The Physiological Ecology of Woody Plants

San Diego

1990

657 S.

zahlr. Abb., Tab., Lit. Ang.

Serie

0-12-424160-3

400091952

The book is based on the premise that efficient management of growth of shade, orchard, and forest trees and other woody plants depends on our understanding of the physiological processes that control growth, the environmental complex that controls those processes, and our ability to modify the environment to maintain contitions that will be conducive to favorable rates of physiological processes. Accordingly this book: 1. emphasizes the interactions of heredity and environment in influencing growth of woody plants, and points out the importance of various environmental factors and the interactions among them on growth; 2. outlines differences in responses of individual trees and of communities of trees to environmental stresses. The primary emphasis is on the impact of environmental stress factors (alone and in combination) on growth and development of communities of woody plants; and 3. provides information about various cultural practices useful for efficient management of shade, forest, and fruit trees as well as shrubs and woody vines. The first chapter describes growth characteristics of woody plants, emphasizes the importance of the physiological processes that are the critical intermediaries through which heredity and environment interact to influence growth, and introduces the complexity of environmental control of woody plants. The second chapter describes the compounds essential for plant growth, including foods (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids), water, mineral nutrients, and hormonal growth regulators. Separate sections are devoted to sources and functions of these compounds. The third chapter deals with stand regeneration, seedling establishment, and subsequent growth and development of stands of trees. Considerable attention is given to competition among canopy trees and between canopy trees and subordinate vegetation for resources (light, water, mineral nutrients). Also included are sections on plant succession and accumulation and partitioning of biomass. Chapters 4 to 12 deal with effects of important environmental factors on physiological processes and on vegetative and reproductive growth of communities of woody plants. Separate chapters are devoted to radiation (light intensity, light quality, and duration of exposure); temperature; soil physical properties and mineral nutrition; water deficits; soil aeration, compaction, and flooding; air pollution; carbon dioxide; fire; and wind. Special attention is given to environmental preconditioning and interactive effects of various environmental stress factors on growth. The final chapter describes a variety of cultural practices that can be employed to improve propagation and production of planting stock in the nursery and growth of established landscape trees, fruit trees, and forest trees in plantations and natural forests. The cultural practices discussed include site .....