This study combines research on soil physical and chemical properties as affected by four Eucalyptus species in Ruhande arboretum. The soil samples for research properties were taken from 0-20 cm depth using auger and one undisturbed core from each sampling unit was taken for the analysis of soil bulk density. Soil bulk density and moisture did not differ significantly between all treatments. Sand proportions differed significantly only between E. tereticornis and E. maidenii whereas silt and clay were non-significant. The soil under Eucalyptus was sandy, with sand proportion ranging from 66.4-71%. Bulk density increased with increasing sand whereas moisture content showed a reverse trend. The soil samples for studying chemical properties were taken as described in Nsabimana et al. 2008. All chemical parameters except base saturation differed significantly between treatments. Soil pH was strongly acidic but rich in total nitrogen and organic carbon which was attributed to higher litter production, its relatively faster rate of decomposition, and greater amount of residues produced by the eucalypts. Carbon/nitrogen ratio, CEC, and BS were high under all treatments while the available phosphorus was lower which was attributed to the low pH. Future studies should test if the species similarly affect the soil or not and confirm if the species increase soil nutrients. Benchmarked study sites should be used to enable differences in the species effects on the site if any.

During the 20th century, managers at sandy nurseries utilized sulphur (S) to lower soil pH and mitigate the risk of iron deficiency. During that time, however, applying S as a fertilizer was a rare event. At many nurseries, S in rain and irrigation water was sufficient to avoid visual deficiency symptoms. The S status of soil and foliage was typically unknown, and many researchers did not test for S due to the additional cost. Consequently, S became the most neglected macronutrient. While a few nursery trials demonstrated that elemental S reduced damping-off and increased height growth, a majority showed no benefit after applying S at rates lower than 100 kg ha-1.  Even so, by 1980, S-deficiencies occurred at bareroot nurseries in Alabama, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wisconsin, the United Kingdom, and likely in North Dakota and New York. The risk of a deficiency increases when N-only fertilizers are applied to seedbeds. Due to research, experience and the precautionary principle, several managers transitioned to using ammonium sulfate instead of, less expensive, N-only nitrogen fertilizers. After soil tests became affordable, managers began to ask questions about the need to apply S to seedbeds. Only a few hydroponic trials with small pine seedlings have been used to estimate “threshold” or “critical values” for foliar S.  Since an initial 1,500 μg g-1 S value is “unreliable” for pine seedlings, some authors lowered the value to 1,100 μg g-1 and even as low as 500 μg g-1 S. Others ignore all estimates based on total S concentrations and, instead, monitor only foliar SO4 levels.

In this paper the variability of morphological (needle length and needle width) and anatomical (needle thickness, resin ducts width, epidermis thickness, hypodermis height and number of the hypodermis layers) properties of black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold) needles were studied at the intra- and inter-population levels. Two mountains in Serbia, Jastrebac and Goč, were selected as experimental plots. Three black pine trees were selected from both localities (6 in total). Obtained results showed that trees on Goč had bigger dimensions of the following elements: needle length, needle width, hypodermis height, number of hypodermis layers, needle thickness and epidermis thickness. On the other hand, only resin ducts width was greater by the trees from Jastrebac. The results of the analysis of variance showed that variation between studied populations, as well as variation between trees within populations was statistically significant for all needle traits except resin ducts width and hypodermis height.

Lowland pedunculate oak forests in the alluvium of the river Sava are of a great economic and ecological importance. Their growth and development features, and their survival, as well, mostly depend on soil moisture and available water. The paper deals with the influence of groundwater level on pedunculate oak forests condition in flooded area of Donji Srem. During four-year long research, the average (reference) groundwater level was determined, and extremes, the wettest and the driest year, were determined based on climate factors such as temperature and rainfalls. Deviation of the average from the reference groundwater level in the vegetation period during some years indicates possibility of risk zones presence. These zones are defined according to geostatistical analysis – ArcGIS, Kriging model and they are very significant for forestry practice, because they can predict some drought events and warn forestry experts to react in time in order to prevent big damages. Bearing in mind that investigated area is flooded, and that groundwater level is close to the soil surface, these anaerobic site conditions are obviously more suitable for another hygrophilous species than for pedunculate oak.

As a part of networking activities of PEN-CAFoRR COST Action (CA19128), the combined meeting took place in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel from 15 to 16 March 2023. In addition to the Core Group and Working Groups Meeting, a Thematic Workshop was organized by the local organizer Dr Ilan Stavi.

The paper presents the study on the condition and structural stability of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands after the 2014 ice storm disturbance. The research was conducted in three pure beech stands on the Rtanj mountain in eastern Serbia. The stand condition after the ice storm was analyzed using changes in taxation elements. The assessment of tree damage was done according to the ICP Forests methodology, while the structural stability of the stands and individual trees was analyzed using the slenderness coefficient. The obtained results indicate very heterogeneous responses of beech stands to the negative impact of the ice storm. Heterogeneity is not only expressed between stands but also within individual stands. The stands after the ice storm are characterized by significantly reduced values of production indicators, but also by satisfactory stability, considering that the trees from the understory suffered the most. Statistically significant differences in the stability of trees of different dimensions expressed through the slenderness coefficient were determined. Consequently, the stands have maintained an appropriate level of stability thanks to the survival and resistance of the dominant trees that are the bearers of functions in these stands (trees with dbh > 40 cm). This indicates the great potential of silvicultural treatments that can increase the stability and resistance of stands in areas with a high risk of such phenomena. In addition, repressive action in the form of salvage logging has a very important role with the aim of ensuring the continuity of stands after damage has occurred.

