The permanent sample plots (PSP) and silvicultural trial plots established by the Forestry Research Section of the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation in Lesotho were used as a source of information for this study. The study area is located in the forest plantations on high altitude sites in Lesotho which have the aim to determine important aspects of timber production for commercial use and to address the problem of fuel wood scarcity and energy crisis. The major objective of the study was to describe performance (survival, growth and timber volume) of exotic tree species introduced in Lesotho. The height and diameter relationships for trees in the 33 plots of Eucalyptus rubida and 44 plots of Pinus radiata were determined by a simple linear regression. There are four plots of Eucalyptus macarthurii, three plots of Pinus halepensis, one plot of Eucalyptus nitens and one plot of Pinus pinaster. The permanent sample plots data were analysed with the use of a statistical package Genstat (7th edition). Categorical analysis were used to detect the number of live and dead trees. The correlation analysis was used to study association between site and performance variables, while multiple regression analysis was utilised to analyse relationships between site index and site variables. The growth curves developed for E. rubida and P. radiata tended to indicate a sigmoidal shape. Analysis of variance was utilised to analyse the performance of species in terms of survival and growth (HT and DBH) for the four species and provenance trials. The early mortality rate was 2% for E. macarthurii, 14% for E. rubida, 0% for E. nitens. Later, it was found that the percentage of dead trees is as follows: 7% for E. macarthurii, 15% for E. rubida, 29% for E. nitens. It was detected that the mortality rate for eucalypts was 14% at last assessments. Similarly, it was detected that the final mortality rate for P. halepensis, P. pinaster and P. radiata was 2%, 19% and 20% respectively. The mean diameter for P. radiata ranged between 1,87 cm at age 3,75 years and 24,49 cm at age 18 years. The mean height ranged from 1,51 m at age 0,75 yrs and 13,51 m at 16 years. It was discovered that the mean diameter is found between 8,0 cm at age 4,83 yrs and 14,41 cm at age 8,83 yrs for P. halepensis. The mean height was 2,1 m at age 4,83 years and 16,48 m at age 13,50 years. The mean diameter ranged from 7,41 cm at age 6,42 years and 15,92 cm at age 10,42 years for P. pinaster. Similarly, the mean height was detected to be between 5 m at age 6,42 years and 7,75 m at age 12,42 years for P. pinaster. It was noted that the mean diameter for E. rubida ranged from 2,04 cm at age 2,25 years to15,87 cm at age 11,75 years. On the same line the mean height started at 4,55 m at age 2,42 years and ended at 16,15 m at age 11,75 years. The mean diameter for E. macarthurii was noted to be 13,64 cm at age 10 years. It was noticed that mean height is found between 3,8 m at age 2,17 years and 16,03 m at age 10 years. It was also detected that the mean diameter started from 4,45 cm at age 2,50 years and 10,78 cm at age 6,50 years for E. nitens. The mean diameter ranged from 5,98 cm at age 2,50 years and from 12,05 m at age 6,50 years for E. nitens. The mean annual increment (MAI) for P. radiata is found between 0,15 m3/ha/yr at age 2,25 years and 21,91 m3/ha/yr at age 6,50 years. The MAI ranged from 0,58 m3/ha/yr at age 3,42 years and 10,81 m3/ha/yr at age 10,42 years for E. rubida. It was determined that the MAI started from 0,25 m3/ha/yr at age 2,17 years to 9,99 m3/ha/yr at age 4,17 years for E. macarthurii. The MAI started from 1,59 m3/ha/yr at age 2,50 years and to 7,54 m3/ha/yr at age 6,50 years for E. nitens. It was noted that the MAI for P. halepensis began from 0,01 m3/ha/yr at age 4,83 years and 3,52 m3/ha/yr at age 13,50 years. Similarly, the MAI began from 0,73 m3/ha/yr at age 6,42 years and 2,70 m3/ha/yr at age 10,42 years for