The effects of data aggregation on long-term projections of forest stands development

Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning(ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories(FMIs)for sustainable and efficient decision-making.Employing the area-based(ABA)approach,these inventories estimate forest characteristics for grid cell areas(pixels),which are then usually summarized at the stand level.Using the ALS-based high-resolution Norwegian Forest Resource Maps(16 m×16 m pixel resolution)alongside with stand-level growth and yield models,this study explores the impact of three levels of pixel aggregation(standlevel,stand-level with species strata,and pixel-level)on projected stand development.The results indicate significant differences in the projected outputs based on the aggregation level.Notably,the most substantial difference in estimated volume occurred between stand-level and pixel-level aggregation,ranging from-301 to+253 m^(3)·ha^(-1)for single stands.The differences were,on average,higher for broadleaves than for spruce and pine dominated stands,and for mixed stands and stands with higher variability than for pure and homogenous stands.In conclusion,this research underscores the critical role of input data resolution in forest planning and management,emphasizing the need for improved data collection practices to ensure sustainable forest management.

Runoff Characteristics of Different Stands in Dongjiang Lake Reservoir Area

Different forest stands in the Dongjiang Lake Reservoir area of Zixing were selected as the research objects to study the characteristics of runoff generation in different forest stands.The results showed that there was no significant difference in annual runoff among M3,M1,and M5,and no significant difference between each forest stand and the control.The order was M3(22.75 mm)>M1(21.77 mm)>M5(20.14 mm).Forest vegetation generates less runoff through vegetation restoration compared to the control,indicating that forest vegetation reconstruction and restoration are beneficial for soil and water conservation.

The variation of nutrient concentration in the rhizosphere of larch and ash in mixed and monoculture stands

Soil samples were taken from rhizosphere zone and off-rhizosphere zone of ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.) and larch (Larix olgensis Henry) in mixed and monoculture stands, and the nutrient concentration of N, P, and K was analyzed to study the effect of nutrients variation on yield improvement in the mixed stand. The result showed that: 1) The stand level total soil N concentration and available N in the mixed stand was similar to that in the monoculture stand of ash, but higher than that in monoculture stand of larch. The total N and available N concentration in rhizosphere soil of ash in the mixed stand was similar to that in the monoculture stand of ash, but the available N concentration in rhizosphere of larch in mixed stand was much higher than in its monoculture. 2) The stand level total P, total K concentration in the mixed stand was similar to that in monocul-ture stands of both species, but available P and K was more concentrated in the mixed stand than in the monoculture stands of ash. The rhizosphere available P and K of ash in the mixed stand was 44.1% and 13.5% (for the 9-yr-old stands) and 79.6% and 25.6% (for the 21-yr-old stands) higher than that in its monoculture. The improvement of soil P and K availability in the mixed stand is concluded.

Carbon storage and net primary productivity in Canadian boreal mixedwood stands

Canadian boreal mixedwood forests are extensive,with large potential for carbon sequestration and storage;thus,knowledge of their carbon stocks at different stand ages is needed to adapt forest management practices to help meet climate-change mitigation goals.Carbon stocks were quantified at three Ontario boreal mixedwood sites.A harvested stand,a juvenile stand replanted with spruce seedlings and a mature stand had total carbon stocks(±SE)of 133±13 at age 2,130±13 at age 25,and 207±15 Mg C ha^-1 at age 81 years.At the clear-cut site,stocks were reduced by about 40%or 90 Mg C ha^-1 at harvest.Vegetation held 27,34 and 62%of stocks,while detritus held 34,29 and 13%of stocks at age 2,25 and 81,respectively.Mineral soil carbon stocks averaged 51 Mg C ha^-1,and held 38,37 and 25%of stocks.Aboveground net primary productivity(±SE)in the harvested and juvenile stand was 2.1±0.2 and 3.7±0.3 Mg C ha^-1 per annum(p.a.),compared to 2.6±2.5 Mg C ha^-1 p.a.in the mature stand.The mature canopies studied had typical boreal mixedwood composition and mean carbon densities of 208 Mg C ha^-1,which is above average for managed Canadian boreal forest ecosystems.A comparison of published results from Canadian boreal forest ecosystems showed that carbon stocks in mixedwood stands are typically higher than coniferous stands at all ages,which was also true for stocks in vegetation and detritus.Also,aboveground net primary productivity was typically found to be higher in mixedwood than in coniferous boreal forest stands over a range of ages.Measurements from this study,together with those published from the other boreal forest stands demonstrate the potential for enhanced carbon sequestration through modified forest management practices to take advantage of Canadian boreal mixedwood stand characteristics.

