Use Of Tree Species Research Articles

The Potential of Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon F. Muell.) as an Urban Street Tree: An Assessment of Species Performance in the City of Greater Melbourne, Australia

"Background: In contrast to trees from northern hemisphere genera, there has been little research into the selection and vegetative propagation of Australian native tree species for use as street trees. Eucalyptus leucoxylon F. Muell. is one of a few eucalypts occurring in south-eastern Australia with bright coloured fl owers and is highly regarded as an ornamental tree that fl owers readily. It is propagated from seed, but progeny typically show seedling variability and diversity. Eucalyptus leucoxylon was identifi ed as the most widely planted eucalypt in the streets of the city of greater Melbourne, Australia. Methods: This research assessed 300 E. leucoxylon street trees growing across the city of greater Melbourne for their performance against arboricultural criteria relating to canopy structure and density, straightness of the trunk, health (assessed on canopy, trunk, and branch condition, production of exudates, and presence of fungal fruiting bodies), fl ower colour, and root systems. Results: The results showed that E. leucoxylon was a suitable street tree species with most specimens showing good habit, vigour, and health. Discussion: The trees had traits such as live crown ratio, height, fl ower colour, and capacity to cope with pruning that are considered appropriate for a street tree. Their dense canopies and high live crown ratios provide shade that can reduce the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Conclusion: This suggests the species has the potential to be a successful street tree not only in Australia, but in other parts of the world where it has been grown successfully in forestry plantations.

The experience of introduction of representatives of the genus <i>Liquidambar</i> L. in Abkhazia

The article presents the bioecological, ornamental, and silvicultural features of the growth and development of three species and one form of the genus Liquidambar under the conditions of Abkhazia. The promise of their use for practical purposes is confirmed. Among them, Liquidambar styraciflua L. is classified as the most valuable tree species for use in landscaping and forest cultures.

English

Fuel wood remains the main energy source for the majority of the people in Gechi District of South Western Ethiopia. As compared to the situation in the past, the forest cover is now generally very sparse in the densely populated areas where rapid rates of deforestation and forest degradation have occurred due to the heavy demand on forest products, mainly fuel wood. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective of assessing the impact of fuel wood consumption on the forest resources in Gechi district. The vegetation sampling was conducted in the Chara forest to determine the average volumes of the standing trees per hectare on systematically laid plots along transects. In each plot, data were collected on tree species, plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and volume of standing trees per hectare was determined and compared with the household fuel wood consumption. The study revealed that 6529.90 tons of fuel wood had been utilized in Chara, while the standing forest was 10593.75 tons on 125 ha of land implying that 1.76 ha of forest resources was consumed per annum for fuel wood by the community members. The most preferred and extracted tree species from the forest resources of the area for fuel wood were Syzygium guineense, Maesa lanceolate and Albizia gummifera. In order to address the forest resource degradation of the area due to fuel wood utilization as energy sources, the use of efficient energy saving technologies, planting fast growing tree species for use as fuel wood are recommended. Key words: Deforestation, energy, fuel wood, forest.

북한 산림복구 지원을 위한 용도별 조림수종 선정

북한 산림복구 지원을 위한 용도별 조림수종 선정

Potential tree species for use in urban areas in temperate and oceanic climates.

This study aims to assess the potential of trees for integration in urban development by evaluating the damage caused by trees in relation to various tree characteristics. Tree damage to permeable pavement systems and other urban structures such as impermeable pavements, kerbs, roads, retaining walls, footpaths, walls and buildings were assessed to identify the most suitable trees for the urban environment. One hundred square sites of 100 m × 100 m were randomly selected in Greater Manchester for this representative example case study to demonstrate the assessment methodology. Among tree species in this study, Acer platanoides L. (Norway maple) occurred most frequently (17%); others were Tilia spp. L. (Lime; 16%), Fraxinus excelsior L. (common ash; 12%), Acer pseudoplatanus L. (sycamore; 10%) and Prunus avium L. (wild cherry; 8%). The study concludes that 44% of the damage was to impermeable pavements and 22% to permeable pavements. Other damage to structures included kerbs (19%), retaining walls (5%), footpaths (4%), roads (3%) and walls (3%). Concerning the severity of damage, 66% were moderate, 21% light and 19% severe. Aesculus hippocastanum L. (horse chestnut) caused the greatest damage (59%) expressed in percentage as a ratio of the tree number related to damage over the corresponding tree number that was found close to structures.

