<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Nitrogen form and concentration interact to affect the performance of two ecologically distinct Mediterranean forest trees</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">European Journal of Forest Research</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2014</style></year></dates><publisher><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Springer Berlin Heidelberg</style></publisher><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">133</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">235-246</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Most studies examining inorganic N form effects on growth and nutrition of forest trees have been conducted on single species from boreal or temperate environments, while comparative studies with species from other biomes are scarce. We evaluated the response of two Mediterranean trees of contrasting ecology, Quercus ilex L. and Pinus halepensis Mill., to cultivation with distinct inorganic N forms. Seedlings were fertilized with different NH4 (+)/NO3 (-) proportion at either 1 or 10 mM N. In both species, N forms had small effects at low N concentration, but at high N concentration they markedly affected the plant performance. A greater proportion of NH4 (+) in the fertilizer at high N caused toxicity as it reduced growth and caused seedling death, with the effect being greater in Q. ilex than in P. halepensis. An increase in the proportion of NO3 (-) at high N strongly enhanced growth relative to low N plants in P. halepensis but had minor effects in Q. ilex. Relatively more NH4 (+) in the fertilizer enhanced plant P concentration but reduced K concentration in both species, while the opposite effect occurred with NO3 (-), and these effects were enhanced under high N concentration. We conclude that species responses to inorganic N forms were related to their ecology. P. halepensis, a pioneer tree, had improved performance with NO3 (-) at high N concentration and showed strong plasticity to changes in N supply. Q. ilex, a late successional tree, had low responsiveness to N form or concentration.</style></abstract></record><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Development of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings in response to tree shelters and mulching in northwestern Tunisia</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Journal of Forestry Research</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2013</style></year></dates><publisher><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Northeast Forestry University</style></publisher><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">24</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">193-204</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">The need for reforestation in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) areas is challenged by difficulties. Principal among these is herbivory of young plants, vegetative competition, and slow growth rates of cork oak seedlings. We evaluated the early development of cork oak seedlings treated using tree shelters and mulching in northwestern Tunisia. We tested three tree shelter treatments (non-vented, vented, and control) to shield seedlings from animal damage and five mulch types to control competing vegetation (Italian Stone Pine, Lentisk, combination of Italian Stone Pine and Lentisk (organic mulches), gravel (inorganic mulch) and no mulch). At the end of the two-year experiment, sheltered seedlings were 89-99% taller than unsheltered seedlings and had higher numbers and lengths of shoot growth flushes. In contrast, both stem diameter growth and dry weight biomass (from samples extracted after two years) were significantly reduced inside tree shelters. Root-to-shoot ratio was not significantly different in sheltered vs. unsheltered seedlings, suggesting that tree shelters do not adversely affect this parameter. Mulching alone did not favour growth, but could be beneficial when combined with tree shelters. The combination of vented tree shelters and gravel mulch was the most effective treatment for promoting diameter, height and stem volume growth.</style></abstract></record></records></xml>