Earticle

To understand the health conditions and growth patterns of forest estate for environmental resilience and climate change mitigation, assessment of structure and species diversity is paramount. This study aimed at assessing the structure, alpha, and beta diversities of tree species in three ecological zones in Taraba, Nigeria for management purposes. In recent time, no research has been reported on the structure and beta diversity of the study areas. A systematic sampling design was used for data collection. Five sample plots of 50×50 m were laid in each of the six natural forest areas. The result showed a mean DBH (42.5 cm) and a tree height (15.0 m) from the forests. The forests have a structure of an inverse “J-shape,” which is typical of natural forests in the tropics. The southern Guinea savanna zone had the highest mean Shannon-Weiner diversity index (2.8). The least beta diversity index (0.02) was between Baissa and Jen Gininya forest areas. Baissa and Bakin Dutse Protected Forest Areas (PFAs) contained 76.5% of the tree species. There is a high chance of all tree species to be found in these 2 forest areas. Proximity to a location influences how similar two tree species are, according to the least beta diversity index (0.02) recorded. The Federal Government’s method of management for the forest, known as Gashaka Gumti National Park, may be responsible for the high beta diversity index in the Montane ecozone. Therefore, it should be strongly encouraged to practice strict oversight of natural areas, as their contributions to reducing climate change in Taraba State, Nigeria, cannot be overstated.

We investigated Soil respiration in Bluepine forest of western Bhutan, in relation to soil temperature, moisture content and soil pH and it was aimed at establishing variability in space and time. The Bluepine forest thrives in the typical shallow dry valleys in the inter-montane Bhutan Himalaya, which is formed by ascending wind from the valley bottom, which carries moisture from the river away to the mountain ridges. Stratified random sampling was applied and the study site was classified into top, mid, low slope and further randomized sample of n=20 from 30 m×30 m from each altitude. The overall soil respiration mean for the forest was found 2248.17 CO2 g yr-1 and it is ∼613.58 C g yr-1. The RS from three sites showed a marginal variation amongst sites, lower slope (2,309 m) was 4.64  mol m-2 s-1, mid slope (2,631 m) was 6.78  mol m-2 s-1 and top slope (3,027 m) was 6.33  mol m-2 s-1 and mean of 5.92  mol m-2 s-1, SE=0.25 for the forest. Temporal distribution and variations were observed more pronounced than in the space variation. Soil respiration was found highest during March and lowest in September. Soil temperature had almost inverse trend against soil respiration and dropped a low in February and peak in July. The moisture in the soil changed across months with precipitation and pH remained almost consistent across the period. The soil respiration and soil temperature had significant relationship R2=-0.61, p=0.027 and other variables were found insignificant. Similar relationship are reported for dry season in a tropical forest soil respiration. Soil temperature was found to have most pronounced effect on the soil respiration of the forest under study.

Cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) was intercropped with Ziziphus spina-christi as summer forage in two consecutive seasons of 2017 and 2018. The aims to find out suitable agroforestry practice for saline soils of Khartoum State. And to investigate effect of tree spacing on forage biomass yield under semi -irrigated systems. Completely randomized block design with 3 replicates was conducted for this trial. Thus Z.spina-christi that fixed at 4×4 m was intercropped with cowpea at 1 m and 1.5 m spacing from trees trunk. Tree growth parameters were measured in terms of tree height, tree collar diameter, tree crown diameter and fruit yield per tree. While crop were parameters were determined in terms of plant height, number of plant, forage biomass yield per ha and land equivalent ratio. Soil profile of 1×1 m and 1.5 m depth was excavated and its features were described beside its chemical and physical properties were analyzed for 0-10 cm, 0-30 cm, and 30-60 cm and 60-100 cm layers. The results revealed that soil pH, CaCO3, SAR, ESP, and EC ds/m were increased by increasing soil depths. Meanwhile tree growth in terms of tree height was significant in the first season 2017 when compared with tree collar diameter and tree crown diameter. Also significant differences were recorded for tree growth when compared with sole trees in the second season in 2018. Tree fruit showed marked variations between the two seasons, but it was higher under intercropping particularly at ZS2. Crop plant height was highly significant under sole cropping than intercropping in first season in 2017. In contrast forage biomass yield was significant under intercropping in ZS1 and ZS2 treatments. Land equivalent ratio was advantageous under this agroforestry system particularly under ZS2. Thus it recorded 5 and 9 for ZS2 in the two consecutive seasons respectively. Therefore, it is feasible to introduce this agroforestry system under such arid lands to provide summer forage yield of highly nutritive value and low cost for animals feed as well as to increase farmers’ income and to halt desertification and to sequester carbon.

