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NZJFS - Volume 40 (2010)
Volume 40 (2010)
The New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science will have a biosecurity focus this year. Volume 40 will include the proceedings of the IUFRO* International Forest Biosecurity Conference held in Rotorua, New Zealand from 16 to 20 March 2009. A special supplement to Volume 40 will also be published. This supplement will contain the proceedings of a biosecurity workshop, held at the Conference on 17 March 2009. This workshop was sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to explore the different perspectives of scientists, policy makers and forest managers. Overall, the scope of the Journal continues to cover the breadth of forestry science. Plantation forestry remains a particular focus but manuscripts on a wide range of forestry topics, such as tropical species, climate change, and policy will also be considered. Updated 20 January 2010
OECD Co-operative Research Programme sponsored workshop - Supplement to Volume 40
Content Snapshots. Period: 21 December 2009 – 8 March 2010
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A review of New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis (D.Don) Lindl.): its ecology, history, growth and potential for management for timber.
Steward & Beveridge (pp.33-59) review the ecology, history, growth and uses of kauri (Agathis australis (D.Don) Lindl.), the only member of the Araucariaceae indigenous to New Zealand.Author(s) Steward, G. A., & Beveridge, A. E. Publication Date 08/03/2010 Conference Subject Review ISSN 1179-5395 File size 2.8 mb Volume 40 Kauri (Agathis australis (D.Don) Lindl.) is endemic to New Zealand, where it is the only indigenous member of the Araucariaceae. It has the most southerly distribution of any species in the genus and is currently confined to the warm temperate areas of the North Island. At the time of European settlement, forests containing kauri covered 1 000 000 ha or more in New Zealand. Following uncontrolled logging, land clearance for alternative land use and destruction by fire, only 7500 ha of virgin or primary forest remain, mainly in conservation reserves. An additional 60 000 ha of scrub/shrubland and secondary forest contain varying amounts of regenerating kauri.
Kauri is reputed to produce greater volumes of wood from single stems than any other timber tree in the world. Its timber is regarded as one of the finest due to qualities of decay resistance and dimensional stability under moist conditions. A wide range of products was developed by Maori and European settlers. Kauri timber and gum made a substantial contribution to the physical and economic development of New Zealand between 1830 and 1900.
Agathis australis shares a number of biological characteristics with lowland Agathis species found in the tropics and subtropics. These include a juvenile form with narrow tapering crown; mature emergent trees with massive, spreading, dome-shaped crowns and upwardly-arched branches; self-pruning in sapling and pole-stage trees; flaking bark; wind-dispersed, small-winged seeds formed in cones that disintegrate at time of seed maturity while still on the tree; and only a few months of seed viability after shedding. Juvenile trees with taproots and mature trees with wide-spreading lateral roots and descending peg roots are windfirm, assisting longevity. Although surviving trees of massive dimensions (3–5 m diameter) are usually hollow, their life span may be 1500 years or more. Large kauri have a podsolising effect on some acidic soils, making them less fertile. Efficiency in the use of water and nutrients has enabled the species to become dominant on infertile and drought-prone ridge tops. Observations of growth in natural stands indicate mean annual increment of 2.5–6.0 mm in diameter and 0.3 m in height.
Interplanting of kauri in scrub and shrubland developed on former kauri forest sites has produced poor results. Mean annual increments of 6.9 mm in diameter and 0.44 m in height have been recorded in young untended plantations. Greater success has been achieved through attention to site selection, improved establishment techniques and silvicultural tending. The most suitable sites for planting are those with fertile, well-drained, light-textured soils, a warm, humid climate, and a history of previous occupation by broadleaved (angiosperm) plant species. Current research suggests that rotation length can be reduced by best-practice management, and that planted stands could be a continuing source of kauri timber in the future. -
Sawing and grade recovery of 25-year-old Eucalyptus fastigata, E. globoidea, E. muelleriana and E. pilularis.
