Forest Sciences Commons^™

Wildfire And Fuel Treatments In Utah: A Practical Guide And Outcomes From An Oak-Maple Ecosystem, Annie E. Prescott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wildfire is a natural part of Utah’s landscapes, but as wildfires become more extreme and communities continue to expand into wildland areas, it is increasingly important to understand how wildfires behave and how their negative effects can be mitigated. One way to reduce wildfire risks and protect life, property, and ecosystem services is through fuel treatments — actions that reduce the amount and arrangement of flammable vegetation through mechanical removal, wildland fire, or other methods.

Information on wildfire behavior and fuel treatments is abundant but often scattered, ecosystem-specific and difficult to access. In addition, most research in the Western U.S. …

Carbon Sequestration Potential Of Urban Green Spaces In Guinea Savanna Area Of Nigeria, Alexander Terdoo Akighirga, Babatunde Saheed Bada, Abiodun Olusegun Oladoye, Benard Bunde Meer, Dau Henry Japheth

Journal of Bioresource Management

Rapid urbanization and associated emissions have increased the need to quantify the carbon-storage role of urban green spaces. This study assessed the carbon sequestration potential of roadside tree corridors in Makurdi, within Nigeria’s Guinea Savanna Zone. In this study, sequestration potential denotes standing above-ground carbon stock and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock rather than an annual rate. Six 2 km road segments were purposively selected, and all live trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm within a 2 m-wide band on both sides were inventoried, covering 4.8 ha. Stem diameters at the base, middle and upper sections and total height were …

Impact Of Disturbances On Butterfly Communities At The Forest Edge Of Bukit Mas Village, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Nurhayati Nurhayati, Mufti Petala Patria, Nurul Winarni, Fairuz Husna

Makara Journal of Science

Biotic homogenization can negatively impact ecosystem function and stability, reducing species diversity and interac-tions. Although deforestation has declined in Gunung Leuser National Park since 2011, associated pressures still operate at various places within the park, possibly leading to biotic homogenization. This study looked into the differences in butterfly diversity under three habitat types to understand their responses to various levels of disturbance, including en-vironmental factors. This research was carried out in September 2023 at the forest edge of the Bukit Mas Village, North Sumatra. We used the Point Count method; observations were made twice in the morning (08.00–12.00 h) and …

2025 - Nh Forest Products Industry Report, Andrew J. Fast, Basanta Lamsal, Jagdish Poudel, Raju Pokharel

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Aspen Health On Cedar Mountain: What Landowners Should Know, Justin Derose, Darren Mcavoy

All Current Publications

Aspen forests are among the most valuable parts of the Cedar Mountain area in southwest Utah and of Utah's landscapes. They provide wildlife habitat, improve scenery, help slow wildfire spread, and support healthy watersheds and grazing lands. Cedar Mountain’s aspen forests are changing. The landscape still supports significant aspen acreage, but many stands are aging and losing mature trees faster than they are being replaced. Researchers studied the area to assess the health of the aspen forest over many years, beginning in 2008; this fact sheet discusses the results. It also provides management considerations.

Visualizing 25 Years Of Change In The Glades Oak Savanna, Zoe Fieberg

Summer Research Showcase

Oak savannas represent one of the most threatened ecosystems in Minnesota due to changing land use management, particularly absence of fire (Davis, 2001). Frequent burns kill fire-sensitive mesophytic tree species, reducing the dominance of woody understory and allowing for restoration of the oak savanna environment. The GLADES (Grid for Landscape Analysis and Demographic Study) site was established in 1988 in East Bethel, Minnesota to study the effect of frequent burning on oak savanna restoration. Through the use of standardized methods of photography, we compared canopy differences across GLADES between 2001 and 2026. Preliminary observations revealed increased canopy density and reduced …

An In-Depth Study Of Fruit Preservation: Effect Of Calcium Chloride And Methyl Jasmonate Applications On Quality And Biochemical Properties Of Cherry Fruits During Cold Storage, Muhammet Ali̇ Gündeşli̇

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a highly perishable fruit that undergoes rapid quality deterioration during postharvest storage. This study evaluated the effects of postharvest applications of Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA, 1 mM) and Calcium Chloride (CaCl₂, 2%), applied individually and in combination, on maintaining the quality and biochemical properties of cherries during 21 days of cold storage at 0 ± 1 °C. Key parameters including weight loss, decay rate, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity, respiration rate, phenolic profile, and organic acid composition were monitored. The combined MeJA + CaCl₂ treatment was consistently more effective than individual applications in …

Sewage Sludge Legislation In Central Europe: Contamination Concerns And Cross-Border Comparisons, Valerie Vranová, Aleš Kučera, Vlastimil Skoták, Erika Fialová, Rahul Datta

