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Landscape complexity is a crucial factor for insect diversity in agricultural landscapes. Short-rotation coppices (SRCs) are characterised by high habitat heterogeneity. The impact of vegetation structure on the composition and diversity of ground beetle and arachnid communities was therefore investigated in four SRCs and six reference plots. The study site was located in Hesse, Germany. The invertebrates were surveyed from 2011 to 2014 using pitfall traps, and the vegetation structure was quantified by estimating the percentage cover of 10 structural variables. The impact of the selected structural variables on community composition was analysed during grove growth as well as after a timber harvest. We found correlations between the cover percentages of structural variables and the quantitative and qualitative species composition in both animal groups (p ≤ 0.05). The share of individuals of forest species increased with rising shading and litter cover, while those of open land decreased. The opposite trends were found the year after the timber harvest. The SRCs showed a higher structural diversity compared to the reference biotopes (p ≤ 0.05). This was positively correlated (p ≤ 0.001) with species diversity and the variety of habitat preference groups in both animal groups. The high diversity within the habitat preference groups indicated a functional redundancy among species for both animal groups and, consequently, a high level of resilience within these communities. Little is known about the functional aspects of ground beetles and spiders in ecosystems, and detailed studies are urgently needed. We conclude that SRCs can contribute to the diversification of agricultural landscapes as an alternative to traditional crop cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on Paulownia cultivation and wood properties is up to date in many countries. However, there are no data on the properties of this wood defined on a microscale, on microtome samples. The main aim of this study was to find the best valorization path for the wood of Paulownia Shang Tong Hybrid F1 from an extensively cultivated plantation established in April 2017 in Poland by determining the tensile strength, the wood density, the strength-to-density ratio, and the modulus of elasticity on a cross-section of the trunk. The wood was collected from extensive plantation, where production is based on the natural resources of the habitat and ambient weather conditions, which is the opposite to the intensive cultivation model, which is the recommended model of Paulownia cultivation. The results of this study show that the mean density of the analyzed samples was approximately 210 kg/m3 when the mean value of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) was approximately 2400 MPa. The mean result for the tensile strength ratio to density was 11.25 km. In the case of anatomical structure, the increasing trend with age was noticed both in fiber and vessel characteristics. The study results provide unique data worldwide about Paulownia wood's properties based on a cross-section of the trunk, from plantations cultivated in conditions which are not recommended by seedlings producers. The obtained data indicate that the Paulownia wood (examined) from the cultivation in this study has a technical quality similar to that of model-intensive agricultural plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reports warned that planting leguminous trees under monocultures elevates nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions through N-rich litter inputs. We hypothesized that planting trees on sandy soil can avoid the legume-derived boost of N2O emissions through limiting water availability for N2O production. Effects of planting legumes on methane (CH4) uptakes were also examined. N2O emissions and CH4 uptakes were compared among five tropical tree plantation stands including three leguminous stands (Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, and Xylia xylocarpa) and two non-leguminous stands (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Hopea odorata). Due to lower water contents of the soil, the N2O fluxes in our study site were at the lower end of the tropical rain forests. As we hypothesized, no clear differences in N2O emissions were observed between leguminous and non-leguminous stands. CH4 uptake rates in the present study were lower than those of other tropical forests. CH4 uptakes in leguminous stands did not differ from those in non-leguminous stands. Overall, we demonstrated that planting leguminous trees on sandy soils has a potential to enable us to manage leguminous monoculture tree plantations without boosting N2O emissions or reducing CH4 uptakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape complexity is a crucial factor for insect diversity in agricultural landscapes. Short-rotation coppices (SRCs) are characterised by high habitat heterogeneity. The impact of vegetation structure on the composition and diversity of ground beetle and arachnid communities was therefore investigated in four SRCs and six reference plots. The study site was located in Hesse, Germany. The invertebrates were surveyed from 2011 to 2014 using pitfall traps, and the vegetation structure was quantified by estimating the percentage cover of 10 structural variables. The impact of the selected structural variables on community composition was analysed during grove growth as well as after a timber harvest. We found correlations between the cover percentages of structural variables and the quantitative and qualitative species composition in both animal groups (p ≤ 0.05). The share of individuals of forest species increased with rising shading and litter cover, while those of open land decreased. The opposite trends were found the year after the timber harvest. The SRCs showed a higher structural diversity compared to the reference biotopes (p ≤ 0.05). This was positively correlated (p ≤ 0.001) with species diversity and the variety of habitat preference groups in both animal groups. The high diversity within the habitat preference groups indicated a functional redundancy among species for both animal groups and, consequently, a high level of resilience within these communities. Little is known about the functional aspects of ground beetles and spiders in ecosystems, and detailed studies are urgently needed. We conclude that SRCs can contribute to the diversification of agricultural landscapes as an alternative to traditional crop cultivation.