Physical and chemical characterization of biochars produced from coppiced wood of thirteen tree species for use in horticultural substrates

Seven-year-old coppiced shoots from thirteen species of both native and non-native trees and shrubs were harvested, dried, and pyrolyzed to produce biochars for potential use in horticultural substrates. Several chemical and physical characteristics of the biochars were determined. There were slight differences among the parent coppiced shoots as to heats of combustion and biochar yields, with gray dogwood shoots having the highest values for both parameters. Surface areas, micropore surface areas, and bulk densities varied to a greater degree among the species. All biochars had very strongly basic pH values (>9.0), although electrical conductivity values varied greatly, appearing to correlate with levels of potassium found in the biochars. Ash content of the biochars was similar, and using the guidelines for O/C, H/C, and surface area, all biochar samples meet standards for utilization as soil amendments. Peak moisture sorption of the biochars was directly proportional to surface areas. From the results of this study, while there were differences in chemical and physical structures of the biochars examined, most of these tree species would be suitable for use in horticultural applications. Other factors such as, rate of growth of the coppiced shoots, level of fertility management, and resistance to herbivore browsing are important as well and can be used to determine the optimal species for a given geographic region.

Implications of multipurpose tree leaf application on wheat productivity in dry tropics

Leaves of multipurpose tree species (those providing more than one function or product of human use) can serve as sources of fertilizer for nutrient supply, especially nitrogen (N). In this study chopped leaves of tropical tree species (5 N-fixing species, 5 non-N-fixing species and combinations of 5 N-fixing with a non-N-fixing species) were incorporated in soil to evaluate its effects on wheat biological productivity (including grain yield, GYIELD) under dryland conditions. High quality leaves of N-fixing tree species (e.g. Dalbergia sissoo, Cassia fistula and Prosopis cineraria) had lower carbon/nitrogen (C/N), lignin/nitrogen (LIG/N), polyphenol/nitrogen (PPL/N) and lignin+polyphenol /nitrogen (LIG+PPL/N) ratios than low quality leaves of non-N-fixing species. Combination treatments had intermediate values of different parameters. Application of high quality leaves caused greater increases in wheat productivity and yield than other species. By the application of leaves of N-fixing trees, on average, wheat yield increased 160% relative to the control (no addition of leaves), and when combined with non-N-fixing Terminalia chebula leaves the yield increased 108%. Mean total net productivity (TNP) with N-fixing species treatments, exceeded mean TNP with non-N-fixing species and combination treatments by 50% and 28%, respectively. Multivariate regressions indicated that nitrogen (N) concentration in leaves (main nutrient), interacting with lignin (LIG) and polyphenol (PPL) concentrations, explained 79%–86% of variability in productivity parameters and yield. Strong correlation between LIG+PPL/N ratio of leaves with GYIELD of wheat crop suggests that the ratio can be used as a reliable index for mass screening of multipurpose tree species for use as soil amendments especially in dryland agriculture. Direct application of high quality N-fixing tree species leaves (especially D. sissoo, C fistula and P. cineraria), an uncommon practice in dry tropics in India, may serve as a short-term option for rapid enhancement of wheat productivity and soil fertility.

Use of native species to improve carbon sequestration and contribute towards solving the environmental problems of the timberlands in Biscay, northern Spain