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sewage sludge management represents a major challenge in Europe, carrying significant environmental and legal implications that require strong regulatory enforcement. Here, we explore the legislative measures, technological developments, and environmental impacts of sewage sludge management in Central Europe (Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and Poland). Sludge management is regulated at the EU level through a series of directives (e.g., Council Directive 86/278/EEC, which forms the basis of national regulatory frameworks). However, national adaptations vary considerably: Croatia and Slovenia have invested in sludge phosphorus-recovery systems, while Poland and Slovakia have focused on the agricultural use of sludge as a fertilizer. Several countries, …

Robust Soil Moisture Content Detection Based On Data Augmentation Under Different Testing Conditions, Yang Li, Chenghao Liu, Jing Nie, Jingbin Li

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Accurate and cost-effective monitoring of soil moisture content is essential for the development of precision agriculture and the optimization of water resource management. While low-frequency acoustic signals are used to detect soil moisture content, models trained with controlled laboratory acoustic data often exhibit significant performance degradation with field data due to their sensitivity to environmental noise, soil heterogeneity, and structural variations. This study proposes a novel framework to enhance model robustness and generalization by integrating a WGAN-GP network data augmentation strategy into the soil moisture content workflow. This framework is designed to generate high-quality and diverse data on different soil …

Estimation Of Genetic Parameters In Lemon-Scented Basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.) Lines, Erdi̇nç Günay, İsa Telci̇

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Selective breeding of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is primarily aimed at improving plant architecture and essential oil quality, which are critical factors in increasing yield. In lemon-scented basil, the citral component responsible for the intense lemony aroma has significant commercial value in the cosmetics and perfumery industries. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance of nine agronomic and quality related traits in lemon basil lines, and to explore the interrelationships among these traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits, suggesting the influence of …

In Vitro Propagation Of A New Clonal Apple Rootstock Candidate Hatay, Zeynep Nas, Ahmet Eşi̇tken, Lütfi̇ Pirlak

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

​Some clonal apple rootstocks are traditionally propagated using the layering technique. However, traditional propagation methods are seasonal and require a lot of space and labor. In addition, the multiplication rate is low with these methods, resulting in low-profit sapling production for growers. In vitro propagation techniques provide an efficient and effective method of obtaining species-appropriate, quality saplings in less time and space. The study aims to determine the in vitro propagation protocol of the Hatay genotype and to establish an appropriate method. In the study, the highest number of shoots was observed in media containing BA and mT at concentrations …

Landscape Character Analysis And Assesment At Local Scale, Eli̇f Önal, Serkan Özer

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

​Landscape areas are one of the most important elements of human life all over the world. Varied landscape areas are a valuable natural resource and have high cultural value. The first step to ensure the effective landscape use is to identify these areas, analyze them in detail, and determine their characteristics. The northeastern Anatolia region in Türkiye has a rich diversity of landscapes because of varied geographic, climatic, and topographic features. The aim of this study was to identify the landscape character types in the Tortum district, located in the Tortum River basin in northeastern Türkiye, and to assess the …

Long-Term Effects Of Harvesting Disturbance And Site Preparation On Soil Properties And Tree Growth In A Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda) Forest, Kyle M. Caccamesi

LSU Master's Theses

Productivity decline between rotations has long been a concern in intensively managed forest plantations. Research done over the last century has provided greater clarity on why this phenomenon occurs. The objective of this research was to observe long-term soil and tree growth characteristics that are likely to be influenced by operational harvesting activities. The experiment was conducted in Washington Parish, Louisiana on a site dominated by Ruston soil series, a well-drained, fine loamy, siliceous and thermic typic Paleudult. A randomized complete block design with 2 x 2 x 2 factorial treatments was used. The treatment factors were harvesting method, fertilization, …

Crispr-Cas9: An Emerging And Precise Genome Editing System For Crops To Combat Food Insecurity, Muhammad Faran Tahi̇r, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Sidra Aslam, Emi̇ne Orhan, Hayat Topçu, Tauqeer Ahmed Qadri, Khalid Ali Khan, Muhammad Anas

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Genome editing has emerged as a transformative tool to improve crop productivity, resilience, and nutritional quality, helping address global food insecurity. Among gene-editing platforms, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ Cas systems (notably CRISPR-Cas9) offer simple, efficient, and scalable methods for targeted modifications, including knockouts, base edits, and precise “search-and-replace” prime edits. In plants, recent advances such as improved base editors, optimized prime-editing platforms, and DNA-free delivery methods have expanded the scope of edits achievable while reducing off-target effects and regulatory concerns. This review summarizes CRISPR principles, highlights technical breakthroughs and crop applications that mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, …