The main target of the research was to compare the growth dynamics of woody plants in relation to their age, specifically in individuals up to 10 years after planting. Five fast-growing species (Fraxinus excelsior, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Ulmus laevis, Ulmus minor) and four control species (Acer campestre, Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium, Tilia cordata) were selected. The model site is part of the regional biocentre in Brno. It is a warm area with an increased groundwater level. The planting took place in 2011. Evaluation was done at the turn of 2016/2017 and included measuring the following attributes: the overall height of the specimen, the annual increment of the terminal shoot and the annual increment of six lateral shoots. The highest average values were observed in Populus nigra which, in the context of close results of individual specimens, can be attributed the overall highest growth dynamics. The average terminal shoot increment exceeded 50 cm in all species except for Tilia cordata; in Populus alba and Populus nigra it exceeded 100 cm. Generally, the values of Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium and Tilia cordata were mutually comparable and at the same time lower than the values of woody plants labelled as fast growing. The results for Acer campestre were close to the category of fast-growing species. It follows from the measured figures that Populus nigra showed the highest growth dynamics, Tilia cordata the lowest. On the whole, the species classified as fast growing (Fraxinus excelsior, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Ulmus laevis, Ulmus minor) reached higher results than trees with a standard speed of growth (Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium, Tilia cordata). An exception was Acer campestre which was with its results closer to Fraxinus excelsior and Ulmus laevis. For instance, the comparison of the average height of the slowest growing representative of fast-growing woody plants (Fraxinus excelsior 2.81 m) with the fastest growing species from the second category (Prunus avium 2.51 m) showed a difference of 30 cm in favour of the fast-growing category. The average height of Acer campestre amounted to 3.27 m. When comparing the maximum length of annual terminal shoot increment, the fast-growing woody plants exceeded 146 cm (Fraxinus excelsior), whereas in the control plants a maximum of 103 cm was reached (Carpinus betulus). The maximum length in Acer campestre was 170 cm. Despite this, only one of the used resources (Belke and Gaida, 1991) ranks this species among fast-growing woody plants.

Fast-growing tree species with rapid canopy closures were selected in the early stages of restoration on the catchment slope of Benggang. We investigated the effects of overstory structure on the understory environment. Pure stands of Eucalyptus urophylla, Pinus elliottii, and Acacia auriculaeformis trees that were planted on the catchment slope of Benggang, Guangdong Sanlingshan National Forest Park, were selected for research in 2013. Ten continuous plots of 20 m×20 m were established in each pure forest. The tally method was used to analyze the field data. The canopy structure (leaf area index [LAI] and canopy porosity) and understory light availability (transmitted total solar radiation) were obtained in 2019, and air temperature, air relative humidity, soil temperature, and soil natural water content were measured. the results were as follows: (1) Among the tree growth indices, the height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and volume of E. urophylla were higher than those of P. elliottii and A. auriculaeformis. (2) Among the three stands, the air and soil temperatures were the lowest and the air relative humidity and soil natural water content were the highest in the A. auriculaeformis stand. The canopy porosity, LAI and transmitted total solar radiation were significantly different among the three stands (P＜0.05). The A. auriculaeformis stand had the highest LAI and the lowest canopy porosity, with the lowest transmitted total solar radiation among the three stands. (3) Overstory structure was closely correlated with the understory environment (canonical correlation coefficient r=0.936), and the correlation was highly significant (P＜0.001). Overstory structure explained 87.6% of the variation in the understory environment. Fast-growing evergreen trees with fast canopy closures can be used in vegetation restoration to improve the characteristics of soil drought, and reduce soil respiration of the Benggang catchment slope. They are also beneficial for soil and water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate and compare the qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics of Acacia mangium and Acacia hybrid in plantation forests in Vietnam. The qualitative and quantitative anatomical characteristics were evaluated according to the International Association of Wood Anatomists list of microscopic features for hardwood identification. In terms of qualitative features, A. mangium had a rough, hard, and fissured bark surface with a golden brown to dark brown color, whereas A. hybrid had a smooth and slightly scaly bark surface