Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1995. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-74). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1995. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-60). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (master's)--Oregon State University, 1978. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-57). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1969. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-74). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1986. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 38-40). Also available on the World Wide Web.

The Douglas fir holocellulose was prepared by Wise’s(8) modification of Jayme's sodium chlorite procedure(9). The hemicelluloses were extracted using 24% potassium hydroxide followed by 17% sodium hydroxide containing 5% boric acid. Meier(31) reported that barium hydroxide can be used to purify polysaccharide mixtures. The mode of action presumably being the formation of an insoluble complex with the cis-hydroxyl groups of the mannose or galactose integers. By using this method of purification Timell(30) isolated a galactoglucomannan from a 24% potassium hydroxide extract of eastern hemlock holocellulose. Following Timell's scheme the attempt to isolate a galactoglucomannan from Douglas fir did not proceed with the facility suggested. Two purifications by Meier's procedure failed to remove the xylose containing polysaccharide. Further batches of freshly prepared holocellulose were extracted and repeated attempts at the isolation and purification of a galactoglucomannan are at present being pursued. The addition of barium hydroxide not only removed the galactoglucomannan fraction but also purified the xylan which remained in solution. Four barium hydroxide treatments followed by two purifications by means of Fehling's solution gave an arabino-4-0-methyl-D-glucuronoxylan freed from galactose. Previous attempts at the purification of this type of polysaccharide from softwoods have failed to remove the galactose residues. A glucomannan fraction was extracted using 17.5% sodium hydroxide containing 5% boric acid. Four fractionations by the barium hydroxide procedure failed to remove the xylose residues. Two further fractionations via the copper complex removed the last traces of xylose but the fraction still contained about 8% galactose. This is not unusual for it has been reported that the majority of gymnosperm glucomannans contain at least 4% galactose. The glucose to mannose ratio is approximately 1:3.5 which is in the order of a true glucomannan. It appears that the possibility should be seriously considered that the galactose residues present in the so called "glucomannans" are actually integral parts of these polysaccharides. Additional experimental data in the near future will undoubtedly serve to solve the problem. / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

These soil studies were carried out on eight permanent plots at the University Research Forest, Haney, B.C. These plots ranged in Douglas fir site quality values 80 to 180 feet at 100 years. The soil of each plot was examined by means of soil pits and soil samples were taken for laboratory analysis. For each plot, topography, vegetation, general moisture condition, degree of stoniness, nature of soil and for each profile depth of horizons, soil color, texture, structure, consistence the amount and position of organic matter, drainage, physiologic depth, depth to mottling and special features of the profile such as hardpan, orstein, shot material, root mats were determined. In the laboratory, per cent soil skeleton, texture specific gravity of soils, bulk density, total-pore space, macro-pore space, micro-pore space, hydraulic conductivity and available water between 0.1 and 15.0 atmosphere (corrected for soil skeleton and/or soil stoniness), soil acidity, total cation exchange capacity, exchangeable calcium and potassium, and organic matter content were determined. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the significancy of the values obtained in laboratory analysis. Regression equations were determined for evaluating site index from morphological soil characteristics such as horizon thickness, depth to mottling. The soils of the area were mainly derived from glacial till. Till is a coarse texture (coarse sandy loam to loamy sand) containing gravels, stones, and boulders. It was generally hard and impervious to water movement. The profiles generally have shown Aₒₒ, Aₒ, A₂, B₁₁, B₁₂, B₃ and C horizons, ^he development of eluvial and illuvial horizons (especially clay accumulation) appeared somewhat weak. Profiles have shown coarse texture similar to that of glacial till. The depth of profiles varied between 5 and 33 inches, the average range being from 20 to 30 inches. Two main soil groups were observed among the eight plots. Plots 2, 3 and 4 were minimal podzol (Order: Podzols), plot 1 was concretionary brown (Order: Brunosolic), and plots 5, 6, 7 and 8 are classified as intergrade between concretionary brown and minimal podzol. Generally the coarse skeleton comprises more than 50 per cent of the soil. All the soils were very low in clay content. Hydraulic conductivity was high. Micro-pore space showed higher per cent layers than macro-pore space. The available water was low in general due to texture. The preponderance of stones in the soil had an adverse effect on the water-holding capacity of the soil. Consequently, stoniness had to be taken into consideration in determining the actual volume of available water. All the soils were acid in reaction. The organic matter was high in upper horizons and decreased with depth. Total cation-exchange capacity exchangeable, calcium and potassium and calcium base saturation were low. Correlation studies between soil properties and site quality indicated that the physical soil properties were more important than chemical characteristics as an indication of soil quality. Texture, bulk density, porosities (macro-, micro and total), hydraulic conductivity did not show any correlation with site quality but were significant at the 5 per cent level between the plots (except micro-pore space). Available water was positively correlated with site quality when it was corrected for stoniness and coarse skeleton. Chemical properties were not significant between the plots and did not show any correlation to site quality. Morphological features such as thickness of B₁₁ horizon and depth to mottling were highly correlated to site quality and gave the smallest standard error of the estimate (± 21.3 feet). The study indicates that the volume of available water in the soil was most important for the growth of Douglas fir and that the site index of an area could be determined from a study of those morphological features of the soil which affects its water-holding capacity, as well as other morphological features such as depth to mottling. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Literature dealing with the development of height-age curves was reviewed. The advantages of “natural" height-age curves, which have variable rather than the "conventional" fixed form for all sites, were examined. Data collected from stem analyses of 53 dominant and 44 codominant Douglas-fir trees felled on five permanent sample plots in the University Research Forest, Haney, were analysed in order to develop natural height-age curves. A growth curve was constructed for each tree. Master curves were prepared for each plot and for each crown class. [The site index of each plot and for each crown class.] The site index of each plot was determined at the standard age of 100 years. Straight line regression equations of height over site index by age classes were developed. The feasibility of harmonization of the regression coefficients was examined. Sheaves of natural site-index curves were derived. The analysis was repeated three times with various modifications of the basic data. Analysis II was selected as the basis against which 11 sets of "site-index" curves derived by 10 different authors from data collected in various environments by various methods were compared. A comparison of three different height-age natural curves with the derived curves was made for very young trees. Also, the five-year growth in height on five permanent sample plots was compared with height-age curves derived from data collected on the same plots. The advantages of natural "site-index" curves as compared with standard height-age curves were discussed. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

