Current issue: 60(1)

Under compilation: 60(2)

Scopus CiteScore 2023: 3.5
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Articles containing the keyword 'herbs'

Category : Article

article id 4972, category Article

Seppo Kellomäki. (1977). Deterioration of forest ground cover during trampling. Silva Fennica vol. 11 no. 3 article id 4972. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14823

Keywords: herbs; ground vegetation; trampling; forest types; grasses; ground cover; recreation areas

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The aim of the present study was to investigate the trampling tolerance of forest ground cover of the Calluna, Vaccinium and Myrtillus type sites. Positive correlation was found between the site fertility and trampling tolerance of plant communities. Annual trampling at level of about 16,000 visits per hectare decreased the biomass of the ground cover to almost half of the original amount, and annual trampling of about 160,000 visits per hectare completely destroyed the forest ground cover irrespective of site fertility. Comparisons made between herb and grass dominated forest ground cover showed that herb and grass cover is in the long run the best alternative for the management of ground cover in intensively used recreation areas.

The PDF includes a summary in Finnish.

Kellomäki, E-mail: sk@mm.unknown

article id 4880, category Article

Seppo Kellomäki. (1973). Tallaamisen vaikutus mustikkatyypin kuusikon pintakasvillisuuteen. Silva Fennica vol. 7 no. 2 article id 4880. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.a14716

English title: Ground cover response to trampling in a spruce stand of Myrtillus type.

Original keywords: kuusi; metsäkasvillisuus; kulutuskestävyys; maaston kuluminen; mustikkatyyppi; aluskasvillisuus

English keywords: herbs; ground vegetation; trampling; dwarf shrubs; trampling tolerance; grasses

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The study deals with the trampling tolerance of forest vegetation in a Myrtillus type closed forest of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), based on the effects of simulated trampling on the coverage and biomass on the field and between layers of the vegetation. The reliability of the results from the simulated trampling was tested by comparing them with those obtained from real trampling.

According to the results, the trampling tolerance of the bottom layers is greater than that of the field layer. The trampling tolerance of different species varies, so that grasses and dwarf shrubs have a higher tolerance capacity than herbs. Even light trampling of short duration caused noticeable changes in the coverage and biomass of the ground vegetation. Despite certain deficiencies, the simulated trampling gave parallel results of those obtained for real trampling.

The PDF includes a summary in English.

Kellomäki, E-mail: sk@mm.unknown

Category : Article

article id 7358, category Article

Arvo Ylinen. (1942). The effect of the amount of the summer wood on the elastic and tensile properties of coniferous trees. Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 50 no. 5 article id 7358. https://doi.org/10.14214/aff.7358

Keywords: coniferous trees; tensile properties; elasticity; summer wood; autumn wood; linear function

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The dependence of elastic and tensile properties of coniferous trees on the share of summer wood can be presented as linear functions, if the soft wood is considered as a statically indefinite structure. By eliminating the share of summer wood by a certain function presented in the article, the elastic and tensile properties are the linear functions of density.

The functions are proved right by conducting strength tests on pine. Practical implications of the derived functions in rating the quality of wood are also presented.

The PDF contains a summary in Finnish.

Ylinen, E-mail: ay@mm.unknown

Category : Research article

article id 25052, category Research article

Elisa Männistö, Johanna Jetsonen, Heli Peltola, Teemu Rouvinen, Samuli Launiainen, Annamari Laurén, Marjo Palviainen. (2026). Short-term impacts of nitrogen fertilization on the cover of vascular plant and bryophyte species in boreal Scots pine and Norway spruce stands. Silva Fennica vol. 60 no. 2 article id 25052. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.25052

Keywords: herbs; understorey vegetation; shrubs; grasses; bottom layer vegetation; field layer vegetation

Highlights: Nitrogen fertilization had no significant impact on the cover of any vascular plant or bryophyte species in the boreal forest stands studied; The cover of many species decreased over the years, regardless of fertilization treatment; The exceptionally warm and dry summer of 2021 may have contributed to the decrease in the cover of many species.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

