THE USAGE of SEA BUCKTHORN (Hippophae Rhamnoides L.) FOR

AgroLife Scientific Journal - Volume 5, Number 2, 2016 ISSN 2285-5718; ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5726; ISSN ONLINE 2286-0126; ISSN-L 2285-5718 there are 6-8 species and 12 sub-species soil protection, the progressive improvement of

(Ahmad and Kamal, 2002; Aras et al., 2007; the environment, the regularization of water THE USAGE OF SEA BUCKTHORN (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Deepu et al., 2007; Suryakumar and Gupta, debits and the avoidance of some imbalances FOR IMPROVING ROMANIA’S DEGRADED LANDS 2011). Sea buckthorn has a mighty and well- and ecological hazards. In the same time, the developed tap root system, 80% of its feeding forest fruit capitalization action will be 1 2 1 1 Cristinel CONSTANDACHE , Adrian PETICILĂ , Lucian DINCĂ , Diana VASILE roots are in the topsoil (0.2 to 0.8 m) helping to promoted as an instrument for the economical

prevent erosion (Lu, 1992). A symbiotic amelioration of villages. 1 National Institute of Forest Research and Development - “Marin Drăcea”, mycorrhizal fungus, which is identified as The realized investigations had as main 128 Eroilor Blvd, Voluntari, Code 077190, Tel./Fax: 021/3503245, 021/3503238, Frankia (Actinomycetes), has been found on objectives: [email protected];[email protected];[email protected] seabuckthorn roots. Between the fungus and - identifying the categories of degraded fields 2 University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd, sea buckthorn is a symbiosis that leads to a root that are suitable for the culture of sea buckthorn District 1, Code 011464, Bucuresti, Tel./Fax: 021/3183636, [email protected] nodule formation that can fix a great quantity together with the used silvo-ameliorative of atmospheric nitrogen. The capacity of sea technologies; Corresponding author email: [email protected] buckthorn roots to fix nitrogen is estimated to - emphasizing the ameliorative effects and the be twice that of soybean (an 8 to 10-year old sea buckthorn culture’s efficiency in regard Abstract sea buckthorn forest can fix 180 kg of with site conditions.

An important percentage of Romania’s agricultural area is represented by degraded agricultural lands that can no nitrogen/ha/year) (Lu, 1992; Rajchal, 2009). Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is longer be used for agriculture but can be ecologically and economically improved. One such method, respectively the The sea-buckthorn has been used for centuries one of the shrub species recommended for the use of shrubs, is supported by research conducted in Valea-Sării and Bârseşti experimental perimeters from Vidra in Europe and Asia and the latin name afforestation of fields that are highly degraded Experimental Forest District, Vrancea County. Hippophae, meaning shining horse arrived and unproductive. Its fruits are requested in Sustained by the concept of agroforestry, this method is used for the improvement of the degraded lands. In comparison from ancient Greece, due to their leaves that pharmaceutical and alimentary purposes to with the ecological exigencies of forest species, there is a great diversity of degraded lands that are suitable for the culture of some species of shrubs. The most affected and unproductive lands (eroded land or landslide) can be improved were added to horse fodder, the result being name just a few. and enhanced by using sea buckthorn plantations (Hippophae rhamnoides L.). weight gain and shiny hair (Rongsen, 1992). The objectives of this article were to identify the categories of degraded fields that are suitable for the culture of sea In recent years, the importance and the MATERIALS AND METHODS buckthorn together with the used forestry amelioration technologies and to emphasize the ameliorative effects and the scientific interest in sea buckthorn have sea buckthorn culture’s efficiency in regard with site conditions. increased in Europe, not only for soil The investigations took place in areas destined The research has shown that mixtures of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. nigra) with sea buckthorn or pine plantations on consolidated lands with sea buckthorn, led to significant increases protection, as well as for their fruits rich in to a permanent research regarding the degraded growth of pines compared to pure cultures of pine, as a result of enrichment in soil nitrogen due to the symbiosis with flavonoids, carotenoids, and vitamins, field’s afforestation technologies, namely in the mycorrhizal fungus (Frankia). The investigations realized on parcels created especially for the study of leakages potassium being the most abundant element of Valea-Sării and Bârseşti experimental and installed on pine and sea buckthorn cultures (Bârseşti perimeter) have proved that the precipitation water leakages all occurring minerals in