Casuarina Research Articles

Soil respiration and controls in warmer winter: A snow manipulation study in postfire and undisturbed black pine forests.

Climate change impacts drive warmer winters, reduced snowfall, and forest fires. In 2020, a wildfire scorched about 1508 hectares of black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) forests in Türkiye. Whether the combined effects of lack of snow and forest fires significantly alter winter soil respiration (Rs) and soil temperature remains poorly understood. A field experiment was conducted in the postfire and undisturbed black pine forests during the winter to quantify Rs rates as affected by lack of snow and forest fire. We applied four treatments: snow-exclusion postfire (SEPF), snow postfire (SPF), snow-exclusion-undisturbed forest (SEUF), and snow undisturbed forest (SUF). The SEPF exhibited the significantly lowest mean Rs rates (0.71 μmol m-2 s-1) compared to the SPF (1.02 μmol m-2 s-1), SEUF (1.44 μmol m-2 s-1), and SUF (1.48 μmol m-2 s-1). The Rs also showed significant variations with time (p < .0001). However, treatments and time revealed no statistically significant interaction effects (p = .6801). Total winter Rs (January-March) ranged from 4.47 to 4.59 Mt CO2 ha-1 in the undisturbed forest and 2.20 to 3.16 Mt CO2 ha-2 in the postfire site. The Rs showed a significantly positive relationship (p < .0001) with the soil (0.59) and air (0.46) temperatures and a significantly negative relationship (p = .0017) with the soil moisture (-0.20) at the 5 cm depth. In contrast, the Rs indicated a negative but not statistically significant relationship (p = .0932) with the soil moisture (-0.16) at the 10 cm soil depth. The combined effects of lack of snow and forest fire significantly decreased Rs, thus conserving the soil's organic carbon stocks and reducing the CO2 contribution to the atmosphere. In contrast, a warmer winter significantly increased Rs rates in the undisturbed forest, suggesting an acceleration of soil organic carbon losses and providing positive feedback to climate change.

Use of brassinosteroids to overcome unfavourable climatic effects on seed germination in Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold

Use of brassinosteroids to overcome unfavourable climatic effects on seed germination in Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold

Carbon sequestration in a bamboo plantation: a case study in a Mediterranean area

In the Mediterranean region, despite bamboo being an alien species that can seriously alter plant and animal biocoenosis, the area occupied by bamboo plantations continues to increase, especially for the purpose to sequester carbon (C). However, the C dynamics in the soil–plant system when bamboo is grown outside its native area are poorly understood. Here we investigated the C mitigation potential of the fast-growing Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) introduced in Italy for climate-change mitigation. We analyzed aboveground (AGB) and belowground (as root/shoot ratio) biomass, litter and soil organic C (SOC) at 0–15- and 15–30-cm depths in a 4-year-old bamboo plantation in comparison with the former annual cropland on which the bamboo was established. To have an idea of the maximum C stored at an ecosystem level, a natural forest adjacent the two sites was also considered. In the plantation, C accumulation as AGB was stimulated, with 14.8 ± 3.1 Mg C ha–1 stored in 3 years; because thinning was done to remove culms from the first year, the mean sequestration rate was 4.9 Mg C ha–1 a–1. The sequestration rates were high but comparable to other fast-growing tree species in Italy (e.g., Pinus nigra). SOC was significantly higher in the bamboo plantation than in the cropland only at the 0–15 cm depth, but SOC stock did not differ. Possibly 4 years were not enough time for a clear increase in SOC, or the high nutrient uptake by bamboos might have depleted the soil nutrients, thus inhibiting the soil organic matter formation by bacteria. In comparison, the natural forest had significantly higher C levels in all the pools. For C dynamics at an ecosystem level, the bamboo plantation on the former annual cropland led to substantial C removal from the atmosphere (about 12 Mg C ha–1 a–1). However, despite the promising C sequestration rates by bamboo, its introduction should be carefully considered due to potential ecological problems caused by this species in overexploited environments such as the Mediterranean area.

