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The glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), which plays an important role in maintaining soil structural stability, soil carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) fixation. However, little is known about the GRSP content in soil and its contribution to soil nutrients in plantations of different tree species. In this study, we determined the soil physicochemical characteristics and GRSP contents in different soil layers of four kinds of plantations, including Acacia mangium (AM), Pinus caribaea (PC), Eucalyptus urophylla (EU), and Magnoliaceae glanca (MG), to address how the plantation types affected the GRSP in different layers of soil in southern China. The results showed that with an increase in soil depth, the GRSP content decreased linearly, and the contribution rate of GRSP to SOC and total nitrogen (TN) in deep soil was 1.08–1.18 times that in surface soil. The tree species significantly affected the vertical distribution of GRSP in soil. Among the four plantations, the conifer species PC had the highest level of GRSP, while the N-fixing species AM had the lowest level. However, SOC, soil capillary porosity (CP), TN, soil water content (SWC), and total phosphorus (TP) were important factors regulating soil GRSP content. Additionally, the regulation effects of soil properties on GRSP were various in surface and deep soil among different plantations. In order to improve soil quality and C sequestration potential, conifer species can be planted appropriately, or conifer species and N-fixing species can be mixed to increase soil nutrient content and enhance soil structure and function in afforestation of southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A comprehensive search of references was conducted in March 2023 using several international databases and search engines. A Zotero library was set up consisting of 415 scientific references. Each reference was carefully read and tagged in several categories: cropping system, country, main tree species, intercrop type, intercrop product, level of product use, discipline of the study, research topic, and intercrop species. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber-producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops, and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana, and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only four papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The Discussion Section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Mixed forests are better than monoculture forests in biodiversity, stand structure and productivity stability. However, a more comprehensive assessment of the ecosystem functions of monoculture and mixed plantations is lacking. We compared the single functions and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix olgensis mixed plantations with monoculture plantations in Northeast China and discussed the influences of biodiversity and environmental factors on EMF. Results The mixed plantations had higher biodiversity and ecological functions. Biodiversity was significantly higher in mixed plantations (such as CWMMH, Shrub.Shannon, Shrub.Richness, Herb.Shannon, Herb.Richness), but environmental factors differed less among the three forest types, and belowground diversity differed significantly only in the Bacterial.Shannon and Fungal.Shannon. Mixed plantations showed significant differences in single ecological functions relative to monoculture plantations, with more pronounced differences between mixed plantations and Larix olgensis monoculture plantations. Weighted ecosystem multifunctionality was significantly higher in mixed plantations than in monoculture plantations. EMF was mainly driven by tree diversity, environmental factors, shrub and herb species diversity, and soil microbial alpha diversity, which explained 25.35%, 8.94%, 8.83%, and 7.65% of the variation, respectively. Conclusions The establishment of mixed plantations can increase the biodiversity of forest stands and improve the ecosystem functions. These results highlight the advantages of multi-species plantations and the necessity of planting them. They are important for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of plantations.