Soil quality assessment across different stands in tropical moist deciduous forests of Nagaland,India

To analyze the relationship between the management of three forest stand plantations and soil quality in the Dimapur district of the Northeastern Himalayan region,India,three forest soil profiles,covered by different species stands,at three depths were tested for 13 physical and chemical variables.Only four of these variables(electric conductivity,bulk density exchangeable Mg and available P)were included in a minimum data set,after using a varimax rotation algorithm in a principal component analysis,and subsequently used to calculate a soil quality index(SQI).Results showed higher SQIs in the surface layers(0–20 cm depth)than in the deeper ones.Average weighed SQI varied significantly(P<0.05)through the three considered forest sites,with the lowest value at site FS3.These findings reveal that the approach used here is suitable for preliminary screening of the impact of a forestry species on soil,to aid in species selection and improve soil health for afforestation and reforestation projects.

Competition-density effect of tree organs in Acacia auriculiformis stands

The competition-density (C-D) effects for mean mass for tree, stem, branch and leaf were analyzed in Acacia auriculiformis stands. Mean tree mass-density and mean organ mass-density were well explained by the C-D equation of tree and the C-D equation of tree organ, respectively. An equation describing the relationship between mean leaf area u and density was formulated that fit the u-data well. The relationship between mean tree mass w and the ratio of each organ to mean tree mass (wo/ w) was examined. With increasing w, the stem mass ratio wS/w increased, whereas the branch mass ratio wB/w and the leaf mass ratio wL/w decreased. The yield difference between the lowest-density stand and the high-density stand became greater with stand growth. However, the yield of the mid-density stand was slightly lower than the yield of the high-density stand during the experimental period. To produce the most desirable combination of demanding individual-tree size and relative high stem yield, the mid-density is recommended as proper planting density for future management of A. auriculiformis stands.

Effects of Different Types of Chinese Fir Stands on Nu－trient Status of Soils

The effects of different types of Chinese fir stand, including those with various composition (pure andmixed), in various cropping systems (first and continuous cropping system) and at different ages, on thenutrient status of soils in the hilly regions of southern Anhui Province were studied by means of ecologicalsequential comparison on the basis of similar climate and soil type. The work was carried out in the XiaoxiForest Farm of Jingxian County and the Caijiaqiao Forest Farm of Jingde County, where the soil is parayellowsoil derived from phyllite and sandstone. The results revealed that with the increase of age, Chinese fir purestand could accumulate organic matter and nitrogen in the soil but it resulted in decreasing of soil PH and baseions (especially Ca￣(2+)) compared to its mixed stand with broad-leaf trees such as Chinese sassafra.s. In orderto improve the soil fertility, it would be better to mix Chinese fir with broad-leaf trees when afforestation.In the management of Chinese fir pure stand, base compounds and phosphates should be added to the soilfor maintaining soil fertility and raising forest productivity.

Operational impacts to residual stands following ground-based skidding in Hyrcanian Forest, northern Iran

Hyrcanian （Caspian） Forest in northern Iran has a richness of biological diversity, with endemic and endangered species. The usage of ground-based skidding is well accepted practice for the extraction of timber from the forest, but this operation has tended to cause the greatest environmental problems. The aims of the study were to evaluate and comparison of operational impacts, residual stand damage, regeneration, and to quantify these effects such as： the extent of the damage, wounding patterns, size and distribution after logging operations that utilized two different methods： short log and long log. A Timbetjack cable skidder was used and the study location was in the Kheyrud Forest. Post harvesting assessment of damage to the residual stand was compared along skid trail by 100% inventory method and also for the assessment of regeneration damage along winching strips. The results show that along winching strips the percentage of damage to the regeneration was 44% and 36%, while the tree damages along skid trails reached 2.3% and 4.1% in the short log and long log methods, respectively. The greatest average amount of damage to a bole occurred along the first 1 m up from the ground （97%） and also within 4 m of the skidder centerline （80%）. These results show that the short log method causes less damage to the residual stand than the longog method. Tree location to skidder trail appears to have a significant effect on the number and height of scars on a tree. Well designed and constructed trails should be wide enough to allow wood extraction from the forest. Damage to the residual stand might be reduced by proper planning and training of logging crews.

