We investigated the chemical properties of stemflow of Picea glehnii, Abies sachalinensis and Alnus japonica as well as peat pore water chemistry, including the distance and depth profiles of pore water chemistry, in an ombrogenous mire. The effect of stemflow on the peat pore water chemistry was clear at the stem base in the peat forest in the mire, and the peat pore water around the stem base of a tree had its own chemical properties specific to each species. P. glehnii showed the highest concentration of salts both in stemflow and peat-pore water, whereas A. japonica showed the lowest concentrations; however, the gradient of the chemical environment from the stem base to outside of the canopy is formed. The peat pore water chemistry under the canopy was mainly controlled by the chemical processes diluted by the abundant peat pore water; the stemflow movement in the high water content of the peat was more slowly because of the flat topography (< 1°). This would be due to the fact that the chemicals in stemflow would be diluted by the abundant peat pore water. The spatial heterogeneity of chemical environment between microsites within forested peatland would be also contributed indirectly through the control of microorganism activity, and nutrient regeneration mediated the surface water and the stemflow of the dominant canopy trees.

A study was carried out to investigate changes in the soil plant-available P, the P nutrition and the growth of Pinus radiata seedlings grown in association with understory, broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) or ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on Orthic Allophanic Soil, following the application of three rates of triple superphosphate (TSP) (0, 50, and 100 mg·kg⁻¹P) under a glasshouse condition. The application of P fertilizer enhanced P availability in the rhizospheric of radiata seedlings and the bulk soils in a P-deficient site. P availability in the rhizospheric soils of ryegrass and broom, grown in association with radiata, were also increased by the presence of radiata roots. P concentrations in new shoot needles, old shoot needles, stem and roots of radiata pine increased with increase rates of TSP application, but the effects of ryegrass and broom on P nutrition of radiata seedlings depended on the soil P status. In the absence of P fertilizer addition (control treatment), P concentrations in new shoot needles, old shoot needles, stem, and roots of radiata grown in association with broom were higher than those with ryegrass, whereas, when P fertilizer was added (50 and 100 mg·kg⁻¹) the P concentration was lower. This is probably related to the growth of broom that may have removed much of the plant-available P in the soil as indicated by the consistently lower Bray-2 P concentration in the rhizosphere soil of radiata in association with broom than that in the rhizosphere soil of radiata in association with grass at the two high P rates. Furthermore, in the high P fertile soil (application rate of 100 mg·kg⁻¹), the dry matter yield of radiata was lower when it was grown with broom than with ryegrass. This result suggests that in moderate to high P fertile soils, P. radiata seedlings grow better with ryegrass than with broom, because broom grows vigorously in high P fertile soil and competes with P. radiata for P and perhaps for other nutrients as well.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophyte (DSE) colonization were investigated in three different plantation sites (Umdihar, Umsaw and Mawlein) of Meghalaya, northeast India. Isolation and identification of the AMF spore were conducted to evaluate the AMF diversity and host preference in terms of AMF species distribution and abundance in the plantation sites. Results showed that AMF colonization was significantly higher than dark septate endophyte colonization (p>0.05). AMF and DSE colonization had a narrow range of colonization, varying from 50.91%–58.95% and 1.84%–4.11%, respectively. Spore density varied significantly in all the sites (p>0.05). Out of 29 species identified from 7 genera, the species from Glomus was found to be highly abundant. Sorenson coefficient (Cs) ranged from 0.35–7.0. Species richness varied from 2.0–2.9 in the sites. Total species richness was significantly correlated with total relative abundance (p=0.001). The distribution, abundance and principal component analysis plot suggest that Glomus macrocarpum, G. multicaulis, G. constrictum and Acaulospora sp 1 were the most host preferred species which possibly may favour the host with proper nutrient acquisition and growth.