Background: Mixed forests are better than monoculture forests in biodiversity, stand structure and productivity stability. However, a more comprehensive assessment of the ecosystem functions of monoculture and mixed plantations is lacking. We compared the single functions and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in Fraxinus mandshurica and Larix olgensis mixed plantations with monoculture plantations in Northeast China and discussed the influences of biodiversity and environmental factors on EMF. Results: The mixed plantations had higher biodiversity and ecological functions. Biodiversity was significantly higher in mixed plantations (such as CWMMH, Shrub.Shannon, Shrub.Richness, Herb.Shannon, Herb.Richness), but environmental factors differed less among the three forest types, and below ground diversity differed significantly only in the Bacterial.Shannon and Fungal.Shannon. Mixed plantations showed significant differences in single ecological functions relative to monoculture plantations, with more pronounced differences between mixed plantations and Larix olgensis monoculture plantations. Weighted ecosystem multifunctionality was significantly higher in mixed plantations than in monoculture plantations. EMF was mainly driven by tree diversity, environmental factors, shrub and herb species diversity, and soil microbial alpha diversity, which explained 25.35%, 8.94%, 8.83%, and 7.65% of the variation, respectively. Conclusions: The establishment of mixed plantations can increase the biodiversity of forest stands and improve the ecosystem functions. These results highlight the advantages of multi-species plantations and the necessity of planting them. They are important for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring drought stress is crucial for estimating productivity and assessing the health status of forest ecosystems under global climate change. Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is mechanistically coupled to photosynthesis and has advantages over greenness-based vegetation indices in detecting drought. In recent years, SIF has commonly been used in monitoring drought stress in crop ecosystems. However, the response of tower-based SIF to drought stress in forest ecosystems remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential of tower-based SIF to monitor drought, which was quantified using the plant water stress index (PWSI) in a Chinese cork oak plantation. The results show the negative effect of drought on SIF, and afternoon depression of SIF emission under drought stress was observed. Canopy SIF (F) exhibited a nonlinear relationship with PWSI, while the quantum yield of SIF (ΦF) exhibited a significant linear relationship with PWSI at 687 nm and 760 nm (ΦF687: R2 = 0.90; ΦF760: R2 = 0.85). Incident radiation (PAR) and canopy structure affected the response of SIF to drought stress, with PAR as the main factor causing the nonlinear relationship between F and PWSI. Afternoon depression was described as the afternoon/morning ratio (AMR). AMRF and AMRΦF exhibited a negative linear response to PWSI. AMRF was less affected than F by PAR and canopy structures, and AMRΦF was more physiologically representative than ΦF. Moreover, AMRΦF was sensitive to VPD and REW, and it might be a good indicator of drought. Red SIF was more sensitive to drought than far-red SIF, as the R2 of PWSI with AMRΦF687 (R2 = 0.89) was higher than that with AMRΦF687 (R2 = 0.84). These results highlight the potential of tower-based SIF, especially red SIF, for drought monitoring in a plantation, and consideration of the physiological diurnal variation in SIF under drought stress is crucial for improving the accuracy of drought stress monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The hydrological effects of invasive plant control in forestland have not been well studied in the past, and numerous scientific mysteries remain unsolved. The long-term suspension of the unsolved issues will unavoidably influence the sound growth and sustainable management of forest ecosystems. This study investigates the hydrological effects of controlling invasive weeds in forestland. The research aims to understand the impact of invasive weed control on soil and water loss. Methods: Conducted in Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage plantations in Central Yunnan, SW China, which are invaded by alien weed Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R. M. King & H. Rob., four surface cover treatments were applied to study runoff and sediment yielding properties. The four surface cover treatments were weed harvesting and litter elimination (WH&LE), weed harvesting and litter retention (WH&LR), litter burning and weed renewal (LB&WR), and weed retention and litter retention (WR&LR). Essentially, WH&LE and LB&WR served as integrated management approaches for invasive weeds and litter, WH&LR was an independent weed control measure, and WR&LR served as a research control. Results: Runoff was significantly higher in the LB&WR plots (3.03 mm) compared to the WR&LR plots (1.48 mm) (p < 0.05). The WH&LE plots had higher runoff (2.39 mm) than the WR&LR plots (not statistically significant), while the WH&LR plots had less runoff (1.08 mm) than the WR&LR plots (not significant). Sediment yield was lower in the WH&LR plots (0.50 t/km2) than in the WR&LR plots (0.52 t/km2) (not significant), but significantly higher in the WH&LE plots (2.10 t/km2) and LB&WR plots (1.57 t/km2) than in the WR&LR plots (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Managing invasive weeds independently reduces the risk of soil and water loss, but combined management with litter can exacerbate the issue. Invasive weed control and litter management should be performed separately in slope plantations. This study provides a scientific basis for soil and water conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of plantation ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial distribution of soil moisture is a critical determinant for the success of vegetation restoration initiatives in semi-arid and arid regions. The Qilian Mountains, situated within a semi-arid zone in China, have been subject to significant water-induced soil erosion, which has led to extensive restoration activities, predominantly utilizing the species P. crassifolia. However, the interconnections between soil moisture and various land cover types within this region remain unclear, presenting challenges to effective woodland rehabilitation. This study examines the surface soil moisture dynamics in afforested areas with varying ages of plantation to determine the influence of tree planting on the moisture content of the upper soil layer. It investigates the characteristics and temporal patterns of surface soil moisture as the age of the plantation increases. The findings indicate that: (1) soil moisture levels follow a descending sequence from natural forest, through shrubland and grassland, to planted forest and mixed forest, with statistically significant differences observed between natural and mixed forests (p < 0.05); (2) young afforested areas (less than 50 years old) have lower soil moisture levels compared to natural forests, shrublands, or grasslands, and the ecohydrological impacts of afforestation become apparent with a temporal delay; and (3) the analysis using Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) and the application of Kriging interpolation to determine the spatial distribution of soil moisture reveals that in semi-arid and arid regions, several factors have a pronounced a non-linear relationship with the moisture content of the surface soil. These factors include the duration of afforestation, the position on the lower slope, the presence of shade on the slope, and the scale at which the study is conducted. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of soil water content is essential to prevent the potential failure of artificially established forests due to inadequate soil moisture in their later stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large carnivores have recently increased in number and recolonized in human‐dominated landscapes; however, their ecological roles in these landscapes have not been well studied. In the Shiretoko World Heritage (SWH) site, brown bears have recolonized a previously abandoned mosaic landscape of natural forests and conifer plantations after land abandonment. We previously reported that the bears had recently begun to dig for cicada nymphs in association with the creation of larch plantations. As a result, this digging activity decreased soil nutrients. To deepen the understanding of the novel ecological role of brown bears within human‐modified landscapes, we examined the impacts of brown bear digging on the growth of larch trees. We found that brown bear digging decreased fine root biomass of larch, soil water, and nitrogen availability. Brown bear digging negatively affected needle nitrogen content, but not carbon isotope ratios, a water stress index of trees. Tree ring data suggest that digging negatively affected the radial growth of larches. The results imply that digging decreases tree growth due to limited soil nitrogen uptake. Our findings indicate that the ecological roles of large carnivores may differ between natural and anthropogenic landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American films have long preoccupied themselves with the plantation as a site for staging scenes of subjection and problematic dramas of emancipation. They are usually less invested in historical accuracy than in constructing barely veiled commentaries on contemporary racial politics. As such, uncomfortable questions of spectatorship, complicity, and liberation are often either deflected or sublimated. This work compares two recent iterations in this genealogy, Antebellum (2020) and The Underground Railroad (2021), within the context of the digital streaming platforms through which their consumption is most commonly mediated. While the former treats the plantation as a violent space of exception that erupts inexplicably upon the present and relies heavily on reproducing lurid spectacles in order to service conventional and often perversely comforting genre expectations, the latter maps out pervasive permutations of the plantation while developing a speculative Black aesthetic which contributes to radical traditions of freedom dreaming. Both remain captive to the opportunistic logics of platform capitalism: the most recent iteration of the plantation's permutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast-growing Populus spp. are well-acknowledged to restore contaminated soils from heavy metals in industrial areas. Thus far, there is no knowledge about the phytoremediation capacity of Populus spp. plantations in hemiboreal Estonia conditions to restore industrially polluted areas. The objective of this study was to assess the soil contamination rate of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) and their uptake by mature hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides Michx.) in plantations in different industrial pollution areas (e.g. cement factory, oil shale mining). For the reference, industrially polluted plantations were compared with the low pollution area hybrid aspen plantation on former agricultural soil, which was influenced by fertilization and liming before afforestation. Twenty-one years after afforestation, soil samples were collected from the 0–10 cm topsoil layer. Aboveground biomass sampling was performed for bark and stem wood by ingrowth cores to separate wood formed during early (1–10 years) and late (11–21 years) stand development. Two decades after the afforestation of industrially polluted areas, the heavy metal concentrations in the soil were higher than the reference plantation and the standard reference for unpolluted soils in most cases. The highest concentrations of heavy metals in woody biomass were in the oil shale quarry spoil; because of poor growth, the accumulated pools in aboveground biomass were low. Cd differed from other metals and accumulated less in wood and more in bark. The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) was higher in the first decade of stand formation (1–10 years) than in the last 10 years (11–21 years). High pools of heavy metals were accumulated in aboveground biomass in the reference plantation, indicating the considerable removal of heavy metal residues from the previous fertilization and liming source with harvest. Two decades of afforestation with hybrid aspen is too short for complete ecosystem restoration from heavy metals in industrially polluted areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantation forestry is pivotal in meeting global timber and fiber demands while promoting sustainable practices. Eucalyptus plantations, renowned for their rapid growth and adaptability, have significantly expanded in tropical regions such as Thailand. Improved Eucalyptus clones have enhanced productivity, emphasizing the role of genetic improvement programs. Accurate biomass estimation in these plantations is crucial for sustainable management and bioenergy production. This study employs a nonlinear mixed model approach to evaluate tree variables combined with rotation, clones, and region on aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation. The results showed that the ''rotation, clones, region'' model emerged as the most precise, achieving the highest R² and the lowest SEE, ASE, and MPSE values. However, over-parameterization is a concern. The more straightforward ''clone'' model performed well, achieving a high R² and relatively low prediction error, with no systematic bias and comparable ASE, MPE, and MPSE values, making it a strong choice when fewer predictor variables are preferred. Our results revealed that clones H4 and K7 for the northeastern region and K58 for the eastern region show the highest annual productivity, with growth rates up to 20 t ha−1 year−1. The rapid AGB increment in clones K58, K62, and K7 during the first rotation suggests improved performance in subsequent rotations. As in eastern Thailand, selecting less arid sites can enhance these clones' AGB productivity. Additionally, intensive silvicultural practices could further boost their productive efficiency.

Different shade tree species are used in various coffee production systems across the world. Outside the benefits of biodiversity protection, temperature protection, and carbon sequestration shade trees can influence soil nutrient states through litter inputs and nitrogen fixation. However, little information is available in coffee plantations whether shade tree species and type of coffee variety planted under shade tree have an influence on soil physical properties and nutrient status in coffee-based farming systems of southwestern Ethiopia. Hence, the study was carried out to investigate the effect of shade tree species and coffee varieties in coffee plantation on the physicochemical properties of the soil. The study was conducted in Chora Botor district (Chalalaki coffee plantation), located in Jimma Zone, Oromia regional states of Ethiopia. The study was superimposed on coffee farm that has been established using four released coffee varieties (7440,744, F59 and 75227) under three recommended coffee shade trees (Albizia gummifera, Millettia feruginea and Acacia abyssinica). Soil physical properties and nutrient status were investigated in response to shade tree species, coffee varieties and their combination. The results indicated that the physical and chemical properties of the soil vary across the shade trees and coffee variety grown. The effect of shade tree species on soil depends on the type of coffee varieties grown under the shade tree species, Albizia gummifera and Acacia abyssinica trees enhanced more soil nutrient content and water-holding capacity of the soil than Millttia ferrugnia. Total nitrogen, organic matter, available phosphorous, exchangeable potassium, Cations Exchange Capacity, and bulk density were higher underneath Albizia gummifera than other coffee shade tree species. On the other hand, moisture content, available P, exchangeable K and CEC were higher beneath Acacia abyssinica than other coffee shade tree species. Soil pH was negatively correlated with Millettia ferruginia. Use of Acacia abysinica and Albizia gummifera shade tree species with compatible coffee varieties could be a viable option to augment soil fertility management practices in the coffee production systems of the southwest Ethiopia.