with greenish brown to greyish brown color, and yellowish white to pale white spots. Moreover, the heartwood–sapwood color and microscopic features of both species were identical. In terms of quantitative features, A. mangium had higher values in the tangential diameter of vessel lumina, vessel per square millimeter, ray number per millimeter, fiber length, and fiber wall thickness than A. hybrid, whereas A. hybrid had a higher ray height and lumen diameter than A. mangium. Thus, it is suggested that bark morphology and some quantitative anatomical characteristics can be used for identification and evaluation of wood quality between A. mangium and A. hybrid growing in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the growth performance of fast-growing trees, viz. Eucalyptus spp., Casuarina equisetifolia, Gmelina arborea and Melia dubia in high-density plantation in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, with different spacings, viz. 1 × 1 m, 1.2 × 1.2 m and 1.5 × 1.5 m. The experiment was established in July 2019 and data were recorded for the first and second year. In the second year maximum height increment was found in T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m; 3.42 m) followed by T5 (Eucalyptus 1.2 × 1.2 m; 3.40 m) and minimum in T2 (Casuarina 1 × 1 m; 1.39 m), whereas maximum girth increment was found in T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m; 12.43 cm) followed by T9 (Eucalyptus 1.5 × 1.5 m; 10.66 cm) and minimum in T6 (Casuarina 1.2 × 1.2 m; 6.46 cm). Maximum biomass in the first year was found in T6 (Casuarina 1.2 × 1.2 m; 15.51 t ha–1), followed by T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m; 14.71 t ha–1) and minimum in T12 (Melia 1.5 × 1.5 m; 0.66 t ha–1), whereas in the second year maximum biomass was found in T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m; 202.72 t ha–1), followed by T5 (Eucalyptus 1.2 × 1.2 m; 98.81 t ha–1) and minimum in T12 (Melia 1.5 × 1.5 m; 17.34 t ha–1). Carbon stock and carbon sequestration were maximum in the first year in T6 (Casuarina 1.2 × 1.2 m) followed by T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m) and minimum in Melia (1.5 × 1.5 m), with values of 7.75, 7.35, 0.33 t ha–1, and 28.42, 26.96, 1.21 t ha–1 respectively. Whereas in the second year maximum was found in T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m) followed by T5 (Eucalyptus 1.2 × 1.2 m) and minimum in T12 (Melia 1.5 × 1.5 m), with values of 101.36, 49.41, 8.67 t ha–1, and 371.59, 181.12 and 31.78 t ha–1 respectively. Maximum productivity was found in T1 (Eucalyptus 1 × 1 m; 188.01 t ha–1) followed by T5 (Eucalyptus 1.2 × 1.2 m; 89.88 t ha–1) and minimum in T12 (Melia 1.5 × 1.5 m; 16.68 t ha–1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main target of the research was to compare the growth dynamics of woody plants in relation to their age, specifically in individuals up to 10 years after planting. Five fast-growing species (Fraxinus excelsior, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Ulmus laevis, Ulmus minor) and four control species (Acer campestre, Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium, Tilia cordata) were selected. The model site is part of the regional biocentre in Brno. It is a warm area with an increased groundwater level. The planting took place in 2011. Evaluation was done at the turn of 2016/2017 and included measuring the following attributes: the overall height of the specimen, the annual increment of the terminal shoot and the annual increment of six lateral shoots. The highest average values were observed in Populus nigra which, in the context of close results of individual specimens, can be attributed the overall highest growth dynamics. The average terminal shoot increment exceeded 50 cm in all species except for Tilia cordata; in Populus alba and Populus nigra it exceeded 100 cm. Generally, the values of Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium and Tilia cordata were mutually comparable and at the same time lower than the values of woody plants labelled as fast growing. The results for Acer campestre were close to the category of fast-growing species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Water productivity of 3-year-old Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei (Shan Tong) trees in a plantation at Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) ranged between 4.3 and 8.0 g l−1 over the vegetation period 2019. Central Asia is a region where forests are naturally scarce and additionally are under high anthropogenic pressure due to an unmet demand for timber and fuelwood. Cultivation of fast-growing trees as a means to satisfy this need may, therefore, be instrumental to forest conservation and/or restoration efforts. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Paulownia spp. as agroforestry or plantation tree. Paulownia is a deciduous tree genus of Chinese origin that is valued for its fast growth and light, yet sturdy wood, among other characteristics. This study investigated the water consumption, biomass production, and water productivity of Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei (trade name: Shan Tong) in a plantation setting on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan) over the course of the vegetation period 2019. The method employed was Granier's thermal dissipation probe for measuring sap flow in trees. Estimated trunk biomass production per tree and season ranged from 1.52 to 3.41 kg, and the trees were found to consume between 433 and 613 l of water in total over the growing season. Water productivity, the amount of exploitable stem biomass produced per litre of water input, consequently ranged between 4.3 and 8.0 g l−1. As numerous studies suggest that the thermal dissipation method underestimates tree water consumption to varying degrees, these values likely represent the upper range of the species' water productivity. A literature review shows its water productivity to be higher than that of regionally employed tree species such as Populus euphratica or Elaeagnus angustifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reforestation is an effective way to alleviate deforestation and its negative impacts on ecosystem services. In tropical rainforest ecosystem, however, frequent typhoons and heavy rainfall can result in landslides and uprooting of many seedlings, making reforestation efforts very difficult, especially within extremely degraded sites where soil conditions cannot support any plant life. Here, we described a reforestation protocol which is based on tropical rainforest successional processes to not only prevent landslides and tree uprooting due to frequent typhoon and heavy rain, but also accelerate tropical forest succession. This protocol first used the slope and soil layer of the undisturbed old-growth tropical rainforest as a reference to reconstruct slope and soil layers. Then multiple tropical tree species with high growth and survival rate were separately monocultured in the reconstructed soil layers. In the year of 2015 and 2016, we tested the effectiveness of this protocol to recover a 0.2 km2 extremely degraded tropical rainforest which consists of bare rock and thus does not support any plant life, in Sanya city, China. Our results showed that, both typhoons and heavy rains did not result in landslide or any tree damages in the area this reforestation protocol was used. Moreover, our separately monocultured eight fast-growing tree species have much higher fast-growing related functional traits than those for tree species in the adjacent undisturbed tropical seasonal forest, which in turn resulted in large soil water and nutrient loss within 3 years. This seemed to simulate a quick transition from primary succession (consist of bare rock and cannot support any plant life) to mid-stage of secondary tropical rainforest succession (many fast-growing pioneer tree species induced high soil water and nutrient loss). Thus, mixing the late-successional tropical tree species with each of the separately monocultured eight fast-growing tree species can accelerate recovery to the undisturbed tropical rainforest as soon as possible. Overall, based on tropical rainforest successional processes, our research provides an effective protocol for quickly and effectively restoring an extremely degraded tropical rainforest ecosystem. We expect that this work will be important for the future recovery of other extremely degraded tropical rainforest ecosystems.

Deforestation continues to be extensive in the tropics, resulting in reduced soil water content. Reforestation is an effective way to recover soil water content, but the recovery depends on the type of reforestation efforts that are implemented. Monoculture of fast-growing species is a common reforestation strategy, because it is an effective means of preventing landslides resulting from the frequent typhoons and heavy rains in the tropics and easy to implement. To quantify whether monoculture plantings can help recover soil water content, we initiated a reforestation project within a 0.2 km2 area of an extremely degraded tropical monsoon forest. We hypothesized that much higher transpiration rate of fast-growing tree species would deplete soil water more than the dominant slow-growing species in the adjacent secondary tropical rain forest during both wet and dry seasons, thereby resulting in much lower soil water content. To test this hypothesis, we compared transpiration rates and key functional traits that can distinguish transpiration rates between fast-growing and dominant slow-growing species in both wet and dry seasons. We also quantified whether soil water content around these species differed. We found that fast-growing species had transpiration rate and transpiration-related trait values that were 5–10 times greater than the dominant slow-growing species in both seasons. We also found that soil water content around dominant slow-growing species was 1.5–3 times greater than for fast-growing species in both seasons. Therefore, reforestation based on monoculture plantings of fast-growing species seems difficult to effectively recover the soil water content. We also provide a simple method for guiding the use of reforestation efforts to recover soil water content in extremely degraded tropical rain forests. We expect that this simple method can be an effective means to restore extremely degraded tropical rain forests in other parts of the world.

