Strip Planting Research Articles

Litter Production of Logged-over Forest using Indonesia Selective Cutting System and Strip Planting (TPTJ) at PT. Sari Bumi Kusuma

Enrichment is a planting activity in logged-over areas with less natural regeneration of commercial species. Enrichment planting on Indonesian Silvicultural System of Selective Cutting and Strip Planting (TPTJ) aims to increase the productivity of logged-over areas (LOA) using Strip Plantation System. Strip Planting System is an intensive management system attempted by opening logged-over area for strip planting and planting purposed species. Plantation in Strip Plantation System needs much nutrition for its growth. Nutrition returning through litter on TPTJsystem was essentially notified. This research aims to identify litter production in strip planting and on-strip planting at logged-over areas, within one year, five years, ten years after logging, andprimary forest at PT. Sari BumiKusuma. This research was conducted from September 2010 to February 2011. The litter trap was used to calculate litter accumulation.Litter production at LOA after one year of planting is 2.27 ton.ha-1.6 months-1in strip planting and 3.68 ton.ha-1.6 months-1in non-strip planting; litter production at LOA after five years is 4.97 ton.ha-1.6 months-1in strip planting and 4.98 ton.ha-1.6 months-1in non-strip planting; while litter production at LOA after ten years is 4.03 ton.ha-1.6 months-1in strip planting and 4.67 ton.ha-1.6 months-1in non-strip planting. Using Selective Cutting and Strip Planting System (TPTJ), it is found that litter production in strip planting was not significantly different from that in non-strip planting, and that the litter production is recovered after 5 years.

Growth Habit of Rhizoma Peanut Affects Establishment and Spread when Strip Planted in Bahiagrass Pastures

ABSTRACTPlanting rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrata Benth.) in strips in bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) pastures may be an economical approach to increase sward nutritive value, decrease dependence on N fertilizer, and promote sustainable mixed‐species pastures. Released cultivars and germplasms of RP range in growth habit from decumbent to upright, differences that may affect their spread and response to defoliation in grass pastures. The objectives were to quantify initial establishment characteristics and subsequent spread of RP entries following strip planting. Treatments were the factorial combinations of two defoliation practices after planting (haying or grazing every 28 d) and four RP entries (Arblick, Ecoturf, Florigraze, and UF Peace). By the year after planting, decumbent types Arblick (51%) and Ecoturf (48%) had greater RP ground cover than upright‐growing UF Peace (34%), but they were not different in cover than the intermediate type Florigraze (40%). Haying resulted in greater cover than grazing (51 vs. 31%). Spread of RP into adjacent bahiagrass was reduced by grazing compared with haying during the year of planting (0 and 0.24 m, respectively) and year after planting (0.34 and 0.67 m, respectively). Results suggest that decumbent Ecoturf and Arblick and intermediate growth habit Florigraze can be established successfully in strips in bahiagrass pasture, and establishment is favored when swards are used for hay rather than grazing during the first 2 yr.

(NH4)2SO4 recovery from liquid side streams.

Two methods of recovering nitrogen from liquid side streams are presented in this paper. The first method was demonstrated at an ammonia stripping plant treating 5-7 m(3)/h sludge water at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Kloten-Opfikon (CH). In addition to the usual stripping and scrubbing columns, a third column had been added in order strip CO₂, thus reducing the NaOH-demand of the subsequent ammonia stripping. At first, just the stripping plant was put into operation and optimized without any pre-treatment of the supernatant. Next, the CO₂-stripper column was activated and optimized by gas measurements to minimize free ammonia losses, heat losses, and energy consumption. Key operational aspects of the plant were evaluated. Finally, up to 1.4 m(3)/h source-separated urine was successfully fed into the stripping facility. The second ammonia removal method using hydrophobic hollow fiber membranes was tested in two small pilot systems by different manufacturers in 2012 and 2013 at WWTP Neugut. In this technology, free ammonia gas in the sludge liquid diffuses at pH >9.3 from the sludge liquid through the air-filled pores of the microporous hydrophobic membrane into concentrated sulfuric acid flowing through the hollow fibers, forming ammonium sulfate. The small pore size and the hydrophobic nature of the membrane prevent the liquid phase from entering into the pores due to the surface tension effect. Practical experience regarding operational parameters like wastewater flow rate, pH, temperature, ammonia concentration, fouling and precipitations processes, optimal flow schemes, and process configurations was collected.