berries (Chen, 1988; perimeters from Vidra Experimental Forest is of 4 up to 10 times lower in the degraded pastures and the erosion’s quantum is of 0.05-0.5 mc/year/ha in Tong et al., 1989; Zhang et al., 1989; Souci et District, Vrancea County. comparison with over 50 mc/year/ha, in pastures and empty fields. Beside their soil improvement and field stabilization role (by reducing leakages and erosion), the sea buckthorn cultures have also important economic benefits, as their al., 2000; Sabir et al., 2005). The research were made on permanent plots fruits that are highly valued in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The concept on which our proposed method (on two experimental perimeters) in forest stands is “agro-silviculture”. As such, any type stands 38-55 years old with European black Key words: agro-forestry, degraded lands, sea buckthorn, shrubs. of slanted field can be cultivated (and pine (Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. nigra), Scots pine efficiently capitalized) through the association (Pinus sylvestris L.), or mixed stands (pine, INTRODUCTION agricultural cultures (Bălăşcuţă, 1988). If we of agricultural cultures with the silvicultural deciduous trees and sea buckthorn), performed also add the nutritive-therapeutic importance ones (fructiferous trees and shrubs). Through on degraded lands by direct afforestation or by The interest for the culture of fructiferous that these forest fruit have, the necessity of a their protective effects, these cultures substituting the sea buckthorn with European shrubs have existed for a long time in Romania, worldwide reconsideration regarding these contribute to the rebuttal or prevention of field black pine. but an important milestone was marked by the species is more than evident. degradation processes, and are also protecting These experimental plots were installed in 1981 realization of the first specialized plantations in A very strong deciduous shrub with yellow or and improving the soil. and these plots were monitored to see the the 1960’s (Haralamb, 1969). The purpose of orange berries (Rehder, 1960; Bailey and People must be trained in regard to the purpose evolution of the natural regeneration (Figure 1). these plantations was to partially compensate Bailey, 1978; Thomas and Schroeder 1996; of using ecological technologies through which These two experimental perimeters have an the deficit of forest fruits from the spontaneous Enescu, 2013) named sea-buckthorn fields are protected and restored and the area of approximately 75 ha, with 11 plots flora together with an increase of an economic, (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is considered to be production is increased. each, both of them having cultures with pine alimentary and exchange contribution for very profitable for the establishment of In Romania, the best areas for the application and sea buckthorn or pine and deciduous trees silviculture. The pomiculture specialists productive and protective plantations (Yang et of such methods are the hill areas that have old on very degraded lands. The experimental areas realized studies regarding the culture of some al., 2005; Li and Shao, 2006). silvicultural and agricultural traditions, with were selected to be in different site conditions, fructiferous trees and shrubs and were all Genus Hippophaë L. belongs to the family fields affected by different degradation with the stands with the same ages and with the convinced that the fructiferous shrubs are more Eleagnaceae (Kalia et al., 2011) and after many processes. The prevention and rehabilitation plots having 500-1000 m2 area depending on profitable cultures in comparison with other molecular, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, actions will lead to positive results regarding field conditions.

there are 6-8 species and 12 sub-species soil protection, the progressive improvement of

51 The investigations made, consist in the functional and economical efficiency in report executed with Scots pine and black pine in used as “vegetal reinforcement” for the monitorization of the species/forest cultures with the site conditions, planting composition association with forest cherry tree, sycamore consolidation of terraces realized on high slope with regard to the vegetation state, growth, and technique. etc. The substitution was realized by cutting the and active erosion fields; for the sea buckthorn in wide 6-10 m bands in consolidation/stabilization of gap fields with alternation with wide uncut 2-2.5 m bands transversal (thresholds) works realized from (Bogdan, Untaru, 1972; Bogdan ş.a., 2015). local materials (soil or rock) and vegetative Sea buckthorn plantation techniques radier (from sea buckthorn branches); for the The installation of white buckthorn cultures on protection and consolidation of gap shores or degraded lands was realized