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Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science

E-ISSN: 2070-2639
Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science is one of the leading forestry journals in the Southern Hemisphere. The journal publishes scientific articles in forest science and management of fast-growing, planted or natural forests in the Southern Hemisphere and the tropics. Papers are also encouraged on related disciplines such as environmental aspects of forestry, social forestry, agroforestry, forest engineering and management as well as the goods and services that are derived from forests as a whole. Articles published by the journal are of value to foresters, resource managers and society at large. The journal particularly encourages contributions from South America, Africa and tropical/subtropical Australasia and Asia. Publication of the journal is supported by the Southern African Institute of Forestry.
Publisher | NISC (Pty) Ltd |
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Frequency | Quarterly |
Coverage | Volume 80 Issue 1 2018 - current |
Accreditation(s) |
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) |
Language | English |
Journal Status | Active |
Collection(s) |
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Genetic control of diameter and bark percentage in spotted gum (Corymbia spp.): can we breed eucalypts with more wood and less bark?
This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of diameter at breast height over bark (DBHOB), bark percentage (Bark%) and the correlation between DBHOB and Bark% for Corymbia spp. Three independent trials were evaluated during this study: C. variegata (CV) and mixed spotted gum species (CMSG) were progeny trials measured at 4-years of age, and mixed Corymbia species (CSPP) from different seed sources measured at 3-years of age. The CV and CMSG mainly comprised of C. variegata, while the CSPP consisted of C. torelliana, C. maculata and C. citriodora progenies. There were significant differences between the progenies for the two traits evaluated in the three trials. The narrow sense heritability (hˆa2) found for CMSG and CV were 0.55 and 0.42, respectively, for Bark% and 0.24 DBHOB in both trials. In CSPP, we found 0.21 for DBHOB, and a lower narrow-sense heritability for Bark% (0.19), since in this trial a significant part of the genetic variation is due to differences between seed sources. Genetic correlations (ranging from -0.18 to -0.47) between DBHOB and Bark% were indicated, i.e. as DBHOB increases, bark proportion decreases. We concluded that both traits, especially Bark%, are under significant genetic control in the Corymbia genus, making them good candidates for breeding programmes. This study provides valuable information about the genetic control of Bark%, which will be useful in further studies with other species, and the growth potential of the Corymbia genus as well. Future studies could ascertain the growth potential of Corymbia species, genetic control of bark in other important commercial species, determine the effect of bark thickness along the length of the stem (bark taper), and bark volume as a proportion of overall stem volume.
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Stand structure, regeneration and seed dispersal patterns of Nothofagus glauca (Hualo) in central Chile
Growing interest in functional silviculture is promoting new approaches to the study of seed dispersal and regeneration, two of the key processes that determine the structure and dynamics of plant populations. Nothofagus glauca is an obligate-seeding tree species typical of Mediterranean forests in central Chile. We studied stand structure, regeneration, seed release (quantity and quality) and seed dispersal in stands of N. glauca. Seed release started in mid- to late summer or in early autumn, and continued for a period of four to five months. Seed release reached a number of up to 2 million seeds per hectare. Seed shadow was characterised by a peak of density beneath the plant canopy and a very short tail of much lower densities, indicating that seeds are concentrated beneath mother plants when dispersed. The number of individuals who produced seeds during the season was estimated at 100 trees per hectare, and the highest frequency of seeding trees was observed in the diameter class of 28 cm to 48 cm, with the highest production of seeds in the 43 cm individuals (70 years old). Ninety percent of the regeneration was concentrated within the seed tree crown radius. Only a marginal presence of seedlings was observed outside the crown projection area and decreased as the distance to the base of the tree increased, until reaching a maximum distance of 12 m. It can be concluded that adult N. glauca forests rarely disturbed, tend to form multi-age stand structures.
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The effect of planting density on the stem form of Pinus patula trees
In this study the effect of planting density on the stem form of Pinus patula trees was investigated. Four different spacing treatments of 403, 1 097, 1 808, and 2 981 stems per hectare (spha), and four stem form properties viz. stem deviation, taper, sinuosity and ovality, were assessed on the lower nine metres of the tree stem. The results showed that spacing treatment had a significant effect on all four stem form characteristics. Over the lower nine metres of the stem, the lower spacing treatments (403 and 1 097 spha) had mean stem deviations of 132.1 mm and 109.3 mm respectively, while the higher planting densities (1 808 and 2 981 spha) had mean stem deviations of 76.4 mm and 82.1 mm respectively. Sinuosity and taper also had a decreasing trend from 403 spha to 2 981 spha. Ovality, on the other hand, increased with increasing planting density and also increased with increasing height along the tree stem.
