Effects of thinning on the understory light environment of different stands and the photosynthetic performance and growth of the reforestation species Phoebe bournei

Light levels determine regeneration in stands and a key concern is how to regulate the light environment of different stand types to the requirements of the understory.In this study,we selected three stands typical in south China(a Cryptomeria japonica plantation,a Quercus acutissima plantation,and a mixed stand of both)and three thinning intensities to determine the best understory light environ-ment for 3-year-old Phoebe bournei seedlings.The canopy structure,understory light environment,and photosynthe-sis and growth indicators were assessed following thin-ning.Thinning improved canopy structure and understory light availability of each stand;species composition was the reason for differences in the understory light environ-ment.Under the same thinning intensity,the mixed stand had the greatest light radiation and most balanced spectral composition.P.bournei photosynthesis and growth were closely related to the light environment;all three stands required heavy thinning to create an effective and sustained understory light environment.In a suitable understory light environment,the efficiency of light interception,absorption,and use by seedlings was enhanced,resulting in a higher carbon assimilation the main limiting factor was stomatal conductance.As a shade-avoidance signal,red/far-red radia-tion is a critical factor driving changes in photosynthesis and growth of P.bournei seedlings,and a reduction increased light absorption and use capacity and height:diameter ratios.The growth advantage transformed from diameter to height,enabling seedlings to access more light.Our findings suggest that the regeneration of shade-tolerant species such as P.bournei could be enhanced if a targeted approach to thinning based on stand type was adopted.

Soil properties and not plant factors affect both abundant and rare microbial taxa after thinning in a mixed stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Sassafras tzumu

Thinning is an effective management step for sustainable forest development,yet less attention is paid to the restoration of soil microbiota after thinning.In this study,both abundant and rare soil microbial communities(i.e.,bacterial,fungal),were evaluated under various thinning treatments in a mixed stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Sassafras tzumu using Mi Seq sequencing.Thinning did not significantly change either abundant or rare bacterial and fungal community composition,but affected their alpha diversity.The Shannon–Wiener indexes of rare fungal taxa under medium thinning were significantly lower than in the light thinning(P<0.05 level).Xanthobacteraceae dominated the abundant bacterial taxa,and Saitozyma and Mortierlla the abundant fungal taxa.The most common rare bacterial taxa varied;there was no prevalent rare fungal taxa under different thinnings.In addition,soil available nitrogen,total phosphorus,and p H had significant effects on rare bacterial taxa.Nutrients,especially available phosphorus,but not nitrogen,affected abundant and rare soil fungi.The results indicate that soil properties rather than plant factors affect abundant and rare microbial communities in soils of mixed stands.Thinning,through mediating soil properties,influences both abundant and rare bacterial and fungal communities in the mixed C.lanceolata and S.tzumu stand.

Effects of thinning and understory removal on water use efficiency of Pinus massoniana:evidence from photosynthetic capacity and stable carbon isotope analyses

Understanding the relationship between forest management and water use efficiency(WUE)is important for evaluating forest adaptability to climate change.However,the effects of thinning and understory removal on WUE and its key controlling processes are not well understood,which limits our comprehension of the physiological mechanisms of various management practices.In this study,four forest management measures(no thinning:NT;understory removal:UR;light thinning:LT;and heavy thinning:HT)were carried out in Pinus massoniana plantations in a subtropical region of China.Photosynthetic capacity and needle stable carbon isotope composition(δ^(13)C)were measured to assess instantaneous water use efficiency(WUE_(inst))and long-term water use efficiency(WUE_(i)).Multiple regression models and structural equation modelling(SEM)identified the effects of soil properties and physiological performances on WUE_(inst)and WUE_(i).The results show that WUE_(inst)values among the four treatments were insignificant.However,compared with the NT stand(35.8μmol·mol^(-1)),WUE_(i)values significantly increased to 41.7μmol·mol^(-1)in the UR,50.1μmol·mol^(-1)in the LT and 46.6μmol·mol^(-1)in HT treatments,largely explained by photosynthetic capacity and soil water content.Understory removal did not change physiological performance(needle water potential and photosynthetic capacity).Thinning increased the net photosynthetic rate(A_n)but not stomatal conductance(g_s)or predawn needle water potential(ψ_(pd)),implying that the improvement in water use efficiency for thinned stands was largely driven by radiation interception than by soil water availability.In general,thinning may be an appropriate management measure to promote P.massoniana WUE to cope with seasonal droughts under future extreme climates.

