Nutrient Sustainability in Swiss Wood Extraction

Here, we present the approach to be implemented in the frame of a Swiss research project that recently started (July 2020). The overall aim is to protect the forest’s soil fertility and biodiversity. When choosing an extraction method, the nutrient storage of a respective forest stand should be considered in order to prevent the exploitation of the site-specific nutrient pool. This topic is timely because full-tree harvesting for energetic purposes has increased continuously in the last few years. In addition, summer logging in the foliage state is under discussion because climate change is increasingly reducing winter harvesting periods. We aim to determine the current nutrient pools of different Swiss forest sites by conducting comprehensive soil analyses considering pH value, exchangeable nutrient cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Fe, and Zn), as well as the contents of nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus and carbon(org). Furthermore, nutrient fluxes such as weathering rate, deposition and soil leaching are considered. The resulting site-specific data are combined with expected nutrient removals over one rotation period, depending on tree species composition, forest stand development and extraction methods. In the frame of this project, two case studies will be implemented in beech woodland stands on sediments of the early and late Pleistocene, serving as a data basis to calculate nutrient balances and to formulate management recommendations. In the long-term, we aim to apply this method to Switzerland overall and develop software that allows an automatic calculation of site-specific nutrient balances in order to support future forest management planning and decision-making processes.

Download Full-text

Site classification in a mixed hardwood forest (Hallerbos, Belgium) with a homogeneous ground vegetation dominated by Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex. Rothm.

Silva Gandavensis ◽

10.21825/sg.v59i0.868 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D. Maddelein ◽

B. Muys ◽

J. Neirynck ◽

G. Sioen

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Ph Value ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Base Cation ◽

Site Quality ◽

Ground Vegetation ◽

Site Classification ◽

Species Classification ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Understorey Vegetation

The forest of Halle (560 ha), situated 20 km south of Brussels is covered by a beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest, locally mixed with secundary species (Tilia, Fraxinus, Acer, Quercus,... ). In almost all stands, herbal vegetation is dominated by bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). The research intended to classify 36 plots of different tree species composition according to their site quality. Three classification methods were compared: the first one based on the indicator value of the understorey vegetation, a second one on the humus morphology and a last one on some quantitative soil characteristics. According to the plant sociological site classification, the plots have the same site quality. However, humus forms differ apparently and significant differences were found in pH value and base cation saturation of the soil, abundance and biomass of earthworms and biomass of the ectorganic horizon. Tree species proved to be the main cause of these differences. The results illustrate that the herbal vegetation is not always a reliable indicator of site quality. In the case of a homogeneous vegetation dominated by one or more indifferent species, classification on humus morphology or soil analysis are more appropriate. In the forest of Halle, the tree species is probably the main cause of the observed differences in site quality.

Download Full-text

Disentangling the Ecological Determinants of Species and Functional Trait Diversity in Herb-Layer Plant Communities in European Temperate Forests

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050552 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 552

Author(s):

Janez Kermavnar ◽

Lado Kutnar ◽

Aleksander Marinšek

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Forest Stand ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Herb Layer ◽

Bud Bank ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Stand Characteristics

Forest herb-layer vegetation responds sensitively to environmental conditions. This paper compares drivers of both taxonomic, i.e., species richness, cover and evenness, and functional herb-layer diversity, i.e., the diversity of clonal, bud bank and leaf-height-seed plant traits. We investigated the dependence of herb-layer diversity on ecological determinants related to soil properties, climatic parameters, forest stand characteristics, and topographic and abiotic and biotic factors associated with forest floor structure. The study was conducted in different forest types in Slovenia, using vegetation and environmental data from 50 monitoring plots (400 m2 each) belonging to the ICP Forests Level I and II network. The main objective was to first identify significant ecological predictors and then quantify their relative importance. Species richness was strongly determined by forest stand characteristics, such as richness of the shrub layer, tree layer shade-casting ability as a proxy for light availability and tree species composition. It showed a clear positive relation to soil pH. Variation in herb-layer cover was also best explained by forest stand characteristics and, to a lesser extent, by structural factors such as moss cover. Species evenness was associated with tree species composition, shrub layer cover and soil pH. Various ecological determinants were decisive for the diversity of below-ground traits, i.e., clonal and bud bank traits. For these two trait groups we observed a substantial climatic signal that was completely absent for taxonomy-based measures of diversity. In contrast, above-ground leaf-height-seed (LHS) traits were driven exclusively by soil reaction and nitrogen availability. In synthesis, local stand characteristics and soil properties acted as the main controlling factors for both species and trait diversity in herb-layer communities across Slovenia, confirming many previous studies. Our findings suggest that the taxonomic and functional facets of herb-layer vegetation are mainly influenced by a similar set of ecological determinants. However, their relative importance varies among individual taxonomy- and functional trait-based diversity measures. Integrating multi-faceted approaches can provide complementary information on patterns of herb-layer diversity in European forest plant communities.