The heartwood of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) is known to be relatively resistant to attack by wood-destroying fungi. Previous investigations on other species has established various heartwood extractives as the primary deterrents to decay. Several extraneous fractions from Douglas fir were isolated and evaluated for fungicidal activity in order to determine the precise factor influencing the durability of this species. An acetone, ether and water extraction of Douglas fir heartwood meal provided five separate components, namely: a dihydroquercetin, free acid, neutral, phlobatannin and carbohydrate fraction. A bioassay of these materials was made using Fomes annosus (Fr.) Cke., Lentinus lepideus Fr. and Poria incrassata (B.&C.) Curt. as the test fungi. Both a cellulosic and a non-cellulosic substrate were employed. Small wood blocks from which certain extractives had been removed were used for the cellulosic substrates, whereas malt agar impregnated with varying concentrations of the extraneous materials represented the non-cellulosic media. The degree of effectiveness of each component as a fungicide was expressed numerically. Dihydroquercetin was found to be the most potent fungicide, completely inhibiting growth of the most sensitive fungus at a concentration of slightly less than 0.5 per cent. This value compares favorably with experimental results previously reported with phenolic extractives of the genus Pinus. On the basis of these data, timber selected for its high dihydroquercetin content could be expected to have an extended service life when used under conditions favoring decay. The possibility of breeding highly resistant genetic types is also discussed briefly. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

An attempt was made to find the relations between the occurrence, abundance, dominance, constancy and vigour of corticolous and lignicolous cryptogams in some forest associations of Douglas-fir forest on Vancouver Island. It has been found that corticolous and lignicolous plant sociations do indicate the particular stratum of the ecoclimate of forest associations. Bryophytes (studied by Krajina) and lichens growing as corticolous and lignicolous plants correspond to the limiting climatological factors which occur in different ecoclimates. The ecoclimate of the forest associations forms one or two or several climatic strata, which are expressed by the corresponding corticolous socia tions on the same tree species. These ecologically differentiated strata develop a zonation phytosociologically defined. Corticolous and lignicolous sociations forming part of the ecosystem of the forest association furnish further characteristics for their differentiation. Its practical use is obvious, especially in winter when the ground vegetation is covered by snow. / Science, Faculty of / Botany, Department of / Graduate