Treesearch

Seeds of many native species are challenging to germinate. One important thing a grower can do is to learn as much as possible about the life history, ecology, and habitat of the species he or she wishes to grow to understand the processes seeds from each target species go through in nature. Any observations will be valuable when trying to germinate and grow species that have little or no published information available. How seeds are handled, treated, and sown can affect the genetic diversity and the quality of the crop produced. Growers need to balance the desire for uniform crops and...

As any experienced grower knows only too well, nursery management is a continuous process of solving problems. One recurring problem is pests. In the past, nursery managers waited for an insect or disease to appear and then sprayed some toxic chemical to wipe out the pest or disease. This approach, however, also wipes out natural predators of the pest, resulting in an expensive and repeating pesticide cycle. Instead of a knee-jerk reaction to a specific problem, “holistic” pest management is a series of interrelating processes that are incorporated into the entire spectrum of nursery...

Survival and growth after outplanting are the ultimate tests of nursery plant quality. After the nursery plants are established in the field, they will provide many benefits to the environment by improving soil quality, enhancing biodiversity, inhibiting establishment of invasive plants, sequestering carbon, restoring native plant populations, providing windbreaks, creating wildlife habitat, and preventing soil erosion. In addition, established native and traditional plants can provide food, fuel, medicines, crafts, animal fodder, beautification, and many other benefits. Careful planning...

For a 3-year period, from 2010-2012, the New Mexico Forestry Division utilized contractors to collect Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data in New Mexico. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the State partnered with the Interior West FIA Program. Together, both agencies collected data on approximately 6,450 plots. This effort represents the largest statewide inventory of forest and woodlands to date for New Mexico. The data collection schedule deviated from standard FIA protocols of collecting annual panels of data each year; in contrast, this project collected...

In the United States, increased wildland fire activity over the last 15 years has resulted in increased pressure to balance the cost, benefits, and risks of wildfire management. Amid increased public scrutiny and a highly variable wildland fire environment, a substantial body of research has developed to study factors affecting the cost-effectiveness of wildfire management activities. This book examines the state-of-the-art in the economics of wildfire management. The introductory chapter presents the broad goal of the book: to take stock of research to-date on the economics of wildfire...

Intermountain Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm) stands affected by the spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) represent a unique and growing fuel complex. In this study, we quantified and compared the changes in moisture content, chemistry, and flammability of foliage from trees in three crown condition classes: unattacked (green [G]), currently mass attacked (green-infested [GI]), and mass attacked the previous year (yellow [Y]) over the course of a fire season. GI trees displayed highly variable decreases in moisture content both between trees and within...

Our objective was to evaluate oxyfluorfen for control of birdseye pearlwort (Sagina procumbens L.) in a bareroot nursery crop of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) seedlings. Oxyfluorfen applied at rates up to 0.56 kg a.i./ha in a split-plot experiment with combinations and frequencies of pre- and postemergence sprays gave minimal control of birdseye pearlwort. Although preemergence rates 0.42 kg a.i./ha or greater reduced western larch emergence 10% compared with the control, final seedling inventory was similar for rates 0.42 kg a.i./ha or less. Seedlings receiving 0.42 kg a.i./ha...

Projections indicate that natural plant adaptation and migration may not keep pace with climate changes. This mismatch in rates will pose significant challenges for practitioners that select, grow, and outplant native tree species. Populations of native tree species planted today must be able to meet the climatic challenges they will face during this century. One strategy to meet this challenge is assisted migration, the intentional movement of plant materials in response to climate change to maximize survival and curtail maladaptation. For successful assisted migration, climate changes...

This handbook was written for anyone endeavoring to start and operate a nursery for native and traditional plants in the tropics. Because the tropics cover a vast area of the world, however, the scope of the handbook is geared toward readers in the U.S. affiliated tropics. Specifically, the U.S. affiliated tropics are a diverse area spanning two oceans and half the globe, including the nations of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as well as the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the...

When the Tucker RNG thermal conversion unit connected to the power grid for the first time April 23 in Charlotte, N.C., Richard Tucker, president of Tucker Engineering Associates, could feel the weight of the world coming off his shoulders. After more than a decade of developing his high-temperature, fast pyrolysis system, he was finally seeing it export electricity for the first time. This installation marked a significant step toward commercializing a new and exciting conversion technology, and demonstrates the success of a long-term, public-private partnership.