Allocation of biomass and nutrient elements including Nitrogen to above and belowground compartments of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) treated by labeled nitrogen fertilizer in the form of ¹⁵NH₄ and ¹⁵NO₃ were investigated at the end of two successive growing seasons. Pot cultured beech seedlings were grown at a green house on intact soil cores sampled from three adjacent stands including beech, Norway spruce and mixed beech-spruce cultures of Solling forest, Germany. Comparing biomass allocation and nutrients concentrations of the seedlings between the control and ¹⁵N-fertilized treatments revealed no significant effect of N fertilization on nutrients uptake by seedlings over the experiment. The form of N input influenced its movement into plant pools. It was demonstrated that beech seedlings take up nitrogen mainly in the form of nitrate, which is then reduced in the leaves, although the differences between the retention of NO₃ ⁻-N and NH₄ ⁺-N in plants were not statistically significant. Percent recoveries of ¹⁵N in trees were typically greater after ¹⁵NO₃ than after ¹⁵NH₄ additions. It was indicated that immobilization of 15N tracer in fine roots was a slower process comparing other plant compartments such as stem and coarse roots, but a powerful sink for N during the course of study.

Structure, species composition, and soil properties of a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest in Okinawa, Japan, were examined by establishment of plots at thirty sites. The forest was characterized by a relatively low canopy and a large number of small-diameter trees. Mean canopy height for this forest was 10 m and stands contained an average of 5400 stems·ha⁻¹ (≧3.0 cm DBH); 64% of those stems were smaller than 10 cm DBH. The total basal area was 54.4 m ²·ha⁻¹, of which Castanopsis sieboldii contributed 48%. The forest showed high species diversity of trees. 80 tree species (≧ 3.0 cm DBH) from 31 families was identified in the thirty sampling plots. C. sieboldii and Schima wallichii were the dominant and subdominant species in terms of importance value. The mean tree species diversity indices for the plots were, 3.36 for Diversity index (H′), 0.71 for Equitability index (J′) and 4.72 for Species richness index (S′), all of which strongly declined with the increase of importance value of the dominant, C. sieboldii. Measures of soil nutrients indicated low fertility, extreme heterogeneity and possible Al toxicity. Regression analysis showed that stem density and the dominant tree height were significantly correlated with soil pH. There was a significant positive relationship between species diversity index and soil exchangeable K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ca²⁺/Al³⁺ ratio (all p values <0.001) and a negative relationship with N, C and P. The results suggest that soil property is a major factor influencing forest composition and structure within the subtropical forest in Okinawa.

Mangrove endophytic fungus 1893 was isolated from Kandelia candel from an estuarine mangrove on the South China Sea Coast. Two new lactones 1893A and 1893B, together with other known compounds, have been isolated from its fermentation broth. To classify the endophyte correctly for further industrial application, a combination of morphological and molecular techniques was used to approach its identity. The endophyte was compared with similar species having trichogynes or trichogyne-like hyphae which apparently fused with antheridium-like hyphae, and perithecia initials developing from an ascogonial coil surrounded by enveloping hyphae in early developmental stages on pure culture. Further morphological characteristics on host and non-host were used for comparison with similar species when the endophyte was cultivated on leaves of Kandelia candel and Mangifera indica, respectively, which resulted in classifying the endophyte as a Phomopsis species. The ITS sequence of rDNA was used to infer its phylogenetic relationships with Phomopsis species that resembled the strain in morphology or ecology. Finally, the endophyte was identified as Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae based on morphological and molecular evidence. Our study is a first report of Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae isolated from mangrove Kandelia candel.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of elevated CO₂ on soil N process at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, northeastern China (42°24′N, 128°06′E, and 738 m elevation). A randomized complete block design of ambient and elevated CO₂ was established in an open-top chamber facility in the spring of 1999. Changpai Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestriformis seeds were sowed in May, 1999 and CO₂ fumigation treatments began after seeds germination. In each year, the exposure started at the end of April and stopped at the end of October. Soil samples were collected in June and August 2006 and in June 2007, and soil nitrifying, denitrifying and N₂-fixing enzyme activities were measured. Results show that soil nitrifying enzyme activities (NEA) in the 5–10 cm soil layer were significantly increased at elevated CO₂ by 30.3% in June 2006, by 30.9% in August 2006 and by 11.3% in June 2007. Soil denitrifying enzyme activities (DEA) were significantly decreased by elevated CO₂ treatment in June 2006 (P < 0.012) and August 2006 (P < 0.005) samplings in our study; no significant difference was detected in June 2007, and no significant changes in N₂-fixing enzyme activity were found. This study suggests that elevated CO₂ can alter soil nitrifying enzyme and denitrifying enzyme activities.

