scholarly journals A Static Pulling Test Is a Suitable Method for Comparison of the Loading Resistance of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) between Urban and Peri-Urban Forests

Forests ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Oskars Krišāns ◽  
Linda Čakša ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Steffen Rust ◽  
Didzis Elferts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Urban Forests ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Suitable Method ◽  
Wind Damage ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Urbanized Areas ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Damage Risk

In urbanized areas, wind disturbances can be intensified by anthropogenic stresses under which trees may become hazardous, creating serious threats and damages to nearby targets. Therefore, species with notably lower both wood mechanical properties and compartmentalization, such as pioneers, are considered to have higher wind damage risk if subjected to unfavorable growing conditions. Eurasian aspen (Populus tremula L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), are frequently found in both urban and peri-urban forests in Northeastern and Central parts of Europe, which strengthen the necessity for the evaluation of mechanical stability of such species. Therefore, static pulling tests were performed to compare the mechanical stability of the studied species in both urban and peri-urban forests. The loading resistance of the studied species differed, with birch being more stable than aspen, indicating aspen to be more prone to wind damage. Additionally, the mechanical stability of birch did not differ between trees growing in urban and peri-urban forests, suggesting static pulling tests are a suitable method for comparing trees from completely different growing conditions.

scholarly journals Wind Resistance of Eastern Baltic Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) Suggests Its Suitability for Periodically Waterlogged Sites

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Oskars Krišāns ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Māra Kitenberga ◽  
Jānis Donis ◽  
Steffen Rust ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
High Plasticity ◽  
Wind Resistance ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Selection Of Species

Storms and wind damage are the main cause of biomass loss in forests of Northern Europe, as well as they are synergic with the disturbances causing intense water and temperature stress. This highlights the necessity for climate-smart management at landscape level coupling ecological demands of forestry species with their wind resistance. Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), which is highly plastic species, appears to be promising for a wider application under such conditions, as it is believed to tolerate wide range of weather conditions. Though silver birch can be sensitive to water deficit and windthrow, local information on its wind tolerance in sites with different moisture regimes is advantageous. Mechanical stability of 71 mid-aged silver birches (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in seven dry (Hylocomiosa) and five periodically waterlogged (Myrtilloso-sphagnosa) sites with mineral soils in Latvia (hemiboreal lowland conditions) were assessed by the destructive static pulling tests. Site type had a significant, yet intermediate effect on the stability of silver birch. As expected, trees under periodically waterlogged conditions were more prone to collapse under static loading, however, they showed a better resistance to primary failure (beginning of wood structure deformation). Uprooting was the most common form of tree collapse. Surprisingly, considering similar root depths, stem breakage was more frequent in the periodically waterlogged than dry sites (21.9 vs. 5.1%, respectively), indicating high loading resistance of roots, supporting high plasticity and wind resistance of the studied metapopulation of silver birch. Nevertheless, in the periodically waterlogged sites, the difference between forces needed to cause primary and secondary (collapse) failures of stem decreased with age/size, implying necessity for optimization of rotation length. Accordingly, quantification of wind resistance can aid climate-smart selection of species for forest regeneration depending on landscape, suggesting birch as wind resistant option under periodically waterlogged conditions.

scholarly journals Towards Silviculture Guidelines to Produce Large-Sized Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) Logs in Western Europe

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 599
Author(s):  
Héloïse Dubois ◽  
Hugues Claessens ◽  
Gauthier Ligot
Keyword(s):  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Crown Diameter ◽  
Birch Trees ◽  
Timber Tree ◽  
Northeastern France

Forest health problems arising from climate change, pests and pathogens are a threat to the main timber tree species. As a result, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) has become a precious asset for meeting oncoming forestry challenges in western Europe. However, silviculture guidelines to produce high-value birch logs in this region are lacking. Producing large-sized birch trunks requires crown release, i.e., removing crown competitors around selected target trees. These interventions are currently seldom carried out or else too late when the growth potential of the trees has already diminished. This study set out to ascertain the diameter at breast height (dbh) that could be reached by crown-released birch, determine dbh-associated crown diameters, and further characterize the gain obtained from early crown release on birch dbh growth. We measured 704 birch trees that had undergone crown release in 38 naturally regenerated pure birch stands in southern Belgium and in northeastern France. We then evaluated the variation in stem and crown diameter, and analyzed increments in response to the earliness of the interventions in three subsamples, also compared with control target birch. We found that trees with a dbh of 50 cm could be grown within 60 years. Based on crown diameter, to produce 40, 50 and 60 cm dbh trunk, the distance required between target birch trees at the end of the rotation was around 8, 10 and 12 m. With no intervention and in ordinary dense birch regenerations, the dbh increment was found to decline once the stand reached age 4–7 years. Starting crown release in stands aged 4–5 years can double the dbh increment of target trees and provide a continual gain that may last up to 20 years. When birch crowns are released after 9–12 years, it may already be too late for them to recover their best growth rate. Our contribution should help complete emerging guidelines in support of birch silviculture development.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Antioxidative Mechanisms In Vitro and Triterpenes Composition of Extracts from Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) and Black Birch (Betula obscura Kotula) Barks by FT-IR and HPLC-PDA

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4633
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Ostapiuk ◽  
Łukasz Kurach ◽  
Maciej Strzemski ◽  
Jacek Kurzepa ◽  
Anna Hordyjewska
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Biologically Active Substances ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Outer Bark ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Production Of Hydrogen ◽  
Active Substances

Silver birch, Betula pendula Roth, is one of the most common trees in Europe. Due to its content of many biologically active substances, it has long been used in medicine and cosmetics, unlike the rare black birch, Betula obscura Kotula. The aim of the study was therefore to compare the antioxidant properties of extracts from the inner and outer bark layers of both birch trees towards the L929 line treated with acetaldehyde. Based on the lactate dehydrogenase test and the MTT test, 10 and 25% concentrations of extracts were selected for the antioxidant evaluation. All extracts at tested concentrations reduced the production of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, and 25% extract decreased malonic aldehyde formation in acetaldehyde-treated cells. The chemical composition of bark extracts was accessed by IR and HPLC-PDA methods and surprisingly, revealed a high content of betulin and lupeol in the inner bark extract of B. obscura. Furthermore, IR analysis revealed differences in the chemical composition of the outer bark between black and silver birch extracts, indicating that black birch may be a valuable source of numerous biologically active substances. Further experiments are required to evaluate their potential against neuroinflammation, cancer, viral infections, as well as their usefulness in cosmetology.

Does lignin modification affect feeding preference or growth performance of insect herbivores in transgenic silver birch (Betula pendula Roth)?

Planta ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 222 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Tiimonen ◽  
Tuija Aronen ◽  
Tapio Laakso ◽  
Pekka Saranpää ◽  
Vincent Chiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Insect Herbivores ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Lignin Modification

Phytoremediation of zinc contaminated soils using silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth)

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Dmuchowski ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski ◽  
Paulina Brągoszewska ◽  
Aneta Helena Baczewska ◽  
Irena Suwara
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis by nuSSR Markers of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) Populations in Their Southern European Distribution Range

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanbattista D. de Dato ◽  
Angela Teani ◽  
Claudia Mattioni ◽  
Filippos Aravanopoulos ◽  
Evangelia V. Avramidou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
European Distribution
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