The impact of soil, altitude, and climate on tree form and wood properties of plantation grown <i>Pinus patula</i> in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Merwe, Jaco-Pierre van der; Germishuizen, Ilaria; Clarke, Charlie; Mansfield, Shawn D.

doi:10.1515/hf-2022-0126

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 83 publications

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“…Altitude as a unique geographical environment in Tibet, many plants are at different altitudes in Tibet, so their morphology and internal composition differ [ 13 , 14 ]. The content of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra varies significantly, which is not only related to genetic factors, but also related to habitat conditions [ 15 – 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra saxatilis on the vertical altitude gradient changed in southern Tibet Plateau, China

Lu,

Zhang,

Wang

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Ephedra is one of the world’s most important plants, used in medicine, plants and ecology. Most Ephedra grows in plain areas and is stable. But the plateau environment is special, with the change of altitude, the variety difference of plateau Ephedra saxatilis is very obvious. E. saxatilis metabolism on the Tibetan Plateau is not only affected by altitude, but also environmental conditions such as climate conditions and different soil components. However, the change mechanism of E. saxatilis alkaloids in special ecological environment is still unclear. Therefore, we analyzed the metabolic and altitude of E. saxatilis species in the Tibetan Plateau. Through the functional analysis of Kyoto Metabolism and Metabolomic Encyclopedia (KEGG), we can determine that the number of E. saxatilis metabolites decreases with the increase of altitude, and there are differences in metabolism among the three mountains. This was confirmed by univariate analysis of the top five metabolic pathways. Based on the analysis of soil and metabolomics, it was found that soil water content was also a factor affecting E. saxatilis metabolism. According to the difference of vertical height gradient, ephedrine and pseudephedrine showed the same change in vertical altitude under different mountains. Ephedrine increased as the altitude gradient increased, and pseudoephedrine decreased as the altitude gradient decreased. Our results provide valuable information for further study of metabolic mechanism and efficacy stability. It provides useful reference for the research of E. saxatilis planting in special area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra saxatilis on the vertical altitude gradient changed in southern Tibet Plateau, China

Lu,

Zhang,

Wang

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Site quality impacts tree form, heartwood content and veneer production of plantation-grown Pinus patula

van der Merwe,

Madiope,

Spogter

et al. 2023

Holzforschung

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Plantation forest species were introduced into South Africa due to limited availability of native forests for wood-derived products. Currently, the Mexican pine species, Pinus patula, is the most widely planted softwood species in the country. To study the effect of growth environment on wood and processing properties for the species, sample plots were established in a 20-year rotation covering a wide range of soil geologies and altitudes in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Temperature and seasonal rainfall were also determined for the sample plots. Randomly selected sample trees were harvested from the plots and processed at a plywood plant to determine veneer recovery and quality. Trees grown on sites composed of granite soils, with higher annual maximum temperatures and less rainfall, found in the Highveld region, displayed superior tree size, slenderness, and volume growth, compared to trees grown on dolomite and shale soils common to the Lowveld region. Veneer derived from Lowveld trees had more splits which were largely related to defects. Larger trees also had a greater percentage volumetric heartwood and a smaller live crown, compared to smaller trees. Highveld trees had greater net veneer recovery and produced better quality veneer than trees grown on the Lowveld. In the Mpumalanga forestry region, strong co-relatedness exists between soil geology, altitude, and climate. Although tree form and wood properties were found to differ with varying soil geology and altitude, these differences were primarily related to climate rather than soil properties. These findings highlight the pitfalls associated with neglecting either climate or soil properties when analysing site-specific growing conditions on tree growth and form.

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The impact of site on tree form, wood properties, and lumber quality of plantation-grown Pinus patula

van der Merwe,

Bacher,

Madiope

et al. 2023

Holzforschung

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South Africa is a water scarce country with minimal natural forests. Plantation forest species such as the Mexican tropical hard pine, Pinus patula Schiede & Deppe ex Schltdl. & Cham., was introduced into the country to satisfy local fibre demand. Today, the majority of pine plantations in South Africa are found in the Mpumalanga province. The province has diverse growing conditions in relation to climate and soil properties. Sample plots were established in even-aged P. patula plantations and stratified according to soil parent material and altitude. Growing conditions of each sample plot were characterised according to climate and soil properties. A total of 540 sample trees were measured for height, diameter, density, and latewood content. The sample trees were harvested to produce 2690 logs. The logs were milled, and the resultant lumber was graded according to density, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture. Annual maximum temperature had the most significant impact on tree growth, while rainfall correlated with wood density and latewood content of standing trees. However, annual maximum temperature and tree height had a negative relationship with the recovered lumber properties and dimensional stability. Spring rainfall appeared to be the most important factor influencing lumber twist and this was possibly due to the associated larger juvenile core present in the trees.

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The impact of soil, altitude, and climate on tree form and wood properties of plantation grown Pinus patula in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Cited by 3 publications

References 83 publications

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra saxatilis on the vertical altitude gradient changed in southern Tibet Plateau, China

Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Ephedra saxatilis on the vertical altitude gradient changed in southern Tibet Plateau, China

Site quality impacts tree form, heartwood content and veneer production of plantation-grown Pinus patula

The impact of site on tree form, wood properties, and lumber quality of plantation-grown Pinus patula

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