Eff ects of thinning on ecosystem carbon storage and tree-shrub-herb diversity of a low-quality secondary forest in NE China

Thinning is a widely used forest management tool but systematic research has not been carried out to verify its eff ects on carbon storage and plant diversity at the ecosystem level.In this study,the eff ect of thinning was assessed across seven thinning intensities(0,10,15,20,25,30 and 35%)in a low-quality secondary forest in NE China over a ten-year period.Thinning aff ected the carbon storage of trees,and shrub,herb,and soil layers(P<0.05).It fi rst increased and then decreased as thinning intensity increased,reaching its maximum at 30%thinning.Carbon storage of the soil accounted for more than 64%of the total carbon stored in the ecosystem.It was highest in the upper 20-cm soil layer.Thinning increased tree species diversity while decreasing shrub and herb diversities(P<0.05).Redundancy analysis and a correlation heat map showed that carbon storage of tree and shrub layers was positively correlated with tree diversity but negatively with herb diversity,indicating that the increase in tree diversity increased the carbon storage of natural forest ecosystems.Although thinning decreased shrub and herb diversities,it increased the carbon storage of the overall ecosystem and tree species diversity of secondary forest.Maximum carbon storage and the highest tree diversity were observed at a thinning intensity of 30%.This study provides evidence for the ecological management of natural and secondary forests and improvement of ecosystem carbon sinks and biodiversity.

Response of understory plant species richness and tree regeneration to thinning in Pinus tabuliformis plantations in northern China

Background:Chinese pine(Pinus tabuliformis Carr.)is one of the major afforestation species in northern China and plays a key role in restoring forest ecosystems and preserving soil and water.However,most Chinese pine plantations are experiencing ecological problems such as the low diversity of understory plants and difficulty in natural regeneration.Thinning has been widely used to maintain and improve a variety of forest ecosystem services from plantations.To date,however,few studies have been conducted to systematically determine the effects of thinning on understory plant diversity and the regeneration of Chinese pine in plantations.Methods:We conducted a literature search,and selected 22 publications covering a total of 83 treatments related to thinning effects on the species richness of understory plants and 15 publications covering a total of 43 treatments related to thinning effects on the regeneration of Chinese pine,in tree plantations of northern China.The data from the literature were synthesized and evaluated with meta-analysis approach to determine the treatment effects.Results:Compared with the control stands,thinning increased the species richness of shrubs and herbs by an average of 25.3%and 26.5%,respectively.While the varying thinning intensities all had significantly positive effects on the species richness of understory plants,only moderate thinning(30%–50%)had a positive effect on the density of regenerating seedlings and saplings of Chinese pine(60.2%).The species richness of understory plants was greatest after 14 years of thinning with an increase of 36.3%,whereas the density of regenerating Chinese pine seedlings and saplings reached a maximum after≥11 years of thinning with an increase of 76.5%,compared to that of the unthinned stands.Thinning in the half-mature plantations had the greatest effects on the understory shrub richness(44.1%)and the density of regenerating Chinese pine seedlings and saplings(86.5%).Both single and multiple thinning were found to significantly promote the species richness of understory plants and the density of regenerating Chinese pine seedlings and saplings,and the positive effects of thinning were greater in areas with a humidity index(HI)<30 than in areas with an HI≥30.In general,age group,planting density and recovery time were prominent factors affecting the species richness of understory plants,whereas the slope,HI and recovery time were the dominant controls of the density of regenerating Chinese pine seedlings and saplings,indicating differential effects of thinning on the species richness of understory plants and the regeneration capacity of Chinese pine in plantations.Conclusion:Thinning appears to be a feasible management measure to improve the understory plant diversity and regeneration capacity of Chinese pine in plantations.We postulate that moderate thinning in half-mature forest stands with an HI<30 can help effectively promote the species diversity of understory plants and the natural regeneration of Chinese pine,thereby maintaining a more resilient stand structure and the development of Chinese pine plantations.

