Intensive site preparation practices and their effect on nitrogen cycling have been implicated as possible causes of productivity declines on forest sites in Australia and New Zealand. This study was initiated in order to determine the effects of site preparation intensity upon N distribution and availability in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in Virginia. In the summer of 1982, three forest sites at the Reynolds Homestead Research Center on the Virginia Piedmont were clearcut. In the fall of the same year all three sites were prepared for planting using one of the following treatments: 1. shear, rake, disk (S,R,D) (3-passes); 2. shear-disk (S-D) (1-pass); and 3. chop, burn (C,B) (high intensity burn). During March of 1983, 1-0 genetically improved loblolly pine seedlings were planted on all sites. Pine biomass was greatest on the S,R,D area after three growing seasons. Total biomass and N content (NCONT) of native vegetation and forest floor were greatest in the S-D area. Total N in the upper 15 cm of mineral soil was also greatest in the S-D area. Total system N was highest in the S-D area and this treatment is more N-conservative than either of the more intensive treatments. During the third growing season potentially mineralizable N levels were highest on the two disked treatment areas, 157 and 144 kg N/ha for the s-o, and S,R,D areas, respectively. Pine foliar nutrient concentrations determined after the second and third growing seasons provided no evidence of existing or impending nutrient deficiencies. These results show that short-term pine nutrition and growth were not adversely affected by reductions of N capital on these sites. However, if wasteful practices, such as raking and burning with high intensity fires, are also used to establish subsequent stands on these same sites, cumulative losses of N could result in productivity declines. / M.S.

<p>Land use histories affect the rate and pattern of soil nutrients at regional and global scale. However, former studies have rarely focused on soil trace elements (B, Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe). In this study, we aimed at the long-term biogeochemical cycling pattern and spatial heterogeneity of soil trace elements in response to land use changes. We conducted experiment at Calhoun experiment forest in SC and surrounded relic hardwood forest, cultivated land and secondary pine forests with contrasting land use histories in a statistically rigorous and spatially explicit design. Our first study indicated that spatial heterogeneity is greatly reduced in many soil properties by agricultural practices, but that successional forest growth on previously cultivated soils re-structures heterogeneity of soil properties within a few decades. We document cases in which land use alters both the soil property's central tendencies and their heterogeneity (C, N, CN, Ca, K), and cases in which changes are apparent in central tendency but much less so in their heterogeneity (Db). In our second study, samples of the upper 0.6-m mineral soil archived in 1962 and 1997 revealed three cycling patterns: 1) Extractable B and Mn were significantly depleted because tree uptake of B and Mn from mineral-soil greatly outpaced resupplies from atmospheric deposition, mineral weathering, and deep-root uptake. 2) Extractable Zn and Cu changed little during forest growth, indicating that nutrient resupplies kept pace with accumulations by the aggrading forest. 3) Oxalate-extractable Fe increased substantially during forest growth, by about 10-fold more than accumulations in tree biomass. This study indicated that forest Fe cycling is qualitatively different from that of other macro- and micro-nutrients. Thirdly, our results revealed that long-term cultivation substantially diminished the activity of soil iron oxides relative to forest growth. Forest Fe cycling is derived from mineral soil weathering, which suggests a need to explore the underlying mechanisms by which bioturbation (e.g.earthworms) mediates transformations of iron bioavailability and oxidation of organic matter in soils. Overall, the wide range of responses to land use changes among the ecosystem's trace elements and other biogeochemical features illustrates the great dynamics of the soil system over time scales of decades to centuries.</p> / Dissertation