The rapid transformation of natural forest areas into fast-growing exotic species plantations, where the main objective is timber and pulp production, has led to a neglect of other services forests provide in many parts of the world. One example of such a problem is the county of Biscay, where the management of these plantations has negative impacts on the environment, creating the necessity to evaluate alternative tree species for use in forestry. The actual crisis in the forest sector of the region could be an opportunity to change to native species plantations that could help restore ecosystem structure and function. However, forest managers of the region are using the current interest on carbon sequestration by forest to persist with the “pine and eucalyptus culture”, arguing that these species provide a big C sequestration service. Moreover, they are promoting the expansion of eucalyptus plantations to obtain biomass for the pulp and paper industry and for bioenergy. The aim of this paper is to answer the following questions: Is this argument used by the foresters well-founded? or, could the use of native species in plantations improve the C sequestration service in Biscay while avoiding the environmental problems the actual plantations cause?To answer these questions we created three alternative future scenarios: a) the Services scenario, where there is a substitution of fast-growing exotic plantations by native broadleaf species plantations; b) the Biomass scenario, where there is a bet on eucalyptus plantations; and c) the Business as usual scenario. The changes in the C stock in living biomass in these scenarios have been simulated by a hybrid approach utilising inventories and models, and the period considered was 150 years.Our results show that the substitution of existing exotic plantations by plantations of native species has the greatest potential for increasing C sequestration. Although short- and mid-term outcomes may differ, when the long-term (more than 50 years) is considered, the C stock in the living biomass in the Services scenario is the greatest, accumulating 38% more C than the Business as usual scenario and 70% more C than the Biomass scenario at the end of the study period. Thus, changing pine and eucalyptus by native species in plantations, while solving some of the environmental problems of the actual plantations, sequesters more C in the long-term. As C sequestration initiatives only make sense if there is a good chance of long-term persistence of the C stocks created, there is no C sequestration argument for the foresters to continue with the actual policy of the use of fast-growing exotic species.

Structural and Chemical Characterization of Hardwood from Tree Species with Applications as Bioenergy Feedstocks

Eucalypt species are a group of flowering trees widely used in pulp production for paper manufacture. For several decades, the wood pulp industry has focused research and development efforts on improving yields, growth rates and pulp quality through breeding and the genetic improvement of key tree species. Recently, this focus has shifted from the production of high quality pulps to the investigation of the use of eucalypts as feedstocks for biofuel production. Here the structure and chemical composition of the heartwood and sapwood of Eucalyptus dunnii, E. globulus, E. pillularis, E. urophylla, an E. urophylla-E. grandis cross, Corymbia citriodora ssp. variegata, and Acacia mangium were compared using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and biochemical composition analysis. Some trends relating to these compositions were also identified by Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy. These results will serve as a foundation for a more comprehensive database of wood properties that will help develop criteria for the selection of tree species for use as biorefinery feedstocks.

Tree species selection for buffer zone agroforestry: the case of Budongo Forest in Uganda

SUMMARY This paper highlights the importance of careful selection of tree species for use in buffer zone agroforestry, as a conservation strategy for threatened forest resources. A case study from the Budongo Forest buffer zone in Uganda is used to elaborate the process, where local communities applied a pair-wise ranking system to establish priority tree species and technologies for agroforestry. Maesopsis eminii, Vernonia amygdalina and Lasiodiscus mildbraedii were the top three species selected for integration into the buffer zone farms. Their selection refl ects the many good attributes experienced by farmers in the area, such as provision of timber, construction poles, and fi rewood. The most popular technologies were woodlots, boundary planting and shade trees (multistrata tree planting), in that order of priority. Areas for further research include an evaluation of the economic aspects of the species and technologies, on farm propagation and management protocols and markets for the tree products.

Early growth and photosynthetic responses to light in seedlings of three tropical species differing in successional strategies

Containerized seedlings of three commercially important tropical species were grown under four different light treatments [i.e., 100 (open site), 45, 22 and 10% sunlight] for 130 days. Light-saturated photosynthesis (A max) and light saturation estimates (LSE) reflected the species successional status with Terminalia superba Engl. and Diels, the pioneer species showing largest mean A max and LSE at 100% sunlight, whereas at 10% sunlight, it showed the lowest A max and LSE. At 22% sunlight, Cedrela odorata L., an intermediate successional species had greater A max and LSE than Mansonia altissima A. Chev., a non-pioneer light demander and T. superba. T. superba had the lowest relative growth rate (RGR) at 10% sunlight and greatest net assimilation rate (NAR) at 100% sunlight; although a higher RGR at this light level was not seen for this species. Strong and positive linear mean A max–mean NAR relationship of C. odorata and T. superba indicated that differences in leaf photosynthetic rates of the two species were reflected in their NAR, which increased with increasing light. At final harvest, superior biomass production was found at 45% sunlight for all the species. Seedling responses in specific leaf area, leaf area ratio, leaf mass ratio and root mass ratio were typically those found along a light gradient. At the 100% sunlight, intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE), F v/F m and final root system of the plants was generally superior in T. superba but at 10% sunlight, WUE was inferior in T. superba when compared to C. odorata and M. altissima, reflecting the respective species’ short-term acclimation to high or low light. Results of this study may have practical use in screening tropical tree species for use in plantation forestry.