Canopy Structural Changes in Black Pine Trees Affected by Pine Processionary Moth Using Drone-Derived Data

Pine species are a key social and economic component in Mediterranean ecosystems, where insect defoliations can have far-reaching consequences. This study aims to quantify the impact of pine processionary moth (PPM) on canopy structures, examining its evolution over time at the individual tree level using high-density drone LiDAR-derived point clouds. Focusing on 33 individuals of black pine (Pinus nigra)—a species highly susceptible to PPM defoliation in the Mediterranean environment—bitemporal LiDAR scans were conducted to capture the onset and end of the major PPM feeding period in winter. Canopy crown delineation performed manually was compared with LiDAR-based methods. Canopy metrics from point clouds were computed for trees exhibiting contrasting levels of defoliation. The structural differences between non-defoliated and defoliated trees were assessed by employing parametric statistical comparisons, including analysis of variance along with post hoc tests. Our analysis aimed to distinguish structural changes resulting from PPM defoliation during the winter feeding period. Outcomes revealed substantive alterations in canopy cover, with an average reduction of 22.92% in the leaf area index for defoliated trees, accompanied by a significant increase in the number of returns in lower tree crown branches. Evident variations in canopy density were observed throughout the feeding period, enabling the identification of two to three change classes using LiDAR-derived canopy density metrics. Manual and LiDAR-based crown delineations exhibited minimal differences in computed canopy LiDAR metrics, showcasing the potential of LiDAR delineations for broader applications. PPM infestations induced noteworthy modifications in canopy morphology, affecting key structural parameters. Drone LiDAR data emerged as a comprehensive tool for quantifying these transformations. This study underscores the significance of remote sensing approaches in monitoring insect disturbances and their impacts on forest ecosystems.

Climate, host ontogeny and pathogen structural specificity determine forest disease distribution at a regional scale

Predicting forest health at a regional level is challenging as forests are simultaneously attacked by multiple pathogens. Usually, the impacts of each pathogen are studied separately, however, interactions between them can affect disease dynamics. Pathogens can interact directly by competing for the same niche, but also facilitate or suppress each other via indirect effects through the host. We studied 66 native Mediterranean Pinus nigra stands located in the Pyrenees which were affected by two pathogens with different structural specificity: Dothistroma pini causing Dothistroma needle blight and Diplodia sapinea causing Diplodia shoot blight. We explored the ecology of both pathogens and whether the diseases they caused had an impact on trees and recruits. No signs of competition were found on adult trees. Diplodia shoot blight was restricted to the warmest and driest areas, while no climatic restrictions were identified for Dothistroma needle blight. Both diseases caused additive effects on crown defoliation and defoliated trees showed stagnated growth. In the regeneration layer, signs of disease suppression were found. In the warmest and driest areas, seedling mortality was mainly associated with Diplodia shoot blight, even though both pathogens were detected. Clear signs of D. pini spillover from canopy trees to recruits were found. However, seedling mortality caused by Dothistroma needle blight was only restricted to the coldest and wettest sites where D. sapinea could not survive. Large crowns in adult trees probably allow both pathogens to co‐exist and cause additive impacts. The smaller size of recruits and a higher susceptibility to environmental stress compared to adult trees probably facilitates the effects of Diplodia shoot blight which masked those caused by Dothistroma needle blight. By considering climatic constraints, host ontogeny and structural specificity, we could dissect the disease impacts of two different pathogens and successfully explain forest health at a regional scale.

Cryopreservation of Abies alba × A. numidica and Pinus nigra embryogenic tissues by stepwise dehydration method

