Agriculture

  2009 DEC 3 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from the United States, "A research study was established to test the effectiveness of fiber mats and native seed mixtures in reducing soil erosion from newly constructed skid roads in the Elk River watershed in central West Virginia. Six road sections received fiber mat and native grass seed and were paired with randomly selected sections of equal grade receiving no treatments. ...read more

  2009 DEC 3 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to recent research published in the Western Journal of Applied Forestry, "Data derived from empirical studies, coupled with modeling and simulation techniques, were used to compare tree and product quality from two stands of small-diameter ponderosa pine trees growing in northern California: one plantation, the other natural. The plantation had no management following establishment, and the natural stand had no active management Fifty trees of similar diameter classes were selected from each site, measured, bucked into logs, and sawn into boards, and the boards were scanned for defects. ...read more

  2009 DEC 3 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Many hardwood or mixedwood stands of northeastern North America have been high graded in the past and need restoration treatments to bring them back to an acceptable level of production. Even when early seedling establishment can be secured, further development may be compromised by many factors," scientists in Canada report.

  "This study looks of the effect of seedbed, browsing, and competition on the growth and survival of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) seedlings that became established after a brushing and scarification treatment applied in high-graded mixedwood stands of Quebec, Canada. The seedbed types studied include I-m-wide scarified patches, 2-m-wide scarified patches, and mounds. Browsing impact was assessed by placing fences around half of the plots. Half of the plots were released from competing vegetation. Browsing by hare (Lepus americanus) was seen as a major factor controlling seedling development between 3 and 6 years after scarification. It reduced both survival and growth and obscured the effect of other factors. in the absence of browsing, competition had a major effect on mounds but not on scarified patches. Mounds were found to have the best growth potential when competition and browsing were controlled The scarified patches had the best growth when competition and browsing were allowed," wrote J.G. Elie and colleagues ...read more