P. pinaster. The Site indices for E. rubida and P. radiata were calculated. They ranged from 6,72 to 14,40 m and from 12,05 to 18,43 m for E. rubida and P. radiata at age 6 years and 15 years respectively. The MAI and SI of different species justify that a viable commercial forestry can be implemented in Lesotho, if advanced selection of genetic material, improved silviculture and appropriate site species matching can be followed. It was noticed that various silvicultural practices like proper land preparation methods, weed management and deep planting have a large impact on tree performance. Based on these results, larger afforestation projects for commercial timber production and bioenergy are recommended. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Thesis (MScAgric (Horticulture))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Persimmon production is new to South Africa with about 700 ha planted to the dioecious, parthenocarpic Triumph cultivar since 1998. Little local expertise is available to assist growers in achieving high yields of high quality fruit and previous research has shown that recipes that are followed in Israel, from where ‘Triumph’ was introduced to South Africa, do not necessarily have any beneficial effect in South Africa. ‘Triumph’ orchards in South Africa are often late in reaching full production. Persimmon trees are generally vigorous and prone to excessive fruit drop, partly due to excessive vegetative growth, especially when young and grown on the very vigorous Diospyros lotus seedling rootstock. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the use of growth retardants and various severities of girdling to increase flower formation, fruit set and yield in vigorous, young ‘Triumph’ orchards. Scoring and girdling improved fruit set and yield in two such orchards and are recommended as tools to improve yield in ‘Triumph’ in South Africa. Strapping, prohexadione-Ca (P-Ca) and paclobutrazol (PBZ) did not increase yield whereas 5 mm bark removal was too severe a treatment and decreased fruit quality in the current season and yield in the following season. None of the treatments had an effect on flower formation or decreased vegetative growth. PBZ, especially as foliar spray, appears to advance fruit maturity. P-Ca at 125 mg L-1 and 250 mg L-1 induced phytotoxicity symptoms and decreased yields in both orchards. However, further research is required before P-Ca and PBZ are completely discarded as treatments to manage vigor in ‘Triumph’ persimmon in South Africa. In contrast to the negative effect of excessive vigor on fruit production, the profitability of orchards is dependent on the rapid growth of trees after planting in order to fill the allotted canopy volume and achieve full production as quickly as possible. Hence, the second objective of this study was to determine optimum levels of irrigation and fertilizer application rates to attain early, high yields in newly planted ‘Triumph’. Fertigation was applied at three levels, viz. ½X, 1X and 2X with 1X being the commercial standard application rate. Irrigation was also applied at these levels without addition of fertilizer. In addition, fertilizer was applied at 0X, ½X and 1X at 1X irrigation level. Tree size increased with an increase in water application rate. Yield also increased linearly with an increase in water application rate due to a linear increase in fruit size. Fertigation and ½X water as well as an increase in fertilizer application rate at 1X irrigation substantially delayed fruit ripening. Hence, careful management of fertilizer and water application rate could be used to extend the harvesting period and, therefore, the marketing window of South African ‘Triumph’. We recommend that the trial be continued for a further few seasons so that the effect of water and fertilizer application rates on fruit quality and storability can be assessed. Fruit set may also be affected as trees reach their mature size with a concomitant increase in shading. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Persimmonverbouing is ‘n nuwe bedryf in Suid-Afrika met ongeveer 700 ha van die tweeslagtige, partenokarpiese Triumph cultivar wat sedert 1998 aangeplant is. Min plaaslike kundigheid is beskikbaar om produsente van raad te bedien oor hoe om te werk te gaan om hoë opbrengste van hoë kwaliteit te verkry. Vorige navorsing het getoon dat resepte wat ‘Triumph’ van Israel na Suid-Afrika gevolg het, nie noodwendig suksesvol hier toegepas kan word nie. ‘Triumph’ boorde in Suid-Afrika neig om lank te neem alvorens hul hul maksimum produksievermoë bereik. Persimmons is oor die algemeen baie groeikragtig en geneig tot hoë vrugval, deels as gevolg van hul geil groei, en veral terwyl hulle jonk is en op die uiters groeikragtige Diospyros lotus saailingonderstam geënt is. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie studie was om die invloed van groei inhibeerders en verskillende grade van strafheid van ringelering op blomvorming, vrugset en oesopbrengs in jonk, sterk-groeiende ‘Triumph’ boorde te evalueer. Insnyding en ringelering met ‘n handsaag het vrugset en oeslading in twee groeikragtige boorde verbeter en word aanbeveel as geskikte ingrepe om die oeslading van ‘Triumph’ te verhoog. Draad-ringelering, en aanwending van prohexadione-Ca (P-Ca) en paclobutrazol (PBZ) het nie die opbrengs verhoog nie terwyl die verwydering van `n 5 mm strook bas té aggresief was en die vrugkwaliteit in die seisoen van toediening en opbrengs in die daaropvolgende seisoen verlaag het. Geen van die behandelings het blomvorming geaffekteer of vegetatiewe groei verminder nie. Dit wil voorkom asof PBZ, veral as blaartoediening, vrugrypwording kan versnel. Blare het tekens van fitotoksisiteit getoon na aanwending van P-Ca teen 125 mg L-1 en 250 mg L-1. P-Ca het ook die opbrengs in beide boorde aansienlik verlaag. Verdere navorsing is egter nodig alvorens P-Ca en PBZ sondermeer verwerp word as behandelings om die groei van ‘Triumph’ te beheer. Die winsgewendheid van boorde is afhanklik daarvan dat bome aanvanklik vinnig groei ten einde die toegekende boomryvolume so spoedig moontlik te vul en sodoende so vinnig as moontlik hul vol produksievermoë bereik. Bogenoemde is natuurlik teenstrydig met die negatiewe effek van uitermatige geil vegetatiewe groei op vrugproduksie. Die tweede doelwit van hierdie studie was dus om die optimale vlakke van besproeiing en bemesting te bepaal wat die vroeë aanvang van hoë opbrengste in nuwe ‘Triumph’ boorde sal verseker. Vloeibare bemesting is in kombinasie met besproeiing teen drie vlakke toegedien nl. ½X, 1X en 2X met 1X die kommersiële standaard vlak van toediening. Besproeiing is ook teen hierdie vlakke toegedien sonder dat kunsmis bygevoeg is. Addisioneel hiertoe is bemesting ook toegedien teen ½X, 1X en 2X teen 1X besproeiing. Boomgrootte het toegeneem met `n toename in die vlak van besproeiing. `n Lineêre toename in vruggrootte met ‘n toename in die vlak van besproeiing het ‘n oorsaaklike lineêre toename in opbrengs tot gevolg gehad. Bemesting in kombinasie met besproeiing, ½X besproeiing sonder bemesting, asook `n toename in die bemestingsvlak by 1X besproeiing het vrugrypwording substansieel vertraag. Die omsigtige bestuur van bemesting- en besproeiingsvlakke kan moontlik gebruik word om die oesperiode, en dus die bemarkingsvenster, vir Suid-Afrikaanse ‘Triumph’ te verleng. Ons beveel aan dat die proef vir ‘n vêrdere aantal seisoene voortgesit word sodat die effek van bemesting- en besproeiingsvlakke op vrugkwaliteit en -houvermoë bepaal kan word. Verhoogde oorskaduwing soos wat bome van sekere behandelings hul toegekende spasie bereik en oorskry, kan ook in die toekoms ‘n invloed op vrugset uitoefen.