Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) are bred for rapid growth properties. Knowledge of how varying environmental conditions and endophytic bacteria impact physiology are needed to make planting recommendations. Three eastern cottonwood (EC) and three hybrid poplar (HP) varietals were planted in replicate blocks at upland and alluvial sites. Whole-tree water use and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured using heat-dissipation sap flow and related to overall productivity. Productivity measurements were higher at the upland site. Sap flow was higher at the upland site and for endophyte treated individuals. WUE was higher at the alluvial site and for EC. WUE and leaf area index (LAI) were significantly correlated with biomass (negatively and positively respectively). Overall, HP performed better at the upland site, EC at the alluvial site. These results are beneficial in further testing of optimal site and genotype pairings for SRWC.

Phytoremediation is an attractive remediation technology due to its relative low cost and maintenance requirement. Acceptance of phytoremediation requires that the contaminant removal mechanisms are characterized and demonstrated in the field. Quantification of contributions from each mechanism to the overall remediation rate is crucial for optimization of phytoremediation systems, risk management and prediction of the total remediation time. The objective of this research was to characterize and quantify removal mechanisms for naphthalene at a creosote-contaminated site with poplar trees in Oneida, Tennessee. Groundwater monitoring for seven years in the surficial aquifer at this site demonstrated a reduction in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with selective removal of naphthalene and three-ring compounds. Naphthalene mass loss mechanisms investigated at this site are biodegradation in the saturated zone, volatilization and biodegradation in the vadose zone and phytovolatilization. This is probably the most comprehensive field study of PAH phytoremediation mechanisms conducted to date. The significance of this research is to contribute to predictions of remediation time and end result for phytoremediation of PAHs. The understanding of in situ factors controlling each mechanism can facilitate future optimization of phytoremediation systems as well as improve risk assessment and monitoring strategies. Biodegradation rates were determined for different conditions at this site with in situ respiration tests, laboratory soil microcosms and laboratory soil columns. The combined remediation mechanisms of volatilization and biodegradation in the vadose zone were investigated in the field and in laboratory columns. Field measurements show that lower groundwater elevations in the summer and early fall lead to elevated groundwater concentrations of naphthalene and increased volatilization. The increase in the fraction of the porespace occupied by gas (gas saturation) in the unsaturated zone during the summer and fall further enhances the volatilization by increasing effective diffusion rates. Water consumption and interception by the phytoremediation system are believed to enhance mass transfer to the vadose zone. Column experiments and field measurements show that more than 90% of the naphthalene vapors are biodegraded within 5-10 cm above the groundwater table. The data indicate that biodegradation increases the overall volatilization flux out of the source by 10-300 times, when the source is exposed directly to the gas phase. In situ the naphthalene is generally dissolved from the source into the groundwater and then volatilezed from the groundwater to the gas phase. Under these conditions biodegradation in the vadose zone will still indirectly have an enhancing effect on the flux out of the source. This is the result of removal naphthalene from the soil gas by biodegrdation driving removal from the groundwater by volatilization, which in turn drives dissolution form the source into the groundwater. Phytovolatilization was quantified in flux chambers mounted on trees and calculated from transpiration rates. A laboratory uptake study and analysis of tree cores from the site provided supplementary evidence for naphthalene uptake by poplar trees. Phytovolatilization was detected throughout the year and was highest in the summer and fall when the groundwater concentrations were highest and transpiration was active. The role of biodegradation relative to physical removal mechanisms was compared for a year, for winter and summer conditions and with and without the impact of phytoremediation. Biodegradation of naphthalene in the saturated zone dominates by orders of magnitude over the removal by volatilization and phytovolatilization of naphthalene at this site. The removal of the total residual naphthalene mass was estimated to require up to 100 years with phytoremediation, but more than twice as long without phytoremediation. The estimated removal of naphthalene was three times larger in the summer than in the winter due to slower biodegradation in the saturated zone and smaller rates of volatilization to the vadose zone in the winter. The research shows that phytoremediation enhances the overall naphthalene removal, mainly by stimulating faster biodegradation in the rhizosphere and promoting mass transfer of naphthalene to the vadose zone followed by rapid vadose zone biodegradation. In the future, phytoremediation research focusing on the capillary zone is desirable. / Ph. D.