This study examined the nutritional, physicochemical, and bioactive compounds in mangosteen grown in southern Thailand from 2022 to 2024, encompassing hilly areas (Nakhon Si Thammarat range, Tenasserim range) and flat lands during both the fruit season and off-season. The influence of coastal regions (Gulf of Thailand and Andaman coast) on mangosteen nutrition was explored. The impact of high-level plantation and harvesting (during the fruit season) on mangosteen size and levels of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant capacity in mangosteen flesh was found to be greater than that of flat plantations (during the off-season). Mangosteens grown in flatlands during the fruit season exhibited brighter flesh color and faster ripening compared to those grown in hilly areas. Mangosteens from these results contained carbohydrates ranging from 10.3% to 16.9%. Mangosteens cultivated along the Andaman coast exhibited elevated levels of minerals (K 349 mg/100 g, Na 7.76 mg/100 g, and Mn 1.63 mg/100 g) and vitamins, especially B2 (0.10 mg/kg), B6 (0.20 mg/kg), B12 (0.03 mg/kg), and vitamin C (9.25 mg/kg). Conversely, the highest total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were observed in hilly areas during the fruit season along the Gulf of Thailand (55 mg GAE/100 g, 32 mg QE/100 g, and ABTS values of 88%, respectively). However, mangosteens from hilly areas ripened faster than those from flatlands due to higher total soluble solids and lower fruit firmness. These findings provide valuable insights into the effects of the environment and location, enhancing understanding for year-round mangosteen plantation preparation.

Abstract We studied tree seedling survival rates and plantation success of the Growth and Transformation Plan I—GTP I (2011–2015) in the drylands of Northern Ethiopia. The study was carried out in six randomly selected districts of Tigrai region that represent three agro-ecological zones: the highland, midland and lowland. A biophysical survey was conducted to assess the survival rates of tree seedlings and the success rate of the plantation interventions. The study employed both primary and secondary data sources. Results revealed that there were variations (P