Thinning intensity aff ects carbon sequestration and release in seasonal freeze–thaw areas

To explore how to respond to seasonal freeze–thaw cycles on forest ecosystems in the context of climate change through thinning,we assessed the potential impact of thinning intensity on carbon cycle dynamics.By varying the number of temperature cycles,the eff ects of various thinning intensities in four seasons.The rate of mass,litter organic carbon,and soil organic carbon(SOC)loss in response to temperature variations was examined in two degrees of decomposition.The unfrozen season had the highest decomposition rate of litter,followed by the frozen season.Semi-decomposed litter had a higher decomposition rate than undecomposed litter.The decomposition rate of litter was the highest when the thinning intensity was 10%,while the litter and SOC were low.Forest litter had a good carbon sequestration impact in the unfrozen and freeze–thaw seasons,while the converse was confi rmed in the frozen and thaw seasons.The best carbon sequestration impact was identifi ed in litter,and soil layers under a 20–25%thinning intensity,and the infl uence of undecomposed litter on SOC was more noticeable than that of semi-decomposed litter.Both litter and soil can store carbon:however,carbon is transported from undecomposed litter to semi-decomposed litter and to the soil over time.In summary,the best thinning intensity being 20–25%.

Drivers of spatial structure in thinned forests

Background:As is widely known,an increasing number of forest areas were managed to preserve and enhance the health of forest ecosystems.However,previous research on forest management has often overlooked the importance of structure-based.Aims:Our objectives were to define the direction of structure-based forest management.Subsequently,we investigated the relationships between forest structure and the regeneration,growth,and mortality of trees under different thinning treatments.Ultimately,the drivers of forest structural change were explored.Methods:On the basis of 92 sites selected from northeastern China,with different recovery time (from 1 to 15years) and different thinning intensities (0–59.9%) since the last thinning.Principal component analysis (PCA)identified relationships among factors determining forest spatial structure.The structural equation model (SEM)was used to analyze the driving factors behind the changes in forest spatial structure after thinning.Results:Light thinning (0–20%trees removed) promoted forest regeneration,and heavy thinning (over 35% of trees removed) facilitated forest growth.However,only moderate thinning (20%–35%trees removed) created a reasonable spatial structure.While dead trees were clustered,and they were hardly affected by thinning intensity.Additionally,thinning intensity,recovery time,and altitude indirectly improve the spatial structure of the forest by influencing diameter at breast height (DBH) and canopy area.Conclusion:Creating larger DBH and canopy area through thinning will promote the formation of complex forest structures,which cultivates healthy and stable forests.

Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Jiaodong Peninsula,East China:Implications for crust-mantle interactions and lithospheric thinning of the eastern North China Craton

A section from the Linglong gold deposit on the northwestern Jiaodong Peninsula,East China,containing Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks from mafic and intermediate dikes and felsic intrusions,was chosen to investigate the lithospheric evolution of the eastern North China Craton(NCC).Zircon U-Pb data showed that low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic(~145 Ma) and late Early Cretaceous(112-107 Ma),respectively;high-Mg adakitic diorite and mafic dikes were also emplaced during the Early Cretaceous at^139 Ma and ~118 Ma,and 125-145 Ma and 115-120 Ma,respectively.The geochemical data,including whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes,imply that the mafic dikes originated from the partial melting of a lithospheric mantle metasomatised through hydrous fluids from a subducted oceanic slab.Low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions originated from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust of the NCC,while high-Mg adakitic diorite dikes originated from the mixing of mafic and felsic melts.Late Mesozoic magmatism showed that lithosphere-derived melts showed a similar source depth and that crust-derived felsic melts originated from the continuously thickened lower crust of the Jiaodong Peninsula from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.We infer that the lower crust of the eastern NCC was thickened through compression and subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath the NCC during the Middle Jurassic.Slab rollback of the plate from ~160 Ma resulted in lithospheric thinning and accompanied Late Mesozoic magmatism.