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T16:53:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-12-19Bitstream added on 2015-05-14T16:58:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000819742.pdf: 2091862 bytes, checksum: ec96c238f755a1e81ec7e53405507d13 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Estudos têm demonstrado que a diversidade das florestas em restauração está, geralmente, aquém dos ecossistemas de referência, ou seja, da vegetação nativa pré-existente. Entre as possíveis alternativas para aumento da diversidade dessas florestas têm sido propostos plantios de enriquecimento. Porém, o desempenho das mudas de espécies arbóreas plantadas sob florestas em restauração ainda não foi testado experimentalmente. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar comparativamente o crescimento e a sobrevivência de cinco espécies arbóreas nativas da Floresta Estacional Semidecidual na condição de plantio de enriquecimento sob o dossel das matas ciliares em restauração, buscando elucidar os fatores que influenciam o desempenho das espécies. Testamos três diferentes técnicas de enriquecimento (tratamentos), aplicadas a cinco espécies arbóreas nativas: cabreúva - Myroxylon peruiferum, cedro - Cedrela fissilis, peroba rosa - Aspidosperma polyneuron, guaritá - Astronium graveolens e piúna - Plinia rivularis, todas espécies não-pioneiras associadas a estádios mais avançados da sucessão. Efetuamos também plantio das mesmas espécies a céu aberto, como referência de qual seria o desenvolvimento das espécies em um plantio convencional. Os tratamentos de enriquecimento foram: Anelamento (plantio em pequenas clareiras pela morte em pé de árvores adultas), Falha (plantio nas falhas do plantio original) e Entrelinhas (plantio nas entrelinhas do plantio original). Para cada indivíduo plantado, no enriquecimento ou a céu aberto, foram coletados, ao final da estação seca e ao final da estação chuvosa, durante 27 meses, dados de altura, diâmetro de copa, diâmetro do coleto e mortalidade ao longo do tempo. Com base nesses dados foram calculados os incrementos absolutos em altura, diâmetro de copa e diâmetro do coleto e mortalidade ao longo do período de ... / Studies have shown that the diversity of tropical forests undergoing restoration has not reached the expected values compared to the pre-existing native vegetation (reference ecosystems). Aiming at to increase de number of species in these forests, enrichment plantings have been recommended. The performance of seedlings of tree species planted under the canopy of forests under restoration, however, has not yet been tested experimentally. In this study, we aimed at comparatively evaluate growth and survival of nursery-raised seedlings of five native species of Tropical Semideciduous Forest, planted under the canopies of riparian forests being restored. We aimed also to elucidate the factors, besides the enrichment technique, influencing the performance of the species. We tested three different enrichment techniques (treatments) applied to five native tree species: Myroxylon peruiferum, Cedrela fissilis, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Astronium graveolens and Plinia rivularis, all non-pioneer species associated with late successional stages. We also analyzed the same species growing in the open, as a reference for what would be the development of species in conventional plantings. Enrichment treatments were: Girdling (planting in small clearings under mature trees which were deliberately killed by girdling and applying herbicide), Failure (planting in the lines, where the trees from the original planting were dead) and between lines of the original planting. For each individual planted in the open or enrichment, at the end of the dry season and at the end of the rainy season, during 27 months, we collected the following data: status (dead or alive), height, canopy diameter and stem diameter at the base. Based upon these data we calculated absolute increase in height, crown diameter and stem diameter, as well as mortality over time. For analysis of growth and survival, the entire period was considered ...