BackgroundCryopreservation makes it possible to preserve plant biodiversity for thousands of years in ex situ storage. The stepwise dehydration method is a simple and versatile cryopreservation technique based on the vitrification phenomenon. However, the commonly used dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in this cryopreservation technique is considered harmful for plant material, thus alternative methods are needed to be applied.ResultsIn this study, the possibility of cryopreservation of embryogenic tissues (ETs) of Abies alba x A. numidica and Pinus nigra was investigated. Before freezing, ETs were partially dehydrated in the presence of increasing concentrations of sucrose (from 0.25 to 1.0 M) for 7 days, followed by desiccation of the tissues over silica gel for 2 and 2.5 h, respectively. After these pretreatments, the plant material was frozen in liquid nitrogen (LN; –196 °C). For both coniferous trees the ET survival rate was high and reached 84.4% for A. alba x A. numidica (28 days) and 86.7% for P. nigra (35 days) after recovery of the tissues from liquid nitrogen (LN). The regenerated tissue of A. alba x A. numidica was characterized by more intense growth after storage in LN compared to tissue that had not been cryopreserved (control). The tissue of this tree also undertook relatively rapid growth after thawing from LN. In turn, the ET growth of P. nigra was significantly lower after thawing compared to the other treatment.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated, that the stepwise dehydration method could be successfully applied to the cryostorage of ETs of both studied trees. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on ET cryopreservation based on this method for Abies and Pinus genus representatives, which may be the alternative way for efficient, long-term preservation of germplasm in LN.

Effects of urban tree pruning on ecosystem services performance

Pruning represents the main tree care activity in cities, where it is carried out to reduce wind-break risk, to ensure road visibility, to reduce infrastructure interactions and damages, and last but not least, for aesthetic reasons. However, pruning is also proven to increase tree susceptibility to disease and it can potentially affect their capacity to provide ecosystem services (ES). This study aims to assess the effect of three different life-long pruning scenarios on urban trees PM10 capture and CO2 stock performance. The total carbon balance of twelve tree species (Acer platanoides L., Cedrus spp., Celtis australis L., Cupressus arizonica Greene, Cupressus sempervirens L., Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold, Pinus pinea L. Platanus hybrida Brot., Populus nigra L. var. 'Italica', Quercus ilex L., and Tilia cordata Mill.) was evaluated, including the disposal of the pruning residues of the trees. In all management scenarios studied, pruning represented an opportunity to increase the crown Carbon stock up to 65 %, taking into account the full reestablishment of the crown. The results suggest considering more frequent and less intense ordinary pruning scenarios as a preferable tree management strategy to optimise the tree ES performance and minimise branch dieback occurrence. In addition, the analysis carried out on four different waste wood disposal methods showed that the open dump scenario was the lowest CO2 eq re-emission choice.

202 years of changes in Mediterranean fire regime in Pinus nigra forest, Corsica

Wildfires are critical socio-ecological features in the Mediterranean basin. In a context of global changes (climate, land use), we questioned whether the wildfire regime was altered in the mountains of Corsica, France. Using tree-ring analysis of fire-scarred trees, we tested for changes in frequency, seasonality, and area. We hypothesized that the fire regime changed during the middle-20th century due to human activities, as observed elsewhere in the Mediterranean. We sampled fire-scarred trees, geolocated for mapping fire areas, in a forest of black pine (Pinus nigra laricio). The oldest fire was in 1684 but the fire chronology with adequate sample depth for analysis covered 202 years [1820–1921]. Between 1820–2012, 15 fires were recorded, 8 of which scarred at least 25% of the sampled trees. The mean fire interval was 14 years, corresponding to a high fire frequency with 4 major fires per century. Most fires occurred between 1931–1970. On average, about 50% of trees were scarred by fires before 1931, but this percentage decreased thereafter. The exception was the 2000 fire that impacted 100% of living trees. Mapping showed spatially heterogenous fire areas. These results match other Mediterranean studies showing longer fire intervals since the late-20th century, and wildfires generally occurred during the period of late-earlywood or latewood formation, i.e., summer or early autumn, which is the season of contemporary fires. Although fires were recurrent for more than 200 years with no change in the fire season, the regime changed twice in frequency. These changes likely result from a combination of land use and warmer summer conditions. While pines survived most past fires of low intensity through the last large fire in the 1970’s, the severe fire of 2000, following ca 30 years of fire suppression, killed large patches of mature trees. Such chronology provides rational arguments for black pine ecosystem management, notably to consider seeking to recover the sustainable fire regime of the 19th century, for instance by using prescribed fires to manage surface fuel.