Effects of Parking Lot Location on Size and Physiology of Four Southwestern U.S. Landscape Trees

This study evaluated effects of two parking lot landscape locations on size and physiology of four regionally common landscape tree species. Tree size measurements were made during August 2001 and 2002 and tree gas exchange and leaf chlorophyll concentrations were measured during April and August 2002. Trees were mostly smaller and leaf gas exchange fluxes were lower for Australian bottle tree (Brachychiton populenus Schott & Endl.), Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina Torr.), and Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.) located within narrow landscaped medians surrounded by asphalt compared with similarly aged trees in large landscaped areas along the parking lot perimeters. In contrast, parking lot location had no statistical effect on size of Argentine mesquite (Prosopis alba Griebach) except for diameter at breast height, which was significantly less for trees in the landscaped medians in 2002. Leaf chlorophyll concentrations of all trees located in landscaped medians were lower than those of trees within surrounding landscaped perimeter areas except for Australian bottle tree, which had higher significantly leaf chlorophyll concentration during April when located in landscaped medians. Based on these results, Argentine mesquite appears to be the best of these four tree species for use in commercial parking lot landscapes because its growth and physiological function were least affected by parking lot location.

Potential Tree Species for Use in the Restoration of Unsanitary Landfills

Given that they represent the most economical option for disposing of refuse, waste landfills are widespread in urban areas. However, landfills generate air and water pollution and require restoration for landscape development. A number of unsanitary waste landfills have caused severe environmental problems in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the colonization status of different tree species on waste landfills to assess their potential for restoring unsanitary landfills in South Korea. Plot surveys were conducted using 10 x 10-m quadrats at seven waste landfill sites: Bunsuri, Dugiri, Hasanundong, Gomaeri, Kyongseodong, Mojeonri, and Shindaedong. We determined the height, diameter at breast height (DBH), and number of tree species in the plots, and enumerated all saplings < or =1 m high. Because black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, was the dominant tree species in the waste landfills, we measured the distance from the presumed mother plant (i.e., the tallest black locust in a patch), height, and DBH of all individuals in black locust patches to determine patch structure. Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix koreensis, and Populus sieboldii formed canopy layers in the waste landfills. The basal area of black locust was 1.51 m(2)/ha, and this species had the highest number of saplings among all tree species. The diameter of the black locust patches ranged from 3.71 to 11.29 m. As the patch diameter increased, the number of regenerated saplings also tended to increase, albeit not significantly. Black locust invaded via bud banks and spread clonally in a concentric pattern across the landfills. This species grew well in the dry habitat of the landfills, and its growth rate was very high. Furthermore, black locust has the ability to fix nitrogen symbiotically; it is therefore considered a well-adapted species for waste landfills. Eleven woody species were selected for screening: Acer palmatum, Albizzia julibrissin, Buxus microphylla var. koreana, Ginkgo biloba, Hibiscus syriacus, Koelreuteria paniculata, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Liriodendron tulipifera, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus thunbergii, and Sophora japonica. As a result of a comparison of the total ratio (sum of shoot extension and diameter growth at the landfill relative to a reference site) and mortality, six species (Liriodendron tulipifera, Albizzia julibrissin, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Buxus microphylla var. koreana, Hibiscus syriacus, and Sophora japonica), which had a total ratio >1 and experienced low mortality, are recommended as potentially suitable species for waste landfill remediation. We suggest that mixed plantations of ubiquitous adaptable species and naturally occurring black locust will enhance the landscape through synergistic effects.

