Disturbances to the Ground and to the Stand in Beech Forests Due to Thinning Treatments Performed by Different Levels of Mechanization

The aim of this work was to assess the possible impacts on the forest soil and stand due to silvicultural treatment and forest operations in a beech high forest. Even aged beech forests (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Municipality of Cappadocia (L’Aquila) and in the Municipality of Vallepietra (Roma) were analyzed. The analysis of the soil and stand were performed in order to assess the effects attributable to applied silviculture and forest logging. Two different logging methodologies (in particular for the extraction) were applied: mules were used in the areas with greater slopes and with obstacles, while for the areas with better accessibility, mechanical means were used, in this case tractors. In detail, the main objective was to assess the disturbance on the ground and on the stand, generated by the two different levels of mechanization. In addition, it was also interesting to understand the possible effect on the soil and specifically on the partial uncovering where part of the tree canopy was removed. Only through an accurate cross-analysis of the studied parameters and indices could the anthropogenic impacts on the soil and stand due to forest operations be highlighted according to the different logging methodologies applied. The main results showed that the disturbances caused to the soil and stand were essentially caused in the bunching and extraction operations. The importance of avoiding or limiting the continuous passage of vehicles and animals on forest soil clearly emerges, especially in conditions of high soil moisture. It is also important to use correct technologies that are adequate for the specific environmental characteristics and the work plan. Finally, it can be said that there was no difference in the disturbance caused by the two logging methods when compared. Substantial differences in terms of improvement can be defined when comparing the findings of this study with other research studies. This can be done by applying a different type of mechanization with a different logging system.

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Significance of post-germination buoyancy in Helmholtzia glaberrima and Philydrum lanuginosum (Philydraceae)

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt04208 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Peter J. Prentis ◽

Noel M. Meyers ◽

Peter B. Mather

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Seed Germination ◽

Seedling Establishment ◽

Waterlogged Soil ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

High Soil ◽

Amphibious Plants ◽

Different Levels

Post-germination buoyancy has been proposed to reduce seedling establishment in amphibious plants if seeds germinate under flooded conditions. We tested this hypothesis in two amphibious species, Helmholtzia glaberrima (Hook.) and Philydrum lanuginosum (Banks & Sol.). We tested whether seed germination was affected by different levels of inundation, whether seedlings germinating underwater floated and whether seedlings established after prolonged floatation at rates comparable to seedling establishment in waterlogged soil. Germination underwater and in waterlogged soil was similar for both species. Seeds germinating underwater exhibited post-germination buoyancy and established at similar rates to seedlings in waterlogged soil. The results demonstrated that if seeds germinated underwater, post-germination buoyancy conferred the potential to avoid inundation and promote establishment, when waters recede and/or in areas of high soil moisture that are not submerged. More generally, this finding showed that post-germination buoyancy can promote seedling dispersal and the deposition of seedlings in conditions more favourable for establishment if seeds germinate under flooded conditions or in permanent wetlands.

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Potential Soil Respiration in Forest Soil according to Soil Temperature and Soil Moisture Change

Korean Journal of Nature Conservation ◽

10.30960/kjnc.2009.7.4.191 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 191-201

Author(s):

Eunhye LEE ◽

Jaeseok LEE

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Respiration ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Forest Soil ◽

Moisture Change

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Evaluation of Presswheels and Seed Coverers for Direct Seeding of Brassica

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.4.599e ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 599E-600

Author(s):

Regina P. Bracy ◽

Richard L. Parish

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Visual Observation ◽

Mustard Seed ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

Loam Soil ◽

Direct Seeded ◽

Plant Emergence ◽

Moisture Conditions ◽

Determine Effect

Improved stand establishment of direct-seeded crops has usually involved seed treatment and/or seed covers. Planters have been evaluated for seed/plant spacing uniformity, singulation, furrow openers, and presswheel design; however, effects of presswheels and seed coverers on plant establishment have not been widely investigated. Five experiments were conducted in a fine sandy loam soil to determine effect of presswheels and seed coverers on emergence of direct-seeded cabbage and mustard. Seed were planted with Stanhay 870 seeder equipped with one of four presswheels and seed coverers. Presswheels included smooth, mesh, concave split, and flat split types. Seed coverers included standard drag, light drag, paired knives, and no coverer. Soil moisture at planting ranged from 8% to 19% in the top 5 cm of bed. Differences in plant counts taken 2 weeks after planting were minimal with any presswheel or seed coverer. Visual observation indicated the seed furrow was more completely closed with the knife coverer in high soil moisture conditions. All tests received at least 14 mm of precipitation within 6 days from planting, which may account for lack of differences in plant emergence.

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Palaeoecology as a Tool for the Future Management of Forest Ecosystems in Hesse (Central Germany): Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) versus Lime (Tilia cordata Mill.)

