Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Over the past decade, much attention has been devoted to the development of forest biomass estimation methods at a stand scale, leading to the establishment of allometric models (Chave et al., 2014). These allometric equations use a unique wood specific gravity value (WSG) per species, but neglect the within tree variations of WSG found by others (Wiemann & Williamson, 1989).The main objectives of this study are (1) to illustrate the diversity of radial (from pith to bark) and longitudinal (from bottom to top) patterns of WSG variation within and between species, (2) to highlight different trends of WSG radial variations and the possible misinterpretations of these trends due to the effect of heartwood and (3) to link these variations and patterns to the successional status of the species (from pioneer to sciaphilic species).We sampled 33 small trees (10 Wood sciences underpinning tropical ecology and management. International closing symposium of the XYLAREDD project.
Tervuren, Belgium

hal-01188894
https://hal-sde.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01188894

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699
Background and Aims Plastic tree-shelters are increasingly used to protect tree seedlings against browsing animals and herbicide drifts. The biomass allocation in young seedlings of deciduous trees is highly disturbed by common plastic tree-shelters, resulting in poor root systems and reduced diameter growth of the trunk. The shelters have been improved by creating chimney-effect ventilation with holes drilled at the bottom, resulting in stimulated trunk diameter growth, but the root deficit has remained unchanged. An experiment was set up to elucidate the mechanisms behind the poor root growth of sheltered Prunus avium trees. Methods Tree seedlings were grown either in natural windy conditions or in tree-shelters. Mechanical wind stimuli were suppressed in ten unsheltered trees by staking. Mechanical stimuli (bending) of the stem were applied in ten sheltered trees using an original mechanical device. Key Results Sheltered trees suffered from poor root growth, but sheltered bent trees largely recovered, showing that mechano-sensing is an important mechanism governing C allocation and the shoot-root balance. The use of a few artificial mechanical stimuli increased the biomass allocation towards the roots, as did natural wind sway. It was demonstrated that there was an acclimation of plants to the imposed strain. Conclusions This study suggests that if mechanical stimuli are used to control plant growth, they should be applied at low frequency in order to be most effective. The impact on the functional equilibrium hypothesis that is used in many tree growth models is discussed. The consequence of the lack of mechanical stimuli should be incorporated in tree growth models when applied to environments protected from the wind (e.g. greenhouses, dense forests).
ISSN: 0305-7364

hal-01032056
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032056
DOI : 10.1093/aob/mcn054

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : The suitability of the natural 15N abundance and of total N concentration of leaves as indicators of the type of plant N nutrition in a rain forest of French Guiana were tested. Leaf samples from primary legume species, non-legumes (pioneer species) and from the non-N2-fixing species Dicorynia guianensis were analyzed. Both '15N and total leaf N varied widely (m1 r '15N (‰) r 7 and 1 r leaf N(%) r 3.2) suggesting possible distinctions between diazotrophic and non-fixing plants. The '15N also revealed two statistically distinct groups of non-N2-fixing species ('15N = 5.14 - 0.3 vs '15Nv=v1.65 - 0.17) related to the different ecological behaviors of these species in the successional processes. We conclude that the '15N signature of plant leaves combined with their total N concentration may be relevant indicators for identifying functional groups within the community of non-N2-fixing species, as well as for detecting diazotrophy. Despite the variability in the '15N of the non-N2-fixing species, N2-fixing groups can still be identified, provided that plants are simultaneously classified taxonomically, by their leaf '15N and total N concentration and by the presence or absence of nodules. The variability in the '15N of the non-fixing species is discussed.
ISSN: 0029-8549

hal-01031454
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01031454
DOI : 10.1007/s004420050846

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Nitrogen (N) transfer from legume trees to associated crops is a key factor for the N economy of low-input agroforestry systems. In this work, we presented a new approach to estimate N transfer based on the 15N content of root exudates and N released by root turnover of the donor plant (Gliricidia sepium) and the temporal change of the 15N content of the receiver plant (Dichanthium aristatum). The study was carried out in greenhouse using two isotopic methods: 15N leaf feeding (LF) and the natural 15N abundance (NA). Measurements of exudate 15N were made at several dates before and after tree pruning. A time-dependent box model was devised to quantify N transfer in time and to make comparisons between the isotopic methods. In NA, although tree roots and exudates presented a similar 15N signature before tree pruning, exudates were strongly depleted in 15N after pruning. In LF, exudates were always depleted in 15N in relation to tree roots. Hence, the current assumption used in N transfer studies concerning the equal 15N/14N distribution in tissues of the donor plant and in its excreted N was not confirmed in our study. Before pruning, N transfer functioned as a two-N-source system (soil N and exudates N) and both isotopic methods provided similar estimates: 11–12% for LF and 10–15% for NA. Calculations performed with the model indicated that N transfer occurred with small or nil fractionation of 15N in exudates. After pruning, there was a third N source associated with N released from tree root turnover. During this period, the isotopic signature of the receiver plant showed a transient state due to the progressive decrease of 15N content of that N source. The amount of N derived from the tree represented 65% of the total N content of the grass at the end of the experiments.
ISSN: 1161-0301

hal-01082183
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01082183
DOI : 10.1016/j.eja.2007.03.003