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. …

Building Relationships With Family Forest Landowners In The Western Upper Gulf Coastal Plain To Enhance Forest Management And Promote Certification, Sandeepa Pantha, Nana Tian, Ana Gutierrez-Castillo, Joshua Adams, Eric Taylor

Journal of Extension

Responsible forest management provides ecological, economic, and societal benefits. Sustaining these benefits in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas depends on the forest management practices of 821,000 family landowners who own 32 million acres of forestland. This study uses an innovative network-building approach to support family forest landowners (FFLs), particularly underrepresented ones, by connecting them with professionals through facilitator teams established in each state by an advisory board. This network-building strategy provides supportive networks for FFLs, fostering trust and connections within a more extensive and diverse FFL community. This network encourages cooperative, communication-centered technical support to FFLs within essential landscapes to enhance …

Top 5 Tree Planting Mistakes, Miles Becker, Daniel Allen

All Current Publications

Planting mistakes can substantially shorten a tree’s life. The consequences of planting mistakes may show up within a year or two or remain hidden until a tree dies inexplicably years later. In many cases, these planting mistakes are easy to avoid, saving the tree owner substantial money and time. Homeowners can use this list of five common planting problems to check the quality of work by hired professionals, as instructions for gardeners or landscapers, or as a quick reminder for more experienced tree planters. By making a few simple changes to tree planting, we will all benefit from longer-lived, larger …

The Effect Of Seedling Age On Nickel (Ni) Accumulation In Maize (Zea Mays L.), Tuba Göçergi̇l, Hava Şeyma İnci̇

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

One of the most significant problems facing different ecosystems worldwide is the pollution of soil and water resources with heavy metals, which are harmful to biota. Metals are absorbed by plant roots through soil-plant interaction, leading to accumulation in plants. The plant's growth phase is one of the most important factors in heavy metal uptake and accumulation. Among heavy metal elements, nickel is one of the serious environmental pollutants and plant growth inhibitors due to its toxicity and persistent nature at high concentrations, as well as its bioaccumulation in ecosystems. This study aims to investigate how nickel accumulation in plant …

Species-Specific Metal Uptake Thresholds In Riparian Macrophytes: A Biological Framework For Ecological Risk Assessment, Reyhan Sağlam, Ferhat Gökbulak

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Anthropogenic pressures on freshwater ecosystems have increased metal contamination in riparian zones; however, biological thresholds that distinguish tolerable exposure from ecologically significant accumulation remain poorly defined. This study investigated species-specific thresholds for heavy metal uptake in riparian macrophytes to establish a biologically grounded framework for ecological risk assessment in impacted streams. A gradient encompassing five sites was used to sample four dominant macrophyte species: Typha latifolia, Phragmites australis, Lythrum salicaria, and Persicaria lapathifolia. Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in aboveground plant biomass were examined in relation to their …

Genetic Variation, Heritability, And Forage Yield Path Analysis Of Iranian Desert Wheat Grass (Agropyron Desertorum Fisch. Ex Link) Genotypes, Reza Mohammadi, Alireza Pourmohammad, Meli̇h Okçu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Desert wheat grass (Agropyron desertorum Fisch. ex Link) is a valuable species in the temperate zones that exhibits tolerance to cold and drought and naturally grows in arid and semiarid regions of Iran. This research was conducted to investigate the phenotypic diversity of 50 selected genotypes of Iranian A. desertorum based on several agromorphological traits and forage production. Genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications in 2016. The results showed highly significant differences among genotypes for all traits (p < 0.01). Broad-sense heritability estimates ranged from low to medium for the evaluated traits. The highest heritability values were observed for crown diameter, plant height (PH) and dry matter yield (DMY), while the genetic advance (GA) values were found for forage fresh weight and DMY. Selection based on traits with high GA and heritability is expected to be effective, indicating sufficient genetic variation for breeding programs. The number of stems (NS) and PH explained more than 73% of the entire variation in DMY in the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed that the first three coordinates (PCo1–PCo3) explained 82.4% of the phenotypic variation. According to the PCoA plot based on these coordinates, the genotypes were grouped into two groups. In the factor analysis (FA), factor 1 (FAC1) had a positive relationship with forage yield and NS; therefore, it was identified as a biomass factor. Cluster analysis divided the genotypes into two groups: cluster 1 contained 19 genotypes, and cluster 2 consisted of 31 genotypes. Significant phenotypic diversity was detected among the A. desertorum genotypes, indicating a valuable germplasm to employ in forage varietal improvement programs. Furthermore, the examined genotypes can serve as valuable germplasm for development of a core collection of A. desertorum in Iran.