Coal has been and will continue to be an important energy source in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. Surface mining for coal is one of the methods employed to extract this resource from below the ground. The process of surface mining removes native topsoils and any native vegetation that was support by these native soils. In the Appalachian coal-producing region of the United States, the pre-mining landscape is predominantly forested. Prior to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), surface mined lands were commonly reclaimed to forests. Subsequent to the passage of SMCRA, reforestation of surface mined lands has decreased. As a result, thousands of hectares of land that were forested prior to mining are being reclaimed using grasses and legumes. This is done in spite of the fact that the SMCRA requires that land be reclaimed to an "equal or higher land use." The decline of reforestation stems from two main issues, namely: (1) reclaiming land to pasture is an easy and low-risk way for mining companies to obtain bond release; and (2) SMCRA reclamation requirements have led to unfavorable conditions for tree establishment and growth. Recent interest has been shown in reverting these surface mined lands that have been reclaimed to pasture back to forests for reasons related to the environmental, economic, and carbon sequestration benefits that forests are believed to have when compared to pasture land. It is believed that forests can be established on existing reclaimed pasture land through the use of silvicultural treatments, that mature stands of trees growing on surface mines will respond to treatment similarly to stands growing on native soils, and that mature stands growing on relcaimed surface mines have different soil properties controlling their growth than those that have been found for younger stands. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the biological feasibility of restoring forests on post-SMCRA surface mined lands in the Appalachian coalfields reclaimed to pasture and to understand the productive potential and factors governing the productive potential of pre-SMCRA surface mines supporting mature forests in an attempt to show the benefits of reclaiming these lands with forests. A 3x3x3 factor random complete block design was used to assess first-year survival and growth of three species assemblages under three levels of silvicultural treatment intensity at each of three study sites having different site characteristics. The native hardwood species assemblage was found to have the best survival across all three sites, with 80 and 85% survival for sites with spoils derived from shale and oxidized sandstone, respectively. White pine generally had the lowest survival of all species and ranged from 27% across treatments on siltstone spoils to 58% across treatments on oxidized sandstone spoils. Hardwood and white pine grew little over the first year, ranging from -3.7 to 8.9cm in height compared to hybrid poplar, whose height growth ranged from 22.4cm to 126.6cm. Response to silvicultural treatment was variable by site and species, but weed control in combination with tillage generally resulted in the highest survival. Greatest height growth (126.6cm) occurred on the oxidized sandstone spoil, where hybrid poplar was treated with weed control plus tillage in combination with fertilization. Hybrid poplar was found to have the greatest growth after one year compared with the hardwood and white pine and also had the greatest height growth at each level of silvicultural intensity for all sites. This superior growth should give hybrid poplar an advantage over the others used to revert these grass lands back to forests, as the amount of height growth observed (>50cm over one year in the weed control plus tillage treatment at all sites) may be enough to ensure that these trees will not succumb to aggressive competing vegetation without further weed control. The results of this study show that based on first-year data, reforestation of these lands does appear to be biologically feasible, given the species and treaments used. In an attempt to quantify the productivity of a 26-year-old white pine stand established pre-SMCRA, a random complete block experiment was used to compare the response to a thinning that occurred in this stand at age 17. Site index of the stand was found to be 32.3m at base age 50, indicating that this is a very productive stand. Neither stand volume nor stand value was statistically different at age 26 between treatments with volumes and values ranging from 290m3ha-1 and $5639 ha-1 to 313 m3ha-1 and $5478 ha-1 for the thinned and unthinned treatments, respectively. The difference in mean breast-height diameter, however, was significant at age 26, and this was confirmed by a significant difference in a repeated measures analysis of annual diameter data for these treatments (P < 0.0001). Projection to age 30 revealed that both stand volume and value would be significantly higher in the thinned treatment by margins of 8.7 m3 ha-1 and $2457 ha-1. Regression analysis of soil data within the observed rooting depth of the trees from this stand indicated that nitrogen mineralization index, bulk density, sand percentage of the fine soil fraction, and percentage of oxidized sandstone in the soil profile were the most important variables in determining the stand's productive capacity (R2 = 0.7174). It was also found that of the five different spoil types encountered in the stand, the oxidized sandstone spoil had the most favorable physical and chemical properties for tree growth. Common root-restricting layers were found to have high soil density or increased levels of soluble salts. It has been shown that reclaimed surface mines can grow productive forests if the appropriate spoil materials are returned to the surface in sufficient depth. It has also been shown that surface mined lands reclaimed to pasture can be successfully reforested using silvicultural treatments to ameliorate unfavorable conditions for tree establishment and growth, though these treaments may not be cost-effective, and the success of these treatments was variable based on the soil characteristics of each site. / Master of Science

No description available.