An Improved Method for Estimating the Transition Probability Using Diameter Growth in Even-aged Forest Stands

The method of Zeng et al. (1991) employed diameter growth to estimate the transition probability of the matrix model in uneven-aged forest stands. In this paper the Weibull distribution for even-aged forest stands instead of uniform distribution chosen by Zeng is used. By comparing the results of the improved method with those of the original method of Zeng, it turns out that the improved method of Zeng given in this paper is more efficient.

Delineating forest stands from grid data

Background: Forest inventories are increasingly based on airborne laser scanning(ALS). In Finland, the results of these inventories are calculated for small grid cells, 16 m by 16 m in size. Use of grid data in forest planning results in the additional requirement of aggregating management prescriptions into large enough continuous treatment units. This can be done before the planning calculations, using various segmentation techniques, or during the planning calculations, using spatial optimization. Forestry practice usually prefers reasonably permanent segments created before planning. These segments are expected to be homogeneous in terms of site properties, growing stock characteristics and treatments. Recent research has developed methods for partitioning grids of ALS inventory results into segments that are homogeneous in terms of site and growing stock characteristics. The current study extended previous methods so that also the similarity of treatments was considered in the segmentation process.The study also proposed methods to deal with biases that are likely to appear in the results when grid data are aggregated into large segments.Methods: The analyses were conducted for two datasets, one from southern and the other from northern Finland.Cellular automaton(CA) was used to aggregate the grid cells into segments using site characteristics with(1)growing stock attributes interpreted from ALS data,(2) predicted cutting prescriptions and(3) both stand attributes cutting prescriptions. The CA was optimized for each segmentation task. A method based on virtual stands was used to correct systematic errors in variable estimates calculated for segments.Results: The segmentation was rather similar in all cases. The result is not surprising since treatment prescriptions depend on stand attributes. The use of virtual stands decreased biases in growth prediction and in the areas of different fertility classes.Conclusions: Automated stand delineation was not sensitive to the type of variables that were used in the process.Virtual stands are an easy method to decrease systematic errors in calculations.

Using a stand-level model to predict light absorption in stands with vertically and horizontally heterogeneous canopies

Background： Forest ecosystem functioning is strongly influenced by the absorption of photosynthetically active radiation （APAR）, and therefore, accurate predictions of APAR are critical for many process-based forest growth models. The Lambert-Beer law can be applied to estimate APAR for simple homogeneous canopies composed of one layer, one species, and no canopy gaps. However, the vertical and horizontal structure of forest canopies is rarely homogeneous. Detailed tree-level models can account for this heterogeneity but these often have high input and computational demands and work on finer temporal and spatial resolutions than required by stand-level growth models. The aim of this study was to test a stand-level light absorption model that can estimate APAR by individual species in mixed-species and multi-layered stands with any degree of canopy openness including open-grown trees to closed canopies. Methods： The stand-level model was compared with a detailed tree-level model that has already been tested in mixed-species stands using empirical data. Both models were parameterised for five different forests, including a wide range of species compositions, species proportions, stand densities, crown architectures and canopy structures. Results： The stand-level model performed well in all stands except in the stand where extinction coefficients were unusually variable and it appears unlikely that APAR could be predicted in such stands using （tree- or stand-level） models that do not allow individuals of a given species to have different extinction coefficients, leaf-area density or analogous parameters. Conclusion： This model is parameterised with species-specific information about extinction coefficients and mean crown length, diameter, height and leaf area. It could be used to examine light dynamics in complex canopies and in stand-level growth models.

Changes in leaf stomatal traits of different aged temperate forest stands

Stomata control carbon and water vapor exchange between the leaves and the atmosphere,thus infl uencing photosynthesis and transpiration.Combinations of forest patches with different stand ages are common in nature,however,information of which stomatal traits vary among these stands and how,remains limited.Here,seven different aged forest stands(6,14,25,36,45,55,and 100 years)were selected in typical temperate,mixed broadleaf-conifer forests of northeast China.Stomatal density,size and relative area of 624 species,including the same species in stands of different ages were selected.Stomatal density,size and relative area were distributed log-normally,differing across all species and plant functional groups.Stomatal density ranged from 4.2 to 1276.7 stomata mm^(–2),stomatal size ranged from 66.6 to 8315.7μm^(2),and stomatal relative area 0.1–93.3%.There was a significant negative relationship between density and size at the species and functional group levels,while the relative stomatal area was positively correlated with density and size.Stomatal traits of dominant species were relatively stable across different stand ages but were significantly different for herbs.The results suggest that stomatal traits remain relatively stable for dominant species in natural forests and therefore,spatial variation in stomatal traits across forest patches does not need to be incorporated in future ecological models.