Variation in coppice-shoot growth among provenances of Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth. in the Peruvian Amazon Basin

The domestication of indigenous tree species for use in agroforestry systems is a high priority for rural development programs in the Amazon Basin of Peru. Such efforts require knowledge of the response of these species to silvicultural practices and intra-specific variation in the response. To provide some of this information, we investigated variation in coppice-shoot growth among seven provenances of Calycophyllum spruceanum, tested in three altitudinal zones in a watershed in the western Amazon of Peru. The three zones differ in soil fertility and rainfall. Stump diameter at 32 months was significantly greater in the zone with the most fertile soils and highest rainfall, but coppice-shoot growth was not affected directly by zones. Stump diameter was positively correlated with the height of the dominant coppice shoot after 6, 8 and 10 months of growth, probably because stump diameter reflected the size of the residual root system and thus the supply of carbohydrates, nutrients and water to the developing coppice shoots. Stump diameter may be a useful indicator of when to schedule a coppice cut for this species. There were significant differences in coppice-shoot height and number of new coppice shoots among some provenances. This suggests that there is genetic variability in the degree to which the presence or absence of a vigorous, dominant coppice shoot affects the formation of additional coppice shoots. However, there was no clinal relationship between the latitude or longitude of the provenances and coppice-shoot growth. The lack of clinal variation may be due to the relatively uniform environment of this equatorial region and the small area from which the provenances were sampled.

Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in Mesoamerica

As part of a collaborative project with partners in Costa Rica and Honduras, the Oxford Forestry Institute (OFI) is currently preparing a sourcebook of priority agroforestry tree species for use by farmers and extension workers in Mesoamerica. The species selected for review have been chosen through consultation with farmers and local users throughout the region. As such, the sourcebook will provide information on the ecology and socio-economic aspects of use and cultivation of up to 150 dry and humid zone species where utility has been defined by farmer preference, for their role in farm-planting, ecological restoration and natural regeneration across the range of reforestation options (e.g. living fences, shelter trees, small blocks etc.). Species in the genus Lysiloma were consistently rated highly in the surveys (CorderoSalvado 2000) since they grow well on poor soils, set seed annually and have a variety of uses. Lysiloma (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) is a genus of small to medium-sized unarmed trees adapted to monsoon and desert climates in the New World tropics and sub-tropics. Most members of the genus are frequent components of degraded and secondary tropical dry forest, though the genus is also represented in savannah scrubland and in moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forest. Chiefly a Mexican genus, its range extends from the extreme southern United States (Arizona and Florida), through Central America as far south as northern Costa Rica, and eastwards into the Caribbean (Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas). It occurs on coastal dunes and on shallow limestone soils, to midelevation well-drained rocky sites up to 2000 m altitude, with annual rainfall ranging from 1000 2000 mm. The species in Mesoamerica (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama and Mexico east of the Isthmus of

191 Use of the Minolta SPAD-502 to Determine Chlorophyll Concentration in Ficus benjamina L. and Populus deltoides Marsh Leaf Tissue

The Minolta SPAD meter has been used to evaluate chlorophyll concentration in plant material to provide an inexpensive method to collect rapid, nondestructive data. Correlations of SPAD data and chlorophyll concentrations in corn have been very accurate r2 = 0.95), and can be used to monitor plant nutrient status as a function of chlorophyll concentration. There has been evidence that the calibrated accuracy of the SPAD meter is diminished at low and high concentrations of chlorophyll. Our study attempted to build the same type of background information for two tree species for use in evaluating plant response in experimental media experiments. Ficus benjamina L. and Populus deltoides Marsh were grown in containers of varied media. Leaf tissue was measured with a Minolta SPAD-502, and the tissue was then removed and processed with N,N-dimenthylformamide for analysis in a spectrophotometer. The remainder of the leaf sample was analyzed in an ICAP for tissue nutrient levels. Data were analyzed to evaluate the usefulness of the SPAD meter for woody plant leaf tissue evaluation and to develop calibration curves for use in future studies. There was a positive correlation (r2 = 0.943 in Ficus) between SPAD data and combined concentrations of chlorophyll a and b. Accuracy of the SPAD data was diminished when chlorophyll concentrations were low (SPAD &lt;20, chorophyll &lt;450 μg·mL-1) and high (SPAD &gt;45, chorophyll &gt;1350 μg·mL-1)..