Depuis quelques années la sylviculture intensive prend une grande ampleur afin de rapprocher la source de fibres des usines, d'accroître la productivité des plantations, et de diminuer la pression de coupe sur les forêts naturelles. Toutefois un débat sur le type d'aménagement optimal des plantations oppose l'aménagement mono- et pluri-spécifique. Il est important de mieux comprendre le fonctionnement de ces écosystèmes pour en effectuer une bonne gestion et d'optimiser les services écosystémiques que ces plantations fournissent. La décomposition des litières et le recyclage des nutriments sont des processus complexes essentiels au fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Ainsi mon projet de thèse visait à mieux comprendre l'influence de la mixité de deux essences forestières, à savoir l'épinette blanche et le peuplier hybride, en comparaison à des plantations pures sur le processus de décomposition des litières et le stockage de carbone. Les résultats de cette étude ne montrent pas d'amélioration du processus de décomposition avec le mélange du peuplier et de l'épinette ou de leurs litières. En revanche, le mélange de ces deux espèces en plantation tamponne les effets contrastés du peuplier et de l'épinette observés dans les plantations monospécifiques. De plus, le stockage de carbone et la productivité du peuplier sont améliorés dans les plantations mixtes par rapport aux plantations monospécifiques. Les herbacées semblent être bénéfiques pour la diversité d'organismes et favorisent la libération d'azote des litières d'arbres. Cet aspect pourrait contrebalancer l'effet négatif de la présence d'herbacées qui entrent en compétition avec les arbres pour les ressources. / The use of trees under intensive management is particularly important for rapid fibre production and for reduce cutting pressure on natural forests in boreal regions. However, a debate on the best type of plantation management opposes the mono-and pluri-specific management. Despite the possible antagonistic effects on productivity, it seems that mixed plantations would have benefits on soil properties, environmental stability, but also to maintain biodiversity and aesthetic value. It is important to better understand the functioning of these ecosystems to make good management in order to optimize ecosystem services of these plantations. Litter decomposition and nutrient cycling are essential process for the ecosystems functioning. My thesis project was to better understand the influence of the mixing of two tree species planted in comparison to monospecific plantations, namely white spruce and hybrid poplar, on the litter decomposition process and carbon storage. The results of this study showed no improvement in the decomposition process with the mixture of poplar and spruce in plantation or by their litters mixture. However, the mixture of the two species in plantation buffers the contrasting effects of poplar and spruce observed in monospecific plantations. In addition, carbon storage and productivity of poplars are improved in mixed plantations compared to monospecific plantations. Herbaceous litter appears to be beneficial for the abundance of organisms and promote the release of nitrogen from tree litter. This could offset the negative effect of the presence of grasses that compete with trees for resources.