Integrating Fine-Scale Topography And Stand Structure To Explain Herb-Layer Diversity In Forest Ecosystems, Carla-Maria Aparaschive, Paul Sestras, Alina M. Truta, Irina M. Morar, Catalina Dan, Monica Boscaiu, Florin Ioras, Adriana F. Sestras

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Herb-layer diversity in temperate forests emerges from the interaction between stand structure and fine-scale environmental variation. We studied eight mixed beech–hornbeam and oak–hornbeam plots distributed along a short altitudinal gradient (170–310 m) and contrasting slope aspects in East Europe. For each plot, we measured tree diameter, height and crown-base height, and derived stand structural indices (tree density, basal area, Gini coefficients for DBH diameter at breast height and total height, and median crown base height). Herb-layer communities were characterized using standard diversity indices and Ellenberg indicator values. We then used Jaccard similarity to explore tree–herb cooccurrence and Spearman correlations to …

Strigolactone-Mediated Regulation Of Physiological, Biochemical, And Gene Expression Responses Enhances Salinity Tolerance In Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa), Nora M. Al Aboud, Aishah Alatawi, Maryam Maryam, Mi̇kdat Şi̇mşek, Adel A. Rezk, Hossam S. El-Beltagi, Bader Y. Alsubaie, Othman Al-Dossary, Ahmed M. Ismail, Anvar İbrahimov

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Salinity stress is a limiting factor that restricts growth, physiology, and fruit quality of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), particularly in irrigated and arid regions across the globe. The current investigation focused on unveiling the role of strigolactone (GR24, 5 µM) in the mitigation of NaCl-induced stress (100 mM) under greenhouse conditions. Salinity stress massively reduced plant performance, including fresh biomass (16.5 g), dry biomass (4.3 g), photosynthetic rate (7.9 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), and fruit yield (6 fruits per plant), along with a decline in fruit quality (7.2 °Brix). In contrast, foliar application of strigolactone sig-nificantly enhanced the growth and …

A Lightweight Multitask Adaptive Fusion Network With Channel Attention For Uav-Based Crop Detection And Classification, Xuanyu Yue, Zhenyu Wan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become essential tools in precision agriculture, facilitating large-scale monitoring of crop health, weed proliferation, and overall field conditions. However, conventional single-task recognition models encounter significant challenges when implemented on resource-constrained UAV platforms, particularly in detecting densely distributed small objects, managing scale variations, and addressing occlusions. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a channel attention-based adaptive fusion network (CNAF-Net) specifically designed for agricultural scenarios. CNAF-Net utilizes MobileNetV3 for hierarchical feature extraction and integrates a channel attention-guided adaptive fusion mechanism that dynamically combines multiscale features across detection, classification, and segmentation tasks. Experiments conducted on the WeedMap …

Genetic Inheritance Of Leaf Rolling As An Adaptive Trait For Fog Capture And Drought Tolerance In Wheat, Sabah Merrium, Zulfiqar Ali, Latifa Alhusnain, Muneera D.F. Alkahtani, Sadia Hakeem, Sajid Fiaz, Muhammad Ali Sher, Kotb A. Attia, Seung Hwan Yang, Muhammad Abu Bakar Saddique, Muhammad Hammad Nadeem Tahir

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Wheat is a primary source of sustenance for around 2 billion people worldwide; however, its production is threatened by the water scarcity associated with climate change. In the search for climate-smart wheat varieties, atmospheric moisture in the form of fog and dew is gaining attention as a sustainable, self-irrigating water source for crops. Leaf rolling (LR) is a well-known adaptive trait under water deficit conditions that supports fog moisture capture in wheat; however, little is known about its genetic potential and inheritance pattern, particularly given its high environmental influence. This study assesses the genetic heritability, combining ability, and diversity of …

Valorization Of Buttermilk As A Functional Ingredient In Yogurt Soup: Effects On Physicochemical Properties, Aroma Profile, Amino Acid Composition, And Bioactivities, Emi̇ne Maci̇t, Fatma Zehra Özyilmaz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