Twenty-five Eucalyptus clones (14 E. camaldulensis - EC and 11 interspecific eucalypt hybrid clones - EH) grown in three contrasting sites were evaluated for the growth and few wood traits at 4 years of age. The stability, genotype-site interaction and suitability of these clones for pulp and solid wood industry sectors were studied. Growth of eucalypt clones was significantly higher at site 1 with higher rainfall, but wood density did not differ significantly from lower rainfall sites. Kraft pulp yield (KPY) decreased from sites 1 to 3 based on moisture availability, but not between two groups of clones. Volumetric shrinkage (VS) was significantly higher in EC clones at site 3 with lowest rainfall, but there was no specific trend at other two sites with maximum (site 1) and intermediate (site 2) rainfall. The mechanical traits modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were at par in sites 1 and 2, but significantly lower at the driest site 3. The growth rate had a significant positive correlation with KPY, MOR and MOE and a negative correlation with VS, but no significant impact on wood density in both groups of clones. Genotype×environment interaction (G×E) was evident in most traits due to the difference in response of clones to moisture availability. Since wood density was negatively correlated to KPY, it has to be kept at an optimum level for the profitability of pulp industry. There was no significant difference between EC and EH clones for most traits except VS at site 3. Stability of clones varied across sites in different traits, and hence clones may be selected for deployment at each site by screening for growth, followed by wood density, considering the relationship of growth and density with other traits required by pulp and solid wood industry sectors.

Street trees have been incorporated into urban forests to regulate the microclimate and provide shade as well as provide aesthetic and environmental functions and to evaluate their physiological characteristics. Zelkova serrata is a major tree species that has been planted on various South Korean streets. We determined the physiological characteristics of Z. serrata in street trees of Goyang and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. According to survey sites, net CO2 assimilation rates was 13.9-16.4 μmol CO2 m-2s-1, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) was 0.80-0.82, and proline contents was showed 3.4-3.7 mg g-1 FW. The studied trees were assumed to be physiologically stressed, but it was found that Z. serrata was planted as street trees were not significantly stressed when compared to chlorophyll fluorescence responses and proline contents. In the future, the continuous monitoring system is needed to evaluate the physiological characteristics of urban trees.

For unknown reasons, a few trees in a private chestnut orchard in Icheon si, Gyunggi-do suffered leaf chlorosis and growth decline. Based on symptoms, phytoplasma was a probable cause. Leaf samples were collected from two symptomatic and non-symptomatic trees in the orchard for phytoplasma detection. An amplicon of about 1.2 bp size was obtained from both symptomatic trees by PCR with the universal 16S rDNA primers. Sequences of these amplicons were found to have 99% nucleotide sequence identity to the corresponding genomic region of 16SrIII (X-disease group). More than 100 phytoplasma isolates, such as Candidatus phytoplasma pruni, Milkweed yellows phytoplasma, Goldenrod yellows phytoplasma, Tsuwabuki witches'-broom phytoplasma, Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii, etc. were involved in the list. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sequence obtained in this study closely clustered with Candidatus phytoplasma groups. While one of the amplicons shared 91% identity with the Candidatus phytoplasma castaneae, the other shared only 47%. It needs further analysis and investigation to determine the exact taxonomy. Meanwhile, based on the analysis of the sequences, chlorosis, and small leaves were associated with phytoplasma.

Properties of a lesser-used wood species were investigated to determine its potential for structural utilization. Trees of Delonix regia were felled and sampled at the base, middle and top and then sectioned to inner wood, middle wood, and outer wood for variation across the axial and radial directions. Hence, selected physical and mechanical properties as well as natural durability of D. regia along the radial and axial directions were examined. Obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 0.05. There was no significant difference in the Moisture content (MC) of the wood but specific gravity (SG) decreased from base to top ranging from 0.35-0.44. Water absorption, volumetric swelling, and volumetric shrinkage range from 46.18-51.86%, 2.57-4.02%, and 2.26-3.96% respectively along the axial plane. The weight loss for graveyard exposure and accelerated laboratory decay test ranged from 25.14-48.00% and 32.02-44.45% respectively. Modulus of Rupture and Modulus of Elasticity values range from 29.42-72.68 Nmm2 and 3,834.54-8,830.37 Nmm2 respectively. The SG values has confirmed the species as a medium density wood and values of other properties tested showed that the wood is dimensional stable and moderately resistance to fungi and termite. Hence, it could be used for light construction purposes such as furniture and other interior woodwork.