The study assessed the carbon sequestration of Tectona grandis Linn. F. in five age series (11-15 years old), at the University of Ilorin, north-central Nigeria. Data were collected using a stratified sampling technique and twenty square plots of 25 m × 25 m were laid. A non-destructive method was used to determine the biomass of the trees. Tree enumerations were carried out for diameters at the base, top, middle, diameter at breast height (DBH), and height. Soil samples at two different depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) were collected and analyzed to obtain soil organic carbon. The results were summarized using descriptive statistics, while the relationship between tree growth variables and carbon stock was assessed using correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that tree carbon stocks were 230.05 t ha-1, 362.35 t ha-1, 277.48 t ha-1, 216.40 t ha-1, and 126.20 t ha-1 for 11 years old (2012), 12 years old (2011), 13 years old (2010), 14 years old (2009) and 15 years old (2008) age series, respectively. The soil organic carbon stocks were 1.1025 t ha-1, 0.6253 t ha-1, 1.2019 t ha-1, 1.4070 t ha-1 and 0.7615 t ha-1 for 11 years old (2012), 12 years old (2011), 13 years old (2010), 14 years old (2009) and 15 years old (2008) age series, respectively. The study also revealed that the 14-year-old (2009) age series had the highest carbon stock, and the total carbon stock estimate was 151,850.84 t. The potential cash value of the carbon stock was also estimated at $91,894.40 t C ha-1 and the total PCV was $56,606,951.50. Correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation between most of the growth variables and carbon stock. The regression equation (Y = -596.48 + 27.16 THT + 1238.34 DBH, Adj R2 = 82.7%) showed that DBH and height of trees are suitable for evaluating the carbon stock in the study area.

Predicting future yields normally requires an estimate of site quality.  A commonly used measure is site index (SI). SI is often incorrectly quantified operationally due to the ambiguity associated with selecting “site” trees.  Plus, error in the measurement of height itself occurs.  This study quantifies the impacts on the number and timing of thinnings, and the final harvest ages, as well as financial returns when incorrectly determining SI.  Three values of SI (base age 25 years) were examined using two older generation loblolly pine plantation growth and yield simulation models from the Western Gulf, USA; 16.76 m, 21.34 m, and 25.91 m.  Firstly, a particular SI was assumed to be the “true” value, growth and yield estimates were obtained, and financial assessments were conducted.  The same process was then conducted again, but assuming that the SI was incorrectly determined by varying positively and negatively the SI by up to 1.22 m from the assumed “true” value. For these older generation plantations, incorrectly determining SI did impact the age of the first thinning by as much as 5 years.  In some cases, errors of +/- 1.22 m in SI estimation had little impact on the estimated timing of the first thinning.  Errors in SI of up to +/- 1.22 m had little impact on the number of thinnings across economic rotation ages. For both unthinned and twice-thinned stands, final harvest (clearcut) ages differed by as much as 4 years for SI errors up to +/- 1.22 m.  These errors led to differences in Land Expectation Value (LEV) up to $406.50 ha-1.  Across the three SI (16.76, 21.34, and 25.91 m), differences in LEV ranged from $237.49 to $406.50 ha-1.  These differences in LEV could be enough to incorrectly not conduct, or incorrectly conduct, a silvicultural operation such as an herbicide treatment or a fertilization treatment across a rotation, among other treatments.

This analysis compares the growth and yield of 16-year-old shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) planted on retired fields near Holly Springs in north Mississippi.  The 1-0 bareroot shortleaf seedlings were planted in early March of 2005, while bareroot 1-0 loblolly pine 2nd-generation seedlings were planted during the third week of March in 2005.  For both species, the site was subsoiled.  Within the plantations of each species, four plots were established for each species and total height and diameter at breast height (dbh) were measured.  Volumes were then estimated using appropriate combined-variable volume equations.  Loblolly pine had substantially greater growth rates relative to shortleaf pine, producing on average across the four plots (n = 4) 48.4 m-2 of basal area ha-1.  This basal area was 42.6% greater than the 34.0 m-2 of basal area ha-1 observed within the shortleaf pine.  For merchantable volume, defined as all trees with a dbh of 10.16 cm and greater up to a diameter-outside bark (dob) of 5.08 cm, the loblolly pine m-3 volume ha-1 of 424 was 2.36 times greater than that of shortleaf pine.  Merchantable volumes were converted to tons and a revenue of $3.61 was assumed per ton of pulpwood.  A theoretical 3rd row thinning with no logger select of the remaining rows was conducted – hence the thinning was assumed to remove 33% of the standing merchantable yield.  Loblolly pine had a stumpage value of $97.39 ha-1 which was 136% greater than the shortleaf pine economic value of $41.23 ha-1.

Container production of forest seedlings needs constant improvement, so in the aim to test the new container type this research was conducted. Quercus robur seedlings were produced in the container made of natron paper and compared  with seedlings produced in commonly used container types in Serbia. Q. robur seeds were sown in the first week of November 2020 in a total of 30 containers (10 of each type). After the first growing season in the nursery, on November 2021, seedlings’ morphological parameters (root collar diameter - RCD, height - H, dry weight of shoot (SDW) and root (RDW), seedling dry weight (SLDW), shoot to root ratio (S:R), sturdiness coefficient (SQ), dry weight of lateral roots (LRDW), percent of lateral roots (%LR), Dickson’s quality index (QI), root-bound index (RBI) as RBI-diameter and RBI-volume, and rooting intensity (ROIN)) were compared using one-way ANOVA. Seedlings produced in the new container showed better morphological parameters such as H, SQ, SDW, RDW, SLDW, LRDW, QI and ROIN. Differences of seedlings from different containers were not detected for H, RCD, SQ, SDW, %LR, RBI-diameter, so we can conclude that seedlings produced in the new container type are similar with other container seedlings. Larger volume of these cells indicate use for Quercus species which have strong roots. Results obtained from the nursery promote use of the new container in forest seedlings production and testing at the field.