Dendrochronological techniques are currently limited to the identification of visible fire scars. However, through the development of new dendrochemical techniques, the potential exists to provide insight into a broader array of pyric ecosystems. In addition, the ability to identify historic climate-growth responses provides a better understanding of the conditions under which historic fire regimes occurred. This study provides the groundwork for the identification of a dendrochemical nutrient fire signature in xylem and identifies the climate-radial growth responses of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on five sites in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Changes in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, S, and Na concentrations in xylem as a result of a single fire were examined. The influences of monthly mean temperature, monthly total precipitation, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Palmer Hydrological Drought Index (PHDI), and selected ocean-atmospheric oscillations such as El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) on radial growth using univariate and multivariate techniques were also assessed. Soil and duff analyses indicated sites were similar, but nutrient poor. Xylem mobile and immobile nutrient concentration analyses differed significantly through time for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, and S. No interactions were significant, thus identification of a nutrient fire signature was unsuccessful. The lack of significant interactions is attributed to the methodology used to collect the xylem nutrient samples; however, immobile nutrients indicate the most potential for future research. Climate-tree growth analyses indicate climate plays a role in the growth of mature loblolly pine in the South Carolina Piedmont. Temperature, precipitation, PDSI, positive phase NAO, and positive phase PDO are the primary drivers of loblolly pine radial growth. Temporal consistency results suggest drought sensitivity increases with tree age. Unlike the climate variables, the relationships between ocean-atmospheric oscillations and radial growth appear to be more cyclical in nature and only influence growth in positive phases.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--North Carolina State University. / Includes vita. UMI number: 3098978. Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-115).

The changes in the occurrence of amphibian were monitored in the region of Novohradske mountains and in its foothills in seasons 2009-2010. Observation was focused on the presence of 11 species of amphibian in 31 selected locations. The results confirmed a significant decrease in the frequency of the species: Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), Alpine Newt (Mesotriton alpestris), Warty Newt (Triturus cristatus) and synklepton Pelophylax synklepton esculentus. A mild decrease by European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea) and Common Spadefood (Pelobates fuscus). The balanced condition was found out by Fired Bellied Toad (Bombina bombina) and Yellow Bellied Toad (Bombina variegata), Common Toad (Bufo bufo), Grass Frog (Rana temporaria), Moor Frog (Rana arvalis) and Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina). Species were determined according to morphological characters. Observed data were compared with results of surveys of monitored sites from years 1999-2004.

Title: Geophysical survey for deep geothermal energy exploitation at the site Nova Paka Author: Magda Karousová Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Miloš Karous, DrSc. Supervisor's e-mail address: karous@geonika.com The topic of this thesis is a literature search of geological, geophysical, and geothermal information about wider surroundings of the area of Nova Paka and a complete geophysical survey focused on mapping of deeper fault zones and verification of Permo-Carboniferous sediments thickness. The area has been preliminarily assessed as promising for the use of deep geothermal energy. It belongs to the south-western part of Krkonoše Piedmont Basin. The bedrock of the basin is formed by Proterozoic metamorphites. Heating of surrounding rocks by intrusions of local volcanics during the Younger Tertiary is considered important for geothermal applications. The cover of metamorphic bedrock by sediments may indicate accumulation of the heat from the bedrock at relatively shallow depths of several hundred meters. Geophysical measurements, namely reflection and refraction seismics, gravimetry and resistivity profiling identified two major fault zones of east-west and northwest-southeast direction. The interpretation of the data obtained by geophysical sounding methods, namely seismic reflection and vertical...