Orientador: Giselda Durigan / Banca: Flaviana Maluf de Souza / Banca: Mario Luiz Teixeira de Moraes / Banca: Maria José Brito Zakia / Banca: Vera Lex Engel / Resumo: Estudos têm demonstrado que a diversidade das florestas em restauração está, geralmente, aquém dos ecossistemas de referência, ou seja, da vegetação nativa pré-existente. Entre as possíveis alternativas para aumento da diversidade dessas florestas têm sido propostos plantios de enriquecimento. Porém, o desempenho das mudas de espécies arbóreas plantadas sob florestas em restauração ainda não foi testado experimentalmente. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar comparativamente o crescimento e a sobrevivência de cinco espécies arbóreas nativas da Floresta Estacional Semidecidual na condição de plantio de enriquecimento sob o dossel das matas ciliares em restauração, buscando elucidar os fatores que influenciam o desempenho das espécies. Testamos três diferentes técnicas de enriquecimento (tratamentos), aplicadas a cinco espécies arbóreas nativas: cabreúva - Myroxylon peruiferum, cedro - Cedrela fissilis, peroba rosa - Aspidosperma polyneuron, guaritá - Astronium graveolens e piúna - Plinia rivularis, todas espécies não-pioneiras associadas a estádios mais avançados da sucessão. Efetuamos também plantio das mesmas espécies a céu aberto, como referência de qual seria o desenvolvimento das espécies em um plantio convencional. Os tratamentos de enriquecimento foram: Anelamento (plantio em pequenas clareiras pela morte em pé de árvores adultas), Falha (plantio nas falhas do plantio original) e Entrelinhas (plantio nas entrelinhas do plantio original). Para cada indivíduo plantado, no enriquecimento ou a céu aberto, foram coletados, ao final da estação seca e ao final da estação chuvosa, durante 27 meses, dados de altura, diâmetro de copa, diâmetro do coleto e mortalidade ao longo do tempo. Com base nesses dados foram calculados os incrementos absolutos em altura, diâmetro de copa e diâmetro do coleto e mortalidade ao longo do período de ... / Abstract: Studies have shown that the diversity of tropical forests undergoing restoration has not reached the expected values compared to the pre-existing native vegetation (reference ecosystems). Aiming at to increase de number of species in these forests, enrichment plantings have been recommended. The performance of seedlings of tree species planted under the canopy of forests under restoration, however, has not yet been tested experimentally. In this study, we aimed at comparatively evaluate growth and survival of nursery-raised seedlings of five native species of Tropical Semideciduous Forest, planted under the canopies of riparian forests being restored. We aimed also to elucidate the factors, besides the enrichment technique, influencing the performance of the species. We tested three different enrichment techniques (treatments) applied to five native tree species: Myroxylon peruiferum, Cedrela fissilis, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Astronium graveolens and Plinia rivularis, all non-pioneer species associated with late successional stages. We also analyzed the same species growing in the open, as a reference for what would be the development of species in conventional plantings. Enrichment treatments were: Girdling (planting in small clearings under mature trees which were deliberately killed by girdling and applying herbicide), Failure (planting in the lines, where the trees from the original planting were dead) and between lines of the original planting. For each individual planted in the open or enrichment, at the end of the dry season and at the end of the rainy season, during 27 months, we collected the following data: status (dead or alive), height, canopy diameter and stem diameter at the base. Based upon these data we calculated absolute increase in height, crown diameter and stem diameter, as well as mortality over time. For analysis of growth and survival, the entire period was considered ... / Doutor

Forests face an unprecedented range of disturbances from climate change, introduced pests and pathogens, and novel species, which frequently interact causing severe consequences to forest communities and ecosystem function. Understanding the mechanisms by which forests recover from disturbance and maintain stability of function is not only an issue of ecological interest, but one of pressing human need, as forest functioning is involved in maintaining a suite of ecosystem services that provide for humanity, including the global carbon and water cycles. Using an experimental manipulation of tree species diversity within an oak-dominated temperate northeastern deciduous forest, this dissertation broadly asks: how do forest community biomass and diversity influence stability and magnitude of forest community growth and water use? All three chapters are based on data from the same forest, where four treatments had previously been established by trunk girdling, which kills a tree by severing the cambium and sapwood, but leaves it standing, similar to the effect of many pathogens on trees. The treatments represent a range of species richness (2-10 species), biomass (5.5 × 104 kg/ha to 7.1 × 105 kg/ha), and level of disturbance, with experimental plots losing anywhere from zero to 94% of their living biomass. Chapter 1 focuses on competitive release after the loss of a dominant species using an annual census of trees over the last 10 years. Community level growth rates showed that diversity positively influenced biomass recovery rate. Chapter 2 addresses the role of the tree community’s biomass and diversity on soil water content using soil moisture sensors, which have recorded data hourly for two years, as well as the trees’ water stress, by using foliar stable carbon isotope ratios. Here, diverse communities have higher and more stable levels of soil water as well as trees that are less water stressed. Using the same long term data as Chapter 1, Chapter 3 assesses whether growth in the tree communities has been more stable over the past 10 years, and investigates whether this can be explained by shorter term fluctuations in tree growth measured by automated point dendrometers. While more diverse communities are more stable in their growth rates over time, this was strongly dependent on how much of the original community had been mechanically girdled. Species showed complementarity in phenology of tree growth at the seasonal scale, but our models could not directly link this intra-annual complementarity in more diverse communities to the stability seen over 10 years. Taken together, results from these three chapters suggest that diversity plays a role in mediating recovery of function from disturbance, which has implications for both the global carbon and water cycles.