Download Full-text

Long-Term Ecosystem Nutrient Pool Status for Aspen Forest Harvest Simulations on Glacial Till and Sandy Outwash Soils

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12111556 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1556

Author(s):

Robert P. Richard ◽

Evan S. Kane ◽

Dustin R. Bronson ◽

Randall K. Kolka

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Retention ◽

Nutrient Budget ◽

Glacial Till ◽

Soil Survey ◽

Low Fertility ◽

Nutrient Pools ◽

Nutrient Pool ◽

Rotation Length ◽

National Cooperative

Sandy outwash and glacial till soils compose large amounts of public forestland due to historically poor agricultural yields. The outwash soils have low fertility, poor nutrient retention and are restricted from whole-tree harvesting (WTH) in some states, whereas the glacial till has medium nutrient retention and fertility, and is unrestricted from WTH. To assess the long-term sustainability of harvesting, a nutrient budget was constructed from field measurements, the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) database, and literature values for stem-only harvesting (SOH) and WTH at a 45-year rotation length and 11 rotations were simulated. The budgets showed that SOH and WTH recovery years, or the time necessary for the inputs to match outputs through leaching and one harvest, exceeded common rotation lengths for both soil types under all weathering scenarios, and the average WTH reduced the total available rotations by one harvest. The large variation in soil nutrient pools and harvest removals complicated the ability to identify the difference between SOH and WTH early in the model, but differences became apparent with sequential harvests. The recovery years were 2–20 times the 45-year rotation length under all weathering rates. Taken together, models in this study bridge the gap between short- and long-term studies and bring into question the sustainability of WTH and SOH practices on nutrient-poor soils.

Download Full-text

Structure and development of forest stands on permanent research plots in the Krkonoše Mts.

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/73/2010-jfs ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 11) ◽

pp. 518-530

Author(s):

S. Vacek ◽

Z. Vacek ◽

L. Bílek ◽

I. Nosková ◽

O. Schwarz

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Vertical Structure ◽

Forest Stand ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Vegetation Zone ◽

Aggregation Index ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Results Management ◽

Management Recommendations

The research is focused on structure and development of forest stands from 5th to 8th forest vegetation zone in the Krkono&scaron;e Mts. The forest stand diversity according to tree species composition and representation, horizontal and vertical structure was evaluated by using following indices: Clark-Evans aggregation index (Clark, Evans 1954), standardised Arten-profil index (Pretsch 2005) and index of complex diversity after Jaehne, Dohrenbusch (1997). Growth model SIBYLA (Fabrika, Ďurský 2005) was used for visualizations and growth predictions of forest stands on particular plots. Based on research results, management recommendations were evaluated.

Download Full-text

Factors affecting windstorm damage at the stand level in hemiboreal forests in Latvia: case study of 2005 winter storm

Silva Fennica ◽

10.14214/sf.10009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Janis Donis ◽

Mara Kitenberga ◽

Guntars Snepsts ◽

Edgars Dubrovskis ◽

Aris Jansons

Keyword(s):

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Canopy Layer ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Management Planning ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Forest Management Planning ◽

Forest Resilience ◽

Socio Economic Impact ◽

Mineral Soils

In managed European hemiboreal forests, windstorms have a notable ecological and socio-economic impact. In this study, stand properties affecting windstorm damage occurrence at the stand-level were assessed using a Generalized Linear Mixed model. After 2005 windstorm, 5959 stands dominated by birch ( spp.), Scots pine ( L.) and Norway spruce ( (L.) Karst.), with mean height >â10 m were inventoried. Windstorm damage was positively associated with spruce and pine-dominated stands, increasing mean height, fresh forest edges, decreasing time since the last thinning and stronger wind gusts. Tree species composition â mixed or monodominant â was not statistically significant in the model; while, the admixture of spruce in the canopy layer was positively associated with higher windstorm damage. Stands on peat soils were more damaged than stands on mineral soils. Birch stands were more damaged than pine stands. This information could be used in forest management planning, selection of silvicultural treatments to increase forest resilience to natural disturbances.BetulaPinus sylvestrisPicea abies

Download Full-text

Economic viability, energy and nutrient balances of site-specific fertilisation for citrus

Biosystems Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.09.007 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 200 ◽

pp. 138-156

Author(s):

André F. Colaço ◽

Larissa G. Pagliuca ◽

Thiago L. Romanelli ◽

José P. Molin

Keyword(s):

Economic Viability ◽

Nutrient Balances ◽

Site Specific

Download Full-text

Growth, biomass, carbon and nutrient pools in Gmelina arborea established in pure and mixed forest stand production systems in Mexico

New Forests ◽

10.1007/s11056-021-09878-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bayron Alexander Ruiz-Blandon ◽

Eduardo Salcedo-Pérez ◽

Ramón Rodríguez-Macías ◽

Efrén Hernández-Álvarez ◽

Julio Campo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Production Systems ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Forest Stand ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Gmelina Arborea ◽

Nutrient Pools

Download Full-text

Soil CO2 fluxes and surface microtopography in a mixed hemiboreal forest: space, time and models.