The essential oil components of Cinnamomum cassia: an analysis under different thinning models of plantation Pinus massoniana

Thinning is an important activity employed in forest management. To date, studies have mainly focused on the effects of thinning on the growth of trees during the same thinning period. In this study, plantation Pinus massoniana Lamb. near maturity were thinned at varying intensities and an economically important species, Cinnamomum cassia Presl., was planted beneath the thinned canopy. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of the extent of thinning on the essential oil content and its components of C. cassia in different parts of the plant, as well as the economic feasibility of the P. massoniana-C.cassia management model. Thinning significantly reduced the oil yield in the bark and branches of C. cassia, but hardly impacted the oil yield from C. cassia leaves compared with pure C. cassia forest（CK）. Among the different thinning treatments, both light（T.4） and extensive（T.1）thinning reduced the oil yield of C. cassia bark and new branches. The concentrations of the main aldehydes differed in different parts of the plant and were affected by the extent of thinning. The influence on cinnamaldehyde in the bark was minor, but was much greater in the branches and leaves. Both the oil yield and content of cinnamaldehyde showed that moderate（T.3） thinning was more favorable than other thinning models. These results not only provide a potentially promising model for the transformation of low-yield artificial pure forests of P. massoniana in the future, but also offer a reference for the management of artificial mixed stands.

Effects of leaf removal and cluster thinning on berry quality of Vitis vinifera cultivars in the region of Weibei Dryland in China

Leaf removal and cluster thinning were carried out prior to veraison to evaluate the effects on berry quality of two Vitis vinifera cultivars（Cabernet Sauvignon and Ugni Blanc） in the Weibei Dryland of China in 2013 and 2014, and comprehensive analysis of the chemical and volatile composition in berries was performed. The results showed that content of reducing sugar in both varieties was not affected while total acid was generally decreased by leaf removal and cluster thinning. The pH of berry juice was correspondingly higher in most treatment groups. Meanwhile, promoting effects on accumulation of total phenols, tannin in both varieties and total anthocyanins in Cabernet Sauvignon were found. As for monomeric anthocyanins, percentage of malvidin and its derivatives was decreased by leaf removal and cluster thinning. Besides, cinnamylated anthocyanins decreased with the intensity of cluster thinning. The accumulation of non-anthocyanin phenolics was similarly affected in the two varieties. Notably, cluster thinning was more effective on enhancing the phenolics content than leaf removal. The combination of middle level of leaf removal and cluster thinning was the most favor to the accumulation of phenolic acids. Furthermore, cluster thinning could also significantly enhance the synthesis of flavanols and stilbenes. Lastly, content and variety of aroma compounds in both grape varieties were also significantly affected by the treatments. The results provided a theoretical basis for a combination of leaf removal and cluster thinning to improve quality of grapes and wines.

Effect of forest thinning on soil net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a Cryptomeria japonica plantation in Taiwan

We investigated the effect of forest thinning on soil nitrogen mineralization, nitrification and transformation in a Cryptomeria japoni-ca plantation at high elevation to provide basic data for forest manage-ment. We chose four study plots for control, light, medium and heavy thinning treatment, and three sub-plots for buried bag studies at similar elevations in each treatment plot to measure the net N mineralization and nitrification rates in situ. The contents of soil inorganic N （ammonium and nitrate） were similar between treatments, but all varied with season, reaching maxima in September 2003 and 2004. The seasonal maximum net Nmin rates after four treatments were 0.182, 0.246, 0.303 and 0.560 mg？kg-1？d-1 in 2003, and 0.242,0.258,0.411 and 0.671 mg？kg-1？d-1in 2004, respectively. These estimates are approximate with the lower annual rates of N mineralization for this region. Forest thinning can enhance net N mineralization and microbial biomass carbon. The percentage of annual rates of Nmin for different levels of forest thinning compared with the control plot were 13.4%, 59.8%and 154.2%in 2003, and 0.1%, 58.8%and 157.7%in 2004 for light, medium, and heavy thinning, respectively. These differences were related to soil moisture, temperature, precipita-tion, and soil and vegetation types. Well-planned multi-site comparisons, both located within Taiwan and the East-Asia region, could greatly im-prove our knowledge of regional patterns in nitrogen cycling.