With this contribution, an updated picture of the rapid expansion of Leucaena leucocephala subsp. glabrata in Sicily is provided. On the one hand, this is a quite worrying sign, as this woody species figures among the world’s worst invasive alien species. On the other hand, the species shows interesting potential for production purposes (for wood, biomass and for feeding livestock), also considering its nitrogen fixation ability. Consequently, the two opposite options to cope with this species, i.e. cultivation and control/eradication, should accurately take into account the possible uses as well as its invasive behaviou

As the land area of short‐rotation coppice (SRC) increases, their soil physical impacts have to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to detect the effects of long‐term SRC with poplar and willow on the vertical distribution of soil physical properties (bulk density, water retention, penetration resistance) and on solute transport patterns. An 18‐year‐old SRC located in northeastern Germany was compared to an adjacent continuous arable cropping system by means of soil sampling, penetrologger measurements and dye tracer experiments. The topsoil's bulk density was significantly lower under SRC than under cropland. This effect was especially pronounced in the uppermost 10 cm, where also the air capacity and the plant‐available water content were higher under SRC. The penetration resistance in 25–50 cm depth was reduced under SRC compared to the cropland, indicating a loosening of the plough pan. Dye tracer experiments showed that the importance of preferential flow was higher under SRC due to tree root channels and an increasing colonisation with invertebrates. SRC has ecologically advantageous effects on soil physical properties of the topsoil, however, combined with an enhanced risk of preferential solute transport upon application of agrochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to reveal variations in the wood structure and to define the location of the boundary between juvenile and mature wood Larix decidua Mill. from fast growing tree plantations. To reach these findings, the samples of wood from four short-rotation plantations in Central Europe (Poland) were selected and compared. The procedure used to determine the demarcation point between juvenile and mature wood resulted in strong correlations between the width of growth rings and the initial cambial age. It was found that the structure of wood from fast-growing trees differs from commercially available timber. The wood derived from plantations revealed wider annual rings than wood from natural forests. The analysis of the variability of wood structure resulted in defining the location of the boundary between juvenile and mature wood. Based on the analysis of structure of annual rings, the boundary of juvenile wood in fast-growing larch is placed between the 12th and 15th annual ring. The investigated material contained high proportions of juvenile wood, which makes up more than 70% of trunk volume. On the microscopic level, no visible changes, indicating the presence of a mature wood zone, were found.

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Phytoremediation is a proven technology for many organic and inorganic pollutants. Practical reasons have led trees to be neglected in laboratory studies in favour of herbaceous model species. However, trees are gaining momentum over herbaceous plants in field trials because of their greater effectiveness. Recent progress supports that fast-growing trees commonly used in short-rotation coppicing are naturally endowed with key advantages to fight pollution. If properly managed, these trees can also provide important ecological services that will contribute positively to cost-effectiveness and social perception. To fully exploit this potential, we need to better understand the biochemical networks underlying pollutant metabolism and the complex interactions between trees and their endophytic and rhizospheric communities. We examine here recent advances regarding the uptake and fate of relevant organic and inorganic pollutants in plants, with particular emphasis on results obtained with trees. The prospects offered by microbial inoculation and genetic transformation, two approaches successfully field tested, are also discussed. Tree planting for land restoration fits nicely in the new paradigm of phytomanagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pestovanie energetickych rastlin a drevin na poľnohospodarskej pode a ďalšie využitie ich energie predstavuje zasadny vyznam pre realizaciu dlhodobej strategie Slovenska v oblasti ziskavania a využivania obnoviteľnych zdrojov energie (OZE). Energeticke rastliny spĺňaju ciele strategie Europa 2020 a prispievaju k diverzifi kacii energetickych zdrojov. Prispevok vychadza z pravnych predpisov EU a narodnej legislativy upravujucej OZE. Analyzovane su Smernica 2009/28/ES Europskeho parlamentu a Rady z 23. aprila 2009 o podpore využivania energie z obnoviteľnych zdrojov a o zmene a naslednom zrušeni smernic 2001/77/ES a 2003/30/ES. Tema obnoviteľnych zdrojov energie je integrovana do Programu rozvoja vidieka 2014 - 2020. Konkretne Akčny plan pre biomasu 2008-2013, Strategia vyššieho využitia obnoviteľnych zdrojov energie na Slovensku a Strategia energetickej bezpečnosti Slovenska bola prijata až do roku 2030. Trvalo udržateľne využivanie poľnohospodarskej pody, jeho riadenie a využivanie, ako aj ochrana jeho kvality a funkcie su upravene zakonom č 220/2004 Zb. o ochrane a využivani poľnohospodarskej pody a ktorym sa meni zakon č. 245/2003 Zb., o integrovanej prevencii a kontrole znečisťovania životneho prostredia a o zmene niektorych zakonov v zneni neskoršich predpisov, ktory nadobudol učinnosť 1. maja 2004. Zakon č. 57/2013 Zb., ktory je platny od 1. aprila 2013, stanovuje zasady a postup zriaďovania plantaži rychlorastucich drevin na poľnohospodarskej pode. Slovenska pravna uprava zaviedla register rychlo rastucich drevin na každom okresnom urade (72), na pozemkovom a lesnom odbore na Slovensku. Prieskum tychto registrov ukazuje, že tato pravna uprava podporuje poľnohospodarov, aby začali použivať marginalne pody pre rychlo rastuce dreviny.