A diameter distribution prediction procedure for single species stands was developed based on the bivariate S_B distribution model. The approach not only accounted for and described the relationships between initial and future diameters and their distributions, but also assumed future diameter given initial diameter to be a random variable. While this method was the most theoretically correct, comparable procedures based on the definition of growth equations which assumed future diameter given initial diameter to be a constant, sometimes provided somewhat better results. Both approaches performed as well, and in some cases, better than the established methods of diameter distribution prediction such as parameter recovery, percentile prediction, and parameter prediction. The approaches based on the growth equations are intuitively and biologically appealing in that the future distribution is determined from an initial distribution and a specified initial-future diameter relationship. ln most appropriate. While this result simplified some procedures, it also implied that the initial and future diameter distributions differed only in location and scale, not in shape. This is a somewhat unrealistic assumption, however, due to the relatively short growth periods and the alterations in stand structure and growth due to the repeated thinnings, the data did not provide evidence against the linear growth equation assumption. The growth equation procedures not only required the initial and future diameter distributions to be of a particular form, but they also restricted the initial-future diameter relationship to be of a particular form. The individual tree model, which required no distributional assumptions or restrictions on the growth equation, proved to be the better approach to use in terms of predicting future stand tables as it performed better than all of the distribution-based approaches. For the bivariate distribution, the direct fit, parameter recovery, parameter prediction and percentile prediction diameter distribution prediction techniques, implied diameter relationships were defined. Evaluations revealed that these equations were both accurate and precise, indicating that the accurate specification of the initial distribution and the diameter diameter distribution. / Ph. D.

Tree growth influences forest community dynamics and responses to environmental variations, but currently is not well understood. Tree growth in highly diverse wet tropical forests have been well studied and characterised compared to the species-poor dry tropical forests. Thus, it is not clear if growth rates and community dynamics of dry forests are similar to those of wet forests, given the longer dry season, greater rainfall variability, more open canopy and lower number of species in dry forests. This thesis focuses on identifying important factors that influence tree diameter growth rates in the dry tropical forest at Mudumalai, southern India, and also compares growth patterns at this dry forest with those at moister forests. The thesis thus contributes towards closing the gap in understanding of tree growth patterns across the tropics. An initial analysis involving matrix-based population projections of four common canopy species at Mudumalai showed that variations in diameter growth have the potential to drastically modify population trajectories of dominant species. Thus the main focus of this thesis is aimed at identifying the important intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting growth in this dry forest, as this information could be useful for future management of the forest. The second important aim of the thesis was to find out if growth rates are influenced by different sets of factors in tropical dry versus moist forests. A large permanent 50ha plot vegetation monitoring plot was set up in 1988-89 in the Mudumalai dry deciduous forest, and was subsequently monitored annually by staff of the Centre for Ecological Sciences. Data used in this thesis represent a 12-year interval between 1988 and 2000. Girth measurements were obtained from all woody tree stems ≥1cm in diameter every four years during this 12 year interval, which provided three census intervals of diameter increment data on >13,000 trees. For the comparison between dry and moist deciduous forests, data were obtained from a similar large plot maintained and monitored at the Barro Colorado Island (BCI) in Panama. Influences of the intrinsic factors, tree size, individual identity, species identity and growth form, were examined using t-tests, Wilcoxon signed ranks tests, linear regressions, analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Among the intrinsic factors tested, species identity explained approximately 20% of growth rates at the community level, while tree diameter explained less of growth variation, and growth form had a minor influence on growth. Growth rates also were examined for variations across the three census intervals, and for