The fiber length trait (FLT) of 538 individuals from nature birch population in Maorshan region, Heilongjang, China were measured, of which 100 individuals were selected as representative variety of correlated fragments screening with random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) technique. In total of 20 RAPD primers were tested through multiple regression analysis between amplified strip and the character behaviors, and a correlative segment BFLR-16 was obtained. The correlation coefficient between BFLI-16 and FLT was 0.6144, with the significant level of 1%. BFLI-16 was then cloned, sequenced and transformed into SCAR marker. The percentage of identifying long fiber birches by this SCAR was more than 92. The result indicates that the SCAR markers has high specificity for the long fiber individuals and is highly linked with the gene controlling the character of fiber length, and its existence is significantly correlative with the increase in the fiber length.

The pattern of codon usage in the chloroplast genome of Populus alba was investigated. Correspondence analysis (a commonly used multivariate statistical approach) and method of effective number of codons (ENc)-plot were conducted to analyze synonymous codon usage. The results of correspondence analysis showed that the distribution of genes on the major axis was significantly correlated with the frequency of use of G+C in synonymously variable third position of sense codon (GC_3S), (r=0.349), and the positions of genes on the axis 2 and axis 3 were significantly correlated with CAI (r=−0.348, p<0.01 and r=0.602, p<0.01). The ENc for most genes was similar to that for the expected ENc based on the GC_3S, but several genes with low ENC values were lying below the expected curve. All of these data indicated that codon usage was dominated by a mutational bias in chloroplast genome of P. alba. The selection in nature for translational efficiency only played a minor role in shaping codon usage in the chloroplast genome of P. alba.

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of leaf litter of Leucaena leucocephala on two forest crops Sada koroi (Albizia procera), Ipil ipil (L. leucocephala) and three agricultural crops Falen (Vigna unguiculata), Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and Arhor (Cajanus cajan) in the nursery of the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Bangladesh, in a Randomized Block Design. Results suggested that leaf litters of L. leucocephala induced inhibitory effects on germination and growth of bioassay. It was also found that the effect depended on concentration of extract and litterfall, type of receptor species. Higher concentration of the materials had the higher effect and vice versa. Growth response of receptor crops varied with the variation of leaf litter application. The study revealed that application of low-dose leaf litter specially litter of 10 g·m⁻² had stimulating effect on shoot growth of C. arietinum, V. unguiculata and A. procera. While in all other cases significant inhibitory effect was observed and it was significantly increased with the increase of leaf litter application. However, the trend of inhibition was uneven with treatments. Root growth was found to be more affected than shoot growth.

The effects of different inorganic fertilizers (Urea and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP)) on seedling growth and nodulation capabilities of four agroforestry tree species (Albizia chinensis, A. saman, Acacia nilotica and Sesbania sesban) were compared. The nodulation of these seedlings were treated with different fertilizer treatments (at the rate of urea 40 kg·hm⁻², urea 80 kg·hm⁻², TSP 40 kg·hm⁻², TSP 80 kg·hm⁻², (urea+TSP) 40 kg·hm^−2–and (urea+TSP) 80 kg·hm⁻²) after one month of seed germination. The results revealed that the seedling growth was enhanced significantly with moderate fertilizer treatment. In some cases, the higher levels of fertilizers reduced the seedling growth. The study also revealed that the nodulation in nodule number and size was significantly inhibited by the application of N fertilizer (Urea), while it was increased significantly with the application of P fertilizer (TSP). This study improved our understanding and provided insights that would be useful to the farmers in their efforts to amend the soil with inorganic fertilizers in order to enhance plant growth and biological nitrogen fixation.

An explanatory survey was conducted to assess the contribution of plant diversity to the ecological and socio-economic condition of the rural household in the offshore island of Bangladesh. Assessment was done by means of multistage random sampling. The homestead sizes of the study area were classified into 3 groups viz, large (>0.25 ha), medium (0.05–0.25 ha) and small (<0.05 ha) based on the result obtained from a preliminary survey, and a total of 45 homesteads, 15 from each group, were selected randomly for the study. The average annual income from homestead’s plant diversity varied from Tk 5730.00 (US$95.5) to Tk 17500.00 (US$291.67). The rural people were mainly dependent on their homegarden for woodfuel and nutritional requirement as forest was unavailable in the island. The rural people here also cultivated the plant species as a safety measure from frequent cyclone. Constraints hindering the development of homestead plantation were identified and suggestions were given such as the adequate supply of seedlings of fast growing native species and conservation of endangered species to meet the demand of the household as well as to keep ecological balance.

Five factors expressing greenbelt quality and one factor expressing quantity were adopted for evaluation of the residential greenbelt, and the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) method was used to determine the value of factors. Thirty residential areas were selected as the samples. Two principal components were extracted and their expression was constructed by method of factor anlysis, therefore, quality evaluation of residential greenbelt was obtained. The accuracy of the function and implement quality classification toward the residential greenbelts in Xinxiang City were validated by clustering analysis method. The results showed that the greenbelt quality of fourteen residential areas was higher than the average level, of which eleven were newly-built residential areas. The 30 residential areas were classified into three types according to their greenbelt features and their formation by clustering analysis method. Finally rational proposal basing on aforesaid evaluating results was proposed for construction and renewal of residential greenbelt, upon which directive basis was provided for construction and renewal of residential greenbelt.