Responses of Enzymatic and Microbiological Soil Properties to the Site Index and Age Gradients in Spanish Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arn ssp. salzmannii) Mediterranean Forests

This research analyzes how enzymatic and microbiological soil properties relate to site index (SI) and forest maturity (stand age) in Pinus nigra (P. nigra) even-aged forests. The soil parameters selected for multivariate analysis were four enzymatic activities (β-glucosidase, urease, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase), two microbiological properties (microbial biomass C and basal respiration), and five physicochemical parameters (TOC, N, P, pH, and soil water content). We used LiDAR, the digital elevation model, and the terrain model to obtain a result for the dominant height in each plot. The soil parameters were analyzed in the function of five site index classes (8, 11, 14, 17, and 20) and six age classes (50, 70, 90, 110, 170, and 210 years). Our findings emphasize that the dehydrogenase enzyme exhibited variations in response to both the site index and stand age. The activity of dehydrogenase positively correlated with sites characterized by a higher nutrient demand, particularly on young and poor-quality sites (lower SI), indicating activation. Therefore, dehydrogenase could serve as an index to elucidate both site quality and stand development in P. nigra stands, making it a potential indicator of forest ecosystem development.

Zhodnocení růstu proveniencí borovice černé (Pinus nigra Arnold) ve středních Čechách ve věku 51 let

The paper contains the evaluation of 9 European black pine provenances on the research trial No. 41 – Roblín (Czech Republic) at the age of 51 years. The tested provenances originated from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Greece, France and Slovakia. The evaluation is based on an assessment of following factors: total height, dbh, stem form, health state, defoliation, diameter of main branches, stem damage, crown density, twisted growth, stem nature pruning, cross-section, and taper. Obtained data sets were statistically analysed. The best growth both in quantitative and qualitative traits was recognised for the provenance 9 – Les Barres, Oise (France), which was excellent in height growth, health status and stem shape, and also for the Serbian provenance 2 – Crni Vrh, Titovo Užice, which excelled not only in growth rate, stem shape and health status, but also in diameter of main branches. Less suitable provenance seem to be 3 – Prušačka Rjeka, Banja Luka from Bosnia and Herzegovina (worse growth, stem nature pruning, cross-section and taper) and Croatian 5 – Južna Kandija, Osijek (worse growth, stem shape, and health). The most important for explaining the differences between provenances were the diameter at the breast height, crown density and defoliation.

Висшата флора на рида Венеца (Столова планина) над град Белоградчик (Северозападна България) и съдържащите се в нея лечебни растения

As a result of a field research performed of the vascular flora of the Venetsa Hill (Stolova mountain), which flora falls within the Balkan Foothill floristic region, there were 80 vascular species of 72 genera and 33 families established. Out of these 80 species, 38 were determined to be medicinal plants. Two species have been determined to be with Critical endangered (CR) status: Eranthis bulgaricus Stef. and Galanthus elwesii Hook. f. and one species was determined to be with category Vulnerable (VU): Melica altissima L. There are 10 tertiary relicts: Acer campestre L., A. monspessulanum L., Betula pendula Roth, Carpinus orientalis Mill., Corylus avellana L., Fraxinus ornus L., Syringa vulgaris L., Eranthis bulgaricus Stef., Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe, Populus tremula L. One quaternary relict is Sternbergia colchiciflora Waldst. &amp; Kit.

Использование жидких комплексных микроудобрений для роста и развития робинии псевдоакации и сосны крымской в засушливых условиях