Recycling of crustal materials and implications for lithospheric thinning: Evidence from Mesozoic volcanic rocks in the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin, NE China

Late Mesozoic Nb-rich basaltic andesites and high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks from the Hailar-Tamtsag Basin,northeast China,provide important insights into the recycling processes of crustal materials and their role in late Mesozoic lithospheric thinning.The Late Jurassic Nb-rich basaltic andesites(154±4 Ma)are enriched in large-ion lithophile and light rare earth elements,slightly depleted in high-field-strength elements,and have high TiO_(2),P_(2)O_(5),and Nb contents,and(Nb/Th)PM and Nb/U ratios,which together with the relatively depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions indicate a derivation from a mantle wedge metasomatized by hydrous melts from subducted oceanic crust.The Early Cretaceous high-Mg adakitic volcanic rocks(129-117 Ma)are characterized by low Y and heavy rare earth element contents,and high Sr contents and Sr/Y ratios,similar to those of rocks derived from partial melting of an eclogitic source.They also have high Rb/Sr,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O,and Mg#values,and high MgO,Cr,and Ni contents.These geochemical features suggest that the adakitic lavas were derived from partial melting of delaminated lower continental crust,followed by interaction of the resulting melts with mantle material during their ascent.Our data,along with available geological,paleomagnetic,and geophysical evidence,lead us to propose that recycling of Paleo-Pacific oceanic crustal materials into the upper mantle due to flat-slab subduction and rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate during the late Mesozoic likely provided the precondition for lithospheric thinning in northeast China,with consequent lithospheric delamination causing recycling of continental crustal materials and further lithospheric thinning.

Late-entry commercial thinning effects on Pinus banksiana:growth, yield, and stand dynamics in Québec, Canada

We studied late-entry commercial thinning effects on growth, yield, and regeneration in a 48-year-old jack pine(Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stand. Applied thinning intensities were 27, 32, and 47% of merchantable basal area(BA) excluding skidding trails. After 15 years, mean diameter at breast height of surviving trees in the 47% BA removal increased by 4.9 cm(25%) compared to the unthinned control. The 47% BA removal also increased gross merchantable volume(GMV) tree-1by 46% compared to the control. The 27% BA removal had twice as much GMV ha-1compared to the 47% BA removal after15 years. Moreover, cumulative GMV ha-1was much higher in the 27% BA removal than in the unthinned control. The highest thinning intensity produced larger trees on average, while the lowest thinning intensity maximized volume production per hectare. Maintenance of acceptable growing stock throughout the 15-year period in the 27% BA removal could provide other ecosystem functions such as biodiversity enhancement or wildlife habitat by delaying senescence. Regeneration data showed that a shift in species composition occurred in the understory. After 15 years, the understory was dominated by black spruce(Picea mariana(Mill.) B.S.P.), white birch(Betula papyrifera Marsh.), and trembling aspen(Populus tremuloides Michx.). If regenerating jack pine is an objective after final overstory removal, additional efforts will be needed to re-establish this species.

Natural regeneration responses to thinning and burning treatments in ponderosa pine forests and implications for restoration

Understanding naturally occurring pine regeneration dynamics in response to thinning and burning treatments is necessary not only to measure the longevity of the restoration or fuels treatment,but also to assess how well regeneration meets forest sustainability guidelines and whether natural regeneration is sufficient for maintaining a sustainable forest structure and composition.A synthesis review was carried out on the effects of mechanical thinning and prescribed burn treatments on natural pine regeneration response in frequent-fire ponderosa pine forests across the western United States.The focus was on site-specific variability in pine regeneration dynamics,temporal trends in regeneration presence and abundance,and response to treatment as described in the current literature using 29 studies that met our evidence-based review protocols.Data showed that the effects of thinning and burning treatments on regeneration depended on time since treatment.Mechanical thinning,prescribed burning,and thinning plus burn treatments all increased seedling density,but there was high variability among sites and studies.There were mixed results in the short-term(<10 years)with both increasing and decreasing regeneration,and a general increase in regeneration 11−20 years post-treatment.Some long-term studies(>20 years)concluded that stands can return to pre-treatment densities in terms of total trees per hectare and forest floor duff levels when there are no maintenance treatments applied.Several studies showed the average ponderosa pine seedling presence,survival and growth found in today’s forests to be at a high density;this combined with missed fire cycles could contribute to future fire risk and reduce the efficacy of maintaining fuel reduction goals.

EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATION OF A THINNING SCHEME FOR THE ASSIMILATION OF SURFACE OBSERVATION DATA IN GRAPES-3DVAR

To reduce the spatial correlation of representation error in observations and computational complexity, we propose a thinning scheme that can extract typical observations within a certain range. This scheme is applied to the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System(GRAPES) with three-dimensional variation(3 DVAR) to study the effect of the thinning radius on the assimilation results. The assimilation experiments indicate that when the ratio of the model resolution to the observational resolution is 1:3, the simulated results for precipitation are relatively good and have a relatively high equitable threat score(ETS). Moreover, the analysis errors in the temperature and the specific humidity are the smallest, the dependence of the norm gradient vector of the objective function on the number of iterations is slow, gentle, and close to 0, and the minimization results in improved conditions.

Effect of thinning on above-ground biomass accumulation in a Douglas-fir plantation in southern Italy

We investigated the effects of a long-term thinning experiment on the distribution of above-ground biomass of Douglas-fir （Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco var. menziesii） in a plantation in southern Italy. Allometric equations were used to estimate biomass and partitioning to stem and crown compartments. Variation in biomass stock estimated with allometric equations were evaluated according to seven thinning treatments： geo- metric-systematic （1 row every 3）, selective （light-moderate-heavy）, mixed systematic-selective （1 row every 4, 1 row every 5）, unthinned （control）. Over the experimental period of 13 years, current annual increments of carbon were lower （3.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1） in control plots than in treated plots. At age 30, plots subjected to light selective thinning showed higher values of above-ground biomass （249.7 Mg ha^-1）. The biomass harvested with this treatment was 29.3 Mg ha^-1, and the mean annual increment of carbon over 13 years was 4.8 Mg ha^-1. Our results showed that light thinning stimulated increase in carbon stock, with a minimal loss of carbon during the treatment and a current annual increment of carbon higher than in control sub-plots and sub-plots thinned using systematic methods. This treatment yielded least carbon emissions and we affirm it has discrete global warming mitigation potential.

A preliminary study on the effects of line and selective thinning on bird communities in Hokkaido, northern Japan

In Japan, selective thinning is a common thinning method, though line thinning receives much attention because of its economic merits. In this study, we examined effects of the two thinning methods on bird communities in Todo fir （Abies sachalinensis） plantations in Hok- kaido, Japan. We surveyed bird species in forests under four different management types - unthinned, selectively thinned, line-thinned planta- tion, and naturally regenerated forest （here after referred to as natural forest） stands - using a line-transect method. We also investigated vege- tation structure （canopy tree and understory） of these stands. Bird species richness did not differ between natural forests and plantations, while bird total abundance was greater in plantations than in natural forests. Bird species richness and total abundance were comparable among the three management types for plantations. Abundances of 10 bird species were different among the four management types, and five species were more abundant in line-thinned plantations. However, two species were more abundant in selectively thinned stands than in line-thinned stands, and they frequently appeared in natural forests. There were no distinct differ- ences in vegetation structure among the management types for planta- tions. Our results suggest that line thinning could be beneficial for some bird species in plantations.

Effect of first thinning and pruning on the individual growth of Pinus patula tree species

The effect of first thinning and pruning on height, diameter at breast height （DBH）, and volume growth was studied in individual trees of Pinus patula Schiede and Deppe in Chongoni Plantation, using four plots for thinning trials. Each of the plots was 0.5 ha and subjected to one of the fol- lowing silvicultural treatments： first thinning and pruning, first thinning and no pruning, pruning and no thinning, and control （no pruning and no thinning）. The silvicultural treatments were randomized in four replicates. Fourteen years after planting, the following parameters were measured including total height, DBH, and volume. The highest DBH and volume growth was observed in thinning and pruning, while the highest growth in height was observed where there was pruning and no thinning. Clearly, both thinning and pruning are an important manage- ment option in pine species plantations in Malawi to maximize the increase in volume productivity.