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Site preparation is fundamental for establishing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations, but long-term sustainability of plantations established using mechanical treatments is in question because of concerns regarding soil tillage and the removal of harvest residue and soil organic matter. A study was installed in 1981 on 12 locations in northeastern Georgia and west-central South Carolina to evaluate pine plantation response to mechanical site preparation. Site preparation treatments induced gradients of organic matter manipulation and soil tillage. The treatments included: Control, Chop/Burn, Shear/Disc, Shear/V-Blade, Shear/Rake, and Shear/Rake/Pile. Research was conducted to address the following objectives: (i) compare rotation-age forest response to several intensive site preparation treatments used to establish pine plantations in the Piedmont of the southeastern United States; (ii) correlate growth response with the gradients of soil organic matter removal, soil tillage, and hardwood control; (iii) determine the influence of intensive management on the amount of carbon contained in pine plantations. All site preparation treatments increased year-18 volume accumulation compared to the control treatment. Chop/Burn and Shear/Disc treatments, with pine volumes of 214 m3 ha-1 and 232 m3 ha-1, respectively, conserved harvest residue and out-performed the Shear/Rake treatment (191 m3 ha-1), which completely removed harvest residue. Treatments that included tillage provided growth benefits that lasted throughout the rotation even when tillage was accompanied by complete organic matter removal. Hardwood competition had the greatest influence on pine volume accumulation, explaining over 54% of the variation in pine growth at age 18. Treatments that included tillage most effectively controlled hardwood competition. At year 18, site preparation treatments significantly affected soil organic matter (SOM) content; however, soil nitrogen, foliar nitrogen, bulk density, and macroporosity were not affected by site preparation. All treatments were equally deficient in foliar nitrogen. The Shear/Disc and Shear/Rake/Disc treatments had a significantly positive relationship between foliar nitrogen and pine volume. These treatments had lower hardwood basal areas (below 15%), indicating that once hardwoods were controlled, nitrogen became limiting to pine growth. Using pre-harvest characterization data, carbon accumulation during old-field succession increased fourfold compared to agricultural sites on the nearby Calhoun Experimental Forest. Carbon accumulation on these old-field loblolly pine sites reached quasi-equilibrium after 40 years as shown by uncut reference stands. Site preparation significantly affected the amount of soil C in the upper 20 cm of the soil. Those site preparation treatments that removed harvest residue and accelerated SOM decomposition through tillage had the lowest soil carbon levels. The Shear/Rake/Disc treatment had 10% lower soil carbon content than the Control and Shear/V-Blade treatments. / Master of Science

The effect of ice damage on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in the Piedmont region of Virginia was examined to discover if management decisions can minimize net present value losses. A simulation approach was used for the analysis. Loblolly pine plantations were simulated using the growth and yield model, Trulob. Ice damage was factored into the model using prediction equations from a previous study. A decision tree framework was used to determine which management plans resulted in the highest net present value. The results show that ice storms can cause significant losses to the net present value of loblolly plantations. In most instances changing management plans could not minimize losses. In situations where altering management plans can result in higher net present values if ice occurs, landowners should also be aware of the suboptimal net present value they will be returned if these plans are followed and no ice storms occur. / Master of Science

X-ray diffraction studies of 29 Virginia Blue Ridge and Piedmont soil profiles and petrographic examinations of the parent rocks reveal that even after prolonged chemical weathering, physical and mineralogical differences exist between soil types which are due largely to changes in the parent rock, and to a lesser extent changes in the topography. Soils developed from different source rocks can be distinguished on the basis of color, texture, degree of contrast between horizons, and depth to fresh rock. The clay minerals of such soils differ in their distribution, amount and kind. The role of parent material in soil and clay mineral formation is a complex function of several variables: (1) chemical composition (2) mineralogical composition (3) rock texture and (4) rock structure. Soils developed from calcium-aluminum rich rocks or from basic rocks which have structures or textures not conducive to good drainage are characterized by kaolin and montmorillonite clay minerals and by dense plastic, poorly drained, clayey subsoils. In all other soils and in the surface horizon of these soils, the major clay minerals are kaolin and vermiculite. Topography affects the degree of profile development, color, and soil texture and controls the rate of clay mineral accumulation and weathering. The climates of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont are most favorable to the formation of kaolin minerals. However, greater amounts of kaolinite appear to be formed in the warmer Piedmont climate and more vermiculite in the cooler Blue Ridge climate. The most important mechanism for clay mineral formation is probably by direct alteration of the primarily silicate minerals. The distribution of these clays in the profile is determined by the weathering stability of the primary silicate. All ferromagnesium silicates weather to 14 A clay minerals. An intermediate 14 A chlorite phase was not observed. The most common product is vermiculite. The formation of montmorillonite is controlled by the four parent material factors listed above. Hornblende and augite are the chief source materials of montmorillonite. Biotite possibly weathers to montmorillonite if the internal drainage is strongly retarded. Montmorillonite weathers to vermiculite in the surface horizons. Kaolinite forms early in the profile during the weathering of feldspar. Medium- to coarse-grained muscovite is also a source of kaolinite. There was no evidence found to indicate that kaolinite is a weathering product of the 12 A clay minerals. Illite occurs in minor amounts in a few micaceous profiles but appears to be the result of mechanical break-down of larger mica particles. / Master of Science