Treatment of wastewater and restoration of aquatic systems through an eco-technology based constructed treatment wetlands – a successful experience in Central India

In the last couple of decades constructed wetlands (CWs) have drawn considerable interest in Central India. CWs offer an effective means of integrating wastewater treatment and resource enhancement, often at competitive cost in comparison to conventional wastewater treatments, with additional benefits of Green Urban Landscaping and wildlife habitat. This paper describes treatment performances and the design of some Sub Surface Flow CWs (SSFCW) and Artificial Floating Islands (AFIs) in Central India. Central Indian CWs show significant pollution reduction load for total suspended solids (TSS) (62-82%), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (40-75%), NH(4)-N (67-78%) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) (59-78%). Field scale SSFCWs installed so far in Central India are rectangular, earthen, single/multiple celled having similar depths of 0.60-0.90 m, hydraulic retention capacity 18-221 m(3) with effective size 41.8-1,050 m(2). The major components of CWs incorporate puddled bottom/side walls, sealed with impermeable low-density polyethylene, a bed of locally available river gravel planted with Phragmites karka, and an inlet distribution and outlet collection system. A new variant on CWs are AFIs working under hydroponics. The field scale experimental AFIs installed in-situ in a slowly flowing local river were composed of hollow bamboo, a bed of coconut coir, floating arrangements and Phragmites karka as nutrient stripping plant species. The AFIs polish the aquatic system by reducing 46.6% of TSS, 45-55% of NH(4)-N, 33-45% of NO(3)-N, 45-50% of TKN and 40-50% of BOD. The study established that there is a need for further research and sufficient data to assist the development of CWs by instilling confidence in policymakers, planners and in the public.

Diversifying Agricultural Catchments by Incorporating Tallgrass Prairie Buffer Strips

Crop production and prevailing farming practices have greatly reduced biodiversity and nearly eliminated native prairie in the central USA. Restoring small areas of prairie on cropland may increase plant biodiversity and native species abundance while benefiting the cropland. In Iowa, we incorporated buffer strips composed of prairie vegetation within catchments (0.5 ha to 3.2 ha land areas in which precipitation drained to a collection point at the slope bottom) used for corn ( Zea mays ) and soybean ( Glycine max ) production. We planted prairie buffer strips in three designs, varying the proportion of the catchment converted to buffer and/or the continuity of the buffer. Within the catchments, we determined the identity and percent cover of buffer strip plant species during 2008–2011 and of weed species in cropped areas during 2009–2011. We found 380% more species in 6 m2 of buffer strip than in 6 m2 of crop, indicating that the presence of buffer strips greatly increased catchment diversity. Plant community composition did not differ among the three buffer designs. Despite being surrounded by cropland, the buffer vegetation was dominated by native perennial species—the targeted vegetation type for both ecohydrological functions (e.g., erosion control) and native species conservation—within four years of establishment. Furthermore, weed species richness and prevalence did not differ between cropped areas of catchments with buffer strips and cropped areas of catchments without buffer strips. These results indicate that converting 10–20% of cropland to prairie buffer strips successfully reintroduced perennial species characteristic of native prairie without increasing weeds in adjacent crops.

