Research Articles (Forest and Wood Science)

Use of δ¹³C as water stress indicator and potential silvicultural decision support tool in Pinus radiata stand management in South Africa

Fischer, Phillip M.; Du Toit, Ben (Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, 2018-11-15)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, the carbon isotope ratio in tree rings was investigated as a potential measure of water availability and drought stress in Pinus radiata stands in South Africa. An understanding of water ...

Mechanical and physical properties of Cunninghamia lanceolata wood decayed by brown rot

Li, Shengcai; Gao, Yuewen; Brunetti, Michele; Macchioni, Nicola; Nocetti, Michela; Palanti, Sabrina (Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, 2019-04-03)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The relationship between the mechanical properties of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir) wood and the development of fungal decay was investigated with the aim of implementing a statistical model useful ...

Essential environmental variables to include in a stratified sampling design for a national-level invasive alien tree survey

Kotze , Johann D. F.; Beukes , Hein B.; Seifert , Thomas (Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, 2020)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a direct relationship between the abundance of biological invasions and their impact, which means that it is important to capture spatial patterns in their abundance and use this information to ...

Influence of drone altitude, image overlap, and optical sensor resolution on multi-view reconstruction of forest images

Seifert, Erich; Seifert, Stefan; Vogt, Holger; Drew, David; Van Aardt, Jan; Kunneke, Anton; Seifer, Thomas (MDPI, 2019)

Recent technical advances in drones make them increasingly relevant and important toolsfor forest measurements. However, information on how to optimally set flight parameters and choosesensor resolution is lagging behind ...

Impact of climate trends and drought events on the growth of oaks (Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) within and beyond their natural range

Perkins, Diana; Uhl, Enno; Biber, Peter; Du Toit, Ben; Carraro, Vinicio; Rotzer, Thomas; Pretzsch, Hans (MDPI, 2018-02-28)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to predicted climate change, it is important to know to what extent trees and forests will be impacted by chronic and episodic drought stress. As oaks play an important role in European forestry, this ...

Evaluation of Irvingia kernels extract as biobased wood adhesive

Alawode, A. O; Eselem-Bungu, P. S; Amiandamhen, S. O; Meincken, M.; Tyhoda, L. (SpringerOpen, 2020-02-22)

Irvingia tree species have been earmarked for domestication in many countries due to their potential as raw materials for various applications, which include biodiesel, cosmetics, perfume, soap, etc. Presently, there is ...

Functional and phylogenetic diversity determine woody productivity in a temperate forest

Hao, MinHui; Zhang, Chunyu; Zhao, Xiuhai; Von Gadow, Klaus (Wiley Open Access, 2018)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity has become a central issue in ecology and conservation biology studies, particularly when these relationships are connected ...

A comparison of two methods of data collection for modelling productivity of harvesters : manual time study and follow-up study using on-board-computer stem records

Brewer, J.; Talbot, B.; Belbo, H.; Ackerman, P.; Ackerman, S. (Marin Dracea National Research-Development Institute in Forestry, 2018)

Abstract. Productivity of a mechanized P. patula cut-to-length harvesting operation was estimated and modelled using two methods of data collection: manual time study and follow-up study using StanForD stem files. The ...

Assessing biological dissimilarities between five forest communities

Hao, Minhui; Corral-Rivas, J. J.; Gonzalez-Elizondo, M. S.; Ganeshaiah, K. N.; Nava-Miranda, M. G.; Zhang, Chunyu; Zhao, Xiuhai; Von Gadow, Klaus (SpringerOpen (part of Springer Nature), 2019-06-06)

Background: Dissimilarity in community composition is one of the most fundamental and conspicuous features by which different forest ecosystems may be distinguished. Traditional estimates of community dissimilarity are ...

The potential of South African timber products to reduce the environmental impact of buildings

Crafford, Philip L.; Blumentritt, Melanie; Wessels, C. Brand (Academy of Science of South Africa, 2017)

South Africa was the first country in Africa to implement a locally developed green building rating tool and has a growing number of rated green building projects. The method of life-cycle assessment can help to compare ...

Characteristics of selected non-woody invasive alien plants in South Africa and an evaluation of their potential for electricity generation

Melane, Mandlakazi; Ham, Cori; Meincken, Martina (University of Cape Town, Energy Research Centre, 2017)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Alien invasive plants (AIPs) pose a threat to the existence of plant and animal biodiversity in the ecosystems they invade. They need to be cleared, monitored and eventually eradicated from the landscape. ...

Growth at the microscale : long term thinning effects on patterns and timing of intra-annual stem increment in radiata pine

Drew, David M.; Downes, Geoffrey M. (SpringerOpen, 2018-10-09)

Background: Stem radial growth in forests is not uniform. Rather, it is characterized by periods of relatively fast or slow growth, or sometimes no growth at all. These fluctuations are generally a function of varying ...

Potential for utilization of wood ash on coastal arenosols with limited buffer capacity in KwaZulu-Natal and its effect on eucalypt stand nutrition and growth

Scheepers, Gerhardus Petrus; Du Toit, Ben (Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, 2017)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A field trial was established to test the effects of various wood ash and fertilizer application rates on the nutrition and early growth of a clonal Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla stand near Richards ...