Wei TX¹, YH Liu^2,1

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.85, pp. 305-313, 2016, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2016.85.305

Abstract Soil erosion is one of most serious environmental and production problems on the Loess Plateau in China. The objectives of this study were to quantify the influence of forest vegetation on soil erosion on slope areas in the Loess Plateau. This was made by using the subfactor method to calculate the vegetation cover management factor (C) of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Proper local subfactor parameter values were obtained to offer a theoretical basis and practical guidance for studying the relationship between vegetation and soil erosion on the Loess Plateau. Three subfactors including prior land use (PLU), canopy cover… More >

Blazquez FR^1,2,3, DV Peláez^1,3,4, RJ Andrioli¹, OR Elia^1,2,3

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.83, pp. 397-405, 2014, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2014.83.397

Abstract The interaction between woody and grass species in semi-arid rangelands of central Argentina was assessed through the evaluation of the impact of woody species on grass growth over a 2-y period. The study comprised two morpho-physiologically different woody species and two cool-season perennial grass species highly preferred by domestic livestock. The study involved the assessment of total green length (TGL) and number of green leaves (NGL) per tiller in grasses growing beneath the canopy of woody species and in open rangeland areas. Soil temperature, pH and water, nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter content were estimated at the same study sites.… More >

Wang XL^1,2, Z Zhao¹, JE Quan¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.80, pp. 93-100, 2011, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2011.80.093

Abstract Robinia pseudoacacia (locust hereafter) is an ornamental tree with various uses. Both homologous tetraploid (tetraploid hereafter) and diploid cultivars are commercially available. The tetraploids have advantageous traits, but poor germinability, and cuttings are difficult to root. Since auxin applications can promote rooting, we evaluated the effects of dipping cuttings in various indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) concentrations for four hours on rooting parameters. IBA significantly affected all measured parameters of both tetraploid and diploids cuttings. Tetraploid cuttings produced no roots without IBA. The effects were strongest at 1000 and 800 mg/L IBA for tetraploids and diploids, respectively. Values for tetraploids and diploids… More >

Peláez¹ DV, HD Giorgetti², OA Montenegro², OR Elia³, GD Rodríguez², RM Bóo^1,*, MD Mayor^4,*,*, CA Busso³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.79, pp. 169-176, 2010, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2010.79.169

Abstract Fire is a major ecological process within most terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, understanding the vegetation response to fire is essential to its management. Our objective was to study the effect of a controlled fire, conducted at the end of summer season, on cover and density of the most common woody and herbaceous species in Phytogeographical Province of the Monte, Argentina. In general, after the control fire, the woody species mean percentage cover was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the fire treatment than in the control (no controlled fire). This effect was persistent during the study period. No significant differences (p>0.05) were detected… More >

Peláez DV¹, HD Giorgetti², OA Montenegro², OR Elia³, GD Rodríguez², FR Blazquez³, RJ Andrioli³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.86, pp. 325-331, 2017, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2017.86.325

Abstract The objective of this work was to study the effect of a controlled fire and/or roller-chopping on foliar cover and density of the most conspicuous woody and forage perennial grass species in the south of the Phytogeographical Province of the Monte, Argentina. All control treatments reduced the woody species mean percentage cover. This reduction persisted during the whole study period. Nevertheless, the woody species tended to recover their percentage cover towards the end of study. At the end of the study period, significant differences (P<0.05) were only detected between the control and controlled burn plus roller-chopping treatment. No significant differences… More >

Jianar A, JH Yuan, YF Yang

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 32-39, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.032

Abstract Ulmus macrocarpa Hance can form monodominant woodlands in the semiarid Keerqin sandy lands, China. Methods of sampling at meter intervals from the bases of trees at the woodland edges and isolated trees, respectively, were employed along vertical sections in different directions. Using statistical methods based on the density function of the Weibull distribution, the patterns of seed dispersal and the spatial expansion response of U. macrocarpa, which is a typical anemochorous plant, were analyzed. Although as an effect of the wind direction varying owing to the monsoon, there were differences in the degree of dispersal of seeds in terms of… More >

Jiawei Chen¹, Haibei Xiong^1,*, Zhifang Wang¹, Linqing Yang²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1147-1164, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07642

Abstract Wood and wood-based composite materials have gained increasing attention in the sustainable building industry because of their renewability and environmental friendliness. Oriented oblique strand lumber (Eucalyptus Strand Wood, ESWood), which is manufactured from fast-growing small diameter eucalyptus wood (Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis), is introduced in this paper. Small clear specimen tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of ESWood material while full-scale component tests were performed to observe the structural performance of ESWood beams. A comparison of mechanical properties of ESWood with other wood/bamboo-based materials is then reported. From the results presented herein, it appears that the strength… More >

Nadezda Stevulova^1,*, Viola Hospodarova¹, Adriana Estokova¹, Eva Singovszka¹, Marian Holub¹, Stefan Demcak¹, Jaroslav Briancin², Anton Geffert³, Frantisek Kacik³, Vojtech Vaclavik⁴, Tomas Dvorsky⁴

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1121-1145, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07556

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize two types of cellulosic fibers obtained from bleached wood pulp and unbleached recycled waste paper with different cellulose content (from 47.4 percent up to 82 percent), to compare and to analyze the potential use of the recycled fibers for building application, such as plastering mortar. Changes in the chemical composition, cellulose crystallinity and degree of polymerization of the fibers were found. The recycled fibers of lower quality showed heterogeneity in the fiber sizes (width and length), and they had greater surface roughness in comparison to high purity wood pulp samples. The high… More >

T. Dipin¹, T. V. Jinitha¹, E. Purushothaman^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1109-1119, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07636

Abstract The present work mainly focuses on the estimation of various components and the extraction of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from non- wood sources like Country Almond/Badam shell through acid hydrolysis. This hydrolyzed MCC was successfully used as reinforcement for development of biocomposites. Country Almond/Badam trees are found all over Kerala, India and they give nuts once in a year. Usually the nut shells are discarded and are becoming one of the sources of agricultural waste. During this investigation various components were isolated from the Country Almond shells and they were characterised using different spectral and analytical techniques thereby the composition of… More >

Yun Zhang¹, Lingfeng Zhang², Zhiwei Shan³, Lu Wang^1,*, Weiqing Liu¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.7, No.11, pp. 1093-1108, 2019, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2019.07335

Abstract It is well known that the use of woods as construction materials can embody carbon content of structural members, which can enhance the urban sustainability. However, due to the combustibility of wood, its current application is restricted. To broaden the application of wood, its thermal responses exposed to fire (high temperature) is investigated in this study. Firstly, the wood kinetic parameters are determined by coats-redfern method using thermal gravimetric (TGA) data. Secondly, the density and thermal conductivity are obtained from parallel and series models. Thirdly, the specific heat capacity formula is presented considering latent and decomposition heat, which can be… More >