Simple Summary: We conducted this study in the boreal forest of Québec, Canada, to compare insect damage on white spruce (Picea glauca) trees within open-canopy, multispecies plantations, and trees naturally regenerated under mature mixed-wood canopies. Our plantation sites were established post-clearcutting and compared with naturally regenerated post-fire sites dominated by trembling aspen. Over two years, observations were made on young trees from ten sites in each environment, focusing on overall rates of herbivory, galls, spruce budworm damage, and sawfly defoliation. Despite a minor increase in spruce budworm damage in under-canopy forests from 2020 to 2021, overall, damage levels remained low, suggesting minimal impact on tree growth or mortality at this early outbreak stage. Contrary to initial assumptions, we found that insect damage was comparably low in both plantation and naturally regenerated environments, casting doubt on the idea that the enhanced sunlight and accelerated growth observed in plantations necessarily increase their susceptibility to pest attacks. In the context of global forest restoration efforts and Canada's pledge to plant 2 billion trees by 2050, the resilience of white spruce plantations to insect damage is of paramount importance. Amidst concerns over increasing pest damage due to climate change, the observed resilience of multispecies plantations underpins the effectiveness of ecosystem-based management in maintaining low insect damage levels without compromising growth. This balance highlights the potential of mixed-species plantations to mimic natural forest conditions, contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable forestry practices. This research illuminates the intricate dynamics between tree growth, environmental conditions, and pest vulnerability, offering valuable insights for future forest management and conservation strategies. In managed boreal forests, both plantations and natural regeneration are used to re-establish a cohort of conifer trees following harvest or disturbance. Young trees in open plantations generally grow more rapidly than under forest canopies, but more rapid growth could be compromised by greater insect damage. We compared insect damage on white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, Pinaceae) growing in plantations with naturally regenerated trees under mature forest canopies in boreal forests (Québec, Canada). We selected ten sites in the naturally regenerated forest and in small, multispecies plantations and sampled ten young trees of 2.5–3 m (per site) in late summer 2020 and again in early and late summer 2021. We compared overall rates of herbivory, galls (adelgids), damage by the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana, Clemens), and defoliation from sawflies. Overall, insect herbivory damage remained at similarly low levels in both habitats; an average of 9.3% of expanding shoots were damaged on forest trees and 7.7% in plantation trees. Spruce budworm damage increased from 2020 to 2021 and remained higher in under-canopy trees, but damage rates were negligible at this early stage of the outbreak (1.5% in forest vs. 0.78% of buds damaged on plantation trees). While damage due to galls was higher in plantations, the overall low level of damage likely does not pose a significant impact on the growth or mortality of young trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape modification is a major threat to carnivores worldwide, but modified landscapes can also provide important habitat for these species, as protected areas alone are insufficient. Understanding how carnivores use modified landscapes, such as production forests, can inform management strategies to improve the value of these landscapes to carnivores. Little is known about habitat selection by marsupial carnivores in production forests, where they occupy a similar ecological niche to their more well‐studied eutherian counterparts. We used GPS tracking, Hidden Markov Models, and Manly's selection ratios to identify the habitat selected in three behavioral states by the largest marsupial carnivore, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), in a timber plantation‐dominated landscape. Behavioral states were approximated as: state 1, resting or feeding at a carcass; state 2, foraging; and state 3, travel. Devils did not show preferences for any of native forest, native grassland, and plantation in any behavioral state. Within plantations, devils preferred a plantation age of 4–7 years (selection ratio [wi] = 1.52). Devils preferred roads (state 1: wi = 2.71, state 2: wi = 2.48, state 3: wi = 2.97) and plantation edges (state 1: wi = 2.38, state 2: wi = 2.24, state 3: wi = 2.78) in all behavioral states, and moved faster on roads and edges than away from them. Together, our results indicate devils use road and edges for foraging (scavenging and hunting) and travel. No measured habitat variables influenced devil home range size. To support devils in plantation landscapes, we recommend maintaining a heterogeneous landscape of different plantation ages and native remnants and reducing the risk of vehicle collisions by minimizing forestry traffic at night. Tasmanian devils share similar adaptable traits to generalist eutherian carnivore species in their use of modified landscapes. Plantations can provide valuable habitat for this and other threatened predator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrophysiological and behavioural responses of Anomala dimidiata (Coleoptera: Rutelinae) were studied for its host kiwi plant's (Actinidia deliciosa) three volatiles, (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol, Linalool, and (-)-α-Pinene. This experiment comprises electroantennographic assay using EAG and field testing in the Kiwi Horticulture field using synthetic compounds. In EAG assays, all three test compounds elicit significant responses with 55.66± 3.41% for (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol, 44.97± 1.08% for Linalool, and 53.75± 0.33% for (-)-α-Pinene in male beetles and 54.82± 3.52% for (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol, 44.97± 0.30% for Linalool and 53.75± 4.69% for (-)-α-Pinene in females beetles as compare to reference compound. In the field testing, (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol baited traps caught maximum beetles while (-)-α-Pinene-baited traps had significantly less number of beetles attracted to them. Linalool-baited traps caught 60.1% fewer beetles than (Z)-3- Hexen-1-ol baited traps but 62.7% more beetles than (-)-α-Pinene-baited traps. This study concludes that (Z)-3-Hexen-1-ol is a potential kairomone for A. dimidiata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied tree seedling survival rates and plantation success of the Growth and Transformation Plan I—GTP I (2011–2015) in the drylands of Northern Ethiopia. The study was carried out in six randomly selected districts of Tigrai region that represent three agro-ecological zones: the highland, midland and lowland. A biophysical survey was conducted to assess the survival rates of tree seedlings and the success rate of the plantation interventions. The study employed both primary and secondary data sources. Results revealed that there were variations (P < 0.05) in the survival of planted tree seedlings among plantation sites of the same village, between the villages of the same district and among the districts. The regional mean survival rate of planted tree seedlings was 53%. The planting interventions were not encouraging due to lack of pre- and post-planting management, moisture stress, poor soil and site conditions, planting an unmanageable number of seedlings, weak law enforcement and lack of proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. In the study areas, four types of ownership were identified: private, communal, state and youth groups. Among the ownership types, private ownership had the highest rate of success, whereas community ownership had the lowest rate. For sustaining successful plantation development, watering, pre- and post-planting management of planted tree seedlings and permanent employment of guards are important. Highlights: Poor survival of planted tree seedlings and plantation success is not satisfactory. There was discrepancy on what is reported and verified in the field. Plantation success varies with tree species, agroecology and ownership types. Better tree seedling survival rate was found in the private ownership type. Lowest tree seedling survival rate was found in the communal plantation types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance forest carbon sequestration capacity, it is important to optimize forest structure by revealing the spatial effects of the aboveground biomass of individual trees, with particular emphasis on stand origin and tree size. Here, 0.3 ha clear-cut plots of Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis forest were selected in a typical plantation and natural stand. Then, the ordinary least squares model and spatial regression models were used to analyze the different responses between spatial position and individual tree biomass based on the stand origin and diameter at breast height (DBH) of the tree. Our study shows the following: (1) The spatial effect produced a stronger response in the natural stand than in the plantation. The amount of change in the adjusted R-squared (ΔRadj2) of tree component totaled 0.34 and 0.57 for Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis and other trees in the natural stand, compared to only 0.2 and 0.42 in the plantation; (2) Spatial effects had a stronger impact on the accuracy of the fit for the crown (ΔRadj2 = 0.52) compared to the wood and bark (ΔRadj2 = 0.03) in the plantation, and there were no significant differences in the natural stand (ΔRadj2 = 0.42, ΔRadj2 = 0.43); (3) When DBH reached a certain size, the impact of spatial effect for the crown showed a significant change from positive to negative. The sizes of DBH were 19.5 cm, 14 cm and 34.6 cm, 19 cm for branches of Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis and other tree species in the plantation and natural stand, and were 20.3 cm and 31.4 cm for the foliage of Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis. Differences in stand structure led to varied responses in the biomass of tree components to spatial effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming, threats to humankind as driven by the emissions of different greenhouse gases (GHGs) including carbon dioxide (CO2), is becoming a great concern to deal with the vagaries of climate. Plantation ecotypes with greater carbon(C) sink capability are leading among the potential abatement strategies for sequestration of terrestrial C. The present investigation emphasizes on total C stock and litter C status under 13 years old Swietenia macrophylla (Mahogany) pure plantation in Terai belt of West Bengal, India. Stratified tree technique was adopted to estimate the above ground biomass through non-destructive method whereas quadrate method of sampling was followed for estimating leaf litter. The present investigation showed that the total above ground biomass (AGB) of the plantation was 179.73 Mg ha−1 including 95.02 Mg ha−1 (52.83%) shared by stem and in other hand the branch contributed 55.37 Mg ha−1 (30.81%) and the remaining 29.34 Mg ha−1 (16.32%) by leaves. The below ground (root) biomass (BGB) was assessed to be 53.91 Mg ha−1. The biosphere part recorded C was 109.81 Mg ha−1, comprising the total C of AGB and BGB of 84.47 Mg ha−1 and 25.34 Mg ha−1, respectively. Soil C stock (at 0–60 cm) of 40.36 Mg ha−1 comprised 25.30 Mg ha−1 at 0–20 cm followed by 10.46 Mg ha−1 at 20–40 cm and 4.60 Mg ha−1 at 40–60 cm depth, respectively. The total litter production was 6.92 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in 2016–17 and 8.39 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in 2017–18, respectively. The amount of total C storage of plantation was observed to be 150.17 Mg ha−1, comprising 109.81 Mg ha−1 in biosphere and 40.36 Mg ha−1 in soil. The litter C stock of 3.48 Mg ha−1, was excluded from the ecosystem carbon budgeting (ECB), because it acts as a transitional between lithosphere and biosphere. Conclusively, the mahogany-based plantation is not only remunerative to the farmers but also provisions significant improvement in soil fertility along with C sequestration which deploys a crucial part in the sustainable maintenance of the ecosystem in addition to providing a guideline for ECB of the plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of urban tree diversity for improving resilience is increasingly understood by decision makers. Urban foresters want to prevent the overrepresentation of species on their streets and in their city, which could result in a significant loss of canopy cover in the event of a large-scale disturbance such as a drought or an exotic pest or disease. Although numerous software and tools exist to visualize tree inventories and plan tree maintenance work, only a few offer support for increasing tree diversity. After reviewing the existing tools available for urban forest managers, we present SylvCiT, a novel decision-support and open-source software available on a web platform designed to consolidate information related to the urban forest in one place and facilitate decision-making at different scales. While the first interfaces provide the user with a spatially explicit portrait of the urban forest (species richness, functional diversity, structural diversity, i.e., diameter classes) and associated ecosystem benefits (e.g., stored carbon, ornamental value), the software is designed to produce a list of functional groups and appropriate species to plant considering tree species already present. Based on an artificial intelligence algorithm, SylvCiT identifies the types of trees (species and functional groups) that are absent or underrepresented at different scales to make recommendations that increase species and functional diversity to improve resilience to global change. SylvCiT will continue to be developed to evaluate other ecosystem benefits and integrate criteria such as site characteristics into the recommendation algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of quality seedlings is a crucial factor when establishing healthy forests through afforestation. The quality of seedlings is determined by various morphological characteristics, such as seedling height, diameter at the root collar, and other characteristics that influence growth performance and ease of application. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible use of plankton communities that emerge from marine mucilage (MM) outbreaks as plant nutrients. This would contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems and to the development of alternative methods for agriculture and forestry practices. This study assessed the germination characteristics of seeds and the morphological attributes of 1-year-old seedlings of Black pine (Pinus nigra), Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The effects of marine mucilage, land moss, and seaweed treatments on the seedling characteristics of the species were also compared. Marine mucilage treatment positively influenced seedling growth in all morphological characteristics of seedlings of the same species compared with the land moss- and seaweed-treated seedlings, whereas the seedlings from the control group had the lowest growth performance. Statistically significant differences were found among the species and the treatments for the investigated characteristics. This study revealed that the application of marine mucilage, land moss, and seaweed could be used as promoters for seedling growth in the nursery practices of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay draws on the notions of scalability and friction elaborated by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing in the context of South East Asian plantations to consider two series of works “Vegetation” (1999–2016) and “Naga Doodles” (2017) created by artist Simryn Gill (Singapore, 1959). By outlining the material properties, processes, and media Gill uses, it offers a critique of economic standardisation, and accompanying hierarchies that mobilise anthropocentric beliefs and assumptions about time and space. Importantly, it suggests that Gill’s works invite ecological readings and warnings that are cosmological and concern the fate of this planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing scarcity of major commercial tropical hardwood species has necessitated the utilization of plantation grown exotic timber species as a potential means of maintaining Ghana's foundation of timber resources. To better consider Albizia lebbeck as a substitute for wood species which are being seriously over-exploited to the point of commercial extinction, its wood properties were characterized to expatiate its utilization potentials. Three mature plantation grown Albizia lebbeck trees with diameters 45-50 cm at breast height were purposively selected and sampled at four stem height levels of tree height. The samples were sawn into the required sizes in accordance with the British standard, BS 373 (1957) for testing. The heartwood and sapwood proportions were evaluated and the samples were examined for hardness, bending strength (MOE and MOR), compression strength parallel to grain, shear strength parallel to grain, and air-dry density. All trees had a significantly higher heartwood than sapwood percentage. The air-dry density values at 12% MC were 868 kg/m3, 806 kg/m3, 695 kg/m3 and 564 kg/m3 for four sections of the stem (heights 0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75% and 76-100%). In general, the plantation grown Albizia lebbeck exhibited favourable strength values, suggesting that it is endowed with adequate properties for being an alternative species to supply the wood industry.