Leaf litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient return through litterfall of three dominant species, i.e. Quercus serrata, Schima wallichi and Lithocarpus dealbata were studied in different months throughout the year to assess the input and release of nutrient in the forest soil of a sub-tropical mixed oak forest of Manipur, northeastern India. Oaks in northeastern region of India are economically important species for the production of Tasar silk. The monthly litterfall ranged from 25.6 g·m⁻² (July) to 198.0 g·m⁻² (February) and annual litterfall was 1093.8g·m⁻² in the forest site. At initial month (on November 3), the concentrations of N and C were the highest in L. dealbata, followed by Q. serrata and lowest in S. wallichi, whereas lignin and cellulose concentrations at initial month were the highest in S. wallichi, followed by Q. serrata and L. dealbata. L. dealbata (k =0.54) exhibited a high rate of litter decomposition, coinciding with high concentrations of N and C and low cellulose in the litter at initial month. However, low rate of litter decomposition in S. wallichi (k = 0.33) coincided with low value of N and C and highest value of lignin and cellulose at initial month. The remaining biomass in different months was positively correlated with the lignin, C, C/N ratio and cellulose, but it negatively correlated with nitrogen concentrations at initial month. The rate of litter decomposition was the highest in rainy summer months, owing to congenial environmental conditions and lowest rate of litter decomposition in cool and dry winter months.

A study was conducted to determine the characters of soil structure in different water and soil conservation forests in Keshan County, northwest of Heilongjiang Province, China. The soil bulk density, the ratio of non-capillary porosity and capillary porosity (NCP/CP), and the generalized soil structure index (GSSI) were measured for Fraxinus mandshurica, Larix gmelini, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, and Picea koraiensis plantations as well as the abandoned land (as control) adjacent to the forests in typical black soil region. Results show that at soil depth of 0–30cm, the soil bulk density of F. mandshurica forest and L. gmelini forest was lower than that of P. sylvestris var. mongolica forest and P. koraiensis forest, with the relative decrease of 8.04%–11.01%. The soil bulk density of L. gmelini forest was significantly different from that of the P. sylvestris var. mongolica forest and P. koraiensis forest. The NCP/CP values of the four types of plantations were all higher (59.75%–128.82% relatively) than that of abandoned land (p<0.05), indicating that the soil aeration and permeability under forest were enhanced, especially under L. gmelini forest. GSSI values of the four types of forests were also relatively higher (2.98%–4.36%) than abandoned land (p<0.05), indicating that those soil and water conservation forests, especially the F. mandshurica forest and P. koraiensis forest, can promote soil condition to approximate ideal soil structure. The result of this study can provide theoretical basis for scientifically evaluating the effects of vegetation restoration on soil quality in typical black soil region.

Microshoots of Castanea mollissima cv. ‘yanshanhong’ in vitro acquired an enhanced rooting capability with increasing numbers of subculture. In this study, we investigated the effect of successive subculture on adventitious root formation in vitro by the determination of the endogenous hormone level and the enzyme activity. The levels of indoleacetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins (CTK) and gibberellic acid (GA₃) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the activities of indoleacetic acid oxidase (IAAO), peroxidase oxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were measured by ultraviolet-spectrophotometer assay after the induction of rooting at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th subculture. The relationships between physiological characteristics and subculture numbers or rooting rate were as follows: The levels of endogenous IAA in microshoots gradually increased, and endogenous levels of ABA, CTK and GA3 in microshoots decreased slightly after serial subcultures. The level of IAA was highly correlated with subculture numbers and rooting rates. The ratios of IAA/ABA and IAA/CTK both acutely raised with increasing rooting rate during successive subcultures and had high correlations with rooting rate. The activity of IAAO and POD are significantly negatively related with subculture numbers, and the activity of PPO increased after subcultures.

