Microclimate modification by tree windbreaks in Florida farms

Paper presented at the 11th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held May 31-June 3, 2009 in Columbia, Missouri.In Gold, M.A. and M.M. Hall, eds. Agroforestry Comes of Age: Putting Science into Practice. Proceedings, 11th North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, Mo., May 31-June 3, 2009.Florida citrus and vegetable crops generate billions in revenue every year. However, winds, freezes, hurricanes, and citrus canker (Xanthomonas campestris) impact production. Windbreaks located perpendicular to the prevailing wind can reduce soil erosion and increase irrigation efficiency and farm production mostly by simply modifying microclimate. Windbreaks can also control the spread of pathogens such as citrus canker. To study how tree windbreaks modify microclimate in southern Florida, weather stations were established in 2008 along transects behind a 1-row eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) windbreak at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC/University of Florida) at Immokalee, and a 1-row cadaghi (Corymbia torelliana) windbreak at C&B Farms, Clewiston, to assess spatial variation in wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity at 2m above the ground. The windbreaks significantly reduced wind speed; minimum wind speed was at two times the windbreak height (2H) behind dense (17 [percent] porosity) redcedar and at 6H behind relatively porous (20 [percent] porosity) cadaghi when the wind direction was nearly perpendicular to the windbreak. Wind speed at 2H behind eastern redcedar was approximately 5 [percent] of the open wind speed and at 6H behind cadaghi was approximately 3-30 [percent]. Wind speed at 14H behind cadaghi and redcedar windbreak was approximately 60 [percent] and 80 [percent] of the open wind speed, respectively. Temperature behind both windbreaks was relatively warmer than in the open. However, the extent of temperature and relative humidity modification was less compared to wind speed. Windbreaks are an effective use of forest trees to modify microclimate and appreciably enhance Florida farm production.Bijay Tamang (1), Donald L Rockwood1 and Michael G. Andreu (2) ; 1. PO Box 110410, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. 2. SFRC, University of Florida, Gulf Coast REC - Plant City, 1200 N Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563.Includes bibliographical references

Forest Trees for Biochar and Carbon Sequestration: Production and Benefits

Many tree species worldwide are suitable for making biochar (BC), with planted eucalypts in particular being very productive and extensive. Above- and below-ground carbon sequestration by Eucalyptus plantations depends on plantation management options. An intensively managed cultivar could sequester over 100 mt of C/ha at a cost of $21–40/mt. BC production systems ranging in size from small mobile units to large centralized facilities and many kiln technologies influence the quality and price of the BC produced as well as the ability to control emissions. While BC from wood has many applications, its use as a soil amendment in forest plantations is appealing as a long-term sequestration strategy and opportunity to grow more robust trees and increase survival rates. Research in Florida USA and elsewhere addresses responses of forest and agronomic crops to wood BC soil amendments with and without other fertilizers. In combination with the carbon sequestered through tree growth, sequestration of 2.5 mt/ha of wood BC as a soil amendment in Eucalyptus plantations has estimated costs ranging from$3.30–5.49/ton of C

The Lausanne cohort Lc65+: a population-based prospective study of the manifestations, determinants and outcomes of frailty

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a relatively new geriatric concept referring to an increased vulnerability to stressors. Various definitions have been proposed, as well as a range of multidimensional instruments for its measurement. More recently, a frailty phenotype that predicts a range of adverse outcomes has been described. Understanding frailty is a particular challenge both from a clinical and a public health perspective because it may be a reversible precursor of functional dependence. The Lausanne cohort Lc65+ is a longitudinal study specifically designed to investigate the manifestations of frailty from its first signs in the youngest old, identify medical and psychosocial determinants, and describe its evolution and related outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN: The Lc65+ cohort was launched in 2004 with the random selection of 3054 eligible individuals aged 65 to 70 (birth year 1934-1938) in the non-institutionalized population of Lausanne (Switzerland). The baseline data collection was completed among 1422 participants in 2004-2005 through questionnaires, examination and performance tests. It comprised a wide range of medical and psychosocial dimensions, including a life course history of adverse events. Outcomes measures comprise subjective health, limitations in activities of daily living, mobility impairments, development of medical conditions or chronic health problems, falls, institutionalization, health services utilization, and death. Two additional random samples of 65-70 years old subjects will be surveyed in 2009 (birth year 1939-1943) and in 2014 (birth year 1944-1948). DISCUSSION: The Lc65+ study focuses on the sequence "Determinants --> Components --> Consequences" of frailty. It currently provides information on health in the youngest old and will allow comparisons to be made between the profiles of aging individuals born before, during and at the end of the Second World War

Eucalyptus Amplifolia and Corymbia Torelliana in the Southeastern USA: Genetic Improvement and Potential Uses

Eucalyptus amplifolia and Corymbia torelliana genetic improvement has been conducted in the lower southeastern USA by UF and collaborators since 1980. The collective accomplishments in genetic resources and potential commercial uses are summarized. For example, fast-growing, freeze-resilient E. amplifolia seeds are provided by 1st and 2nd generation seedling seed orchards (SSO) and a 2nd generation clonal seed orchard (CSO), while C. torelliana seed are available from 1st and 2nd generation SSOs. Breeding values (BV) have been developed for guiding the deployment of improved genotypes. Collaborative genetic improvement of these species is ongoing, including testing E. amplifolia in 11 countries and development of hybrid clones. Short Rotation Woody Crop (SRWC) systems may increase productivity and extend uses beyond conventional mulchwood to products such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), biochar, and energywood, while other possible applications include honey production, windbreaks, dendroremediation, and carbon sequestration. C. torelliana may be paired with E. grandis in two-row windbreaks to maximum windbreak effectiveness and may sequester as much carbon as E. grandis