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070924 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 924

Author(s):

Astrid Stobbe ◽

Maren Gumnior

Keyword(s):

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Tilia Cordata ◽

Beech Forests ◽

Mountain Ranges ◽

The Future ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L ◽

Low Mountain Ranges ◽

Intramontane Basins ◽

Future Management

In the Central German Uplands, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies have been particularly affected by climate change. With the establishment of beech forests about 3000 years ago and pure spruce stands 500 years ago, they might be regarded as ‘neophytes’ in the Hessian forests. Palaeoecological investigations at wetland sites in the low mountain ranges and intramontane basins point to an asynchronous vegetation evolution in a comparatively small but heterogenous region. On the other hand, palynological data prove that sustainably managed woodlands with high proportions of Tilia have been persisting for several millennia, before the spread of beech took place as a result of a cooler and wetter climate and changes in land management. In view of increasingly warmer and drier conditions, Tilia cordata appears especially qualified to be an important silvicultural constituent of the future, not only due to its tolerance towards drought, but also its resistance to browsing, and the ability to reproduce vegetatively. Forest managers should be encouraged to actively promote the return to more stress-tolerant lime-dominated woodlands, similar to those that existed in the Subboreal chronozone.

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Climate Differently Impacts the Growth of Coexisting Trees and Shrubs under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Conditions

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12030381 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 381

Author(s):

J. Julio Camarero ◽

Cristina Valeriano ◽

Antonio Gazol ◽

Michele Colangelo ◽

Raúl Sánchez-Salguero

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Pinus Halepensis ◽

Growth Dynamics ◽

Early Summer ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Shrub Species ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

Semi Arid ◽

Mediterranean Conditions

Background and Objectives—Coexisting tree and shrub species will have to withstand more arid conditions as temperatures keep rising in the Mediterranean Basin. However, we still lack reliable assessments on how climate and drought affect the radial growth of tree and shrub species at intra- and interannual time scales under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. Materials and Methods—We investigated the growth responses to climate of four co-occurring gymnosperms inhabiting semi-arid Mediterranean sites in northeastern Spain: two tree species (Aleppo pine, Pinus halepensis Mill.; Spanish juniper, Juniperus thurifera L.) and two shrubs (Phoenicean juniper, Juniperus phoenicea L.; Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo ex Guss.). First, we quantified the intra-annual radial-growth rates of the four species by periodically sampling wood samples during one growing season. Second, we quantified the climate–growth relationships at an interannual scale at two sites with different soil water availability by using dendrochronology. Third, we simulated growth responses to temperature and soil moisture using the forward, process-based Vaganov‒Shashkin (VS-Lite) growth model to disentangle the main climatic drivers of growth. Results—The growth of all species peaked in spring to early summer (May–June). The pine and junipers grew after the dry summer, i.e., they showed a bimodal growth pattern. Prior wet winter conditions leading to high soil moisture before cambium reactivation in spring enhanced the growth of P. halepensis at dry sites, whereas the growth of both junipers and Ephedra depended more on high spring–summer soil moisture. The VS-Lite model identified these different influences of soil moisture on growth in tree and shrub species. Conclusions—Our approach (i) revealed contrasting growth dynamics of co-existing tree and shrub species under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions and (ii) provided novel insights on different responses as a function of growth habits in similar drought-prone regions.

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Drought legacies on soil respiration and microbial community in a Mediterranean forest soil under different soil moisture and carbon inputs

Geoderma ◽

10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115425 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 405 ◽

pp. 115425

Author(s):

Lei Liu ◽

Marc Estiarte ◽

Per Bengtson ◽

Jian Li ◽

Dolores Asensio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Microbial Community ◽

Soil Respiration ◽

Forest Soil ◽

Mediterranean Forest

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Influence of pH and Matric Potential on Germination of Cephalosporium gramineum Conidia

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.1998.82.9.975 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 82 (9) ◽

pp. 975-978 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Cynthia A. Blank ◽

Timothy D. Murray

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Significant Influence ◽

Phosphate Buffer ◽

Mineral Salts ◽

Matric Potential ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Fungistasis ◽

Cephalosporium Gramineum ◽

Influence Of Ph

Germination of Cephalosporium gramineum conidia in soil was up to twofold greater at -0.064 MPa than at -0.037 and -0.007 MPa when incubated at 5°C for 2 days. Soil pH from 4.7 to 7.5 did not have a significant influence on germination of conidia and the interaction between soil pH and matric potential on germination was not significant. Soil fungistasis, which was previously observed for conidia of C. gramineum, was not observed in these studies. Germination of conidia on mineral salts agar containing phosphate buffer was significantly less at pH 4.5 than at 5.5, 6.5, or 7.5 at 5°C in one of two experiments; however, pH had no influence on germination at 10 or 20°C in two experiments. Although Cephalosporium stripe is more severe under conditions of high soil moisture and low soil pH, increased germination of conidia in response to these factors does not explain the observed increase in disease.

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High soil moisture reduces common scab caused byStreptomyces turgidiscabiesandStreptomyces europaeiscabieiin potato

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B - Soil & Plant Science ◽

10.1080/09064710.2014.988641 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 193-198

Author(s):

Tor J. Johansen ◽

Merete W. Dees ◽

Arne Hermansen

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Common Scab ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

High Soil

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White Root Rot of Raspberries

Australian Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.1071/bi9510211 ◽

1951 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 211

Author(s):

GC Wade

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Root Rot ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Causal Organism ◽

White Root Rot ◽

High Soil Moisture ◽

High Soil ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Dry Soil

The disease known as white root rot affects raspberries, and to a less extent loganberries, in Victoria. The causal organism is a white, sterile fungus that has not been identified. The disease is favoured by dry soil conditions and high soil temperatures. It spreads externally to the host by means of undifferentiated rhizomorphs; and requires a food base for the establishment of infection. The spread of rhizomorphs through the soil is hindered by high soil moisture content and consequent poor aeration of the soil.

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