A study was conducted to characterize the land use, biomass and carbon status of dry tropical forest in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, India using satellite remote sensing data and GIS techniques in the year of 2001–2002. The main forest types observed in the area are Teak forest, mixed forest, degraded forest and Sal mixed forest. The aspect and slope of the sites influenced the forest vegetation types, biomass and carbon storage in the different forests. The standing volume, above ground biomass and carbon storage varied from 35.59 to 64.31 m³·ha⁻¹, 45.94 to 78.31 Mg·ha⁻¹, and 22.97 to 33.27 Mg·ha⁻¹, respectively among different forest types. The highest volumes, above ground biomass and carbon storage per hectare were found in the mixed forest and lowest in the degraded forest. The total standing carbon present in the entire study area was 78170.72 Mg in mixed forest, 81656.91 Mg in Teak forest, 7833.23 Mg in degraded forest and 7470.45 Mg in Sal mixed forest, respectively. The study shows that dry tropical forests of the studied area in Chhattisgarh are in growing stage and have strong potential for carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration in forests is of great interest due to concerns about global climate change. Carbon storage rates depend on ecosystem fluxes (photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration), typically quantified as net ecosystem exchange (NEE). Methods to estimate forest NEE without intensive site sampling are needed to accurately assess rates of carbon sequestration at stand-level and larger scales. We produced spatially-explicit estimates of NEE for 9 770 ha of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations in North-Central Florida for a single year by coupling remote sensing-based estimates of leaf area index (LAI) with a process-based growth simulation model. LAI estimates produced from a neural-network modeling of ground plot and Landsat TM satellite data had a mean of 1.06 (range 0–3.93, including forest edges). Using the neural network LAI values as inputs, the slash pine simulation model (SPM2) estimates of NEE ranged from −5.52 to 11.06 Mg·ha⁻¹·a⁻¹ with a mean of 3.47 Mg·ha⁻¹·a⁻¹. Total carbon storage for the year was 33 920 t, or about 3.5 tons per hectare. Both estimated LAI and NEE were highly sensitive to fertilization.

The organic carbon contents, carbon density and carbon storage of the soil in the Pinus koraiensis plantation ecosystem were investigated in Maoershan experimental forest farm, Shangzhi County, Heilongjiang, on the west slope of the Zhangguangcai Mountains in northeastern China for providing data to evaluation of the carbon balance in forest ecosystem of northeastern China. These soil carbon indicators were measured in three forest types, pure P. koraiensis plantation, P. koraiensis and Betula platyphylla mixed forest, and the P. koraiensis and Quercus mongolica mixed forest. The soil carbon pool consisted of four compartments, namely L layer, F layer, H layer and B layer. With variance analysis, we found that both organic carbon content and carbon density of the soil were significantly affected by forest types, soil compartments and slope positions. The highest soil carbon density (278.63 Mg·ha⁻¹).was observed in the mixed forest of P. koraiensis and Q. mongolica. The B layer had the highest carbon density (212.28 Mg·ha⁻¹) among all the soil compartments. In terms of slope position, the highest soil carbon density (394.18 Mg·ha⁻¹) presented in the low slope. Besides, soil carbon content and carbon density had a marked change with the organic matter content and vertical depth of the soil in each compartment. The results of this study implied that in the temperate humid region, the mixed ecosystem of regional Pinus koraiensis plantations and natural forest had relatively high carbon storage capability.

The modeling ability of a stand-alone version of the Simple Biosphere Model 2 (SiB2) was tested mainly through diagnosing the simulated latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), CO₂ flux, and air temperature at the Tongyu field observation station (44°25′N, 122°52′E, 184 m elevation) of Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP), where the land cover is cropland and grassland. In the whole year of 2003, the canopy height and the leaf area index was variable. During non-growth period, the surface would become bare, while during the growth period, the canopy height could reach 2.0 m high over cropland and 0.8 m high over grassland, respectively, and max leaf area index could reach 4.2 and 2.4, respectively. The model was initialized with measurement and driven by half-hourly atmospheric observations. The simulation values for 2003 were compared against measurements. Results show that the model is of a good ability of simulating the hourly latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), CO₂ flux and temperature during the growth period. Moreover, the daily LE, H and CO₂ flux simulated by SiB2 could reflect their yearly change reasonably. However, the model may overestimate the H generally.