The article presents data on the results of testing complex micronutrients when sowing seeds of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe. at a production nursery. Stratification provides seeds with rapid germination under optimal conditions of oxygen access and maintaining a humidity level and temperature of 10°C. Fertilizers “Volski Biochem” are able to increase the energy of germination of seeds of the studied species, increase their growth rate and contain all the necessary nutrients for plants. The highest content of trace elements is found in the preparation “Microel”. Established that the best option for planting seeds are RCL‑81 forest cassettes, which naturally and correctly distribute the root system of seedlings, increase their ability to form active root tips, provide oxygen to plants and eliminate waterlogging with improper watering. The percentage of safety for seedlings in the first and second year was almost the same. Pine seeds require de-spraying on the VSG‑01 air gravity apparatus before processing and planting. The possibility of using tools for tillage and crops is provided by an ordinary method with the location of narrow sowing lines along the tapes. Proven that the use of complex micro fertilizers allows pine and robinia seedlings to have an optimal ratio of the aboveground part and the root system, accelerated growth and development, and an even stem. The maximum growth of robinia was 71–98 cm, pine trees 10–29 cm, which fully met the standards and requirements for the cultivation of planting material of woody species. Revealed that the differentiation of robinia and pine seedlings in height begins in the second half of June, in the variant of the experiment with sowing seeds in a box, the largest gains of seedlings were observed in the third decade of June, after which there was a noticeable decrease in growth. As a result, the best growth and development indicators were observed in Crimean pine in the 1st variant of the experiment, in robinia pseudoacia in the 1st and 2nd variants. The growth rates of two-year-old seedlings of the studied species are identical to those of annual seedlings

Uticaj vrste elementa veze i lepka na cvrstocu ugaonih spojeva kod prozora: Deo 1

In the article, the effect of the surface on the strength of the corner joint on the window was analyzed. The corner joint on the window is made in the variant with double and triple dowel and slot using PVaC adhesive. Samples were made from pine tree (Pinus Nigra). For research purposes, a special holder was made for the samples to enable testing according to the EN514:2018 standard method. The aim of the work is to determine the influence of the connection element on the strength of the corner joint of the window when using PVaC glue. The samples were divided into 2 groups of 30 samples each, depending on the number of dowels. The standard methods of statistical analysis were used. The test showed that the connection with triple dowel and slot has higher breaking strength values compared to double dowel and slot.

Functional food components and activities of Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris barks as food supplements

Özet&#x0D; Bu günlerde, zarar verme potansiyelinin düşük olması ve düşük maliyetle geliştirilebilmesi nedeniyle yeni bitki tıbbi kaynaklarına olan ihtiyaç arttmaktadır. Çam bitkisinin mükemmel doğal ve ekonomik katkıları vardır. Ayrıca çam ekstraktları çok sayıda biyoaktif kimyasal bileşiklere sahiptir. Bu çalışmada Pinus sylvestris kabuğu (PSB: Sarı Çam) ve Pinus nigra kabuğu (PNB: Kara Çam) ekstraktlarının kimyasal bileşimini ve biyoaktivitesini belirlemeyi ve ayrıca ticari bir ürünü karşılaştırmayı amaçladık. PSB ekstraktı kolon kromatografisi ile fraksiyonlara ayrıldı. PSB ekstraktının PSB-FR-2 fraksiyonu, 157.62±1.06 mg GAE g-1 ekstraktı gibi yüksek bir fenolik içeriğe sahipti. PNB ve PSB ekstraktlarının -amilaz ve -glukosidaza karşı inhibitör aktiviteleri, akarbozla karşılaştırıldığında akarbozun iki katı aktivite göstermiştir. Üstelik qPCR testi, PSB ekstraktının, 50 µg mL-1 gibi en düşük konsantrasyonda bile akciğer hücrelerinde ACE2 geninin ekspresyonunu azaltabildiğini gösterdi. MIC testi, ekstraktların potansiyel olarak antibakteriyel etkilere sahip olabileceğini gösterdi.&#x0D; Sonuçlarımız, PNB, PSB ekstraktları ve PBS fraksiyonlarının yüksek fenolik ve flavonoid metabolit içeriğinin yanı sıra çeşitli biyoaktiviteye sahip olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Dolayısıyla, ileriye yönelik çalışmalar için umut verici bir doğal tıbbi ürün modeli olabilir.