Processing and Wood Factors Influence Medium Density Fiberboard Production from Young Eucalyptus grandis, E. amplifolia, Corymbia torelliana, and Cottonwood Grown in Florida USA

Fast growing Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden (EG), E. amplifolia Naudin (EA), Corymbia torelliana (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson (CT), and Populus deltoides W.Bartram ex Marshall (PD) may be deployed in Short Rotation Woody Crop (SRWC) systems in the lower Southeastern USA, especially in Florida. To evaluate these species for possible use as medium density fiberboard (MDF) and other composites, 2.5 m logs of three EG clones, three PD clones, six EA progenies, four CT trees, and one P. tremuloides Michx. (PT) tree from northern Wisconsin as a control were characterized for basic wood properties before being chipped, pulped, and pressed into MDF. The chips were thermomechanically pulped (TMP) for a two-phase study of the factors expected to influence suitability for MDF production: wood characteristics, refining system, resin system, and MDF formation. Phase I used TMP and 4% phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin to produce 17 MDF species/genotype batches (S/GB). Thickness Swell (TS), Water Absorption (WA), Internal Bonding (IB), Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), and Modulus of Rupture (MOR) were evaluated to: (1) assess within species and within tree variation, (2) relate basic wood properties to MDF potential, and (3) examine repeatability of MDF-making. There was considerable variation among and within species, but only minor within tree variation. Six of the seventeen S/GBs had superior physical and mechanical MDF properties. In Phase II, two of the six better performing Phase I S/GBs were evaluated, along with three average Phase I S/GBs. Phase II compared the effects on IB from using tube and drum blenders for resin application, the influence of using unscreened versus screened fibers, and the differences of using PF resin at 4% or 6% versus urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin at 8% or 12%. Overall, genetic variation among species, and particularly within these species, affected their potential for commercial MDF. Log specific gravity (SG), fines, MDF SG, and fiber length influenced MDF properties, as did refining and MDF-processing variables. Further study of specific processing requirements can optimize the potential of young EG, EA, PD, and CT genotypes for MDF and other composites

History and Status of Eucalyptus Improvement in Florida

The first organized Eucalyptus research in Florida was begun by the Florida Forests Foundation in 1959 in southern Florida. This research was absorbed by the USDA Forest Service and the Florida Division of Forestry in 1968. In the early 1970s, the Eucalyptus Research Cooperative formed to provide additional support emphasized E. grandis, E. robusta, E. camaldulensis, and E. tereticornis and developed cultural practices for commercial plantations in southern Florida. In 1978, this cooperative united with the Hardwood Research Cooperative at North Carolina State University until 1985 when the 14-year effort ended after three severe freezes from 1983 to 1985. Eucalyptus planting and research were continued with a Florida-wide focus by the University of Florida and collaborators starting in 1980. The collective accomplishments in terms of genetic resources and commercial planting are summarized. For example, fast-growing, freeze-resilient E. grandis seedlings are produced by advanced generation seed orchards, five E. grandis cultivars are commercially available, as are E. amplifolia and Corymbia torelliana seeds. Genetic improvement of these and other species is ongoing due to beneficial collaborations. Short Rotation Woody Crop systems are promising for increasing productivity and extending uses beyond conventional pulpwood to applications such as windbreaks, dendroremediation, and energy wood

The economic feasibility of reclaiming phosphate mined lands with short-rotation woody crops in Florida

Clay settling areas Faustmann Non-timber benefit Phosphate-mined land Reclamation Restoration Short-rotation coppicing

Carbon Sequestration by Eucalypts in Florida, USA: Management Options Including Biochar and Associated Economics

Growth and economic models for E. grandis in mulch wood rotations, for E. grandis and E. grandis x E. urophylla cultivars grown as short-rotation woody crops (SRWC), including coppicing, for E. grandis in windbreaks (WB), with and without soil amendments including biochar (BC) and the slow-release fertilizer Green Edge (SRF, GE), and for E. grandis in dendroremediation applications estimated the above- and below-ground carbon sequestration potentials of these management options. The cultivars may sequester over 10 Mg of C/ha/year as SRWCs. Under assumed management costs and market conditions, SRWC management with BC is more profitable than operational culture if BC application costs are ≤$450/Mg. Longer rotations with less intensive management result in lower but still considerable sequestration and economic benefit. In WBs, E. grandis cultivars may sequester up to 34 Mg of C/ha in 3 years, with additional sequestration by amending soil with BC, GE, and BC + GE. Amending soil with BC derived from eucalypts is both a long-term sequestration strategy and an opportunity to increase plantation and crop productivity. Demand for sustainably produced BC is growing due to multiple applications beyond soil carbon sequestration

Energy Product Options for Eucalyptus Species Grown as Short Rotation Woody Crops

Eucalyptus species are native to Australia but grown extensively worldwide as short rotation hardwoods for a variety of products and as ornamentals. We describe their general importance with specific emphasis on existing and emerging markets as energy products and the potential to maximize their productivity as short rotation woody crops. Using experience in Florida USA and similar locations, we document their current energy applications and assess their productivity as short-term and likely long-term energy and related products