Effect of Number and Interspace of Planting Rows on Population and Individual Quality of Strip-Drilling Wheat

Winter wheat is widely planted in the hilly regions in southwest china, mainly in strip-relay-intercropping system. Wheat land is traditionally prepared in strips containing five equidistant rows. The objective of this study was to optimize the number and interspace of planting rows for land preparation using machines in the hilly regions in Sichuan Province, China. A two-year field experiment was carried out, using two plant-type cultivars, Chuannong 27 of the compact-short type and Mianmai 367 of the intermediate type. Under fixed strip width (2 m) and planting density (150×104 ha–1), six planting patterns were compared, which were traditional pattern (CK), three-row with 30 cm+30 cm intervals (F3-1), three-row with 35 cm+35 cm intervals (F3-2), three-row with 40 cm+40 cm intervals (F3-3), four-row with 20 cm+20 cm+20 cm intervals (F4-1), four-row with 20 cm+30 cm+20 cm intervals (F4-2), and four-row with 20 cm+40 cm+20 cm intervals (F4-3). The field aeration light transmission condition and quality of population and individual were surveyed at different growth stages. The results indicated that reduction of row number per strip and increase of row spacing resulted in higher light transmission rate at the top and basal parts of plant population at booting stage, and the circulation of air reinforced. With the improved aeration and light transmission condition, quality of population and individual and yield significantly increased, but those of edge row almost remained unchanged, thus the border advantage was cut down. Meanwhile, the related quality index of inner row showed that, spike setting rate and effective spike number increased, furthermore, the decline rate of leaf area greatly decreased from booting to milky stage, besides, the accumulation of dry weight increased, and then, grain per spike, spike weight and yield increased. Finally, higher yields were obtained in treatments F3-3 and F4-3 compared to CK. Therefore, treatments F3-3 or F4-3 had the optimum number and interspace of planting rows for mechanical sowing strip wheat in these regions. In addition, the yield of F3-2 and F4-2 was equivalent to that of CK, but most indexes of individual quality of inner rows were better than those of CK, so F3-2 and F4-2 could replace the traditional double-three-zero strip planting pattern, too.

An automated environmental and economic evaluation methodology for the optimization of a sour water stripping plant

Abstract In this work a real sour stripping plant of a petrochemical complex simulated in AspenHysys® is improved using an automated tool programmed in Matlab®. The new developed procedure provides the performance evaluation and the comparison between different alternatives of the plant through the calculation and aggregation of environmental and economic indicators. The results obtained give insights into the plant environmental behavior, being very useful to find the suitable modifications in operation and topology of the plant. Moreover, the use of this tool allows the implementation of optimization algorithms and heat integration strategies, with the aim of minimizing resources consumption, pollutants releases, energy requirements and total costs. Specifically, the procedure helps to significantly improve the performance of the studied process: the operating costs are reduced near 8%, while the amount of released CO2-eq is 7% lower, and the process consumes 66% less water.

Yield and water consumption characteristics of wheat/maize intercropping with reduced tillage in an Oasis region

Higher irrigation quota for conventional farming causes substantial conflicts between water supply and demand in agriculture, and wind erosion near soil surface is one of the major causes of farmland degradation and desertification in arid areas. This research investigated the effect of the amounts of irrigation in combination with tillage practices on soil evaporation (E), water consumption (ET) characteristics, and grain yield performance and water use efficiency (WUE) for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) in strip planting in an Oasis region. The field experiment, conducted at Wuwei station during 2008–2010, had two tillage systems (reduced tillage with wheat stubble retention vs. conventional tillage without stubble retention), and three (low, medium, and high) levels of irrigation, in a randomized complete block design. Averaged across three years, soil evaporation with medium and high levels of irrigation was 6.8% and 5.4% greater than that with low level of irrigation, respectively. Total water consumption of wheat/maize crops under the medium and high irrigation levels was 8.5% and 18.5% greater, respectively, than that under low irrigation. However, grain yields were similar under the medium and high levels of irrigation, so was WUE. The effect of tillage on the wheat/maize intercropping was inconsistent across years or among treatments: soil moisture at harvest was 3.0–7.6% greater in the fields with reduced tillage compared with those with conventional tillage in 2008 and 2009, but no difference was found in 2010; the E/ET ratio of reduced tillage was 9% lower than the ratio under conventional tillage in 2008, 3% higher in 2010, but no difference between the two tillage systems in 2009. Across three years, there was a general trend that the WUE of the wheat/maize intercropping system with reduced tillage was greater (by 4–11%) than that with conventional tillage. We conclude that a medium level of irrigation is sufficient to achieve crop yields and WUE equivalent to those under high level of irrigation, provided that a reduced tillage practice is applied to the wheat/maize intercropping in Oasis areas.