Jones et al. (pp. 19-31) evaluated the processing characteristics of four Eucalyptus species at 25 years of age to determine if these species could be used to produce high-quality timber on shorter rotations. The butt- and second logs of 15 trees of each species were quarter-sawn and flat-sawn respectively, and the boards assessed for shrinkage and distortion, visual and mechanical properties, and surface hardness.Author(s) Jones, T. G., McConnochie, R. M., Shelbourne, T., & Low, C. B. Publication Date 19/02/2010 Conference Research Article ISSN 1179-5395 File size 801.4 kb Volume 40 The processing characteristics of 25-year-old Eucalyptus fastigata Deane et Maiden, E.globoidea Blakely, E. muelleriana Howitt and E. pilularis Sm. from Rotoehu Forest, New Zealand, were evaluated to determine if these species could be used to produce high-quality timber on shorter rotations. The butt- and second logs of 15 trees of each species were quarter-sawn and flat-sawn respectively, and the boards assessed for shrinkage and distortion, visual and mechanical properties, and surface hardness.
Growth-stress release during sawing, combined with end-checking during drying, resulted in board end-splitting that reduced the sawn recovery in E. fastigata compared with the other species, and produced high levels of crook in the quarter-sawn boards of all species. There was no surface checking and little or no drying collapse and internal checking.
The proportions of visual clears and No.1 cuttings grades were low, particularly for E.muelleriana and E. pilularis, due to the presence of knots. The boards of all species had high values of density, modulus of elasticity and surface hardness, and machine stress grades of MSG10 to MSG15.
These species have the potential to produce high-quality timber on 25-year rotations, but pruning will be required to improve visual grades so that a higher proportion of boards can be used in appearance applications. -
Determining and projecting realised genetic gains: Results from early-stage spruce improvement programmes in New Brunswick, Canada.
Weng et al. (pp 5 - 17) investigated realised gains from planting improved seedlots in large plots representing early-stage tree improvement activities for Black Spruce and White Spruce in New Brunswick, Canada. Realised gains in this study differed greatly from those observed in the corresponding genetic tests using small-plots. This suggests that using a small plot size for trials could greatly bias the actual gains possible on a plantation-scale, particularly when using seedlots obtained from orchards.Author(s) Weng, Y, Tosh, K, & Fullarton, M. Publication Date 20/01/2010 Conference Research Article ISSN 1179-5395 File size 677.1 kb Volume 40 Two series of realised genetic gain tests of large plots, one for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and one for white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), were established in the early 1990s in New Brunswick, Canada, to investigate realised gains from planting improved seedlots representing early-stage tree improvement activities. Individual-tree growth was recorded up to age 15 (one-quarter of their rotation age). Four improved seedlots were included in the black spruce gain test. Planting the superior stand seedlot (CAN101) could obtain moderate gain (7.0% in volume/tree and 3.5% in volume/ha at age 15). Growth improvement for the seedlot (UNROG) collected from a seedling seed orchard (FRA_SSO) established using phenotypically selected plus trees was negligible but genetic roguing improved the FRA_SSO seedlot's growth, resulting in 3.3 and 2.1% increase in 15-yr volume per tree and per hectare, respectively. The highest gain was observed by deploying the elite half-sib family (01-15), which resulted in a gain of 27.6% in 15-yr volume/ha. Three improved seedlots were included in the white spruce realised-gain test. The seedlot (OVSSO) collected from a provenance seedling seed orchard had 9.2% more volume/ha at age 15 years. Much higher gains were observed in the seedlots collected from an unrogued clonal seed orchard (DNR_CSO). Mixed cone collections from the DNR_CSO achieved 25.6% more volume/ha at age 15 than the unimproved seedlot. Practicing supplemental mass pollination with unimproved pollen in the DNR_CSO greatly reduced its seedlot gains, i.e. 12.9% in 15-yr volume/ha. In both tests, the gain varied with age or site index. Realised gains in this study differed greatly from those observed in the corresponding genetic tests using small-plots. This suggests that using a small plot size for trials could greatly bias the actual gains possible on a plantation-scale, particularly when using seedlots obtained from orchards. -
Editorial
NZJFS Editor , Dr Ruth Falshaw, introduces Volume 40.Author(s) Falshaw, R. Publication Date 20/01/2010 Conference Editorial ISSN 1179-5395 File size 245.4 kb Volume 40
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KEY CONTACTS
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Ruth Falshaw
Editor, New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science