relationships with rainfall and survival from fire. Statistical tests included t-tests, Wilcoxon and other non-parametric sign tests, logistic regression and ANOVA. Most species and individuals showed significant reductions of growth in the second census interval (1992-1996), and growth rates of most trees were positively related to rainfall. Growth rate variations generally were not related to survival from fire, and few species were capable of escaping fire mortality by fast growth. Spatial environmental influences were tested in the commonest fifteen species, using five habitat categories, local elevation, slope, aspect, and the biotic neighbourhood variables of local conspecific and heterospecific density. Statistical tests included analysis of covariance, multiple linear regression and redundancy analysis. The tests were quadrat-based or individual-based, and species' growth responses were tested at different levels of distance and spatial scale. Topographic features and habitat categories had ephemeral effects on species growth. Only the most dominant species, Lagerstroemia microcarpa, showed consistent conspecific neighbour density effects. Redundancy analysis using a subset of common species and environmental factors did not reveal common growth responses to spatial environmental factors. Comparison of factors influencing growth at Mudumalai versus at BCI using multiple factor ANOVA and multiple linear regressions showed a similar influence of temporal variation at the two sites, but stronger and more widespread influence of tree size (diameter) at BCI. The greater influence of tree size at BCI may be related to greater light limitation in this dense moist forest. Spatial environmental factors had weak influences at both plots. Species were less differentiated from each other at the more diverse BCI plot compared to the relatively species-poor Mudumalai plot, suggesting that species' growth niches may be weakly related to diversity across tropical forests. Overall the results showed that among the factors tested species identity and census intervals were the most important influences on diameter growth at the Mudumalai dry deciduous forest. Tree diameter was less important and less consistent in affecting growth at the Mudumalai dry forest, contrary to expectations based on moist tropical forests where this relationship has been established previously. When comparing Mudumalai and BCI, the relative importance of different factors was different at the two sites, and the most important difference was a dominant influence of light limitation at the wetter forest in Panama. In terms of management applications, this study showed that fires at Mudumalai might be an inescapable source of mortality for many vulnerable species, and improved fire management is crucial for long term survival of species in this dry forest. At a larger scale, light and other environmental variables were found to influence growth differently at Mudumalai compared to BCI. This suggests that location-specific responses may be important for projections of tree biomass and carbon sequestration, especially under future climatic change scenarios.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Science University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg SOUTH AFRICA / A three-year study was undertaken In the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa to Investigate the competitive effects of the grass Setaria megaphylla on the growth of the tree species Pinus patula. A replacement series field trial, where six different competition regimes were Implemented, clearly demonstrated the suppressive effects of S. ( Abbreviation abstract ) / AC2017

Response to fertilization is a function of the degree to which nutrients are limiting growth, the capacity of individual trees to respond to nutrient inputs, the degree to which other factors limit growth, and the possible extrinsic effects of treatment (e.g., root mortality due to fertilizer-induced soil pH effects). Recognition and examination of these factors is essential if response to fertilization is to be predictable. Over the past 25 years numerous western hemlock fertilizer trials have shown responses ranging from negative to positive with no clear trends. Theories for this erratic response include: (a) different nutritional requirements during different stages of stand development; (b) high native N availability or low supplies of other nutrients (P and S, in particular); (c) differential adverse effects of N fertilizers on surface roots, mycorrhizal populations and P nutrition; (d) a requirement for slow release N; and (e) induced water stress. The objective of this study was to develop site-specific guidelines for western hemlock fertilization decision-making for industrial use. This study reports on the first and third growing-season response to two different fertilizer treatments, and identification of possible relationships between fertilizer response and site and stand conditions.

