Simulation of Live and Dead Phytomass Formation and Transformation in Optimized Agrocenoses

The formation and transformation of live and dead phytomass in agrocenoses with a complex horizontal structure are described. These processes are demonstrated to be specific and to be determined by differences in the horizontal structure. Only agrocenoses of a mosaic structure (with square parcels) have optimal conditions for these processes.     

Dynamics of Carbon Pools and Fluxes in Russia's Forest Lands

The state and results of studies on the carbon cycle of forests on lands of the Russian forest fund (total area 1172 × 10⁶ ha) are analyzed at the federal level. Consideration is given to changes in the areas of different categories of forest lands, the age structure of stands, the pool and deposition of carbon in the phytomass, and the organic carbon pool of soils over the period from 1966 to 1998; the dynamics of activity in the forest industry by years and the extent of pyrogenic transformation of the forest cover between 1990 and 2001; and carbon fluxes associated with forest exploitation, including carbon emission resulting from fires.     

Spatial distribution of coarse woody debris in pine forests of the Marii El Transvolga region

The spatial distribution of coarse woody debris in pine forests has been studied in the Transvolga region of the Marii El Republic. For this purpose, 30 test plots have been established in pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands of the study region. The results are indicative of a tendency toward the spatial grouping (clustering) of woody debris by fractions, decomposition classes, and stocks along with increase in stand age.     

Root studies on grass species in a semi-arid South Africa along a degradation gradient

Understanding changes in hydrological characteristics of rangeland ecosystems with degradation is essential when making rangeland management decisions in arid and semi-arid areas to ensure sustainable animal production. The impact of rangeland degradation on root production, root/shoot ratio and water-use efficiency was therefore determined for a semi-arid rangeland, over a 7-year period (1999/00 to 2005/06 growing seasons).Water-use efficiency (WUE) is defined as the quantity of above- and/or belowground phytomass produced over a certain period of time per unit of water evapotranspired. Sampling was from rangeland artificially maintained in three different rangeland conditions, viz. good, moderate and poor.As much as 86, 89 and 94% of the roots for rangelands in good, moderate and poor conditions, respectively, occurred at a depth of less than 300 mm. Root mass was strongly seasonal with the most active growth taking place during March and April. Root mass appears to be greater than aboveground phytomass for this semi-arid area, with an increase in roots in relation to aboveground phytomass production with rangeland degradation. The mean monthly root/shoot ratios for rangelands in good, moderate and poor conditions were 1.16, 1.11 and 1.37, respectively. Rangeland degradation significantly lowered above- and belowground phytomass production as well as the water-use efficiency. The mean WUE (root production included) were 4.79, 3.54 and 2.47 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ for rangelands in good, moderate and poor conditions, respectively. These water-use efficiency observations are among the few also including root production in its calculation. As a proportion of annual phytomass, litter fall of 7.17, 4.64 and 3.41% was obtained for rangelands in good, moderate and poor conditions, respectively. Increasing rangeland degradation increased the replacement of total root system by about 10 months and decomposition time of litter by 6 months.The importance of a well-established root system for sustainable production in the semi-arid rangelands cannot be overemphasized.     

人工湿地植物量及其对净化效果影响的研究

人工湿地污水处理系统中,植物对污水净化效果起着非常重要的作用,而植物量是植物生长的关键参数之一。为了明确植物量对污水处理效果的影响,在2002—2008年期间,详细测定了芦苇(Ph.australis Trin)、再力花(Thalia dealbata)、荻(M.sacchariflorus)和美人蕉(Canna indica)4种典型湿地植物不同年度的生物量、不同生长阶段的生物量、生物量年产率,以及同期湿地COD、BOD5、TN和TP等的去除率。结果表明:湿地植物在栽植成活、稳定生长以后,至少要再经过1个以上的生长周期才能完全适应湿地环境,达到生物量的最大值,其中芦苇根系和茎叶生物量显著高于其他植物;同种植物的植物量与COD、BOD5、TN去除率呈显著正相关,与TP相关性不强;植物量随生长周期的变化对湿地净化能力的影响显著,确定合理收割期有利于湿地的稳定运行;不同种类植物生物量年产率与各种污染物的去除率均显著相关,芦苇、再力花和美人蕉均具有较高的生物量年产率,污染物去除能力较好。在试验范围内,芦苇湿地的运行稳定性最好,再力花湿地具有最强的脱氮能力,美人蕉湿地能快速形成规模、实现稳定运行,这些为构建不同特点和不同需要的湿地提供了重要参考。     

Natural Recovery of Technogenic Landscapes in Open Larch Forests in Northeastern Russia

Studies on the vegetation and soil complexes in areas of the Kolyma River basin disturbed by mining, in the northeast of the Chukchi Peninsula, have been performed to reveal trends in natural restorative processes in posttechnogenic landscapes. Data on the flora, phytomass stock, chemical composition of plants pioneering in the overgrowing of disturbed areas, and physicochemical properties of soils and technogenic eluvia have been obtained. The results have shown that plant cover restoration in disturbed areas depends primarily on the type (genesis) of technogenic substrates, the content of fine earth in the surface layer, and the distance from natural plant complexes that serve as a source of seeds coming to the disturbed area.     

华南山坡地植物生物量的收获和植物资源的持续利用

本文主要从减少因生物量收获所造成的生态系统养分损失，讨论华南山坡地植物资源的利用问题。结果表明，不同的生物量收获方式、收获时期和刈割频率，以及利用不同的植被类型作为薪炭燃料所造成的养分损失有很大的差别。了解这些差别将有助于华南山坡地可更新资源的管理和持续利用。     

Some methodological and conceptual uncertainties in estimating the income component of the forest carbon cycle

Consideration is given to uncertainties related to methods for assessing the above and belowground phytomass and primary production of forest stands in test plots, as well as for extrapolating the results to forested areas.     

人工湿地植物量及其对净化效果影响的研究

人工湿地污水处理系统中,植物对污水净化效果起着非常重要的作用,而植物量是植物生长的关键参数之一。为了明确植物量对污水处理效果的影响,在2002--2008年期间,详细测定了芦苇（Ph．australisTrin）、再力花（Thaliadealbata）、荻（M．sacchariflorus）和美人蕉（Cannaindica）4种典型湿地植物不同年度的生物量、不同生长阶段的生物量、生物量年产率,以及同期湿地COD、BOD5、TN和TP等的去除率。结果表明：湿地植物在栽植成活、稳定生长以后,至少要再经过1个以上的生长周期才能完全适应湿地环境,达到生物量的最大值,其中芦苇根系和茎叶生物量显著高于其他植物;同种植物的植物量与COD、BOD5、TN去除率呈显著正相关,与TP相关性不强;植物量随生长周期的变化对湿地净化能力的影响显著,确定合理收割期有利于湿地的稳定运行;不同种类植物生物量年产率与各种污染物的去除率均显著相关,芦苇、再力花和美人蕉均具有较高的生物量年产率,污染物去除能力较好。在试验范围内,芦苇湿地的运行稳定性最好,再力花湿地具有最强的脱氮能力,美人蕉湿地能快速形成规模、实现稳定运行,这些为构建不同特点和不同需要的湿地提供了重要参考。