Effect of Closing Hillsides Afforestation on Population Diversity

A logaritmic series distribution model was used to evaluate the index of population diversity (α value) inQuercus mongolica forest in Zhanguangcai Mountains, Heilongjiang, Northeastern China. The α value went up from 1.07 to 4.46–6.98, after closing hillsides for 20 years. The spatial distribution of the α value was calculated among the hill slopes. The results were as follows: middle of hill>bottom of hill>top of hill.

Seasonal Variations of Soil Enzyme Activity on Rocky Hillsides Continuously Planted with Vitis heyneana Roem.et Schult

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Vitis heyneana cultivation on rocky hillsides on the variation of soil fertility,so as to provide theoretical support for economic development and the control of rocky desertification in the Dashi mountainous area.[Methods]Taking V.heyneana planting base in Luocheng County,Hechi City,Guangxi Province as the research object,the methods of field investigation,regular sampling and experimental analysis were used to analyze seasonal variations of soil urease,sucrase and soil alkaline phosphatase activity of 15 different sample plots surveyed,and their correlation with soil physical and chemical properties was analyzed.[Results]①In general,sucrase,urease and alkaline phosphatase were lower in summer and autumn,and higher in spring and winter,and the performance of the activity of the three enzymes was inconsistent.Among them,the activity of sucrase was in order of spring>autumn>summer>winter,and the activity of urease and alkaline phosphatase showed an order of winter>spring>summer>autumn.②The seasonal variations of soil fertility in different sample plots were affected by various factors such as human disturbance,climate change,vegetation coverage,topography and landforms,cultivation and management measures,and although the change laws in different sample plots were different,the seasonal differences in soil fertility in the same place were extremely significant.③If the influence of artificial fertilization factors is excluded,the planting of V.heyneana on rocky hillsides will cause a significant decrease in soil enzyme activity,that is,a significant decrease in soil fertility.[Conclusions]Related issues such as the effects of planting V.heyneana on the variation of soil fertility in rocky hillsides should arouse necessary attention of management departments and producers.

Ecological Benefits of Compound Ridge Culture in Hillside Orchard in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area

Based on contour tillage of wide ridge and furrow covering and agro-forestry, this paper sets up a compound ridge culture mode in hillside orchards and introduces a long-term observation to the mode＇s effects on ecological benefits of water and soil conservation. A five-year study shows that compound ridge culture in hillside orchards is effective in water and soil conservation, especially in reducing soil erosion. Compared with the traditional management modes of orchards, compound ridge culture has reduced runoff amount by 41.96%-57.96%, soil erosion amount by 55.47%-67.75%. Compound ridge culture also brings an obvious reduction of soil nutrient loss and of non-point source pollution, which is of great importance for keeping and increasing the productivity of hillside orchards in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area.

The distribution and frequency of damage to roadside trees in low-volume road construction

We investigated the distribution and frequency of damage to tree stands adjacent to low-volume roads according to the type of hillside materials involved（soil or rock） and hillside gradient in mountainous forests of northern Iran. A total of 80 plots were systematically and randomly sampled to record damaged trees（bending,crushing and wounding） by class of hillside gradient and materials at the edge of road. Tree wounding and crushing at rock slopes was significantly greater than at hillsides with a mix of clay soil（p ／ 0.05）. Damage on hillsides with slope gradients[45% were 2, 8.5 and 2.3 times more frequent than on hillsides with slope gradient／15% for bending, crushing and wounding, respectively. The damage distribution varied according by type and the most frequent damage was tree wounding（p ／ 0.05）. The damage distribution was measured at distances of 4, 5 and 8 m from the road fillslope for tree bending, crushing and wounding, respectively. Using hydraulic excavators and physical barriers（wooden obstruction and synthetic holder） during earthworks for road construction could reduce these damage.