​In this study, the feasibility of using buttermilk as a functional ingredient in yogurt soup, a traditional fermented dairy product, was investigated with the aim of valorizing dairy industry by-products. Soup samples prepared with different buttermilk ratios (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were evaluated for their physicochemical and sensory properties, aroma and amino acid profiles, antioxidant capacity, and antidiabetic activity. The incorporation of buttermilk resulted in statistically significant differences in total solids, ash, and titratable acidity (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), while no significant changes were observed in fat, protein, or pH values. Increasing buttermilk levels led to higher L* and b* values and lower a* values. Sensory analysis showed that flavor scores increased with buttermilk content, with the highest score observed in the sample containing 100% buttermilk (T5). In the control sample, hexanoic acid, benzoic acid, acetic acid, methyl salicylate, and several ketones were identified as dominant aroma compounds, whereas buttermilk-enriched samples were characterized mainly by hexanoic acid, acetic acid, butanoic acid, ethyl acetate, higher alcohols, and ethanol. Increasing buttermilk content resulted in a higher proportion of alcohols and a reduction in acids, ketones, and aldehydes. Samples with higher buttermilk levels exhibited increased essential amino acid content, while functional amino acids such as γ-aminobutyric acid, β-aminoisobutyric acid, ethanolamine, proline, and alanine reached their highest levels in the T5 sample. The T5 sample showed a DPPH radical scavenging activity of 5.98%, whereas the highest α-amylase inhibition was observed in the control sample. Overall, the results indicate that buttermilk can be effectively used as a functional ingredient in yogurt soup formulations, improving nutritional quality and sensory characteristics.

Tuber Yield Amplification In Dahlia Variabilis L. Under Humic Acid And Fertilizer Combinations, Kedar Mahadev Gheware, Nomita Laishram, Arvinder Singh, Sarabdeep Kour, Sourav Sharma, Aytan Samadova, Melekber Sülüşoğlu Durul, Hali̇l İbrahi̇m Tuzlaci

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Dahlia variabilis L. is a valued tuberous ornamental crop grown worldwide for its attractive flowers. Optimizing nutrient management is crucial for maximizing dahlia growth and tuber yield. In this field study, we evaluated the combined effects of humic acid (HA) and chemical fertilizers on the tuber production of Dahlia variabilis L. A factorial randomized complete block design was used with treatments combining three fertilizer levels (100%, 75%, and 50% of recommended NPK dose) and multiple HA treatments. HA was applied as a soil amendment and foliar spray in combination with inorganic NPK fertilizer. Results showed that integrating HA with reduced …

Bioactive Compounds In Fruits Of Newly Introduced Sweet Cherry Cultivars In Herzegovina, Jasmina Aliman, Mirjana Radović, Ahmed Džubur, Jasna Hasanbegović, Dženan Vukotić, Aleksandra Šupljeglav Jukić, Senad Murtić, Mihajlo Lizdek

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study evaluated the biochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds of 3 newly introduced Italian sweet cherry cultivars (Sweet Valina, Sweet Stephany, and Sweet Gabriel) grown under the agroecological conditions of Herzegovina (Mostar and Trebinje). The analysis included total soluble solids, total acidity, sweetness index, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity in fruit skin and flesh. Significant differences were observed among cultivars, locations, and their interactions for most analyzed parameters. Fruits from Trebinje generally exhibited higher antioxidant capacity, total phenolic contents in the skin, soluble solids contents, and sweetness index values. Sweet Valina, particularly at the Trebinje location, …

Appraising The Monetary Value Of Trees, Miles Becker, Mark Malmstrom

All Current Publications

Trees have economic value like other property items. Permanently rooted in the ground, trees are considered real property, just as a house on a fixed foundation is real property. Damage or loss of a tree incurs a loss in value to its owner, who may be legally entitled to monetary compensation. This fact sheet discusses tree appraisals by a qualified professional to determine the cost to repair or replace a tree.

Investigating Factors Of Tree Mortality, Charlie Shivers Iv '28

Annual Student Research Poster Session

In recent decades, there has been a global decline in tree populations, and in this large-scale forest dynamics plot, we observed a change from accruing biomass(the organic material that trees store) to losing it. Many studies suggest that this trend may become more common, but few look for the mechanisms behind it. This study explores how much two factors, trees growing to their maximum size and non-indigenous pests and pathogens, contribute to the observed mortality and loss of biomass. We conducted an annual mortality census of all trees over ten centimeters wide on the plot using ArcGIS fieldmaps to add …

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 …