by planting longitudinal torrents (Constandache et al., seedlings obtained in nurseries or with 2010). In all those situations, the sea buckthorn ingrained suckers from natural regenerations. stems and branches were integrated in The most efficient method for the production of vegetation in a percentage of over 40-50% seedlings in nurseries was propagation by (Traci, 1988) resulting in real “anti-erosion cuttings. The ingrained percentage of the barriers”. Conceived and experimented in the cuttings was of 48-57%, and the seedling’s period 1977-1982 (patent act number height was between 78 and 96 cm, after a 109910/1996; 109958/1996), these types of single vegetation season (Relansin project consolidation works of slopes with extreme site number 1649/2003). conditions realized by merging the vegetation The seedlings or sucker plantation was realized with local materials (Figure 2), had as an effect through different methods, depending on the the growth of the afforestation work’s technical field’s degradation (Traci and Untaru, 1986): and economic efficiency. The installation of

- plantation in normal pits of 30 x 30 x 30 cm, forest vegetation on vegetal armed terraces has Figure 1. The location of experimental plots with 6700 seedlings/ha, at a scheme of 3.0/0.5 led to a decrease of expenses with

m (between terraces, in combination with main approximately 60%, in comparison with the The species were inventoried and measured The realized investigations (Traci and Untaru, species, on very strongly eroded fields) or at a plantation on terraces sustained by little fences, (height, diameter). There were also made 1986) have proved that this species is used for scheme of 1.5/1.0 m (in pure cultures, on while the time was reduced with at least 2 years observations about vegetation state, the relation afforestation on almost all categories of different categories of fields); (Traci and Untaru, 1986). between species, natural regeneration and about degraded lands and especially on those with a - in cordon plantation, 10000-20000 Sea buckthorn was used to fight against general evolution of stands. very advanced degradation such as: very strong seedlings/ha, at a 1.5-3.0/0.33 m scheme (on desertification (Heshmati, 2011), whereas it is towards excessively eroded fields, gap narrow terraces of 30-40 cm, in back slopes, on able to grow on high dunes, alone or in RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS embankments, strongly fragmented landing strongly eroded fields and gap embankments, at combination with other shrubs (Strat, 2005; fields, slime deposits (even coarse gravels), field inclinations of 40-55 degrees); Enescu, 2014) and it is capable to invade even Categories of degraded fields forested with some salted fields, fluvial-marine sands, - rift plantation, 6700-10000 seedlings/ha, 1.5- sand dunes, due to its very fast vegetative sea buckthorn anthropically degraded fields (artificial 1.0/1.0 scheme, on ravines, embankment etc. propagation, as it happened in Ireland (Cross, In Romania, the sea buckthorn (Hippophae embankments, dumps, fields, uncovered soil The sea buckthorn had a distinctive behavior 2006). For this reason, it should be applied a rhamnoides L.) is frequently found in a natural stratum fields etc.). It grows even on saturated and could reach good trapping and sustenance long-term management (Binggeli et al., 1992), way, or introduced through plantations on soils on which other species can’t grow and it percentages and a vigorous development because it is considered to be one of the most eroded fields and gravels from the Curvature supports a high concentration of salts (0.15%). regardless of the degradation’s shape or aggressive invasive shrub species across the Sub-Carpathians (Vrancea, Buzau and Prahova Its low exigencies regarding soil conditions and intensity. It was maintained even in cases when world (Daehler, 1998). valleys). It can also be found on the fluvial- especially humus and nitrogen content, its high a large part of the roots were denuded through Functional and economic efficiency marine sands from the Danube Delta (Letea resistance for a high content of calcium erosion. On sliding fields that have a strongly The sea buckthorn cultures proved to have a and Caraorman). carbonates and a heightened erosion and fragmented soil, on gaps and even on gravels, remarkable anti-erosion efficiency. Having a Due to its ecological qualities, it was one of the landslide resistance allow the usage of the sea the buckthorn had a very good development high sucking capacity, the shrubbery become most used species for the afforestation of buckthorn in the most diverse conditions and forming impenetrable backwoods in a short thicker and cover well the soil while the rich excessively degraded fields from Romania and on the most difficult degraded lands. period of time (3-4 years). radicellar