Characterization of mean stem density,fibre length and lignin from two Acacia species and their hybrid

The objective of this study was to compare the wood properties related to wood pulp quality of two widely planted Acacia species viz.Acacia mangium Willd.and Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn.Ex Benth.and their hybrid.Acid insoluble lignin content(Klason),mean stem density and fibre length differed considerably among the species and hybrids.A.mangium possessed a high percent of lignin content compared to A.auriculiformis and the Acacia hybrid.However,mean stem density of A.auriculiformis was higher than A.mangium and the hybrid.Fibre length of heartwood tissues was generally shorter than that of sapwood tissues.The hybrid had longer fibres than the parent species.Lignin was negatively correlated with mean stem density.Generally,the wood properties of the hybrid were superior to its parent species.The significant intraspecific variation observed for wood properties of Acacia species could be used in breeding superior hybrids combining desirable traits of the two species.Considering thedifficulty involved in accurately measuring the lignin content compared to mean stem density,selection for plants with low lignin content can be achieved by indirect selection of high mean stem density.

Effects of slope aspects on forest compositions, community structures and soil properties in natural temperate forests of Garhwal Himalaya

The present study was undertaken in seven natural forest types of temperate zone （1500 to 3100 m, a.s.l.） of Garhwal Himalaya to understand the effects of slope aspects viz., north-east （NE）, north-west （NW）, south-east （SE） and south-west （SW）, on the forest structure, composition and soil characteristics of each selected forest type. The sample plots in each forest type were laid out by using stratified random approach. The indices i.e., the Importance Value Index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson’s concentration of Dominance, Simpson diver-sity index, Pielou equitability and Margalef species richness index were calculated statistically using standard softwares to elucidate the differ-ences in forest structure and composition of forest types on different slope aspects of the sites. The composite soil samples were taken from each forest stand and the physico-chemical properties of the soil i.e., moisture content （MC）, water holding capacity （WHC）, pH, organic carbon （OC）, phosphorus （P）, potassium （K） and available nitrogen （N） were analyzed. The results show that the higher values of total basal cover （74.4 m2·ha-1 in Quercus semecarpifolia forest）, Concentration of dominance （0.85 in Pinus roxburghii forest） and Tree diversity （1.81 in Quercus floribunda forest） in the forests were recorded in the northern aspects. MC （40.8% in Quercus leucotrichophora forest）, WHC （48.9% in Cupressus torulosa forest）, OC （3.8% in Cedrus deodara forest）, P （31.9 kg·ha-1 in Quercus leucotrichophora forest） and N （1.0% in Pinus roxburghii forest） had also higher values in the soils of northern aspects. Consequently the higher productivity of the forests was also noticed on the northern aspects.

Growth and Wood/Bark Properties of Abies faxoniana Seedlings as Affected by Elevated CO_2

Growth and wood and bark properties of Abies faxoniana seedlings after one year＇s exposure to elevated CO2 concentration （ambient ＋ 350 （± 25） μmol/mol） under two planting densities （28 or 84 plants/m^2） were investigated in closed-top chambers. Tree height, stem diameter and cross-sectional area, and total biomass were enhanced under elevated CO2 concentration, and reduced under high planting density. Most traits of stem bark were improved under elevated CO2 concentration and reduced under high planting density. Stem wood production was significantly increased in volume under elevated CO2 concentration under both densities, and the stem wood density decreased under elevated CO2 concentration and increased under high planting density. These results suggest that the response of stem wood and bark to elevated CO2 concentration is density dependent. This may be of great importance in a future CO2 enriched world in natural forests where plant density varies considerably. The results also show that the bark/wood ratio in diameter, stem cross-sectional area and dry weight are not proportionally affected by elevated CO2 concentration under the two contrasting planting densities. This indicates that the response magnitude of stem bark and stem wood to elevated CO2 concentration are different but their response directions are the same.