L’utilisation de matières résiduelles fertilisantes (MRF) dans les plantations de peupliers hybrides (PEH) au Québec pourrait en maximiser la productivité et le volume marchand. Elle présenterait aussi l’avantage de minimiser l’enfouissement ou l’incinération des MRF. Cependant, le dosage des MRF doit être calibré en fonction de la réponse optimale des arbres. L’étude a été réalisée dans une plantation de PEH en Estrie. Un dispositif expérimental comprenant deux blocs (répétitions) de cinq parcelles - un témoin et quatre traitements de combinaisons de biosolides papetiers et de boue de chaux - y a été mis en place à l’automne 2012 et au printemps 2013, soit trois ans avant l’échantillonnage (été 2015). Les traitements représentaient les doses suivantes : 140 et 15 t ha-1 (humides), 140 et 30 t ha-1, 240 et 15 t ha-1 et 240 et 30 t ha-1 de biosolides et de boue de chaux, respectivement. Les propriétés physico-chimiques du sol et la morphologie et la nutrition des PEH ont été évaluées. Nous avons observé un effet très significatif des traitements de MRF sur la croissance des PEH par rapport aux parcelles non traitées. La hauteur des arbres a augmenté de 1,6 à 2 fois, le diamètre de 2,5 à 4 fois, la surface foliaire de 3 à 8 fois et le poids foliaire de 2,7 à 9 fois dans les parcelles traitées comparativement aux arbres des parcelles non traitées. Toutefois, aucune différence significative n’a pu être constatée entre les différents amendements. Les analyses de nutrition foliaire ont, quant à elles, démontré que la fertilisation avec les MRF permettait de pallier la faible disponibilité des nutriments dans le sol. Ainsi, avec l’ajout de MRF, les macronutriments N, P, K et Ca dans les feuilles se situaient à l’intérieur des plages de concentrations optimales, alors que sans MRF, les feuilles montraient des concentrations sous ces seuils. Malgré les faibles différences observées entre les quatre amendements, le traitement combinant 240 t ha-1 de biosolides et 15 t ha-1 de chaux est celui qui se rapprochait le plus d’une nutrition optimale pour le PEH. Les biosolides papetiers en combinaison avec la boue de chaux donnent des résultats très encourageants en ce qui a trait à la nutrition foliaire et le rendement des plantations du PEH lors des premières années d’établissement. / The use of fertilizing residual materials (FRM) in hybrid poplar (HP) plantations in Quebec could maximize yields and merchantable volumes. It would also have the advantage of minimizing the burial (landfill) or incineration of FRM. However, applications rates of FRM must be calibrated for an optimal response of the trees. The study was conducted in a PEH plantation in the Eastern Townships. An experimental design comprising two blocks (repetitions) of five plots - one control and four combinations of papermill biosolids and lime sludge - was established in fall 2012/spring 2013 and sampling was conducted three years later (summer 2015). The treatments represented the following application rates: 140 and 15 t ha-1 (wet), 140 and 30 t ha-1, 240 and 15 t ha-1 and 240 and 30 t ha-1 of biosolids and lime, respectively. Soil properties as well as morphology and nutrition of HP were evaluated. We observed a highly significant treatment effect on HP growth compared to untreated plots. The height of HP trees in the treated plots increased by 1.6 to 2 times, diameter by 2.5 to 4 times, leaf area by 3 to 8 times and the foliar weight by 2.7 to 9 times compared to the trees in the untreated plots. However, there was no significant difference among the various treatments. Foliar nutrition analyses showed that fertilization with FRM was sufficient to compensate for the low availability of nutrients in the soil. Thus, with FRM application, the macronutrients N, P, K and Ca in the leaves were within the optimal concentration ranges, whereas without FRM, the leaves showed concentrations below these thresholds. Despite the small differences observed among the four amendments, the treatment combining 240 t ha-1 of biosolids and 15 t ha-1 of lime was the one the closest to the optimal nutrition for HP. Papermill biosolids in combination with lime sludge provide very encouraging results in regard to foliar nutrition and yields of HP plantations.