system contributes to the soil’s was as such named “the ointment of degraded Furthermore, its large extending power Other usages in agro-forestry - ameliorative efficient fixation. It is widely planted as pure fields” (Haralamb, 1969). (sprouting, suckering, layering) prove its role purposes shrub lands in the hilly region because this As a vegetation subzone, the sea buckthorn has of a veritable pioneer species. Without taking into consideration the fact that indigenous tree species can provide rich root offered good results from silvo-steppe towards In certain situation, after a period of 10-20 it was used as afforestation material, the sea nodules and effective nitrogen fixation. the forest’s superior limit. The results were years from its natural or artificial installation of buckthorn was successfully used in the Intensive research has demonstrated that pure weak in the steppe area, mainly due to the soil strongly eroded and landslide fields (period in stabilization/consolidation of advanced H. rhamnoides shrublands have important water deficit, that lead to the buckthorn’s which the degradation processes were degraded fields. The sea buckthorn stems were effects on mitigating soil erosion and drying (Traci, 1988). practically stopped), substitution works were 53 improving soil conditions (Xuan et al., 2014). tions has increased (Zhang and Chen, 2007). As Another situation regarding the sea buckthorn’s development of forest cultures realized by After a period of 10-15 years of installation, such, the investigations realized on parcels efficiency was emphasized for the field’s substituting sea buckthorn, namely: realizing both on artificial and natural way, the sea created especially for the study of leakages and consolidation, namely: terraces sustained by some mixture stands (pine and broad-leaved buckthorn managed to stop the erosion which installed on pine and sea buckthorn cultures rock benches and terraces sustained by rock mixtures, most of them installed through allowed for the accumulation of a 5-10 cm litter (Bârseşti perimeter) have proved that the benches on sea buckthorn sucker and branches natural regeneration in uncut sea buckthorn that improved the soil through decay. precipitation water leakages is of 4 up to 10 (placing sea buckthorn stems, branches and inter-corridors). They are more stable, have a The realized investigations has emphasized the times lower in the degraded pastures and the sucker downstream which have entered in high structural and biological diversity, are of fact that the black pine or Scots pine and sea erosion’s quantum is of 0.05-0.5 mc/year/ha in vegetation and ensured a better field efficiency medium toward superior productivity (Figure buckthorn mixtures lead, in identical stational comparison with over 50 mc/year/ha, in (Untaru et al., 1982) as they have a greater 4), which proves that the sea buckthorn has conditions, to pine growth increments with 20 - pastures and empty fields (Untaru et al., 2013). durability in time (they can be seen even after improved the vegetation conditions in a relative 30% higher than pure pine cultures The investigations regarding the pine’s 35 years - see Figure 3). short time by accumulating organic substances (Constandache and Nistor, 2008). The expla- biometric parameters on degraded fields (PN The recent investigations (PN 09460313/2015 in soil and through its aeration. nation rests in the soil’s nitrogen enrichment 09460313/2015 project) in regard with the project) have also emphasized the superior resulted from the actinomiceta symbiosis and field’s consolidation technology have also from the soil’s humidity sustentation. emphasized significant height and average During spring this fact is caused by the high diameter differences for the Scots pine and retention of snow in sea buckthorn shrubbery, significant average heights and average while during the vegetation season by the water diameters differences for the black pine in the retention from precipitations as well as from a plantations realized on terraces consolidated better infiltration leading to a decrease of with sea buckthorn (in comparison with other leakages and erosion. types of consolidation - terraces sustained by H. rhamnoides and P. nigra or P. sylvestris can little fences). The sea buckthorn branches and have a synergistic effect on improving soil suckers used for the amelioration of terraces nitrogen availability. It is assumed that these have initially entered in vegetation, plants could absorb nitrogen nutrition which contributing to the field’s coverage and promotes plant growth and increase plant consolidation as well as to the soil’s productivity amount, and plant litter quality amelioration through nitrogen enrichment. This (Lin et al., 2012). fact also explains the growth of pine species. The decomposition of plant litter is an important Analyzing height