Journal of Forest Science, 2015 (vol. 61), issue 4

Identification of agricultural soils suitable for afforestation in the Czech Republic using a soil databaseOriginal Paper

J. Vopravil, V. Podrázský, M. Batysta, P. Novák, L. Havelková, M. Hrabalíková

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(4):141-147 | DOI: 10.17221/123/2014-JFS  

Afforestation of agricultural lands may be a positive action in many cases. Especially, it is a beneficial feature for waterlogged soils, stony soils or for soils which are less fertile for any other reason and thus unsuitable for farming. Afforestation can be a very important action even in the agricultural landscape - afforested belts of agricultural land divide large farm blocks into smaller ones, or act as windbreakers and biological corridors. The value, quality and fertility of soil can be assessed in different ways. The study aims to determine the identification soil criteria of agricultural land which is suitable for afforestation. This evaluation...

Analysis of operational approach during forest transformation in Klokočná Range, Central BohemiaOriginal Paper

O. Švec, L. Bílek, J. Remeš, Z. Vacek

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(4):148-155 | DOI: 10.17221/102/2014-JFS  

Afforestation of agricultural lands may be in many cases a positive step. Especially, it is a beneficial with waterlogged soils, stony soils or for soils which are for any other reason less fertile and unsuitable for farming. Even too in the agricultural landscape, afforestation can be very important by the breaking of large farm blocks by windbreakers and bio-corridors. The value, quality and fertility of soil can be assessed in different ways. The aim of this study is to determine the criteria for the identification of agricultural land suitable for afforestation. This evaluation process is based on Evaluated Soil Ecological Units (BPEJ) that are...

Disturbance-induced changes in the plant biomass in forests near Plešné and Čertovo LakesOriginal Paper

K. Matějka

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(4):156-168 | DOI: 10.17221/109/2014-JFS  

Two forested catchments in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava Mts.) were investigated according to the species composition of herb layer and aboveground plant biomass. The bark-beetle gradation was observed in the Plešné Lake catchment during this study. The community dynamics depends mainly on the altitudinal zone of the site. Variability in the species composition was more pronounced in the sites of natural broadleaved mixed forests than in the sites of natural Norway spruce forests. Three processes were recorded after the tree layer damage: tree regeneration (very rapid), appearance of some species typical of the clear-cuts (only limited, mainly after...

Mycological complex of poplars in SerbiaOriginal Paper

N. Keča, I. Milenković, Lj. Keča

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(4):169-174 | DOI: 10.17221/13/2014-JFS  

Poplars are fast-growing broadleaved tree species inhabiting river banks and sites with accessible water supplies. Vegetative propagation makes them suitable for establishing highly productive plantations along big rivers and in flooded plains. The production of large quantities of biomass provides a good substrate for various organisms. The aim of this study was to identify fungal species occurring in the poplar plantations in Serbia and to determine their frequency and role in decomposition of tree parts. Fifty species belonging to the divisions Ascomycota, Basidimycota and Deuteromycota as well as two species from Oomycota...

Conditions conducive to an epidemic of Gremmeniella abietina, European race, in red pine plantationsOriginal Paper

G. Laflamme, D. Rioux

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(4):175-181 | DOI: 10.17221/67/2014-JFS  

In North America, Gremmeniella abietina, European race (GaEU), was reported in 1975. Our objective was to follow the spread of GaEU on red pines growing on flat land and on slope. Annual height infection varied significantly on flat land, ranging from 60 to 110 cm in 1991 to 0 to 50 cm in 1992. On the slope, pines in the bottom were killed by the disease, but survived on the top. Favorable conditions follow a horizontal line about 10 m over the lower elevation and are probably related to fog or mist. The horizontal disease spread over a 3-year period was only 20 m and this is mainly explained by the absence of ascospores in North America.

Cryopreservation of Pistacia vera embryonic axesShort Communication

B. Benmahioul, F. Daguin, M. Kaïd-Harche

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(4):182-187 | DOI: 10.17221/63/2014-JFS  

This preliminary study investigated the conservation of Pistacia vera genetic resources using seeds and isolated embryonic axes. First, the effect of storing seeds in ambient conditions on embryo viability was evaluated by in vitro culture. The germination rate of P. vera embryonic axes gradually decreased from 100% to 31% after 30-month storage of seeds. Cryopreservation may thus be necessary for the long-term conservation of embryos. A simple protocol was set up using embryonic axes. It included a single dehydration step with silica gel prior to direct freezing in liquid nitrogen (-196°C). The optimal germination rate was...