely disturbed stand from which wood had been removed; in this case, birch was the dominant species. Wind disturbance increased species diversity and created a new forest with a particular species structure and trees that varied in age and height. The results of this study will be useful for foresters and policymakers to change the existing approaches to large-scale disturbances in the Polish forests.


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