The Great Green Wall (GGW) is an international initiative to combat land degradation and restore native plant life in the Sahel, but due to a lack of monitoring tools, it remains unknown to be considered as success or failure. Here, we quantify the impact of GGW plantations and Corporate plantations (privately owned) in Sahelian Senegal based on remote sensing data and deep learning by mapping individual trees and their biomass across the Sahel region. Tree features (cover, density and above-ground biomass) have been computed in every hectare of 42 plantations (of both, corporate and GGW) and their surrounding non-planted areas, subsequently used for a comparative analysis of tree features. Results showed that gains in tree features varied substantially between plantations. At plot scale, among Corporate plantations, the average gain in tree density was 61.16±42.12 trees/ha while it was 5.7 ± 5.8 trees/ha for GGW plantations. In regards to tree cover, the average gain was 618.5 ± 588.5 m2/ha for Corporate plantations and 71.72±108.89 m2/ha for GGW plantations. For the above-ground biomass, the average gain was 3.36±3.29 tons/ha in the Corporate plantations and 0.46±0.67 tons/ha in the GGW plantations. The average gain in foliar biomass in the Corporate plantations was 0.15±0.13 tons/ha and in the GGW plantations, it was 0.02±0.03 tons/ha. The average gain in wood biomass was 3.21±3.12 tons/ha among the Corporate plantations and was 0.43±0.64 tons/ha among the GGW plantations. Notably, regarding the relative benefit in terms of ecosystem services per unit of density, each tree in GGW plantations contribute more to ecosystem services per unit of density compared to Corporate plantations. In GGW, each gained tree contributes 18 m2 of cover, 116.1 kg of above-ground biomass, 5.6 kg of foliar biomass, and 114.2 kg of woody biomass, while in corporate plantations, on the other hand, each gained tree adds 9 m2 of cover, 48.4 kg of above-ground biomass, 2.3 kg of foliar biomass, and 46.3 kg of woody biomass. These findings are opposed to conventional paradigms, suggesting that the Great Green Wall, while perhaps missing its tree density targets, has succeeded in its mission to produce ecosystem services per tree. This raises important questions about the redefinition of objectives in reforestation projects, focusing on quality rather than quantity, a perspective that could transform our understanding of the successes and failures of these essential ecological restoration initiatives. However, the assessment primarily relies on indicators such as cover and biomass, potentially overlooking other crucial ecosystem services. Therefore, while our conclusions underscore the effectiveness of reforestation initiatives, future research should aim to establish a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem services by incorporating additional indicators beyond cover and biomass, such as species diversity, soil health, water retention, and habitat quality.

With 1.5 million ha of bamboo forest, Vietnam ranks 4th among the world's largest bamboo producers. The bamboo sector has significant development potential in the context of national and international impacts to build a bio-economy and increase the use of biogenic renewable resources. The bamboo industry in Vietnam is considered to have great development potential, with a potential production value of USD 1 billion. However, a number of factors currently significantly limit this potential. For example, the bamboo resource is overexploited and mismanaged; the level of horizontal and vertical cooperation among actors in the Luong bamboo value chain is weak; the utilisation rate of material bamboo is low; high-value bamboo products have not been developed; and benefit sharing among chain actors is unequal. As chopsticks and votive paper are the most common semi-industrial products in Vietnam, this paper analyses the characteristics of chain actors and compares the financial and economic performance of different actors in the chopstick and votive paper value chain (VC) in Thanh Hoa Province. Data were collected through interviews with eight key informants, 12 bamboo producers, five traders, one votive paper company, one chopstick company and six focus group discussions. The results show that the utilisation rate of raw material in the chopstick VC is low at less than 20 %. The net profit per ton of finished product for the processing company is much higher than the net profit for the farmers and traders. The total value added is USD 182.5/ton in the chopstick VC and USD 244/ton in the votive paper VC. The value added by farmers and traders is very low (less than 10 % of the total value added). Possible options for promoting cooperation between chain actors and improving the performance of chain actors are discussed.

Carbon storage in plant biomass is the simplest and most economically viable way to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide carbon dioxide concentration. The objective of this study was to estimate and model the biomass and carbon storage of the stump and root in Populus deltoides trees in afforestation, Guilan Province of Iran. For this purpose, 93 trees with 25 years old were selected from different diameter classes and after cutting and removing the sections, an excavator was used to unearth the stumps and roots of the trees from the soil. In order to estimate the biomass and carbon storage of tree stumps and roots, samples of these components were isolated and weighed, and after drying in the oven, the dry weight of the samples was measured. The carbon content of stumps and roots of the trees were calculated after burning the dried samples in an electric furnace. The results showed that the biomass of stumps and roots was 7.99 and 65.5 kg per tree, respectively, and the carbon content of stumps and roots was estimated to be 3.92 and 32.32 kg per tree, respectively. The results of allometric equations showed that the models for estimating biomass and carbon storage of stumps and roots using the tree stump diameter variable had a high coefficient of determination, but the model using the stump height had no acceptable coefficient of determination. The evaluation results of different models also showed that the power model was more accurate than other models. In general, the results showed that the carbon stored in stumps and roots was 1.568 and 12.928 tons per hectare, respectively.

This essay draws on the notions of scalability and friction elaborated by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing in the context of South East Asian plantations to consider two series of works “Vegetation” (1999–2016) and “Naga Doodles” (2017) created by artist Simryn Gill (Singapore, 1959). By outlining the material properties, processes, and media Gill uses, it offers a critique of economic standardisation, and accompanying hierarchies that mobilise anthropocentric beliefs and assumptions about time and space. Importantly, it suggests that Gill’s works invite ecological readings and warnings that are cosmological and concern the fate of this planet.

Palm oil is one of the leading commodities which play a strategic role in alleviating poverty, providing employment opportunities, spreading development and a source of foreign exchange for the country. The rapid development of oil palm plantation development has had negative impacts on the environment and social. The conversion of natural forests with high conservation value can reduce the quality of the environment and ecosystem. The development of oil palm plantations that do not pay attention to the rights of customary, customary and indigenous communities without the permission of the relevant communities before plantation development is carried out will cause social conflict. These problems need to be addressed to maintain the competitiveness of Indonesian palm oil products by realizing the development of sustainable palm oil plantations.