Savannas are globally important ecosystems characterized by the coexistence of trees and grasses. Woody plants, which are slow-growing dominant life forms, influence the physiognomic structure and function of savanna ecosystems. Their density and distribution provides sustenance to a vast and unique savanna biodiversity, by forming a major source of food material to large mammalian herbivores, sheltering them and through their facilitation of diverse plant species. Savanna tree existence is strongly affected by factors that determine their sapling recruitment. We defined „sapling‟ as a young tree, in the first season of its growth, which does not depend on cotyledonary reserves (=seedling stage) and relies on external resources to grow further. Sapling recruitment may strictly be defined as the progression of a young plant from seedling to sapling stage. However, we believe that savanna tree saplings, present within the grass layer in the initial years of their growth, are equally vulnerable to environmental stresses. This study examines the factors affecting tree sapling establishment in a humid savanna (1250 mm mean annual precipitation). Additionally, the effects of fire were tested in a greenhouse experiment. Dominant species from humid savannas (> 1000 mm MAP), Acacia karroo, Acacia sieberiana, Schotia brachypetala and Strychnos spinosa, and mesic savannas (approx. 750 mm MAP), Acacia nigrescens, Acacia tortilis, Colophospermum mopane and Combretum apiculatum, were studied. In this thesis I examined the effects of resource availability (water, nutrients and light), disturbances (fire and herbivory) and competition (grass) on the sapling ecology of these species. Sapling recruitment and growth were assessed in terms of survival and aboveground growth responses, i.e. total biomass, stem growth rates (used as proxy measures for assessing persistence) and leaf biomass proportion (important for producing root reserves necessary to resprout). I studied the effects of fire and a nutrient gradient on survival and growth of four Acacia species in the presence of grass competition, in a controlled greenhouse experiment. Generally, Acacias invest in defenses after herbivory. I also determined their physical and chemical defense investments in this experiment. Sapling survival was not influenced by nutrients but highly varied among the species due to fire, indicating that fires may have a differential effect on species composition at a landscape scale. Intermediate levels of nutrients were found to be beneficial for sapling growth than high and low levels. This may be due to an increase in grass competition at higher levels of nutrients. Fires did not have a positive influence on sapling defence investment. To evaluate the relative importance of resource availability on sapling tree recruitment and its interactions with grass competition, I tested the effects of water (frequent irrigation vs. rainfall), shade (presence vs. absence), nutrients (addition vs. no addition) and grass competition (presence vs. absence) on sapling survival and growth under controlled field conditions in a humid South African savanna. Treatments did not have an effect on sapling survival, indicating that mortality is not defined by resource availability and grass competition in humid savannas. Shade had the greatest negative effect on sapling growth, suppressing the beneficial effects of nutrients and absence of grass competition. Nutrient limitation and grass competition had a relatively small influence on savanna sapling growth. Frequency of water availability had no effect on sapling growth, perhaps owing to high rainfall experienced over the experimental period. Therefore, canopy shade can be considered to be an important driver of tree dynamics in humid savannas with some degree of influence by nutrient availability and grass competition. The effects of clipping (i.e. simulated herbivory of grass and tree saplings) as influenced by nutrient availability and grass competition were examined on sapling survival and growth of all study species in a humid savanna. None of the treatments had an effect on sapling survival. This signifies that herbivory alone cannot significantly decrease plant density in humid savannas. However, tree saplings grew taller with a reduction in diameter and overall biomass, implying that saplings may become more susceptible to fires after herbivory. Nutrient addition and grass competition in general had a positive and negative effect, respectively, on sapling growth. This response was prominent in the stem length growth rates of defoliated saplings of one humid and two mesic species. These results imply that clipping (or herbivory) is the major factor reducing sapling vigour to establish, but is affected by both grass competition and nutrient availability. This study shows that fire has a differential effect on sapling survival of different species, particularly between humid savanna species. Light interception among all other resources limits the recruitment of saplings into adult size classes. Clipping, nutrient availability and grass competition had a relatively small direct effect, but may interact with other factors to alter sapling establishment dynamics. Wet-season droughts in humid savannas are not a hindrance to tree establishment because sapling survival was not dependent on frequency of rainfall. Thus, in humid savannas, fires can have a major impact on tree species density and composition while canopy shade has a very high potential to alter tree distribution. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.