Sürdürülebilir cephe tasarımının bir bileşeni olarak lamine pencerelerin teknolojik özelliklerinin belirlenmesi

Wood is an environment-friendly, durable and sustainable material which gives spaces a warm and natural look. The construction industry, which uses many types of materials together in terms of its components, focuses on efficiency in building materials in order to offer aesthetic, economical and ergonomic solutions as a result of today's architectural approaches. In the construction sector, the use of wood has become widespread in facade design and window production especially with the increasing importance of environmental awareness and sustainability in the 21st century. In this study, black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana) has been used as the wood material. The test samples consist of three layers. Urea-formaldehyde glue was used for bonding the test samples. Following the physical and mechanical experiments conducted during the research process, it was determined that the technological characteristics of the window profile produced from three-layer laminated black pine wood are superior to the technological characteristics of the solid window profile representing its own species. In order to achieve sustainability goals, it can be recommended to use laminated wooden window profiles in buildings.

Multi-decadal trend analysis and forest disturbance assessment of European tree species: concerning signs of a subtle shift

Climate change poses a significant threat to the distribution and composition of forest tree species worldwide. European forest tree species’ range is expected to shift to cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, pests and diseases caused by climate change. Despite numerous regional studies, a continental scale assessment of current changes in species distributions in Europe is missing due to the difficult task of modeling a species realized distribution and to quantify the influence of forest disturbances on each species. In this study we conducted a trend analysis on the realized distribution of 6 main European forest tree species (Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L., Picea abies L. H. Karst., Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold, Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus robur L.) to capture and map the prevalent trends in probability of occurrence for the period 2000–2020. We also analyzed the impact of forest disturbances on each species’ range and identified the dominant disturbance drivers. Our results revealed an overall trend of stability in species’ distributions (85% of the pixels are considered stable by 2020 for all species) but we also identified some hot spots characterized by negative trends in probability of occurrence, mostly at the edges of each species’ latitudinal range. Additionally, we identified a steady increase in disturbance events in each species’ range by disturbance (affected range doubled by 2020, from 3.5% to 7% on average) and highlighted species-specific responses to forest disturbance drivers such as wind and fire. Overall, our study provides insights into distribution trends and disturbance patterns for the main European forest tree species. The identification of range shifts and the intensifying impacts of disturbances call for proactive conservation efforts and long-term planning to ensure the resilience and sustainability of European forests.

Determination of model maps for the potential distribution of Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold.) in natural forest areas in the Central Black Sea region

Özdemir ŞENTÜRK 1*, Serkan GÜLSOY 2, Mehmet Güvenç NEGİZ 3, Fatih KARAKAYA 2 ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2513-6070; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2011-8324; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6338-3307; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6534-6382 1 Gölhisar Vocational School, Departmant of Forestry, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Gölhisar, Burdur, Turkey 2 Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Engineering, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, Turkey 3 Sütçüler Prof. Dr. Hasan GÜRBÜZ Vocational School, Department of Forest Engineering, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Sütçüler, Isparta, Turkey *Corresponding author: e-mail: osenturk@mehmetakif.edu.tr Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine potential distribution modeling and mapping of Anatolian black pine in the Vezirköprü district. Presence / absence data of the species was collected from 586 sample areas. Environmental variables (elevation, slope, bedrock, radiation index etc.) were obtained from the digital maps. In addition, climatic variables were downloaded from WorldClim database. Generalized Additive Model and Classification and Regression Tree were used for potential distribution modeling of the species. The validation value of Generalized Additive Model was 0.84 while the cross-validation test value was found to be 0.82. Also, the ROC values of the tree model were found to be 0.804 for the training data set and 0.750 for the testing data set. According to the Classification and Regression Tree method, the locations above 650 m and without meta-sandstone are suitable for the potential distribution of the species. Under the condition that there is meta-sandstone, the areas where the temperature is between 7.6-11.0 °C and the slope degree is more than 23% coincide with the potential distribution of the species. Also, Generalized Additive Model showed that places where gabbro, ophiolitic melange, serpentine, and mixed material were seen as main bedrock type, sloping sites where average elevation was from 600 to 1150 m and temperature is between approximately 8.5-11.3 °C were the most suitable conditions for the potential distribution of the species in the district. In both models, it was determined that especially rock formations, climatic variable, and altitude are effective in the potential distribution of the species. On the other hand, although there are some differences in the variables in the models, the potential distribution maps formed by these variables overlapped quite. As a result, the information obtained in the study is important for the forestry practices such as afforestation, regeneration and the monitoring the species under future climate change conditions. Keywords: generalized additive model; classification and regression tree; species distribution model; Vezirköprü