Mexico is a center of diversity for the genus Pinus, with 44% of pine species being endemic to the country. Mexican pine forests are recognized as hotspots for ectomycorrhizal fungi and bacteria due to the extensive interactions that take place between microorganisms and plants in their roots. These microorganisms play a vital role in the survival of pine species. This study aims to identify fungal and bacterial communities in a relict Mexican pine forest and evaluate the influence of soil physicochemical parameters on microbial composition. Sampling was conducted along a 145 m transect in an isolated natural relict of P. pseudostrobus var. coatepecensis, which is located within a commercial plantation of Pinus patula. A total of 18 soil samples were collected at predetermined distances along the transect, with replicated sampling points as follows: six samples at 20 cm intervals, four samples at 1 m intervals, four samples at 10 m intervals, and four samples at 25 m intervals. The results indicate that fungal composition varies even at short distances and is influenced by the C:N ratio, total carbon (C), total phosphorus (P), and total hydrogen ion concentration (H+). Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcM) exhibited a higher relative abundance compared to saprotrophic and pathogenic fungi. A total of 69 EcM ASVs (Amplicon Sequence Variants) were identified, being the dominant genera Tomentella, Clavulina, Suillus, Russula, and Elaphomyces. Bacterial communities did not show significant variation in relation to the distance from the sampling points, but soil pH was identified as the main factor of bacterial composition. Dominant bacterial genera included Burkholderia, Bryobacter, Acidobacterium, and Acidothermus. Additionally, it was observed that current soil conditions influenced β diversity. Overall, the results demonstrate that soil fungal and bacterial communities associated with P. pseudostrobus exhibit a unique composition compared to other natural forest systems in the Neotropics.

The glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), which plays an important role in maintaining soil structural stability, soil carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) fixation. However, little is known about the GRSP content in soil and its contribution to soil nutrients in plantations of different tree species. In this study, we determined the soil physicochemical characteristics and GRSP contents in different soil layers of four kinds of plantations, including Acacia mangium (AM), Pinus caribaea (PC), Eucalyptus urophylla (EU), and Magnoliaceae glanca (MG), to address how the plantation types affected the GRSP in different layers of soil in southern China. The results showed that with an increase in soil depth, the GRSP content decreased linearly, and the contribution rate of GRSP to SOC and total nitrogen (TN) in deep soil was 1.08–1.18 times that in surface soil. The tree species significantly affected the vertical distribution of GRSP in soil. Among the four plantations, the conifer species PC had the highest level of GRSP, while the N-fixing species AM had the lowest level. However, SOC, soil capillary porosity (CP), TN, soil water content (SWC), and total phosphorus (TP) were important factors regulating soil GRSP content. Additionally, the regulation effects of soil properties on GRSP were various in surface and deep soil among different plantations. In order to improve soil quality and C sequestration potential, conifer species can be planted appropriately, or conifer species and N-fixing species can be mixed to increase soil nutrient content and enhance soil structure and function in afforestation of southern China.

Simple Summary: Grasslands cover one-third of the world's land area and play a significant role in agriculture and ecological security. However, due to recent changes in precipitation patterns and land use, the coverage of grasslands is decreasing. The Hulunbuir steppe, one of the four major grasslands in the world, is also undergoing desertification caused by climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. To characterize the eco-functional diversity of plants in recently restored sites after the introduction of woody plants in natural grasslands, the competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal (CSR) ecological strategies of plants were analyzed. As a result, the CSR ecological strategy in the temperate typical steppe was CSR and that in the woodland steppe was S/SR. The restored sites differed depending on the life-form of the introduced woody plants. The CSR ecological strategies observed over time in a restored site after the introduction of woody plants varied depending on the life-form of the introduced woody plants. This suggests the importance of selecting the life-form of woody plants for the success of ecological restoration in damaged grasslands. To reveal the changes in the life history characteristics of grassland plants due to vegetation restoration, plant species and communities were analyzed for their competitor, stress tolerator, and ruderal (CSR) ecological strategies after the introduction of woody plants in the damaged steppe grassland and were compared with those in reference sites in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia. As a result, it was found that the introduction of the woody plants (Corethrodeneron fruticosum, Caragana microphylla, Populus canadensis, and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) into the damaged land greatly increased the plant species diversity and CSR eco-functional diversity as the succession progressed. The plant strategies of the temperate typical steppe (TTS) and woodland steppe (WS) in this Asian steppe are CSR and S/SR, respectively, which means that the plants are adapted to disturbances or stress. As the restoration time elapsed in the damaged lands exhibiting (R/CR) (Corispermum hyssopifolium), the ecological strategies were predicted to change in two ways: (1) →R/CSR (Cynanchum thesioides, Astragalus laxmannii, etc.) → CSR in places (TSS) (Galium verum var. asiaticum, Saussurea japonica, etc.) where only shrubs were introduced, and (2) → S/SR (Allium mongolicum, Ulmus pumila, etc.) → S/SR in sites (WS) (Ulmus pumila, Thalictrum squarrosum, etc.) where trees and shrubs were planted simultaneously. The results mean that the driving force that causes succession in the restoration of temperate grasslands is determined by the life-form (trees/shrubs) of the introduced woody plants. This means that for the restoration of these grasslands to be successful, it is necessary to introduce woody tree species at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ProSAVANA was a technical cooperation program signed between the governments of Brazil, Japan, and Mozambique. Its aim was to promote agricultural development in the northern region of this African country. In this article, I give an ethnographic account of ProSAVANA's implementation and the different struggles that emerged in opposition to its undertakings. As I describe, the program promoters constantly mobilized three allegories evocative of connections and flow in their fieldwork, speeches, or documents: parallels, chains, and corridors. Although, at the territorial level, these were connected to effects of isolation and fixation of the local population and their agriculture. Based on this controversy, I suggest that ProSAVANA can be understood as those world design projects that perform what Anna Tsing called a "plantation ecology," that is, machines to produce the same, that operate to expand their scale while creating simplified, homogenized, and standardized models on diverse landscapes. Nevertheless, throughout the ProSAVANA implementation, their plantation designs were (re)composed both by technicians who aimed to promote its development model and by peasants and activists critical of the program, showing that these configurations alone cannot comprehensively circumscribe human agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy height data from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission has powered the development of global forest height products, but these data and products have not been validated in non-forest tree plantation settings. In this study, we collected field observations of the canopy heights throughout oil palm plantations in Nigeria and evaluated the performance of existing global canopy height map (CHM) products as well as a local model trained on the GEDI and various Landsat and Sentinel-2 feature combinations. We found that existing CHMs fared poorly in the region, with mean absolute errors (MAE) of 4.2–6.2 m. However, the locally trained models performed well (MAE = 2.5 m), indicating that using the GEDI and optical satellite data can still be effective, even in a region with relatively sparse GEDI coverage. In addition to improved overall performance, the local model was especially effective at reducing errors for short (<5 m) trees, where the global products struggle to capture the canopy height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, GHG emissions, especially CO2, drive rapid global warming. Construction significantly contributes to this by emitting CO2. Plants have long been recognized for their role in mitigating climate change through CO2 absorption, enhancing both climate control and environmental beauty. Thus, the aim of this paper is to assess plants' CO2 absorption potential, focusing on recent articles from reputable journals in the past decade. First, we delve into the primary causes of global warming. Next, we explore the philosophy of CO2 emissions in construction, from inception to completion. Finally, CO2 emission control through plantation is examined, exploring the potential of organic and genetically modified plants for real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we investigate plantation agriculture as a technology aimed at extracting natural resources, utilising unpaid labour, and installing regulatory authority. Using the oil palm plantation territories of Johor State in Malaysia – a core zone of palm oil production, manufacturing and export – as a case study, we ask how more-than-human assemblages enabled the expansion and refinement of oil palm plantations in Malaysia and contributed to the material transformation of the territory. We also explore how plantations can be mobilised as an analytical device to study the urbanisation of territory through agro-industrial production. To explore those questions, we present three episodes of more-than-human involvement in assembling oil palm plantation territories in Johor. Through the conceptual frame of the operationalisation of territory, we bring into dialogue literature on the Plantationocene with critical urban studies and the history of urbanisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korean forests need hardwood tree species that can produce timber, as global warming progresses and the habitats of conifers dwindle. For the past 30 years, exotic yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) has been planted to replace some of the pine-dominated forests, as there is a lack of native hardwood tree species that produce large and good quality timber. However, yellow poplar growth has varied among planting sites across the country. We studied how environmental factors affect the growth of 49 stands of yellow poplar trees, with 945 dominant trees across 129 plots. To identify the optimal conditions for yellow poplar growth, we assessed 28 environmental variables, including geographic, climatic, topographic, and soil properties, for their correlation with volume growth. We estimated the optimal conditions for yellow poplar growth by averaging the values of the variables for the top five performing stands. To calculate the relative distance of any stand from the optimal conditions, we divided the difference between the stand's values for the environmental variables and the optimal conditions by the standard deviation of those variables. We then calculated Spearman rank correlation coefficients between these distances and volume growth rankings. Wind exposure (WE), growing season temperature (GT), Latitude (LN), soil phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) content, low extreme temperature during January and February (LT), and spring humidity (SH) were the most important environmental factors governing growing sites for yellow poplar in Korea, with WE being the most critical. Some variables showed synergistic effects and correlated slightly more strongly with volume growth when combined with the WE variable. Our study provides crucial insights for optimizing plantation management and site selection in non-native ranges, enhancing overall success in establishing yellow poplar plantations in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many tree species occur across the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris C. Lawson) savannas and woodlands once dominated this region. To quantify longleaf pine's past primacy and trends in the Coastal Plain, we combined seven studies consisting of 255,000 trees from land surveys, conducted between 1810 and 1860 with other descriptions of historical forests, including change to the present day. Our synthesis found support that Pinus palustris predominantly constituted 77% of historical Coastal Plain trees and upland oaks (Quercus) contributed another 8%. While Pinus still dominates these forests today (58% of all trees), most are now either planted loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) or slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) pines. Water oak (Quercus nigra L.), live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.), and red maple (Acer rubrum L.) have increased their proportions compared to historical surveys; both longleaf pine and upland oaks have declined to ≤5% of all trees. Our work also supports previous estimates that longleaf pine originally dominated over 25–30 million ha of Coastal Plain forests. As late as the early 1900s, longleaf pine may still have covered 20 million ha, but declined to 7.1 million ha by 1935 and dropped to 4.9 million ha by 1955. Longleaf pine's regression continued into the mid-1990s, reaching a low of about 1.3 million ha; since then, restoration efforts have produced a modest recovery to 2.3 million ha. Two centuries of overcutting, land clearing, turpentining for chemicals, fire exclusion followed by forest densification by fire-sensitive species, and other silvicultural influences, including widespread loblolly and slash pine plantations, have greatly diminished the Coastal Plain's once extensive open longleaf pine forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Landscape modification is a major threat to carnivores worldwide, but modified landscapes can also provide important habitat for these species, as protected areas alone are insufficient. Understanding how carnivores use modified landscapes, such as production forests, can inform management strategies to improve the value of these landscapes to carnivores. Little is known about habitat selection by marsupial carnivores in production forests, where they occupy a similar ecological niche to their more well‐studied eutherian counterparts. We used GPS tracking, Hidden Markov Models, and Manly's selection ratios to identify the habitat selected in three behavioral states by the largest marsupial carnivore, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), in a timber plantation‐dominated landscape. Behavioral states were approximated as: state 1, resting or feeding at a carcass; state 2, foraging; and state 3, travel. Devils did not show preferences for any of native forest, native grassland, and plantation in any behavioral state. Within plantations, devils preferred a plantation age of 4–7 years (selection ratio [wi] = 1.52). Devils preferred roads (state 1: wi = 2.71, state 2: wi = 2.48, state 3: wi = 2.97) and plantation edges (state 1: wi = 2.38, state 2: wi = 2.24, state 3: wi = 2.78) in all behavioral states, and moved faster on roads and edges than away from them. Together, our results indicate devils use road and edges for foraging (scavenging and hunting) and travel. No measured habitat variables influenced devil home range size. To support devils in plantation landscapes, we recommend maintaining a heterogeneous landscape of different plantation ages and native remnants and reducing the risk of vehicle collisions by minimizing forestry traffic at night. Tasmanian devils share similar adaptable traits to generalist eutherian carnivore species in their use of modified landscapes. Plantations can provide valuable habitat for this and other threatened predator species.

Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. is an evergreen highland tree species reaching 30–40 m high and restricted to some mountainous areas. This tree is a species of great ecological and economic significance in supporting biodiversity, preventing soil erosion, and providing valuable resources. The study aimed at comparing the provenances effect on growth and yield performance of a 16-years-old J. procera plantation. This long-term experiment included eleven provenances from different regions of Ethiopia. It was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The plot size was 100 m2 with 2.5 m by 2.5 m spacing. Growth parameters such as height and diameter over a 1-m interval of standing trees were measured for sample trees. The results showed that the overall mean of basal area for 11 provenances was ranging from 4.4 ± 0.29 to 5.2 ± 0.33 m2 ha⁻1. The biggest (11.3 ± 0.14 m) and smallest (9.8 ± 0.16 m) mean height was obtained in the provenances of Kolobo and Dikisis, respectively. The mean volume of the stem ranges from 12.3 ± 0.93 to 17.9 ± 1.1 m3 ha⁻1. The highest and lowest form factor was obtained in the provenances of Gaynt (0.43 ± 0.02) and Hirna (0.32 ± 0.02), respectively. The generic form factor is 0.4 ± 0.01. Provenance Kolobo had the best growth rate in all growth stages with 1.4 m height greater than the poorest provenance Dikisis and 23% greater than the overall average volume (14.5 m3 ha⁻1) at age of 16 years. The variations in growth and yield performance among the provenances could be attributed to genetic differences and adaptation to the local environment. Provenances originating from similar altitude such as Kolobo's provenances showed better growth and yield performance, possibly due to their adaptation to the cooler and wetter conditions prevailing in the study area. Choosing provenances that are well-adapted to the local site conditions can lead to improved productivity and economic returns.

Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A comprehensive search of references was conducted in March 2023 using several international databases and search engines. A Zotero library was set up consisting of 415 scientific references. Each reference was carefully read and tagged in several categories: cropping system, country, main tree species, intercrop type, intercrop product, level of product use, discipline of the study, research topic, and intercrop species. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber-producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China, and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops, and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana, and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only four papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The Discussion Section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops.

Background: The hydrological effects of invasive plant control in forestland have not been well studied in the past, and numerous scientific mysteries remain unsolved. The long-term suspension of the unsolved issues will unavoidably influence the sound growth and sustainable management of forest ecosystems. This study investigates the hydrological effects of controlling invasive weeds in forestland. The research aims to understand the impact of invasive weed control on soil and water loss. Methods: Conducted in Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage plantations in Central Yunnan, SW China, which are invaded by alien weed Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R. M. King & H. Rob., four surface cover treatments were applied to study runoff and sediment yielding properties. The four surface cover treatments were weed harvesting and litter elimination (WH&LE), weed harvesting and litter retention (WH&LR), litter burning and weed renewal (LB&WR), and weed retention and litter retention (WR&LR). Essentially, WH&LE and LB&WR served as integrated management approaches for invasive weeds and litter, WH&LR was an independent weed control measure, and WR&LR served as a research control. Results: Runoff was significantly higher in the LB&WR plots (3.03 mm) compared to the WR&LR plots (1.48 mm) (p < 0.05). The WH&LE plots had higher runoff (2.39 mm) than the WR&LR plots (not statistically significant), while the WH&LR plots had less runoff (1.08 mm) than the WR&LR plots (not significant). Sediment yield was lower in the WH&LR plots (0.50 t/km2) than in the WR&LR plots (0.52 t/km2) (not significant), but significantly higher in the WH&LE plots (2.10 t/km2) and LB&WR plots (1.57 t/km2) than in the WR&LR plots (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Managing invasive weeds independently reduces the risk of soil and water loss, but combined management with litter can exacerbate the issue. Invasive weed control and litter management should be performed separately in slope plantations. This study provides a scientific basis for soil and water conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of plantation ecosystems.