In previous study we reported that pretreatment with plasmolysis enhanced somatic embryo formation in hypocotyls of Eleutherococcus senticosus. In the present study, the expression level of callose synthase gene in embryos of E. senticosus in response to 2,4-D, sucrose and mannitol treatments was analyzed by RT-PCR. The results show that plasmolysis pretreatment using sucrose and mannitol significantly promoted the expression of callose synthase gene. Also, the thicker cell walls of explant plasmolyzed compared with controls were observed during the somatic embryogenesis. We suggest that the callose may make the cells in epidermis separate from neighboring cells and then develop into embryogenic potential cells.

A germination experiment of pre-treated seeds of Melia azedarach was conducted in the nursery of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh. Matured seeds of Melia azedarach were collected from healthy trees of National Botanical Garden, Bangladesh and were treated with five pre-sowing treatments (control, immersion in cold water, immersion in hot water, scarification with sand paper, and immersion in concentrated H₂SO₄) on seed germination. Results revealed that the germination rates of pre-sowing treated seeds were significantly increased compared to those in control, except for cold water treatment. The highest germination success (80%) was found in scarification with sand paper, followed by 74% and 69% in immersion in H₂SO₄ and hot water treatment, respectively. Germination started on 8–11 days and completed on 20–21 days of the germination period in all cases. Analysis of variance showed the significance difference in germination success among the treatments but no significance difference in germination period among the treatment. Hot water treatment may be recommended on seed germination of the species in rural Bangladesh.

Leaf area index (LAI) of Teak (Tectona grandis) and Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) grown in Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary of Narmada District, Gujarat, India was obtained by destructive sampling, photo-grid method and by litter trap method. An allometric equation (between leaf area by litter trap method and canopy spread area) was developed for the determination of LAI. Results show that LAI value calculated by the developed allometric equation was similar to that estimated by destructive sampling and photo-grid method, with Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.90 and 1.15 for Teak, and 0.38 and 0.46 for Bamboo, respectively. There was a perfect match in both the LAI values (estimated and calculated), indicating the accuracy of the developed equations for both the species. In conclusion, canopy spread is a better and sensitive parameter to estimate leaf area of trees. The developed equations can be used for estimating LAI of Teak and Bamboo in tropics.

A study was conducted to identify plant species, diversity, life form and relevant species to Mediterranean climate, Irano-Torunian and Sahara-Sindian in Postband region (N 27°58′4″–28°2′16″, E 53°17′34″−53°22′30″). In total, 95 species belonging to 29 families and 69 genera of flora were surveyed and identified from December 2006 to June 2008. Composite and Gramineae were important families in terms of species frequency. According to Raunkiaer’s system and using $\hat \chi $² tests, the life-form spectrum showed that therophytes accounted for 47% of all species, and hemicryptophytes for 31%, phanerophytes for 12%, chamaeophyte for 7%, and cryptophytes for 3%. In geographical distribution, 29% species with the most frequency belonged to Irano-Torunian region. Results show that therophytes were more than normal spectrum and phaneropytes were less than normal spectrum, which was in agreement with data obtained in arid climate.