Nitrogen mineralization in the oldest climax communities in the eastern Mediterranean region

In this study, we investigated how tree species affect N mineralization in connection to some soil properties and seconder metabolite levels of litter, in the soil of the oldest native forest communities. In the oldest pure communities of Pinus nigra (PN), Fagus orientalis (FO), and Abies bornmuelleriana (AB) in the mountain range of Mount Uludağ, Bursa, Turkey, annual net yield and N mineralization in the 0–5- and 5–20-cm soil layers were determined in a field incubation study over 1 year. Sampling locations were chosen from 1300 to 1600 m a.s.l., and moisture content (%), pH, water-holding capacity (%), organic C, total N, and C/N ratio, and annual net mineral N yield of the soil and hydrolyzed tannic acid and total phenolic compounds in litter were compared for these forest communities. F. orientalis had the highest annual net Nmin yield (43.9 ± 4.8 kg ha–1 a–1), P. nigra the lowest (30.5 ± 4.2 kg ha–1 a–1). Our findings show that in the oldest forest ecosystems, the seasonal soil moisture content and tree species play an essential role in N cycling and that hydrolyzed tannic acids and total phenolic compounds effectively control N turnover. Tannic acid and total phenolics in the litter were found to inhibit nitrification, but total phenolics were found to stimulate ammonification.

Evaluation of the dyeability of hemp fabric with Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. Pallassiana) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

The development of more sustainable textile dyeing techniques includes a lot of potential in utilizing bio-based plant-derived colorants. Hemp fabric has been dyed with an aqueous extract of pine cones at various dye concentrations to produce a brownish to darker color. Agricultural waste specimens, Anatolian black pine ( Pinus nigra subsp. Pallassiana), and Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) cones were used as natural dye sources on a sustainable basis. The dyed hemp fabrics were analyzed by different analytical and technical methods such as CIE L*a*b*, high-pressure liquid chromatography–diode-array detection, and scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The color characteristics of all the dyed fabrics were measured by a CIE L*a*b* spectrophotometer. The reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography–diode-array detection method with the diode-array detection method was utilized for the identification of the components of dyes present in the dyed fabrics. Scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer was used for imaging and elemental analysis of the surfaces of the dyed hemp fabrics. This work has created a novelty direct dyeing method with pine cones without using any mordants and to promote the use of agricultural waste. The fastness values of washing, rubbing, and light were assessed and contrasted. The fastness results were good in general. Washing fastness values were excellent and the same for all fabrics between 4 and 5. Rubbing fastness is also generally good and of the desired grade. The chemical compositions of hemp and pine cones, as well as the formation of dyestuff fiber, were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared analysis.

Reclamation of abandoned magnesite site using amendments and plantation

This study aimed to determine the suitable reclamation ways of post‐mining magnesite. It was hypothesized that adding amendments and planting would decrease pH, increasing the nutrient availability and enhancing the soil microbial activity. Treatments included 200 g gypsum, 2 kg goat manure, and 200 g sulfur per square meter. Cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold), and sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa L.) were planted. Before and after the treatments, samples were taken from each experimental unit and analyzed. Analysis of the data indicated that the pH had decreased by 0.6 and 0.5 units on the gypsum + sulfur‐ and gypsum + manure‐treated experimental units, respectively, compared to the other treated plots. In addition, using manure significantly increased the organic matter N, P, and K content, by 3‐fold, 2.5‐fold, 7.5‐fold, and 2.5‐fold, respectively, and enhanced microorganism activity. The sulfur + manure treatment increased microbial C and N approximately twofold. Because the manure, sulfur, and gypsum treatments improved the tailings conditions for plant growth, the use of these amendments for mine tailing reclamation was strongly recommended. Across all treatments, cedar and black pine demonstrated 83 and 77% survival rates for the first 3 years of afforestation, respectively. For the same period, the black locust survival rate was 35% lower than that of the other species. The gypsum + manure application increased seedling height growth by about 20% for all three species compared to the other treatments.