and diameter differences for Figure 2. Vegetal armed terraces in PE Bârseşti Figure 3. Black pine and silvester pine on terraces source of soil organic input. Therefore, the the two pine species in different field (Photo Untaru, 1980) sustaeined by rock and sea buckthorn terraces- P11 Bârseşti (Photo Constandache, 2015) mixed plantations of H. rhamnoides and P. nigra preparation conditions (plantation or P. sylvestris may increase soil carbon seques- technologies) were realized for P7, namely: tration, and thus, affect soil carbon storage. P7A - terraces sustained by little fences (Tg); Together with an anti-erosion and ameliorative bioactive substances such as other herbaceous Thus, interest in mixed H. rhamnoides planta- P7B - vegetal armed terraces (Ta), (Table 1). value, the sea buckthorn has a very important plants (Urtica, Vaccinium etc.) (Thomas and economic value given by its fruits but also by Schroeder, 1996). Table 1. Analyzing average height (Hm) and average diameter (Dm) differences for silvester pine (Pi) and black pine (Pi.n) in regard with the field’s consolidation technology (Tg and Ta) its branches and leaves. In Asia and in Europe medicinal uses of sea Species Variant Average s2 n sd t GL t 0.1% t 1% t 5% As such, its fruits including seeds, contain high buckthorn are very well known. The most Average height (Hm) doses of vitamin C and essential oils (are the important pharmacological functions of H. Pi Tg 12.44 2.46 75 0.18 68.66 74 Ta 13.46 1.45 67 0.15 91.53 66 most nutritious and vitamin rich fruit known, rhamnoides oil are: diminishing inflammation, Differences 0.07 4884 3.30 2.58 1.96 higher than briar fruits) (Centenaro et al., 1977; disinfecting bacteria, pain mitigation, Pi.n Tg 10.12 2.08 29 0.27 37.76 28 Ta 11.11 1.25 8 0.40 28.11 7 Novruzov and Aslanov, 1983) as well as regeneration of tissues and anti-tumor effects Differences 0.24 196 3.34 2.60 1.97 Average diameter (Dm) vitamin A, citric acid etc. (Brad et al., 2002). (Zhong et al., 1989) Pi Tg 11.57 3.07 75 0.20 57.21 74 The vitamin C concentration in berries varies The fruit production is generally maintained Ta 12.60 2.42 67 0.19 66.29 66 Differences 0.07 4884 3.30 2.58 1.96 depending on species, geographical location pretty high even in the case of excessively Pi.n Tg 10.83 3.26 29 0.34 32.30 28 and physiological maturity (Bernath and degraded lands, a fact that justify its culture in Ta 11.50 1.94 8 0.49 23.37 7 Differences 0.27 196 3.34 2.60 1.97 Foldesi, 1992; Zhou et al., 1991). It also regard with this purpose (Figure 5).

Species Analyzed parameter Calculated differences Dl 0.1% DL 1% DL 5% contain high amounts of protein, especially A natural habitat of sea buckthorn can produce -1 Pi Hm (Ta) - Hm (Tg) 1.028 0.22 globulins and albumins, carotene, fatty acids an amount of 750 to 1500 kg*ha of fruits (Lu, Pin 0.995 0.81 -1 Pi Dm (Ta) - Dm (Tg) 1.02 0.25 0.19 0.53 and vitamin E (Solonenko and Shishkina, 1983; 1992) while a shelterbelt planting 4 to 5 t*ha Pin 0.67 0.90 0.70 0.53 Loskutova et al., 1989; Kostyrko, 1990; (Schroeder and Yao, 1995) and orchard Legend: -1 Tg - terraces with little fences; Ta – sea buckthorn “armed” (consolidatet) vegetal terraces Bernath and Foldesi, 1992). plantings up to 10 t*ha (Thomas and s2 = variant; n = observation number, sd = standard variant deviation; t = calculated t test, GL = freedom degree; t0.1 - 5% = t values from tables at different probabilities; LSD0.1 -5 % = the limit difference admitted for the calculated probabilities; hm = average height; dm = average diameter. And its leaves are very rich in nutrients and Schroeder, 1996).

54 improving soil conditions (Xuan et al., 2014). tions has increased (Zhang and Chen, 2007). As Another situation regarding the sea buckthorn’s development of forest cultures realized by After a period of 10-15 years of installation, such, the investigations realized on parcels efficiency was emphasized for the field’s substituting sea buckthorn, namely: realizing both on artificial and natural way, the sea created especially for the study of leakages and consolidation, namely: terraces sustained by some mixture stands (pine and broad-leaved buckthorn managed to stop the erosion which installed on pine and sea buckthorn cultures rock benches and terraces sustained by rock mixtures, most of them installed through allowed for the accumulation of a 5-10 cm litter (Bârseşti perimeter) have proved that the benches on sea buckthorn sucker and branches natural regeneration in uncut sea buckthorn that improved the soil through decay. precipitation water leakages is of 4 up to 10 (placing sea buckthorn stems, branches and inter-corridors). They are more stable, have a The realized investigations has emphasized the times lower in the degraded pastures and the sucker downstream which have entered in high structural and biological diversity, are of fact that the