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-11452 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dmitrii Krasnov ◽

Alisa Krasnova ◽

Steffen Noe

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Temporal Distribution ◽

Forest Stand ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Surface Microtopography ◽

Dynamic Chamber ◽

Spatial Coverage ◽

Flux Measurements ◽

Flux Estimation

The understanding of biophysical mechanisms influencing the spatial and temporal distribution of CO2 flux is important for predicting the response of forest ecosystem on any environmental changes. It has been shown, that the most important controlling factors responsible for CO2 flux fluctuation from the forest soils are soil moisture, temperature and the type of the forest stand. In our work, we present three years of soil CO2 flux measurements in the hemiboreal forest that is characterized by high spatial heterogeneity of vegetation and soil. Three sample plots that represent the main common tree species (Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula sp) were chosen to assess the influence of tree species composition on the soil CO2 flux. The chosen sample plots have clear microtopographical structure with depressions, elevations and flat zones. The data were collected from three sample plots according to forest floor microtopography using manual closed dynamic chamber equipped with IRGA sensor (The Vaisala GMP343 probe), humidity and temperature sensors (Vaisala HMP155). Obvious temporal resolution limitation of manual chamber method is compensated by higher spatial coverage.Previous research has indicated that one of the major sources of uncertainties in the flux estimation is the choice of the model for flux calculation. We compared the commonly used models (linear, exponential and HMR) using two available R packages: &#8220;gasflux&#8221; and &#8220;flux&#8221; packages. Additionally, we developed the algorithm that allows for automatically choosing the best model based on widely used criteria (MAE, RAE, AIC, RMSE).The results showed that in most of the cases linear and exponential models performed better. The comparison of sample plot showed that the biggest influence of microtopography was in the birch forest but the moisture had a bigger effect in the pine forest stand.

Download Full-text

Post-Glycosylation Modification of Sialic Acid and Its Role in Virus Pathogenesis

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines7040171 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 171 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Park

Keyword(s):

Sialic Acid ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Biological Significance ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

Sialic Acids ◽

Neuraminic Acid ◽

Host Cells ◽

Viral Receptor ◽

Site Specific ◽

Viral Binding

Sialic acids are a family of nine carbon keto-aldononulosonic acids presented at the terminal ends of glycans on cellular membranes. α-Linked sialoglycoconjugates often undergo post-glycosylation modifications, among which O-acetylation of N-acetyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is the most common in mammalian cells. Isoforms of sialic acid are critical determinants of virus pathogenesis. To date, the focus of viral receptor-mediated attachment has been on Neu5Ac. O-Acetylated Neu5Acs have been largely ignored as receptor determinants of virus pathogenesis, although it is ubiquitous across species. Significantly, the array of structures resulting from site-specific O-acetylation by sialic acid O-acetyltransferases (SOATs) provides a means to examine specificity of viral binding to host cells. Specifically, C4 O-acetylated Neu5Ac can influence virus pathogenicity. However, the biological implications of only O-acetylated Neu5Ac at C7–9 have been explored extensively. This review will highlight the biological significance, extraction methods, and synthetic modifications of C4 O-acetylated Neu5Ac that may provide value in therapeutic developments and targets to prevent virus related diseases.

Download Full-text

Extraction and Purification of a Lectin from Red Kidney Bean and Preliminary Immune Function Studies of the Lectin and Four Chinese Herbal Polysaccharides

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology ◽

10.1155/2010/217342 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Yufang Hou ◽

Yubao Hou ◽

Liu Yanyan ◽

Guang Qin ◽

Jichang Li

Keyword(s):

Ph Value ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

Mitogenic Activity ◽

Kidney Bean ◽

Back Extraction ◽

Time Saving ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Red Kidney Bean ◽

Reverse Micellar

Reversed micelles were used to extract lectin from red kidney beans and factors affecting reverse micellar systems (pH value, ionic strength and extraction time) were studied. The optimal conditions were extraction at pH 4–6, back extraction at pH 9–11, ion strength at 0.15 M NaCl, extraction for 4–6 minutes and back extraction for 8 minutes. The reverse micellar system was compared with traditional extraction methods and demonstrated to be a time-saving method for the extraction of red kidney bean lectin. Mitogenic activity of the lectin was reasonably good compared with commercial phytohemagglutinin (extracted fromPhaseolus vulgaris) Mitogenic properties of the lectin were enhanced when four Chinese herbal polysaccharides were applied concurrently, among which 50 μg/mLAstragalus mongholicuspolysaccharides (APS) with 12.5 μg/mL red kidney bean lectin yielded the highest mitogenic activity and 100 mg/kg/bw APS with 12.5 mg/kg/bw red kidney bean lectin elevated mouse nonspecific immunity.

Download Full-text