The influence of tree management practices on phenological growth stages of Ulmus pumila L. (Siberian elm)

Abstract

There is a growing interest in Ulmus pumila L. as a forest plant species in harsh environments, as well as a woody short‐rotation crop for biomass production in marginal lands. In countries where U. pumila is allochthonous, concerns have been raised on the easy spread of this species, on the grounds that it produces large quantities of wind‐dispersed fruits with high potential germination success. Knowledge of the phenological responses of this species to management practices is essential to evaluate the risk of invasion to adjacent lands. This work addresses the phenology of U. pumila according the BBCH scale and the effect of short‐rotation coppicing and plant density on phenological growth stages of this species. Results showed that there is little effect of plant density on the phenology of non‐managed trees grown in regular plantations. On the contrary, short‐rotation coppice influences greatly the vegetative and reproductive phenology of Siberian elm. High plant densities, winter harvesting and 2‐year rotation guarantee that fruit dispersal will not happen.

Phenological description and thermal time requirements for the seedling phase of three Brazilian native forest species

“…Although studies have been conducted to describe the phenological scale of forest species such as Ulmus pumila L. and Moringa oleifera Lam. (Amorós et al, 2021; Singh et al, 2021), studies on the seedling phase are scarce. An example is one performed by Romero‐Marcano et al (2023) that described the phenological scale for the seedling stage of M. oleifera .…”

“…By monitoring the periodic events, it is possible to track changes in vegetative development patterns, such as emergence, emission of new leaves, and budding (F. B. Martins, Ferreira, et al, 2023), reproductive stages, such as flowering, fruiting, and ripening (Reyes‐González et al, 2021; Santana et al, 2020), as well as changes in ecological patterns at different spatial and temporal scales (Sakar et al, 2019; Taghavi et al, 2022). Moreover, it is possible to understand the relationship between development stages and the environment and analyse species responses under climate change scenarios (Amorós et al, 2021; Singh et al, 2021).…”

Biomass Yield and Economic, Energy and Carbon Balances of Ulmus pumila L., Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Populus × euroamericana (Dode) Guinier Short-Rotation Coppices on Degraded Lands under Mediterranean Climate

“…Regarding Robinia pseudoacacia and Ulmus pumila, selection and improvement programs must still be developed based on survival, growth, delay in the change of phase from juvenile to mature, straightness of the main trunk, scarce branching, small thorns in the case of black locust, etc. [78,79], and, if possible, sterile hybrids that eliminate their invasive character. Ulmus pumila showed greater tolerance than Robinia pseudoacacia and Populus × euroamericana during the short water stress events suffered by the plants, showing physiological plasticity in adapting to drought by increasing leaf thickness and thus reducing water loss [80], hence its greater drought tolerance than the other two species.…”

The Growth and Non-Structural Carbohydrate Response Patterns of Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) under Salt Stress with Different Intensities and Durations

“…Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), widely spread in arid and semi-arid regions of China, is an important soil-preserving and sand-fixing plant with strong resistance and adaptability to harsh environments [45,46]. As global soil salinization continues to worsen, the growth and development of trees are increasingly threatened by salt stress [6,47,48].…”