For evaluation of the rheological and mechanical properties of highly filled wood plastic composites (WPCs), polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) blends were grafted with maleic anhydride (MAH) to enhance the interfacial adhesion between wood fiber and matrix. WPCs were prepared from wood fiber up to 60 wt.% and modified PP/PE was blended by extrusion. The rheological properties were studied by using dynamic measurement. According to the strain sweep test, the linear viscoelastic region of composites in the melt was determined. The result showed that the storage modulus was independent of the strain at low strain region (<0.1%). The frequency sweep results indicated that all composites exhibited shear thinning behavior, and both the storage modulus and complex viscosity of MAH modified composites were decreased comparing to those unmodified. Flexural properties and impact strength of the prepared WPCs were measured according to the relevant standard specifications. The flexural and impact strength of the manufactured composites significantly increased and reached a maximum when MAH dosage was 1.0 wt.%, whereas the flexural modulus after an initial decreased, also increased with MAH dosage. The increase in mechanical properties indicated that the presence of anhydride groups enhanced the interfacial adhesion between wood fiber and PP/PE blends.

Hue-Saturation-Intensity (HSI) color model, a psychologically appealing color model, was employed to visualize uncertainty represented by relative prediction error based on the case of spatial prediction of pH of topsoil in the peri-urban Beijing. A two-dimensional legend was designed to accompany the visualization—vertical axis (hues) for visualizing the predicted values and horizontal axis (whiteness) for visualizing the prediction error. Moreover, different ways of visualizing uncertainty were briefly reviewed in this paper. This case study indicated that visualization of both predictions and prediction uncertainty offered a possibility to enhance visual exploration of the data uncertainty and to compare different prediction methods or predictions of totally different variables. The whitish region of the visualization map can be simply interpreted as unsatisfactory prediction results, where may need additional samples or more suitable prediction models for a better prediction results.

The objective of this research is to design a method for an appropriate alternative to supply poplar wood as raw material for wood and paper factories in Iran. Due to the destruction of the forests and lack of proper plantation, replacement of the forest wood by the fast growing wood is vital to satisfy all requirements of these factories. A hierarchy was used to prioritize benefits, opportunities, costs and risks (BOCR) using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) ratings approach. To evaluate the “control criteria” of the system, a control hierarchy was also created and prioritized by applying the Analytic Network Process (ANP). A total of four major control criteria in the system are prioritized where each one controls a network structure evaluated by using ANP. The final synthesis results of the system showed that internal poplar tree farming supplied by the forest product factories was the best choice among three potential alternatives (factory procurement, external procurement and mix procurement).

This paper reviewed a large scale conservation work of rare and endangered plants currently conducted in main botanical gardens in China, and the existed, predictable and neglected problems on plant growth and reproduction in ex-situ conservation process. Considered the status quo in plant ex conservation, a nutritional strategy on the plant conservation was proposed based on ‘Ecological Similarity’. Its main idea was that the ex-situ conservation plants coming from natural ecosystem were compulsively allocated in the agro-ecosystems and would return to natural ecosystem ultimately. Therefore, research on plant nutrition of the ex-situ conservation plants should neither just pursue yield and quality as that in agro-ecosystems nor merely stay on intrinsic natures without human intervening. We should give attentions to both of their attributes as in natural ecosystems and in agro-ecosystems, i.e., taking full advantage of plant nutritional measures as in agro-ecosystems to solve actual survival problems of the ex-conservation plants, and ensuring the final goal of returning to nature and playing its ecological role.

An experiment upon an agri-silvicultural system involving Willow (Salix alba) tree, Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and Knol khol (Brassica oleracea var. caularapa) was laid in randomized block designed at farmers’ willow field at Shalimar near Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar India during 2005 and 2006. The main plot was divided into sub-spots with 8 m × 2 m in size each in which four two-year-old willow (Salix alba) trees were at a spacing of 2 m × 2 m in a sub-spot. The intercrops were maintained at recommended spacing and supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers. The benefit-cost ratio in willow plantation intercropped with vegetable crops of Kale and Knol Khol was analyzed and compared with the benefit-cost ratio of sole willow tree forestry. The results showed that every rupee invested in plantation of agri-silvicultural system generates benefit-cost ratio of 2.78 and 2.79 in case of Willow intercropping with Kale and Willow with Knol khol, respectively, while as for sole crop of willows benefit-cost ratio was calculated to be 2.66. These results provided circumstantial evidence in favour of adopting agroforestry involving willow instead of Sole tree forestry.

This paper reported two newly recorded species, Hypsibius convergens Urbanowicz, 1925 and Hypsibius hypostomus Bartoš, 1935, of the genus Hypsibius (Tardigrada; Hypsibiidae) from China. Both species were collected from Taibai Mt, Shaanxi Province. All specimens are deposited at the College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, China.