Impact of soil moisture depletions, planting geometry and soil texture on bio economic efficiency of autumn sugarcane under arid conditions

Abstract In arid areas of central Pakistan application of 2800 and 2200 mm irrigation water in 28 and 22 irrigations on sandy loam and silty soils, respectively to autumn sugarcane through flooding is a common practice. Whether this irrigation depth and frequency is sufficient to fulfill the requirements of autumn sugarcane is not established. This study was conducted to evaluate the optimum water requirements by applying direct method of soil water measurement through gravimetric procedure. A three years field study was conducted on autumn sugarcane cv. HSF 240 at research area of MLL (Main Line Lower) Land Reclamation Research Station Chak No. 37 TDA (Thal Development Authority) Bhakkar, Pakistan on sandy loam and Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan Pakistan on silty clay soil from 2003–04 to 2005–06. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement in four replications and net plot size was 24 m 2 . The four available soil moisture depletion levels under study were ASMDL 1 (20%), ASMDL 2 (40%), ASMDL 3 (60%) and ASMDL 4 (80%) and four planting patterns G 1 (60 cm), G 2 (75 cm) spaced single row planting patterns, G 3 (30/90 cm) and G 4 (30/120 cm) spaced paired row strip planting patterns were tested. The analysis of three years pooled data showed that maximum shoot dry weight, sugar yield, water use efficiency and benefit cost ratio were recorded in the treatment interaction of ASMDL 2 (40%) × G 3 (30/90 cm) followed by ASMDL 2 (40%) × G 2 (75 cm), ASMDL 2 (40%) × G 1 (60 cm), respectively, whereas minimum in the interaction of ASMDL 4 (80%) × G 4 (30/120 cm) at both soils. Maximum sugar recovery percentage (10.87 and 10.78%) was recorded in ASMDL 4 (80%) × G 4 (30/120 cm) planting pattern and minimum values of 8.44 and 7.28% on sandy loam and silty clay soils, respectively was recorded in ASMDL 1 (20%) × G 1 (60 cm) planting pattern. It was concluded that irrigation application on the basis of direct method of soil water measurement through gravimetric procedure saved 15.56 and 10.29% irrigation water by applying 38 and 23 irrigations keeping the depth of each irrigation 54 and 74 mm on sandy loam and silty clay soils, respectively as compared with traditional method of irrigating autumn sugar cane crop through flooding under arid conditions. Therefore maximum bio economic benefits could be obtained from autumn sugarcane crop by irrigating it at 40% ASMDL and sowing in 30/90 cm spaced paired row strips in arid conditions on sandy loam and silty clay soils.

Mechanisms of Formation and Removal of the Primary Oxide in a Tunnel Furnace by the Descaling on a Compact Plant for Flat Products

These works was made in a compact strip plant (CSP) and represent an effort to decrease the amount of coils of steel rejected by a cosmetic defect called primary oxide, the morphology of the scale and its characterization by optic and scanning electron microscope was presented. Different trials were made in order to find the mechanism and phenomena of how the primary oxide is formed. The different theories of how the scale is removed by a descaling system are described. The benefits obtained from this research are mentioned.

Development of Strip Flatness and Crown Control Model for Hot Strip Mills

The strip flatness and crown control model is the foundation of automatic strip shape control. Considering the metal transverse flows and the inter stand second deformation, the trip flatness and crown control model has been developed, which can be applied to CVC mills and PC mills as well as normal four-high mills. The strip flatness and crown control model has high precision, and has been successfully applied to the automatic strip shape control system reconstruction of Tangshan Ganglu 1 250 mm hot strip plant.