Nitrogen (N) fertilization increases carbon sequestration and wood production in boreal upland forests and thus supports climate change mitigation. Excess N may, however, alter the cover, biomass and biodiversity of the ground vegetation. But little is known about how the species composition and cover are affected by the different intensities of N fertilization. Here, we evaluated the short-term impacts of N fertilization on the cover of vascular plant and bryophyte species in two Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) -dominated and two Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) -dominated stands in Eastern Finland. The fertilization was done using a forwarder in the Scots pine stands and a helicopter in the Norway spruce stands, which are typical vehicles for this work in practical forestry. Funnel traps were used to measure the applied N doses at the plot level. Each study site also included unfertilized control plots. The percentage cover of vascular plant and bryophyte species was estimated at the beginning of the experiment, and then twice within 2–4 years after the fertilization. Overall, N fertilization had no significant impact on the cover of any vascular plant or bryophyte species. The cover of many species also decreased over the years, both in the fertilized and unfertilized plots. The exceptionally warm and dry summer of 2021 may have contributed to this result. However, further studies are needed to evaluate long-term responses in the ground cover and species composition to the N fertilizer doses used in practical forestry.

Männistö, School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3869-6739 E-mail: elisa.mannisto@uef.fi
Jetsonen, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4878-8951 E-mail: johanna.jetsonen@helsinki.fi
Peltola, School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1384-9153 E-mail: heli.peltola@uef.fi
Rouvinen, School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland E-mail: teemu.rouvinen2@outlook.com
Launiainen, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Bioeconomy and Environment, Latokartanonkaari 9, 000790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6611-6573 E-mail: samuli.launiainen@luke.fi
Laurén, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6835-9568 E-mail: annamari.lauren@helsinki.fi
Palviainen, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 27, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9963-4748 E-mail: marjo.palviainen@helsinki.fi

article id 65, category Research article

Kristóf Kelemen, Barbara Mihók, László Gálhidy, Tibor Standovár. (2012). Dynamic response of herbaceous vegetation to gap opening in a Central European beech stand. Silva Fennica vol. 46 no. 1 article id 65. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.65

Keywords: continuous cover forestry; dispersal; gap colonization; herbs; seed bank type; species richness

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

Herbaceous ground vegetation in artificially-created gaps was studied in a managed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest over a period of eight years in Northern Hungary, Central Europe. These gaps were being used as an alternative to the regular shelterwood system to create uneven-aged stands. The effects of gap size (15 and 40 m diameter) and canopy openness on herbaceous species colonization and persistence were assessed in a systematic grid of 5 5 m. Overall, herbaceous cover was low before gap creation, increased soon afterwards, and continued to rise over time. The number of herb species increased in the gaps and, to a lesser extent, in adjacent areas under the remaining tree canopy. Colonization of gaps was rapid and there was substantial turnover of species i.e. various species disappeared from the gaps over time whilst others colonized. Species with both long-term persistent seed banks and long distance dispersal abilities were the most successful types colonizing gaps. Six species occurred preferentially in large gaps, while only one species was found to prefer small gaps. Species present before gap creation survived in both gap sizes. Smaller gaps with a diameter of half the height of canopy trees also tended to remain free of common weed species, whereas large cover of Rubus fruticosus L. and Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth could hamper natural regeneration in larger gaps. For the successful regeneration of beech we recommend the use of small gaps complemented by few large gaps.

Kelemen, Loránd Eötvös University, Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Budapest, Hungary E-mail: kk@nn.hu
Mihók, Loránd Eötvös University, Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Budapest, Hungary E-mail: bm@nn.hu
Gálhidy, Loránd Eötvös University, Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Budapest, Hungary E-mail: lg@nn.hu
Standovár, Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Budapest, Hungary E-mail: standy@ludens.elte.hu

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