Enhancing Salinity Tolerance In Phyla Nodiflora L. With Potassium Humate: Crosstalk Between Osmolytes, Antioxidants, And Mineral Uptake, Fatemeh Sadeghi, Somayeh Esmaeili, Mehrangiz Chehrazi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Salinity stress impairs plant growth, nutrient homeostasis, and metabolism, particularly in arid ecosystems. Phyla nodiflora, a ground cover used for erosion control, shows preliminary salinity tolerance, but the mechanistic basis of its long-term adaptation and the potential for enhancement via potassium humate (KH) were unknown. Plant growth, key biochemical attributes, and nutrient uptake were assessed to elucidate how KH modulates physiological performance under increasing salinity. In a 129-day greenhouse experiment, plants were exposed to five salinity levels (0 to 16 dS m⁻¹ NaCl) and three KH concentrations (0, 500, and 1000 mg L⁻¹). Severe salinity (16 dS m⁻¹) without KH …

Distribution And Seasonal Prevalence Of Nosema Maddoxi (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) In The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha Halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Populations In Türkiye, Ömer Ertürk, Samet Eker, Mustafa Yaman, Gönül Algi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys feeds on a wide range of crops and causes major economic losses. With its high flight capacity, H. halys is an invasive species that damages many crops worldwide. By elucidating the activity, distribution, and prevalence of the microsporidian pathogen Nosema maddoxi, the damage and economic losses caused by H. halys can be reduced. This study aimed to assess the distribution and seasonal prevalence of N. maddoxi in H. halys populations distributed throughout hazelnut fields the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye. H. halys adults were collected and examined in detail under the microscope …

Cultivar, Canopy Architecture, And Harvest Stage Shape The Chemical Profile Of Plum (Prunus Domestica) Fruit, Jelisaveta Seka Cvijanović, Milica Sredojević, Dragana Dabić Zagorac, Maja Natić, Geza Bujdoso, Miljan Cvetković

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plum (Prunus domestica L.) is a nutritionally valuable fruit with significant commercial importance, yet consumer acceptance is often constrained by inconsistent fruit quality. This study investigated the effects of cultivar, training system, and harvest stage on the chemical composition of plum fruit, focusing on polyphenols, organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols. Three cultivars (Čačanska lepotica, Stanley, and Empress) were evaluated under different canopy architectures, including plum spindle as a control and novel 2-dimensional systems (Bi axe and upright fruiting offshoot), across multiple ripening stages. The results showed that genotype and canopy structure significantly influenced the accumulation of primary and secondary …

Genetic Algorithm For Agricultural Logistics Optimization: Solving The Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem In Rural Distribution, Min Song, Kan Lu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

With the rapid advancement of agricultural modernization and the increasing demand for agricultural products, inefficient logistics distribution has become a major bottleneck in rural supply chains. This study addresses the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP) in agricultural logistics. A genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimization model was proposed to enhance distribution efficiency. The model integrates critical agricultural characteristics, including multidistribution center networks, seasonal delivery schedules, and regional road infrastructure constraints, to minimize both transportation distance and operational costs. Experimental results show that the GA outperforms traditional metaheuristic methods (e.g., particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing), achieving a >5 km reduction in total …

Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Carob Germplasm From Lebanon, Morocco, And Spain Reveal Potential For Innovative Breeding Programs, Mohamad Ali El Chami, Guillermo Palacios-Rodriguez, Rafael Maria Navarro-Cerrillo, Lamis Chalak, Maria Dolores-Rey

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a drought-tolerant species native to the Mediterranean Basin. It has been cultivated for centuries for its highly nutritious, edible pods. Genetic diversity is one of the key requirements for the effective management and utilization of plant genetic resources. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure of 169 seminatural carob individuals from Lebanon, Spain, and Morocco using nine expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. A total of eight polymorphic EST-SSR loci produced 43 alleles, with Cesi_187 and Cesi_1187 identified as the most informative markers. Results of AMOVA and SAMOVA …

Silviculture For Coastal Forest Resilience: Promoting Forest Regeneration And Managing Invasive Plant Species, Ryan Bohannon

All Dissertations

Coastal forests of the southern United States and the ecosystem services they provide are threatened by an intensifying and interacting suite of disturbances associated with global change. Silvicultural strategies such as enrichment planting, invasive plant management, and browse mitigation treatments can enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of forests to these threats by promoting sustainable regeneration and recruitment dynamics. To improve our understanding of coastal forest disturbance regimes and their impacts on forest stand dynamics, I conducted a systematic literature review of maritime forest disturbance ecology and identified coastal storms, ungulate browsing pressure, and invasive plants as primary disturbances shaping …