black pine or Scots pine and sea erosion’s quantum is of 0.05-0.5 mc/year/ha in vegetation and ensured a better field efficiency medium toward superior productivity (Figure buckthorn mixtures lead, in identical stational comparison with over 50 mc/year/ha, in (Untaru et al., 1982) as they have a greater 4), which proves that the sea buckthorn has conditions, to pine growth increments with 20 - pastures and empty fields (Untaru et al., 2013). durability in time (they can be seen even after improved the vegetation conditions in a relative 30% higher than pure pine cultures The investigations regarding the pine’s 35 years - see Figure 3). short time by accumulating organic substances (Constandache and Nistor, 2008). The expla- biometric parameters on degraded fields (PN The recent investigations (PN 09460313/2015 in soil and through its aeration. nation rests in the soil’s nitrogen enrichment 09460313/2015 project) in regard with the project) have also emphasized the superior resulted from the actinomiceta symbiosis and field’s consolidation technology have also from the soil’s humidity sustentation. emphasized significant height and average During spring this fact is caused by the high diameter differences for the Scots pine and retention of snow in sea buckthorn shrubbery, significant average heights and average while during the vegetation season by the water diameters differences for the black pine in the retention from precipitations as well as from a plantations realized on terraces consolidated better infiltration leading to a decrease of with sea buckthorn (in comparison with other leakages and erosion. types of consolidation - terraces sustained by H. rhamnoides and P. nigra or P. sylvestris can little fences). The sea buckthorn branches and have a synergistic effect on improving soil suckers used for the amelioration of terraces nitrogen availability. It is assumed that these have initially entered in vegetation, plants could absorb nitrogen nutrition which contributing to the field’s coverage and promotes plant growth and increase plant consolidation as well as to the soil’s productivity amount, and plant litter quality amelioration through nitrogen enrichment. This (Lin et al., 2012). fact also explains the growth of pine species. The decomposition of plant litter is an important Analyzing height and diameter differences for Figure 2. Vegetal armed terraces in PE Bârseşti Figure 3. Black pine and silvester pine on terraces source of soil organic input. Therefore, the the two pine species in different field (Photo Untaru, 1980) sustaeined by rock and sea buckthorn terraces- P11 Bârseşti (Photo Constandache, 2015) mixed plantations of H. rhamnoides and P. nigra preparation conditions (plantation or P. sylvestris may increase soil carbon seques- technologies) were realized for P7, namely: tration, and thus, affect soil carbon storage. P7A - terraces sustained by little fences (Tg); Together with an anti-erosion and ameliorative bioactive substances such as other herbaceous Thus, interest in mixed H. rhamnoides planta- P7B - vegetal armed terraces (Ta), (Table 1). value, the sea buckthorn has a very important plants (Urtica, Vaccinium etc.) (Thomas and economic value given by its fruits but also by Schroeder, 1996). Table 1. Analyzing average height (Hm) and average diameter (Dm) differences for silvester pine (Pi) and black pine (Pi.n) in regard with the field’s consolidation technology (Tg and Ta) its branches and leaves. In Asia and in Europe medicinal uses of sea Species Variant Average s2 n sd t GL t 0.1% t 1% t 5% As such, its fruits including seeds, contain high buckthorn are very well known. The most Average height (Hm) doses of vitamin C and essential oils (are the important pharmacological functions of H. Pi Tg 12.44 2.46 75 0.18 68.66 74 Ta 13.46 1.45 67 0.15 91.53 66 most nutritious and vitamin rich fruit known, rhamnoides oil are: diminishing inflammation, Differences 0.07 4884 3.30 2.58 1.96 higher than briar fruits) (Centenaro et al., 1977; disinfecting bacteria, pain mitigation, Pi.n Tg 10.12 2.08 29 0.27 37.76 28 Ta 11.11 1.25 8 0.40 28.11 7 Novruzov and Aslanov, 1983) as well as regeneration of tissues and anti-tumor effects Differences 0.24 196 3.34 2.60 1.97 Average diameter (Dm) vitamin A, citric acid etc. (Brad et al., 2002). (Zhong et al., 1989) Pi Tg 11.57 3.07 75 0.20 57.21 74 The vitamin C concentration in berries varies The fruit production is generally maintained Ta 12.60 2.42 67 0.19 66.29 66 Differences 0.07 4884 3.30 2.58 1.96 depending on species, geographical location pretty high even in the case of excessively Pi.n Tg 10.83 3.26 29 0.34 32.30 28 and physiological maturity (Bernath and degraded lands, a fact that justify its culture in Ta 11.50 1.94 8 0.49 23.37 7 Differences 0.27 196 3.34 2.60 1.97 Foldesi, 1992; Zhou et al., 1991). It also regard with this purpose (Figure 5).