Three clones of black poplar and a hybrid poplar clone, “NE-42”, were trialled in a short rotation coppice system. The trial was replicated in three sites located in the Czech Republic with distinctly different soils and climates which were judged to be respectively favorable, unfavorable and marginal for growing black poplar. In the marginal and unfavorable sites the planting density was 2222 trees ha-1 and in optimal conditions 7407 trees ha-1. The aim of the trial was: (1) to test the performance of black poplar clones as a possible replacement for commercial hybrid poplars in areas where the genetic integrity of wild black poplar populations is under threat; (2) to test the range of conditions in which it is possible to grow black poplar and its suitability for utilizing marginal agricultural land; and (3) to measure the potential yield of black poplar clones grown in these conditions. During four harvests at three-year intervals, the following parameters were measured: plant mortality, number of shoots, thickness of shoots, the total cross-sectional area (TCA) of all shoots, the dry matter weight of individual plants (DMIP) and the dry matter yields per hectare. The differences observed between “NE-42” and the best black poplar clone decreased as conditions became more favorable. During the fourth harvest at the unfavorable site for growing poplars, the yield of dry biomass was 11.7 t ha-1 yr-1 for “NE-42” compared to 3.7 t ha-1 yr-1 for the best black poplar clone. In marginal conditions the yields were 11.8 and 9.9 t ha-1 yr-1 respectively, and in the favorable conditions there was no statistically significant difference, being 15.9 and 13.2 t ha-1 yr-1, respectively. The higher yield of “NE-42” was due to the higher proportion of thicker shoots or, alternatively, lower plant mortality. The observed TCA was highly correlated with DMIP (rs = 0.87) and dry biomass yield (rs = 0.48). It was demonstrated that black poplar can be successfully grown in marginal conditions on land which otherwise would not be especially suitable for agricultural production, and also in areas where the genetic purity of native populations of black poplar is threatened by the spread of commercially grown hybrid poplars.

Seed meal of three trees common to the Midwest region of the USA (Honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos L., family Fabaceae), Osage orange (Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid., family Moraceae) and Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L., family Fabaceae) were tested for their adhesive abilities. Seed meals were employed at dosage levels of 10, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100% reinforced with Paulownia elongata L. wood (PW) or Osage orange wood (OOW) chips to fabricate composite wood panels (CWPs). A comparison of the flexural properties of various tree seed meal CWPs reinforced with PW showed that their flexural properties met or exceeded European Union standards. However, their dimensional stability properties were inferior to nominal standards. Therefore, tree seed meal CWPs could probably have applications in interior environments where such CWPs accept negligible dimensional stability standards.