Investigation of the Ginning Process on ДП Series Saw Gin Stands

The article describes the research process of ginning, conducted at the stand of the saw gin of the DP series. The analysis of the roll box of saw gins of different companies was carried out, given the results of studies to determine the speed and density of the seed roll in the roll box of the saw gin. A diagram is given for the dependence of the speed of the feed rollers on the incoming signal.

Effects of stand features and soil enzyme activity on spontaneous pedunculate oak regeneration in Scots pine dominated stands – implication for forest management

Background:A challenge in current forestry is adaptation of managed forests to climate change,which is likely to alter the main processes of forest dynamics,i.e.natural regeneration.Scots pine will probably lose some parts of its distribution area in Europe.However,two native oaks,pedunculate and sessile may maintain or expand the area of their occurrence in central Europe.The utilization of spontaneous(not initialized by foresters)oak regeneration in Scots pine stands for the creation of next generation stands is one of the adaptation methods to climate change.Many factors influencing pedunculate oak regeneration are well known,but there is a lack of knowledge on the relation between soil enzyme activity and the establishment and development of the species.The aim of the study was to identify the relationships among stand characteristics,herb species composition,soil enzyme activity and the establishment or recruitment of oak regeneration in Scots pine-dominated stands.Results:The one of the most influential factors shaping the oak seedling count was dehydrogenase activity in the humus horizon.We found that plots without litter and fern cover had higher seedling density.The raspberry ground cover and birch crown projection area had a positive influence on oak seedling number.The factor indicating good conditions for high density of oak saplings was phosphatase activity in the organic horizon.The same enzyme activity but in humus horizon described conditions in which more numerous recruits were observed.Conclusions:The activity of soil enzymes can be used as the predictor of the establishment and advancement of oak regeneration but also could be seen as a new dimension of oak regeneration.The general density of spontaneous oak regeneration was not sufficient for the creation of new generation forest stands dominated by oak,but it is possible to use them as admixtures in new generation stands.

Ground vegetation,forest floor and mineral topsoil in a clear-cutting and reforested Scots pine stands of different ages:a case study

Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)is a dominant tree species on nutrient-poor sandy soils in the Baltic region’s hemiboreal forests.A final clear-cut in commercial stands is a common practice.However,the maintenance of relatively stable vegetation indices and ecological processes throughout the rotation promote new scientific and social debates.Overall,clear-cuttings disturb forest functions for a certain period,i.e.,phytocenoses with forest-based species composition,biodiversity,and vegetation cover.Soil organic carbon(SOC)and nutrients can also be affected.As key indices,ground vegetation,SOC and main nutrients in the forest floor and in 40-cm topsoil layer were analysed in the clear-cuttings(not reforested)and in reforested 10-,30-,and 101-year-old Scots pine stands in 2020.The results show an increase in species richness at the beginning of stand formation up to 30 years after clear-cutting;species typical of a mature forest occurred relatively quickly post-harvest.The mean mass of forest floor vegetation was negatively related to the richness of ground vegetation species.Forest floor p H consequently decreased with stand age.Higher SOC levels were in the mature stand.In the mineral topsoil layers,total SOC and total nitrogen were in the upper 10-cm layer in the 30-year-old stand.A post-harvest peak in mineral N concentration was observed and other nutrients,especially mobile PO,KO,Caand Mg,increased the clear-cuttings and in the 10-year-old stand compared to the mature stand.

Spruce forest stands in a stationary state

We present stationarity criteria for forest stands,and establish embodiments using a Norwegian empirical stand development model.The natural stationary states only slightly differ from the outcome of long-term simulations previously implemented using the same empirical model.Human interference in terms of diameter-limit cutting is introduced.Consequently,stationary states differing from the natural one appear.Standing volume,growth and monetary value appear low but the financial return rate may be significant.Volume yield and financial return clearly contradict each other,the former arising from harvesting large trees,the latter from frequent removal of small trees.An exponential tree size distribution does not appear to comply with the stationarity criterion.

Growth effect of Manchurian ash in mixed stands

The growth of ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) in different mixed stands with larch (Larix gmelini), Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) and spruce (Picea koraiensis) had been investigated. Meanwhile, the relationship between the growth gain of mixed stand and topographic factor, and the growth comparison of ash in pure and mixed stands with different age-stages were presented in this paper. The results show that the effect of ash and larch mixed stand is very significant. The growth gain of ash in mixed stand on east slope is better than that on west. The growth effect is the most significant on east upper slope and on west down slope. The growth of ash can be increased significantly during different age-stages, but of Larch only through its occupying dominant position in above-ground competition.