Monitoring drought stress is crucial for estimating productivity and assessing the health status of forest ecosystems under global climate change. Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) is mechanistically coupled to photosynthesis and has advantages over greenness-based vegetation indices in detecting drought. In recent years, SIF has commonly been used in monitoring drought stress in crop ecosystems. However, the response of tower-based SIF to drought stress in forest ecosystems remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential of tower-based SIF to monitor drought, which was quantified using the plant water stress index (PWSI) in a Chinese cork oak plantation. The results show the negative effect of drought on SIF, and afternoon depression of SIF emission under drought stress was observed. Canopy SIF (F) exhibited a nonlinear relationship with PWSI, while the quantum yield of SIF (ΦF) exhibited a significant linear relationship with PWSI at 687 nm and 760 nm (ΦF687: R2 = 0.90; ΦF760: R2 = 0.85). Incident radiation (PAR) and canopy structure affected the response of SIF to drought stress, with PAR as the main factor causing the nonlinear relationship between F and PWSI. Afternoon depression was described as the afternoon/morning ratio (AMR). AMRF and AMRΦF exhibited a negative linear response to PWSI. AMRF was less affected than F by PAR and canopy structures, and AMRΦF was more physiologically representative than ΦF. Moreover, AMRΦF was sensitive to VPD and REW, and it might be a good indicator of drought. Red SIF was more sensitive to drought than far-red SIF, as the R2 of PWSI with AMRΦF687 (R2 = 0.89) was higher than that with AMRΦF687 (R2 = 0.84). These results highlight the potential of tower-based SIF, especially red SIF, for drought monitoring in a plantation, and consideration of the physiological diurnal variation in SIF under drought stress is crucial for improving the accuracy of drought stress monitoring.

The spatial distribution of soil moisture is a critical determinant for the success of vegetation restoration initiatives in semi-arid and arid regions. The Qilian Mountains, situated within a semi-arid zone in China, have been subject to significant water-induced soil erosion, which has led to extensive restoration activities, predominantly utilizing the species P. crassifolia. However, the interconnections between soil moisture and various land cover types within this region remain unclear, presenting challenges to effective woodland rehabilitation. This study examines the surface soil moisture dynamics in afforested areas with varying ages of plantation to determine the influence of tree planting on the moisture content of the upper soil layer. It investigates the characteristics and temporal patterns of surface soil moisture as the age of the plantation increases. The findings indicate that: (1) soil moisture levels follow a descending sequence from natural forest, through shrubland and grassland, to planted forest and mixed forest, with statistically significant differences observed between natural and mixed forests (p < 0.05); (2) young afforested areas (less than 50 years old) have lower soil moisture levels compared to natural forests, shrublands, or grasslands, and the ecohydrological impacts of afforestation become apparent with a temporal delay; and (3) the analysis using Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) and the application of Kriging interpolation to determine the spatial distribution of soil moisture reveals that in semi-arid and arid regions, several factors have a pronounced a non-linear relationship with the moisture content of the surface soil. These factors include the duration of afforestation, the position on the lower slope, the presence of shade on the slope, and the scale at which the study is conducted. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of soil water content is essential to prevent the potential failure of artificially established forests due to inadequate soil moisture in their later stages.

Abstract The planted Rhizophora mucronata was evaluated in two plant ages (one year and eight years) as a biological tool for reducing the mobility of heavy metals in sediments in Safaga and Hamata, Red Sea Coast, Egypt. It is an important region for tourism and nature reserves; however, this area suffers from various anthropogenic contaminants. The ability of mangrove plantations to reduce sediment contamination through bioaccumulation, phytostabilization, or phytoextraction must be clarified through the investigation of metal behavior in mangrove plants and sediments. All of the studied heavy metals had significantly higher concentrations in the Safaga site's sediments. Elder plants had much lower levels of heavy metals in their sediments than younger plants, also rhizosphere samples were less contaminated than non-rhizosphere ones. The order of remediation efficiency was Mo > Ni > Mn ≥ Co > Al > Cu > Zn ≥ Cr > Fe > V, where the highest % was 99.25, 58.97, 42.64, 42.48, 41.91, 39.47, 37.93, 37.01, 36.89, and 29.44, respectively. R. mucronata parts were more significantly contaminated with Co, Cr, Cu, Mo and Zn in Safaga site, while at the Hamata site, they were more significantly contaminated with Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, and V. The elder plants accumulated higher concentrations than younger ones and the contents of heavy metals in plant samples followed the order of root > aerial roots > shoot. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) values representing the accumulation efficiency of R. mucronata were Ni > Mo > Zn > Cu > Cr > Co > Mn ≥ Al > V > Fe, where their highest values were 17.74, 7.89, 3.95, 3.84, 2.66, 1.91, 1.67, 1.66, 1.6, 1.18, respectively. BCF values exceeded one for all metals and values of translocation factor (TF) were less than unity in all cases, thus Rhizophora mucronata can be considered as a good phytostabilizer of ten studied heavy metals able to reduce their mobility through accumulation by roots, thereby reducing off-site contamination.

Good faith is fundamentals in every contract, without which a contract will find it difficult to achieve its goals. In 2019, through a contract made before a notary in the hall of Kampar Regent Office, Kooperasi Nenek Eno Senamanenek and PT. Perkebunan Nusantara IV start a new beginning after a long period of dispute over Senamanenek community’s customary land. The good faith in fulfillment of contract between KNES and PTPN V would affect the legal relationship between these two parties. For KNES, the realization of the clauses within the contract will affect senamanenek community who become the member of the cooperative. The contract object was a palm oil plantation owned by the cooperative member. This empirical legal study scrutinized the implementation of good faith in the contract between KNES and PTPN V By identifying the law and the effectiveness of legal principles in the community. It took place in Kampar Regency. Primary, secondary, and tertiary data were collected through interviews and literature review. This study concludes that the good faith has not been fully implemented in the contract between PTPN V and KNES due to legal and non-legal factors. Therefore, both parties are suggested to possess a good faith in all stages of the contract-making process, from the pre-contract, contract, and post-contract stages. They are also suggested to minimize factors inhibiting good faith in the contract.

Restoration activities in degraded and/or deforested forest landscapes are common and old occurrences around the world. Tree planting is common in most forest landscape restoration initiatives. In Ethiopia, eight seedling-based landscape restoration options are identified to alleviate land degradation and its consequences. The primary purpose of this work was to review factors affecting the early survival of tree and shrub seedlings and their remedies in the restoration sites of Ethiopia. Drought and moisture stress, low soil fertility, poor seedling quality, weak species site matching, termites, livestock grazing, and seasonal frost are the basic factors that hinder the survival and growth of seedlings in the field. In situ rainwater harvesting structures, fertilizer application, the use of quality seedlings, the right species site matching, and the exclusion of livestock and grazing animals from planted seedlings are the remedies that must be employed to increase the success of tree-based restoration practices. Thus, further investigation of the factors affecting the survival of seedlings in the out-planting sites and remediation accordingly is necessary to ensure the productivity and sustainability of restoration practices in Ethiopia.