The paper analyses the legal regulation of the cultivation of fast-growing trees on agricultural land in Slovakia and Czechia. The focus is on the differences in the legislation of the two countries, the application of the regulations of cultivation of fast-growing trees in practice, the level of protection of agricultural land, and the support system for the cultivation of fast-growing trees. Comparison of national legislation dealing with the issue of planting fast-growing trees, taking into consideration the protection of agricultural land and the legislation on granting the state support has also been investigated in the context of European legislation. The procedure before the start of planting, the permission conditions for planting of fast-growing trees, the conditions and the process of support provision have been studied. The result of the documents analysis is a comprehensive comparative overview of the above-mentioned areas of legislation on the cultivation of fast-growing trees in Slovakia and Czechia and the identification of differences, benefits and practical impacts on the cultivation of fast-growing trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to reveal variations in the wood structure and to define the location of the boundary between juvenile and mature wood Larix decidua Mill. from fast growing tree plantations. To reach these findings, the samples of wood from four short-rotation plantations in Central Europe (Poland) were selected and compared. The procedure used to determine the demarcation point between juvenile and mature wood resulted in strong correlations between the width of growth rings and the initial cambial age. It was found that the structure of wood from fast-growing trees differs from commercially available timber. The wood derived from plantations revealed wider annual rings than wood from natural forests. The analysis of the variability of wood structure resulted in defining the location of the boundary between juvenile and mature wood. Based on the analysis of structure of annual rings, the boundary of juvenile wood in fast-growing larch is placed between the 12th and 15th annual ring. The investigated material contained high proportions of juvenile wood, which makes up more than 70% of trunk volume. On the microscopic level, no visible changes, indicating the presence of a mature wood zone, were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decomposition scheme was applied to ALOS/PALSAR data obtained from a fast-growing tree plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia to extract tree stem information and then estimate the forest stand volume. The scattering power decomposition of the polarimetric SAR data was performed both with and without a rotation matrix and compared to the following field-measured forest biometric parameters: tree diameter, tree height and stand volume. The analytical results involving the rotation matrix correlated better than those without the rotation matrix even for natural scattering surfaces within the forests. Our primary finding was that all of the decomposition powers from the rotated matrix correlated significantly to the forest biometric parameters when divided by the total power. The surface scattering ratio of the total power markedly decreased with the forest growth, whereas the canopy and double-bounce scattering ratios increased. The observations of the decomposition powers were consistent with the tree growth characteristics. Consequently, we found a significant logarithmic relationship between the decomposition powers and the forest biometric parameters that can potentially be used to estimate the forest stand volume.

This paper presents the results of experimental measurements aimed at observing the effect of technological parameters (cutting speed vc and feed speed vf ), type of wood (juvenile wood and mature wood) andwood species (aspen Populus tremula, L. and hybrid poplar Populus x Euramericana „Serotina“) on cutting power during plane milling of poplar wood. The results showed the reduction of cutting power with the decrease of cutting speed and feed speed. Lower cutting power was also measured in milling hybrid poplar than in milling aspen. The test also confirmed the effect of different anatomical and chemical structure of juvenile wood in relation to mature wood on different physical and mechanical properties of such wood and hence also on the cutting power in processing juvenile wood.

This study aimed to identify fast-growing tree species suitable for pulpwood obtained from a secondary forest in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Chemical and pulp properties were determined for terap (Artocarpus elasticusReinw. ex Blume), medang (Neolitsea latifolia(Blume) S. Moore), and balik angin (Alphitonia excelsa(Fenzel) Reissek ex Benth). The mean values of ethanol-toluene extract and total lignin contents in terap, medang, and balik angin were 1.5 and 29.7, 2.1 and 25.0, and 3.0 and 24.6%, respectively. A significant negative correlation (r = −0.573) was obtained between lignin content and pulp yield, suggesting that low lignin content in these woods leads to high kraft pulp yields. On the basis of these results, it can be considered that medang and balik angin woods are promising raw materials for bleached pulp, whereas terap wood is suitable for unbleached pulp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. Series: Economy, Agrarian Management, Business is the property of National University of Life & Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Applications of remote sensing by microwaves have become widely adopted in forest management, but microwave backscattering mechanisms in plantations remain poorly understood. This study attempts to understand backscattering characteristics under different forest structural conditions in plantation forests of fast-growing acacia trees in Sumatra, Indonesia. A general four-component scattering power decomposition method was applied to ALOS PALSAR data collected from 2007 to 2010 to see the variations of acacia plantation. The yearly variation in decomposition powers was compared to forest inventory data with visual assessments of stand conditions. The results were highly consistent with the field-measured data. Based on the variation patterns of decomposition powers, we can identify the presence of understory and distinguish between damaged and well-grown stands. The PALSAR data analysis can also reveal partial damages within a forest compartment, even minor damage in younger forests. This in-depth study indicates that changes in forest stand composition and the growth