Nonlinear numerical assessment of the seismic response of hillside RC buildings

Major damage has been reported in hilly areas after major earthquakes,primarily because of two special conditions:the variation in the seismic ground motion due to the inclined ground surface and the irregularities caused by a stepped base level in the structure.The aim of this study is to evaluate possible differences in the responses of Chilean hillside buildings through numerical linear-elastic and nonlinear analyses.In the first step,a set of response-spectrum analyses were performed on four simplified 2D structures with mean base inclination angles of 0°,15°,30°,and 45°.The structures were designed to comply with Chilean seismic codes and standards,and the primary response parameters were compared.To assess the seismic performance of the buildings,nonlinear static(pushover)and dynamic(time-history)analyses were performed with SeismoStruct software.Pushover analyses were used to compare the nonlinear response at the maximum roof displacement and the damage patterns.Time-history analyses were performed to assess the nonlinear dynamic response of the structures subjected to seismic ground motions modified by topographic effects.To consider the topographic modification,acceleration records were obtained from numerical models of soil,which were calculated using the rock acceleration record of the Mw 8.01985 Chilean earthquake.Minor differences in the structure responses(roof displacements and maximum element forces and moments)were caused by the topographic effects in the seismic input motion,with the highly predominant ones being the differences caused by the step-back configuration at the base of the structures.High concentrations of shear forces in short walls were observed,corresponding to the walls located in the upper zone of the foundation system.The response of the structures with higher angles was observed to be more prone to fragile failures due to the accumulation of shear forces.Even though hillside buildings gain stiffness in the lower stories,resulting in lower design roof displacement,maximum roof displacements for nonlinear time-history analyses remained very close for all the models that were primarily affected by the drifts of the lower stories.Additionally,vertical parasitic accelerations were considered for half the time-history analyses performed here.The vertical component seems to considerably modify the axial load levels in the shear walls on all stories.

Study of Atlas Cedar Growth (<i>Cedrus atlantica</i>Manetti) in El M’sid Mountains (East Algeria): Productivity and Growth According to Planting Methods

The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) is one of the more valuable reforestation species in the Mediterranean areas. But this species suffers from rainfall limitation and climate changes, particularly in its originated area, North Africa. Therefore, any knowledge about the plantation practices to improve the tree water availability and the reforestation success has great importance. The current study has been undertaken in this view, i.e. to compare the growth of cedar plots located in El M’Sid Mountains, Souk Ahras department (700 km east of Algiers), according to different planting methods. The radial growth and the productivity have been measured on a cedar plot with a total surface of 165 ha. 150 ha has been planted in 1970 on hillside ditches, and 15 ha of which the majority is planted in a simple hole and some bouquets on terraces, both are originated from a complementary reforestation achieved during 1980. The results show that most of the trees planted in 1970 reach a height ranging between 10 and 17 m and a diameter between 23 and 44 cm. Even some trees were 20 m high with diameter of 65 cm. The productivity fluctuates between 3 and 8 m3/ha/year, values close to the one of natural native plots. Trees planted in 1980 reach a height ranging between 5. 5 to 7 m, and diameter between 11.5 to 23 cm. The radial growth improves that the hillside ditches help the roots anchoring and trees growth during the first season after plantation. These results indicate that the cedar tree can be used with success in areas outside the natural cedar forest presence, and that appropriate planting techniques can compensate in part the lower rainfall occurring in these chosen regeneration areas.

Mechanical Behavior of Pillow Lavas in MakoSupergroup: Case of South Mako Hill

This work shows the Kédougou-Kéniéba inlier (eastern Senegal) pillow lavas behavior from laboratory to field. Some uniaxial tests are carried out on five types of specimens of pillow lavas. These types of specimens are: macroscopicly healthy rock, fractured rock without filling, fractured rock filled with epidote, chlorite and calcite and rocks with tension crack filled with quartz. The Young moduli and the uniaxial compression strength are good for the healthy rock. The Young moduli fall slightly for facies with horizontal cracks while uniaxial compression strength (Rc) varies slightly. For filled fractured specimens, Rc and Young modulus (E) decrease remarkably. Decreases are most important for cracks filled with epidote, chlorite and calcite than with quartz. That is due to the differences of rigidity between these materials. Also, the slope stability of hillsides in this area depends on to these characteristics.

Simulation of Water Resources in Buerhatong River Basin

1∶250 000 contour was used to generate 0. 0012°（ 4. 32 s） of grid DEM of the basin,to simulate flow line of slope surface and gradient line,automatically draw valley line,and count catchment area at slope surface point. We organized data at the sections with 100 m of interval to simulate water system,establish coding system of river network,and build associated point with slope surface system. ＂ Hillside hydrology＂ theory simulated subsurface flow between surface water and groundwater,and used catchment water at slope surface point,gradient,valley line and depletion curve to study soil moisture distribution in the basin.

The Organization and Management System of Closing Hillside for Forest as a Regeneration Project (CHFRP)

By investigation, the thesis analyses and summarizes the forming and developing of CHFRP In Xupu county. We select the Mayandong stock cooperation forest farm as object, adopt the methods such as semi-structure interview, analysing second data and surveying sample plots, analyse and study the process to clarify the property right, the profits allocated forms and the management forms. The results show that CHFRP can tentatively resolve the contradiction between the forestland using right scattered to eve...