55 the sea buckthorn stands can be substituted and chromium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, the installation of other forest cultures with iron, and potassium for the dietary more important forest species can be realized. requirements of men and women. Mixed plantations, i.e., H. rhamnoides and P. All these features will convince field owners nigra or P. sylvestris, can have a synergistic that cultivating sea buckthorn they can effect on microbial community structure, radically improve the environment (by enzyme activities, and soil organic carbon reducing erosion and improving the soil), storage. These plantations can be an alternative protect natural resources (field quality), for increasing plant productivity and enhancing improve the population’s alimentation and soil conditions. health and in the same time obtain important Also, its medicinal properties (sea buckthorn revenues. juice), represents a beneficial source of

Figure 4. Pine and broad-leaved mixture stands in Figure 5. Fructification for sea buckthorn sea buckthorn substitution (Valea Sării perimeter) installed on degraded fields (Valea Sării) REFERENCES amelioration works. Forest magazine, nr. 1, p. 26-31. Photo Constandache C., 2015 Photo Constandache C., 2015 Cross J.R., 2006. The potential natural vegetation of Affeldt H.A., Marshall D.E., Brown G.K., 1987. Relative Ireland. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 106: p. 65-116. The realized investigations have proved that the appropriately fructify, for economical reasons, dynamic displacements within a trunk shaker clamp. Trans. ASAE 31: p. 331-336. Daehler C.C., 1998. The taxonomic distribution of revenues realized from the capitalization of sea the proportion of male to female plants is very Ahmad S.D., Kamal M., 2002. 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Gartenbau 31: descriptors. Plant Genetic Res. Newsl. 149: p. 22-26. The fruit’s harvesting period is of some months researchers recommended 8% to 12% p. 242-244. Demenko V.I., Mikityuk O.D., Levinskii M.B., 1986. from their ripening (August-November, based (Albrecht et al., 1984; Wolf and Wegert, 1993). Aras A., Akkemik U., Kaya Z., 2007. Hippophaë Abcisic acid, ethylene, growth and fruit drop in sea rhamnoides L.: fruit and seed morphology and its buckthorn. Fiziologiya Rastenii 33: p. 188-194. on the fruit’s usage purpose). Goncharov (1995) reported another type of Demenko V.I., Korzinnikov Y.S., 1990. Effect of surface The difficulties in sea buckthorn harvesting are design, that gave a significantly higher fruit taxonomic problems in Turkey. Pakistan Journal of Botany 39: p. 1907-1916. activity compounds and copper ions on ethylene a major impediment (due to their thorns), so productivity compared with other designs. It Bailey L.H., Bailey E.Z., 1978. Hortus Third. A concise producers inducting fruit abscission in the sea that a very important thing is to develop a consist of one male:female mixed row for dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States buckthorn. Fiziologiya Rastenii 37: p. 597-601. better and more economical harvesting method every two rows of female plants, with the and Canada. MacMillan. Pub. Co. Enescu C.M., 2014. Sea-buckthorn: a species with a Bălăşcuţă N. ş.a. 1988. Zoning, selecting and cultivating variety of uses, especially in land reclamation. (Olander, 1995). Therefore, in a lot of countries condition that in the mixed row, every fifth Dendrobiology 72: p. 41-46. (Sweden, Germany and Russia ), it have been plant is a male (Thomas and Schroeder, 1996). fructiferous shrub species in the forest fund. Tehnică Agricolă Publishing House, Bucureşti. Gaetke R.M., Schmidt M., Triquart E., Wegert F., 1991. developed mechanical harvesters: Shakers, Bernath J., Foldesi D., 1992. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae Ernteverfahren sanddorn. Erwerbobstbau 2: p. 49-51. vacuum suction and quick freezing (Affeldt et CONCLUSIONS rhamnoides L.): A promosing new medicinal and Gaetke R.M., Triquart E., 1993. First result with on al., 1987; Varlamov and Gabuniya, 1990; food crops. Herbs Spices Medic. Plante 1: p. 27-35. improved sea buckthorn harvesting technology. In: Bogdan N., Constandache C., Nistor S., 2015. Cultivation and utilization of wild fruit crops. Gaetke et al., 1991; Gaetke and Triquart, Strongly eroded fields and excessively eroded Bernhardt Thalacker Verlag Gmbh&Co. 1993), but all of these have some disadvantage fields that have a high inclination and are Deforestation consequences. Vrancea’s ecological reconstruction Silvică Publishing House, 288 p. Gakov M.A., 1980. Prospect for the development of that consist in damage of fruit