During January to February in 2008, severe ice-snows occurred on 2.09 × 10⁶ km² of south China and caused tremendous damage to the forests. Stem damage and crown debris input from the ice-snow in a Cunninghamia lanceolata stand in northern Guangdong Province, China, were investigated to determine the extent of ice-snow damage to trees and the nutrient distribution characteristics on woodland. Icicles were produced on branches and leaves of the C. lanceolata trees by sleets, resulting in all live trees were damaged by stem breakage. A strong positive correlation was found between the broken position of trees and diameter at breast height (DBH). Nutrient concentrations varied according to components of crown debris. Total nutrient concentration graded in the following order: leaves > stembark > branches > stemwood. Crown debris input from ice-snows was 19.11 t·ha⁻², and branches, stemwood, leaves and stembark accounted for 37%, 28%, 27% and 8%, respectively. Nutrient distributions between components of crown debris differed drastically in 2008. The contribution of leaves to total nutrient accumulation of crown debris was 70%, whereas branches, stemwood and stembark contributed 13%, 7% and 10%, respectively. Accumulations of N, P and K by the woodland were 105 067.9 t·ha⁻² in 2008, and the nutrients of crown debris, litter and the stand soil accounted for 0.18%, 0.03% and 99.79%, respectively. The order of nutrient accumulation in leaves, branches, stembark, stemwood of crown debris and litter was N>K>P, but the nutrients stored in the soil were in the order of K > N > P. The N and P concentrations of litter in 2009 were greater than those in 2008, whereas its K concentration was smaller than that of the latter. N and P concentrations of stemwood and stembark in 2009 were slightly greater than those in 2009, whereas their K concentration was smaller than the latter. The N and P accumulations of stemwood and stembark of crown debris in 2009 were close to those in 2008, whereas their K accumulation was slightly smaller than the latter. The N, P and K accumulations of litter in 2009 was greater than those in 2008.

Monthly projections of maximum temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed were made based on the model of HadCM3 and the climatic change scenarios of IPCC SRES A2a and B2a for the future scenario periods of 2010–2039 (referred to as 2020s), 2040–2069(referred to as 2050s), and 2070–2099(referred to as 2080s). The period 1961–1990 was chosen as the baseline period. The observed and projected weather data were downscaled using delta change methods and historical relationships between weather data, area burned, and the seasonal severity rating (SSR) code of the Canadian Fire Weather Index System were examined. The variations of area burned as influenced by climate change were assessed quantitative and qualitative for the study region, assuming that the fire regimes had the similar responses to the warming climate as during the 20th century. Our results indicated that a linear regression relationship existing between the historical area burned and the mean SSR values with regression coefficient in the significant range of 0.16 to 0.61. It was evident that the increased SSR values could result in more area burned; the area burned in the study region would have an increasing pattern during the 21st century under scenarios A2a and B2a scenarios and the area burned would be doubled. Also, the future area burned would have a strong seasonal pattern that more fires would occur in summer and autumn fire season, especially in summer. The area burned in summer fire season would increase by 1.5 times compared to that in the baseline period in 2080s under A2a scenarios.

Rice-hull powder is widely used in manufacturing reinforced plastic composites. However, its weathering ability is rarely considered. We studied the performance of two types of rice-hull-polyethylene (RH-PE) composites after they were exposed outdoor to natural weathering for two years. The samples did not change in bending strength and elasticity modulus. At the end of the testing period, colour lightness had increased by more than 23% and total colour had changed by more than 9 units. This means the colour evidently differentiate from the original colour that the customers choose. The analyses of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that oxidation had occurred on sample surfaces. Red lumber presented an obvious C=O peak after weathering, while yellow lumber did not present an obvious peak as evidence of oxidation. Both types of lumbers showed a reduction of lignocellulosic groups and amorphous regions of PE.