and degradation of plantation forests can be monitored by transitions in the polarimetric parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Ecoscience (Ecoscience) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents the results of research on the sources and potential of plantations of fast-growing trees in Poland, as well as the advantages and difficulties connected with them. Additionally, the paper describes the suitability of wood biomass from plantations of fast-growing trees for production and energy purposes. Moreover, the article oulines difficulties in the interpretation of such terms as "fast-growing trees", "plantation crops", and "plantation" in the context of place and activities connected with the procurement of biomass from outside forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Tillage of former short rotation coppice leads to a fast and strong redistribution of soil organic carbon in the topsoil. [•] Former short rotation coppice under tilled annual crops has significantly decreased soil aggregate stability. [•] The aggregate stability is more sensible to tillage than the pool size of SOC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A decomposition scheme was applied to ALOS/PALSAR data obtained from a fast-growing tree plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia to extract tree stem information and then estimate the forest stand volume. The scattering power decomposition of the polarimetric SAR data was performed both with and without a rotation matrix and compared to the following field-measured forest biometric parameters: tree diameter, tree height and stand volume. The analytical results involving the rotation matrix correlated better than those without the rotation matrix even for natural scattering surfaces within the forests. Our primary finding was that all of the decomposition powers from the rotated matrix correlated significantly to the forest biometric parameters when divided by the total power. The surface scattering ratio of the total power markedly decreased with the forest growth, whereas the canopy and double-bounce scattering ratios increased. The observations of the decomposition powers were consistent with the tree growth characteristics. Consequently, we found a significant logarithmic relationship between the decomposition powers and the forest biometric parameters that can potentially be used to estimate the forest stand volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper deals with modelling the development of plantations for intentional biomass production. The model of plots for the areas of interest consider the following biomass sources: intentionally produced biomass from SRC of fast-growing trees and non-woody energy crops (sorrel, reed grass and triticale). Statistical data for the entire area of interest (NUTS1 size) and data for a part of this area (NUTS3 size—18% of total area of interest) were used to determine data on the area of arable land and permanent grasslands in the initial year. This paper presents a model of the development of production plots for the period 2008–2030. Yields are calculated of selected energy crops with regard to their growing cycle using so-called triangular method. The core of the algorithm for calculation of growing area of energy crop is an optimalization of processes regarding economic and technical demands for long-term and sustainable production of biomass. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Forestry Chronicle is the property of Canadian Institute of Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Wood Industry / Drvna Industrija is the property of Drvna Industrija and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study mechanical-biological pre-treated waste material (MBP) was tested for suitability to serve as an alternative surface layer in combination with fast-growing and water-consumptive trees for final covers at landfill sites. The aim was to quantify evapotranspiration and seepage losses by numerical model simulations for two sites in Germany. In addition, the leaf area index (LAI) of six tree species over the growing season as the driving parameter for transpiration calculations was determined experimentally. The maximum LAI varied between 3.8 and 6.1 m² m-2 for poplar and willow clones, respectively. The evapotranspiration calculations revealed that the use of MBP waste material for re-cultivation enhanced evapotranspiration by 40 mm year-1 (10%) over an 11 year calculation period compared to a standard mineral soil. Between 82% (for LAImax = 3.8) and 87% (for LAImax = 6.1) of the average annual precipitation (506 mm) could be retained from the surface layer assuming eastern German climate conditions, compared with a retention efficiency between 79 and 82% for a mineral soil. Although a MBP layer in conjunction with water-consumptive trees can reduce vertical water losses as compared to mineral substrates, the effect is not sufficient to meet legal regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantations have many advantages when compared to natural or semi-natural forests, such as shortening production cycles, the production of wood with specific characteristics, and near-market production concentrations. The intensive development of this form of industrial wood production is practiced all over the world. The wood industry in Poland struggles in recent years, with a large shortage of wood. The deficit of wood has been accumulated for several years and is steadily increasing. One of the possibilities to change this trend can be development of fast-growing trees plantations. The main aim of this study was to determine the potential of land in Poland, which could be used for the cultivation of fast-growing trees plantations. The analyses took into account the area and marginal agricultural land. The potential plantation land areas were determined for poplar cultivar "Hybrid 275" and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.). The results show a possibility to generate a considerable area that can be developed into plantations of fast-growing trees in Poland. According to the analyses carried out for the purpose of this study, with only 5% use of the sown area and 5% use of forest lands, as well as the boscage (wooded land and bushy land), it is possible to obtain approximately 0.6 MM ha of land for fast-growing tree plantations. In the case of planting 50% of these lands with larch and 50% with poplar, and if a 50% capacity of the plantation is assumed, it will be possible to obtain nearly 6 MM m3 of wood per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]