Branched Secondary Alcohol Ethoxylate, Ammonium Thiosulfate, Calcium Polysulfides-Thiosulfate, and Fish Oil Effects on Blossom Thinning, Fruit Set and Quality of Peaches and Nectarines

Total crop load has an inverse relationship with fruit size, while larger fruit size is often demanded by the peach and nectarine markets. Hand-thinning is extremely expensive, and thus, crop load adjustment, using blossom thinners is a crucial practice to ensure production of commercially acceptable fruit size and yield efficiency in stone fruit. In this study, the influence of branched secondary alcohol ethoxylate (Tergitol TMN-6) and/or ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), Crocker Fish Oil (FO), and a mixture of calcium polysulfides and thiosulfate (lime sulfur) on fruit set and quality attributes in peaches (Prunus persica) and nectarines (P. persica var. nectarina) were studied. All blossom thinners reduced fruit set in “Summer Lady” peach in both 2016 and 2017. Fruit sets in “Summer Lady” peach trees with a double application of Tergitol TMN-6 at the rate of 7.5 or 10 mL ·L¯1, each rate applied at 40% and 80% bloom, were lower than those receiving the same rates of this chemical only at 80% bloom, but they were similar to those receiving a single Tergitol TMN-6 spray at 15 mL·L¯1 at 80% or 100% bloom. “Summer Lady” peach trees receiving FO at 20 mL·L¯1 plus lime sulfur at 25 mL·L¯1, once at 40% bloom and again at 80% bloom had lower fruit set as compared to Untreated Control but the fruit set was higher than those with any Tergitol-TMN-6 spray. Tergitol TMN-6 at 12 m·L¯1 at 100% bloom or 10 mL·L¯1 all stages of bloom reduced fruit set in “Zee Lady” and “Snow Giant” peaches. In “Snow Giant” peach, trees receiving Tergitol TMN-6 at all concentrations and blossom stages had significantly higher fruit weight as compared to the trees of Un-treated Control. Applications of Tergitol TMN-6 at all concentrations at 80% bloom reduced fruit set in “Red Globe” and “Elberta” peaches in Utah. ATS and FO slightly reduced fruit set in peaches but they were less effective than Tergitol TMN-6 in all cases. Overall, it is concluded that efficacy of blossom thinners depends on the rate of thinners, temperature, cultivar and stage of bloom development.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Late Triassic Intrusive Rocks in the Xiuyan Area,Liaodong Peninsula,Eastern North China Craton:Petrogenesis and Implications for Lithospheric Thinning

The timing and mechanisms of lithospheric thinning and destruction of the North China Craton(NCC)remain controversial,and the overall geodynamics of the process are poorly understood.This paper documents Late Triassic igneous rocks including monzogranite,gabbro,and diorite from the Xiuyan District on the Liaodong Peninsula in the eastern NCC,which have LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of 229.0±0.4 Ma,216.2±0.9 Ma,and 210.6±2.0 Ma,respectively.Monzogranite shows high-SiO_(2) adakite affinity,negative ε_(Hf)(t)values(-20.6 to-17.9),and old T_(DM2) ages(3.53-3.29 Ga),suggesting that their parental magma was derived from thickened Paleoarchean mafic lower crust and minor mantle materials that were also involved their generation.Gabbro is ultrapotassic,strongly enriched in LREEs and LILEs,depleted in HFSEs,and has evolved zircon Hf isotopes with negative ε_(Hf) of -10.04 to-5.85 and old T_(DM2) ages(2.59-2.22 Ga).These are diagnostic signatures of a crustal component,but their high contents of Mg O,Cr,Co,Ni indicate that the primary magma originated from enriched mantle.Diorite is enriched in LILEs and LREEs,depleted in HFSEs(with negative Nb,Ta,and Ti anomalies),and contains negative ε_(Hf)(t)values(-13.64 to-11.01).Compared with the gabbro,the diorite is relatively enriched in Nb,Ta and HREEs,and also contains younger T_(DM2) ages(2.11-1.94 Ga),suggesting that the diorite was formed by mixing between ancient lower crust-derived felsic magmas and asthenospheric mantle-derived magmas.Field observations,geochronology,geochemistry,and zircon Lu-Hf isotopes indicate that Late Triassic magmatism and tectonic activity resulted from deep subduction of the Yangtze Craton beneath the NCC in the Xiuyan area.This phase of tectonic activity was completed in the eastern NCC by the Late Triassic(216 Ma),and was subsequently followed by lithospheric thinning that began in the Late Triassic.