Timber harvesting data are very essential for sustainable management of forest resources. These data are very scarce in developing countries. Therefore, we collected and analyzed data on the rate of timber production of the free areas and the forest reserves in Ondo State, Nigeria. The data collected from the State Department of Forestry’s official records, annual reports and files were on the species, volume and number of different economic timbers exploited on monthly basis between 2003 and 2005. Analyses were done with the student t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results reveal that the highest numbers of species, families and stems were exploited in the free areas when compared with what was exploited from the reserves for the three-year period. However, the total volume of trees removed from the reserves was significantly higher (p<0.05) than what was removed from the free areas. A total 60 different indigenous hardwood species in 25 families were exploited from the free areas, and 57 in 23 families from the reserves. The total number of stems exploited from the forest ecosystem of Ondo state during the three-year period stood at 111 377 with an estimated volume of 295 089.67 m³. While the mean number of stems and volume exploited per annum is 37 125 and 98 363.22 m³, respectively. The monthly average number of stems and volume is 3 094 and 8 196 m³, respectively. The t-test results show that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in number of stems and volume removed from the free areas and the reserves. The ANOVA results reveal a significant increase (p<0.05) in logging activities between the years of 2003 and 2004 but there was a decline in year 2005. This trend reveals that economic timber species were disappearing from the forests and the ecosystem was seriously disturbed during logging activities. Principles for achieving the goals of sustainable forest management (SFM) and urgent conservation measures to mitigate the consequences of forest degradation were suggested.

This review discusses the bioefficacy of natural products (derived from neem and other tropical trees) which have been used against insect pests and diseases attacking forest trees in India. These products are effective, cheaper and eco-friendly and act as antifeedant, repellent, sterility inducing, toxic or regulate insect growth. Integration of these products in forest pest management strategies would enhance the sustainability of forests and prevent the deterioration of wood quality.

The genetic diversity and population structure of the Dybowski’s frog (Rana dybowskii) were investigated by using 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Total 75 individuals were sampled from six populations in Lesser Khingan Mountains and Changbai Mountains, China. Results showed that allele number of the 11 microsatellite loci was in the range of 2–10 in all populations, with the mean of 5.6. The average expected heterozygosity (H _E) was 0.572, indicating a moderate polymorphism. The results of genetic differentiation coefficient (F _ST) showed that population genetic differentiation was significant between Changbai and Lesser Khingan Mountains (p<0.001). This result was verified further by Nei’s genetic distance (D _A) based on UPGMA phylogenetic trees and by AMOVA analysis. In conclusion, the populations distributed in Lesser Khingan Mountains and Changbai Mountain are proposed to be two distinct management units (MUs) for their protection and management.

To obtain pure DNA directly from some complex forest soils are still very difficulty at present, though many methods even commercial kits have been attempted. This paper reports an economic and efficient method for further purifying crude DNA extracted from forest soils with two steps. First, the crude DNA was dissolved using the extraction buffer, which removed the debris by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol, and then reprecipitated the DNA by isopropanol; second, the recovered DNA was further purified with silica spin column. Results show that 82–91% of the humic acids was removed by step one. The remaining humic acids could be completely effaced through the second step. The recovered DNA following this protocol was quite pure and ready for sensitive conventional PCR reactions. This is an economic, efficient, and timesaving method. Moreover, crude DNA extracted by other methods can be also further purified with this new way.

The flowing water was collected from very small creeks and seepage water from small dug holes at three different areas, viz. Manikchari, Ghagra and Muralipara in Rangamati district of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh to investigate the impact of the existing varied land covers on water quality. Chemical analyses shows that flowing creek water from either mature mixed plantation or young gamar (Gmelina arborea) plantation had significantly (p<0.05) higher pH value, SO₄ ²⁻ and Ca²⁺ concentrations, and significantly lower Na⁺ concentration at Manikchari, compared to natural vegetation and plantation in combination. In flowing creek water of Ghagra, the concentrations of SO₄ ²⁻ and K⁺, conductivity and total dissolved solids from watershed of 8-year-old teak (Tectona grandis) plantation were significantly higher and the concentrations of HCO₃ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and PO₄ ³⁻ were significantly lower, compared to those of watershed of degraded natural vegetation. At Muralipara, flowing creek water from natural vegetation and shifting cultivated land in combination showed significantly higher concentrations of HCO₃ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and conductivity and total dissolved solids than seepage water as well as tube well water installed in shifting cultivated area alone.