Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Stefan LINGNER Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany Author-Name: Eiko THIESSEN Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany Author-Name: Kerrin MÜLLER Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany Author-Name: Eberhard HARTUNG Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany Title: Dry Biomass Estimation of Hedge Banks: Allometric Equation vs. Structure from Motion via Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Abstract: The wood yield of hedge banks is very heterogeneous and hard to estimate in advance. The aim of the present study was to estimate the dry biomass of hedge banks shortly before harvesting using two different non-destructive approaches: (i) allometric equation based on DBH, (ii) volume calculations based on Structure from Motion; and to compare these estimations to the results of the (invasive) reference method: weighing after harvesting. Study objects were three different 100 m hedge banks in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany that were divided into 10 m segments (n = 30). These segments were harvested and weighed separately to calculate dry biomass. The allometric equation yielded a relative root mean square error (rRMSE) of 32.4%. The Structure from Motion (SfM) volume models yielded an rRMSE of 30.0%. These results indicate that SfM approaches are comparably precise to allometric equations for dry mass estimations of hedge banks. SfM approaches are less time consuming but have higher technical requirements. Keywords: drone, dry mass, point cloud, trees outside forests Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 149-156 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/152/2017-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/152/2017-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201804-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:152-2017-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Aidin PARSAKHOO Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Author-Name: Mohammad JAJOUZADEH Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Author-Name: Ayoob REZAEE MOTLAGH Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Title: Effect of hydroseeding on grass yield and water use efficiency on forest road artificial soil slopes Abstract: Hydroseeding treatments are increasingly being used as a feasible alternative for soil erosion control after forest road construction. This study investigated the germination and biomass production of two hydroseed mixes and assessed the effectiveness of these treatments to reduce the water consumption of grass. Hydroseed mix 1 (water + seed + organic tackifier + starter fertilizer + superabsorbent) and hydroseed mix 2 (mentioned materials in mix 1 + biohumus + cellulose fibre mulch + natural yarn) were compared to a control (prevalent mix including seed + animal fertilizer) during the study period (30 days in July). Hydroseed mix 2 significantly favoured both seed germination parameters and grass biomass production. Hydroseed mix 2 significantly reduced the quantity of irrigation water via producing an absorbent layer. The results from this study could help managers to select and apply more appropriate hydroseeding treatments for slope stabilization of forest road embankments. Keywords: hydroseed mixes, grass germination, fibre mulch, stabilization, consumption Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 157-163 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/2/2018-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2/2018-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201804-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:2-2018-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vasiliki KAMPERIDOU Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Wood Products and Furniture Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Author-Name: Charalampos LYKIDIS Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Wood Anatomy and Technology, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems and Forest Products Technology, Athens, Greece Author-Name: Panagiotis BARMPOUTIS Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK Title: Utilization of wood and bark of fast-growing hardwood species in energy production Abstract: In this research, the calorific value and ash content of wood and bark of some fast-growing hardwood species, such as tree-of-heaven, (Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle), empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa (Thunberg) Steudel), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux), oriental plane (Platanus orientalis Linnaeus) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia Linnaeus) were investigated in order to comprehend their behaviour during combustion and estimate their utilization potential as solid biofuels (pellets). Beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) wood was used for comparative reasons. Different ratios of all the studied species in mixture were examined in order to investigate the material ratio that provides a satisfactory calorific value, while parallelly meeting the ash content requirements of the pellet production standard (ISO 17225-2:2014). Black locust bark seems to greatly increase the calorific value of the material. Empress tree wood had the lowest ash content, meeting the requirements of the best class (ENplus A1 - residential use), while tree-of-heaven and poplar were classified into ENplus B class (third class of residential use). By using the appropriate proportions, all the materials examined could be utilized in pellet production. Keywords: ailanthus, ash content, biomass, heating value, paulownia, pellets Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 164-170 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/141/2017-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/141/2017-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201804-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:141-2017-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Reyhane