DEVELOPMENT OF PT PUMP AND INJECTOR TEST STANDS FOR CUMMINS ENGINE

The type PT-821 PT Pump test stand and type PT-881 injector test stand are a set of special test stands for calibration of PT Pumps and injectors of Cummins engines. Both test stands may be used in conjunction with any model of Bosch injection pump test benches for PT Pumps and injector calibration. During PT Pump calibration, the type PT-821 test stand should be used in conjunction with a Bosch injection pump lest bench. The PT Pump to be tested is installed on the Bosch injection pump test bench through a mounting bracket and is driven by the bench shaft. When calibrating PT injectors, both the PT-881 injector test stand and the PT-821 PT Pump test stand should be used in conjunction with a Bosch injection pump test bench, with the PT-881 injector test stand installed on Bosch test bench. The injector to be tested is driven by the Bosch injection pump test bench through a coupling. This paper describes the structure and function of the PT-821 PT Pump test stand and PT-881 injector test stand. Some technical problems arc described in detail.

Inventory of aspen trees in spruce dominated stands in conserva-tion area

Background： The occurrence of aspen trees increases the conservation value of mature conifer dominated forests. Aspens typically occur as scattered individuals among major tree species, and therefore the inventory of aspens is challenging. Methods： We characterized aspen populations in a boreal nature reserve using diameter distribution, spatial pattern, and forest attributes： volume, number of aspens, number of large aspen stems and basal area median diameter. The data were collected from three separate forest stands in Koli National Park, eastern Finland. At each site, we measured breast height diameter and coordinates of each aspen. The comparison of inventory methods of aspens within the three stands was based on simulations with mapped field data. We mimicked stand level inventory by locating varying numbers of fixed area circular plots both systematically and randomly within the stands. Additionally, we also tested if the use of airborne laser scanning （ALS） data as auxiliary information would improve the accuracy of the stand level inventory by applying the probability proportional to size sampling to assist the selection of field plot locations. Results： The results showed that aspens were always clustered, and the diameter distributions indicated different stand structures in the three investigated forest stands. The reliability of the volume and number of large aspen trees varied from relative root mean square error figures above 50% with fewer sample plots （5-10） to values of 25%-50% with ]0 or more sample plots. Stand level inventory estimates were also able to detect spatial pattern and the shape of the diameter distribution. In addition, ALS-based auxiliary information could be useful in guiding the inventories, but caution should be used when applying the ALS-supported inventory technique. Conclusions： This study characterized European aspen populations for the purposes of monitoring and management of boreal conservation areas. Our results suggest that if the number of sample plots is adequate, i.e. 10 or more stand level inventory will provide accurate enough forest attributes estimates in conservation areas （minimum accuracy requirement of RMSE% is 20%-50%）. Even for the more ecologically valuable attributes, such as diameter distribution, spatial pattern and large aspens, the estimates are acceptable for conservation purposes

<i>Quercus faginea</i>subsp. <i>tlemcenensis</i>Stands in the Moutas Reserve (Tlemcen, Northwest Algeria)

The Zeen oak (Quercus faginea) is a forest species endemic to the western Mediterranean, very remarkable in Algeria;it is an oak with deciduous or semi-persistent leaves. Quercus faginea, is very polymorphic, especially in terms of leaf characteristics, so it would be represented in Algeria by two subspecies: Quercus faginea subsp. baetica (Webb) DC and Quercus faginea subsp. tlemcenensis (DC). The latter, which is of major taxonomic interest, is a species that still resists climatic fluctuations. This stand is a formation at the climatic stage, which covers a large part of the Moutas reserve (488 ha), appears from an altitude of 1100 m and is frequently found where humidity is high. For a decade, our attention has been drawn to its particular behaviour, linked to major processes of change in both climate and biological components. Through this study, we show the importance of this stand, which is in a regressive dynamic phase on which the incidence of disturbances is only the action of anthropogenic climatic factors. Despite its good adaptive strategy, Quercus faginea subsp. tlemcenensis is a species threatened by multiple anthropozoogenic impacts;the latter constitutes a direct threat to the preservation and renewal of biological resources as well as to the ecological balance of the area [1], but the dynamic value of Quercus faginea subsp. tlemcenensis remains appreciated with particular attention by scientists, foresters, conservators and local populations in the region.