Evaluating Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Emergence and Root Damage in a Seed Mix Refuge

Resistance management is essential for maintaining the efficacy and long-term durability of transgenic corn engineered to control western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte). Theoretically, a refuge can be provided by growing susceptible (refuge) plants in either a separate section of the field adjacent to resistant (transgenic) plants, or as a seed mixture. We examined the effects of varying the structure of a 10 and 20% refuge between currently approved structured refuges (block or strip plantings), as well as deploying the refuge within a seed mix, on adult emergence timing and magnitude, root damage and yield. Our 2-yr field study used naturally occurring western corn rootworm populations and included seven treatments: 10 and 20% block refuge, 10 and 20% strip refuge, 10 and 20% seed mix refuge, and 100% refuge. Beetles emerging from refuge corn emerged more synchronously with those emerging from transgenic (Bacillus thuringiensis [Berliner] Bt-RW) corn in seed mix refuges when compared with block refuges. The proportion of beetles emerging from refuge plants was significantly greater in a block and strip refuge structure than in a seed mix refuge. More beetles emerged from Bt-RW corn plants when they were grown as part of a seed mix. We discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of a seed mix refuge structure in light of these findings.

Assessing rainforest restoration: the value of buffer strips for the recovery of rainforest remnants in Australia?s Wet Tropics

Throughout the tropics, forest remnants are under increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation and edge effects. To improve the conservation value of forest remnants, restoration plantings are used to accelerate and redirect ecological succession. Unfortunately, many restoration projects undergo little to no evaluation in achieving project goals. Here we evaluate the success of one common restoration technique, ?buffer strip planting,? at the Malanda Scrub in North Queensland, Australia. Buffer strips are used to reduce the impacts associated with edge effects and improve overall forest quality. To evaluate the success of the Malanda project, we compared the microclimate, understorey community structure and functional trait-state diversity (functional diversity) for a range of plant functional traits along the original forest edge, a reference forest edge, and the interior forest of the Malanda reserve. We found the buffer strip restored the original forest edge to interior forest conditions for the majority of measured features. Edge effects were not found more than 5 m from any measured edge, and edge effects penetrated to even shorter distances along the buffer strip edge. The buffer strip appeared to have a similar microclimate (here represented by soil temperature) and physical structure; however, it did not (after 14 years) closely resemble the interior forest floristically nor did it have the same functional diversity for measured traits. Results suggest that the buffer strip was successful in reducing edge effects but not in restoring the forest to original conditions within 14 years.

Effect of Initial Crown on Shape of Hot Rolled Strip

Based on the influence coefficient method, the effect of entry strip crown on the shape of hot rolled strip was analyzed using the software of roll elastic deformation simulation. According to the practical condition of a domestic hot rolled strip plant, the unit strip crown change from the first stand to the last stand was calculated when the entry crown of hot strip varies. The calculated result shows that the entry strip crown does not significantly affect the target strip crown at the exit of the last finishing stand in respect to a fixed strip shape control reference (such as bending force). The calculation was analyzed, and the research is helpful in modeling strip shape setup and shape control.

Enhancing Abnormal Events Management by the Use of Quantitative Process Hazards Analysis Results

Thorough process abnormal events management (AEM) requires accurate fault diagnosis and also a complete supporting system for making correct decisions. In this work, an effective and dynamic integration of AEM and process hazards analysis (PHA) is carried out. In the integrated system, the HAZOP analysis is extended for its use as a supporting tool when facing online abnormal situations. Thus, the extended HAZOP analysis includes quantitative information, in the form of key variables thresholds, and incorporates a set of corrective actions (CAs) to mitigate the harmful considered consequences. The dynamic integration is achieved by generating a protocol where CAs are ranked by the seriousness and urgency of the consequences that they mitigate. The supporting system is developed in a Matlab and Aspen Dynamics integrated framework. An industrial sour water stripping plant is used as case study.