LATIFY Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Author-Name: Ahmad ALIJANPOUR Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Author-Name: Abas Banj SHAFIEI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Author-Name: Arezou SADEGHI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Someh Sara, Iran Title: Effects of planting interval and soil type on volume production and slenderness index of poplar (Populus nigra L.) plantations in Diwandareh region (Kurdistan province, western Iran) Abstract: Tests were done on seven poplar (Populus nigra Linnaeus) plantations to investigate the effects of planting interval of stands and soil properties on total volume production, commercial volume production and slenderness index. The parameters of stands like diameter at breast height, total height, stem height, total volume, commercial volume and slenderness index were measured and compared with soil characteristics and planting intervals. Results showed significant differences in qualitative characteristics of poplar stands in relation to tested planting intervals and physical soil characteristics. The highest mean commercial volume was found at planting interval of 2 × 2 m and at slenderness index mean near one. Characteristics of poplar stands showed the strongest correlation with physical properties of soil rather than with chemical ones. Soil properties had a higher effect on quantitative characteristics of the studied poplar stands in comparison with planting interval. Keywords: poplar cultivation, stand, physical properties, chemical properties, growth Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 171-177 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/113/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/113/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201804-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:113-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abdul Lateef KHANDAY Author-Name: Abdul Ahad BUHROO Author-Workplace-Name: Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India Title: An assessment of biological control of Polygraphus major Stebbing, 1903 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by entomopathogenic fungi Abstract: Recently the use of fungal entomopathogens against bark beetles has gained increasing attention throughout the world and researchers continue to seek highly pathogenic fungal isolates for controlling beetle pests. In the present study, the efficacy of three entomopathogenic fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare & Gams, was tested against Polygraphus major Stebbing, 1903 under laboratory conditions. Each fungal suspension contained 1.0 × 109 spores of fungi in 1 ml. An insecticide - Cyclone was also used as positive control in the experiment. The mortality caused by these fungi was recorded in treated branches and petri plate assay. In treated branches, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae s. l. caused higher mortality, i.e. 57.77 and 46%, respectively, after 10 days of treatment and 98 and 92.77%, respectively, after 20 days of treatment. The results of the petri plate assay revealed that P. major adults were highly susceptible to both applied fungal species and insecticide. However, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae s. l. caused higher percentage mortalities after six days of treatment, i.e. 100 and 91.66%, respectively. The percentage mortality caused by application of the insecticide was 69%. L. lecanii was observed to be significantly less virulent (mortality 46.66%) in all fugal treatments. After observing the promising nature of the three entomopathogenic fungi by testing them, we arrive at the conclusion that the tested fungi have a potential for the control of P. major, and further field experiments are warranted to investigate their efficacy under more practical conditions. Keywords: pathogenic fungi, bark beetle, cyclone, petri plate assay, mortality Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 178-186 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/140/2017-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/140/2017-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201804-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:140-2017-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Friday Nwabueze OGANA Title: Evaluation of four methods of fitting Johnson's SBB for height and volume predictions Abstract: Johnson's SBB is the most commonly used bivariate distribution model in forestry. There are different methods of fitting Johnson's distribution, and their accuracies differ. In this article, the method of conditional maximum likelihood (CML), moments, mode and Knoebel and Burkart (KB) were used to fit Johnson's SBB distribution. A total of 4,237 diameter and height data obtained from 90 sample plots of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnhardt were used. Evaluation was based on tree height and volume predictions. The predicted and observed tree heights and volumes were compared using the paired sample t-test. The average relative (%) bias and root mean square error of heights and volumes were computed for the four methods. The results showed that CML- and moments-based methods were more suitable than KB and mode methods for predicting tree height and volume. The level of significance and percentage bias were much lower in CML and moments. The mode-based method had the worst performance. The ranking order was: CML ≍ moments > KB > mode. Keywords: conditional maximum likelihood, moments, mode, Knoebel and Burkhart, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 187-197 Volume: 64 Issue: 4 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/151/2017-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/151/2017-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201804-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:4:id:151-2017-JFS