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Annual litter production in a Brazilian Cerrado woodland savanna
The Brazilian Cerrado is a heterogeneous ecosystem where annual woody-layer litter production shows strong spatiotemporal variation. Although Cerrado litter dynamics have been well-documented in forest physiognomies, knowledge from savanna habitats remains limited despite their predominance across the landscape. In this study, the fine-woody litter production and their fractions were quantified throughout the year in an area covered by the cerrado denso physiognomy (a woodland savanna) at Panga Ecological Reserve, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Using ten litter traps distributed along a 250 m transect, it was estimated that 4.44 Mg ha-1 of litter was produced annually in the cerrado denso, with leaves representing the greatest fraction (75.9%), followed by small woods (11.9%), reproductive parts (8.8%) and miscellaneous items (3.4%). Litterfall varied strongly throughout the year (monthly range: 0.17 to 1.01 Mg ha-1), and although the contribution of different fractions also varied monthly, leaves were dominant through most of the year (range: 34-94%). In fact, there was a strong positive relationship between leaf-litter biomass and the total amount of litter produced. The estimate falls within the previously recorded litter production range for the Cerrado and corresponds numerically to the position occupied by the cerrado denso physiognomy in the structural vegetation gradient in this biome. Furthermore, results indicated that litterfall in this physiognomy is strongly seasonal. Leaves represented the major part of accumulated biomass and were responsible for the increased dry season production when most woody species concentrated their leaf shedding. These results aid the understanding of the functioning of Cerrado ecosystems, and determining litterfall patterns for the entire vegetation mosaic of physiognomies is essential for the implementation of quantifiable environmental quality diagnoses and evaluations of anthropic impacts.
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Fuelwood energy characteristics and biomass equations of the dominant species of northern Patagonian shrublands (Argentina)
Although shrublands can be highly abundant, their bioenergy potential has barely been addressed. This is the case in northern Patagonian shrublands, where there is a lack of knowledge regarding biomass quantity and quality. The objective of this study was to develop biomass equations for young shoots (resprouts) of five of the main woody species growing in northern Patagonian shrublands; quantify energy properties of their woods and, ultimately, estimate biomass and bioenergy stocks in resprouts for three contrasting shrublands. Resprouts were harvested in the field, and size (diameter and height) and dry weight were measured in the laboratory. Fuelwood energy parameters (moisture, density, calorific value, ash content) were determined to obtain energy density and fuelwood value index. We found biomass equations with good statistical fitness for all the studied species. Energy parameters of the analysed woods were comparable or even better (in terms of energy density) than those observed in other woody species commonly used as fuels. Embothrium coccineum showed the best fuelwood value index due to low ash content (0.2%). Shrublands under 50% of harvesting intensity produced 0.08 t ha-1 and 1.33 GJ ha-1 in a low productivity site, 0.34 t ha-1 and 5.66 GJ ha-1 in a medium productivity site, and 1.07 t ha-1 and 17.96 GJ ha-1 in a high productivity site from resprouts after approximately four years. This study suggests that some northern Patagonian shrublands have good potential to produce high quality biomass, therefore, sustainable management plans oriented to bioenergy should be developed in the region.
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Carbon stock in the community managed Sal (Shorea robusta) forests of Dadeldhura district, western Nepal
Four community-managed Sal forests in Dadeldhura district of Nepal were selected for the assessment of carbon stock. The stratified random sampling method was applied to measure the field data from 105 sample plots of 100 m2. The carbon stock of trees and shrubs was estimated using Chave allometric equations for moist forests. The study found that the community forests stored carbon stock ranging from 148.5 to 202.3 Mg ha-1 (mean: 175.5 Mg ha-1). The community forests managed for a longer duration have higher carbon stock than the community forests managed for a shorter duration. From the study, it can be concluded that these forests have been acting as a storehouse of the carbon. So, we can infer that community management has had a positive impact on increasing the carbon stock of forests and thus on the mitigation of global climate change. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of community forests in mitigating the effects of global climate change.
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E-ISSN: 2070-2639
© Publisher: NISC (Pty) Ltd

E-ISSN: 2070-2639
© Publisher: NISC (Pty) Ltd