Online Arithmetic by Fast Finite Element in Strip Rolling

Finite element method (FEM) plays a very important role in the simulation and prediction of the parameters of pressure, deformation, temperature and microstructure evolution during rolling process. But online calculation is impossible because of the long time consumed in the FEM calculation of rolling parameters. Fast finite element (FFE) method has advantage of calculation with high precision and fast speed. On the basis of rigid plastic finite element method (RPFEM), the FFE method in strip rolling is developed. Effects of element numbers on calculation time and precision are analyzed. Online arithmetic methods of accelerating convergence and reducing search time are researched, including the combined damped Newton and Brunt method to reduce the one dimensional searchtime; the better initial value can be obtained by adopting improved mid-point integral Newton method; improved Newton method with trust region method and forced positive definite Hessian matrix method are used to reduce the convergence time. In addition, the influence of operating system, hardware and software of computer on the calculating time is also discussed. The FFE online calculation module developed is well used in a hot strip plant.

Farmland bird responses to intersecting replanted areas

Despite increasing revegetation of cleared landscapes around the world, there is limited research on the implications of different types of plantings for birdlife. We examined the “intersection effect”, whereby species richness is higher at the intersection of “corridors” or vegetation strips for birds inhabiting replanted areas. We also examined individual species responses. Replicated sites at the intersections of plantings were compared with “internal controls” (located in the same plantings ∼100 m from intersections), “external controls”(sites in isolated linear plantings), and block plantings. We surveyed the 39 sites in our experimental design repeatedly – on different days by different observers and in different seasons. We found no significant difference in species richness between intersections and block plantings, but intersections had higher species richness than isolated linear strips and the internal controls. Similar results were found for bird assemblage scores derived by correspondence analysis. We found evidence of extra-variation at the farm-level for species richness and derived assemblage scores, suggesting a farm-scale response. This suggests the importance of other (often unmeasured) factors at the farm level (e.g. baiting for feral animals). Our results suggest that replanting programs aimed at maximizing bird species richness may benefit from consideration of planting geometry. In particular, linking strip plantings to create intersections and/or establishing block plantings appear to be superior to isolated strips for aggregate species richness.

Analysis of premature failure of work rolls in a cold strip plant

In this paper, premature failures of several work rolls on a cold strip mill were investigated. In order to study the work roll surface feature and failure mechanism, the chemical compositions, microstructures and the hardness of roll materials were examined. The stresses in the spalled area of the work roll have been calculated, and the stress states identified. The causes for the roll wear and damage have been identified in the study. The surface images of the work rolls have been studied, and the characteristics of wear have also been characterised for the damaged rolls. It has been found that the operating factors and metallurgical defects affected the roll service life in cold strip rolling.

The long-term effects of the management of a forest soil on its carbon content, microbial biomass and activity under a semi-arid climate

Terracing of soil is a reforestation practice well established in South-eastern Spain (semi-arid climate), because it increases plant growth by means of run-off reduction. This is a crucial factor because in this zone the climatic conditions (especially the scarce rainfall) impede plant development. In this work, the influence in the long-term (13 years) of two types of physical management (terracing and strip planting) in the reforestation of a mountainside with Pinus halepensis Millar, together with the addition of an organic amendment (produced from municipal refuse), was evaluated by means of different biochemical and microbiological parameters, including those related to the size and general activity of microbial populations, such as microbial biomass C (MBC), basal respiration, ATP, dehydrogenase activity and hydrolase activities. Also, the study of labile C fractions (water-soluble C, WSC) provided information regarding the metabolic potential of the soil microorganisms. Three-way ANOVA showed that organic amendment significantly increased general microbial activity and carbon fractions. Strips produced, in the long-term, only a slightly positive effect on the microbial activity. The results indicate that terracing, if not accompanied by the addition of organic matter, impacts negatively on the soil microbiological characteristics, as reflected in the lower general microbial activity (ATP, basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity) and the lower specific microbial activity (β-glucosidase, protease and phosphatase activities) detected in the non-amended terraces in comparison with a natural area with no intervention. However, in the amended plots, it was the terraces which had higher BAA-protease and β-glucosidase activities than the strips. Microbial biomass C, basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity showed higher values in amendment treatments than in unamended treatments. These results allow us to conclude that terracing in semi-arid areas where water is scarce is a good reforestation practice but it should be accompanied by organic amendment because otherwise these techniques can have a negative effect on soil microbiological and biochemical properties.

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