and bark or it situated in very advanced degradation stages, Bogdan N., Traci C., Untaru E., 1972. The afforestation (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) in the Tuva, USSR. require labor intensive. practically unproductive, can be improved and of Vrancea’s degraded lands: I. Procedures for Lesnoe Khozyaistvo 2: p. 51-52. Another method with ethylene treatment that valued through sea buckthorn plantations preparing the plantation of fields; II. Methods for Goncharov P.L., 1995. Sea buckthorn in Siberia: substituting sea buckthorn. Ceres Publishing House Problems and solutions. In Proc. Intl. Sea Buckthorn induced the formation of an abscission layer, Hippophae rhamnoides L., preferably with Workshop, Beijing, China. could make harvesting more efficient seedlings produced in nurseries (from cuttings Bucureşti, 155 p. Brad I., Brad I.L., Radu F., 2002. Sea buckthorn. A Haralamb At., 1969. The culture of fructiferous shrubs. (Demenko et al., 1986; Demenko and harvested from selected specimens). pharmacy in a plant. Tehnică Publ. House, Bucureşti. Agro-Silvică Publishing House, Bucureşti. Korzinnikov, 1990). Beside their soil improvement and field Centenaro G., Capietti G.P., Pizzocara F., Mchesini A., Heshmati G.A., 2011. Biological Models for Protecting The sea buckthorn’s fructification is not stabilization role (by reducing leakages and 1977. The fruit of the sea buckthorn (Hippophae Different Land Use in Arid Areas in China. Journal of rhamnoides L.) as a soerce of vitamin C. Atti de la Rangeland Science 1: p. 235-246. negatively influenced by late/early frosts, erosion), the sea buckthorn cultures have also Kalia R.K., Singh R., Rai M.K., Mishra G.P., Singh S.R., hailstone, blight etc. The creation and important economic benefits, as their fruits are Societa Italiana di Science Naturali det Museo Civico di istoria Naturale di Milano,118: p. 371-378. Dhawan A.K., 2011. Biotechnological interventions maintenance of a single hectare of sea highly valued in the pharmaceutical and food Chen T., 1988. Studies of the biochemical composition in sea buckthorn (Hippophaë L.): current status and buckthorn costs 10 times cheaper than that of industries. of Hippophae and its quality assessment in Gansu future prospects. Trees 25: p. 559-575. other stands (raspberry or blackberry) and After a period of 10-20 years from the culture’s Province. Hippophae 1: p. 19-26. Kostyrko D.R., 1990. Itroducing of useful food plants Constandache C., Nistor S., Ivan V., Munteanu F., into the Donetsk Botanic Garden of the Ukrainian offers good results for any field category. installation, the field’s degradation was stopped Academy of Science. Introduktsiya i Being a dioec unisexual species, in order to and the soil was ameliorated. After this stage, Păcurar V.D., 2010. The functional efficiency of protection forest cultures and degraded land Akklimatizatsiya Rostenii 14: p. 31-34. 56 the sea buckthorn stands can be substituted and chromium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, the installation of other forest cultures with iron, and potassium for the dietary more important forest species can be realized. requirements of men and women. Mixed plantations, i.e., H. rhamnoides and P. All these features will convince field owners nigra or P. sylvestris, can have a synergistic that cultivating sea buckthorn they can effect on microbial community structure, radically improve the environment (by enzyme activities, and soil organic carbon reducing erosion and improving the soil), storage. These plantations can be an alternative protect natural resources (field quality), for increasing plant productivity and enhancing improve the population’s alimentation and soil conditions. health and in the same time obtain important Also, its medicinal properties (sea buckthorn revenues. juice), represents a beneficial source of

Lokustova G.A., Baikov V.G., Starkov A.V., Medvedev buckthorn (H. rhamnoides L.) Xian, China, p. 132-7. A., 1989. The composition of fatty acids from the Traci C., 1988. Sea buckthorn. For a new orientation in lipids of (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruits. it’s culture on degraded lands and in conducting Rastitelnye Resursy 25: p. 97-103. natural and cultivated sea buckthorn stands from the RESULTS REGARDING BIOMASS YIELD AT MAIZE UNDER DIFFERENT Li Y.Y., Shao M.A., 2006. Change of soil physical forest fund. Forest Magazine, Nr. 3, p. 114-118. PLANT DENSITY AND ROW SPACING CONDITIONS properties under long-term natural vegetation Traci C., Untaru E., 1986. The ameliorative and restoration in the Eastern Loess Plateau of China. J. consolidation behavior and effect for forest cultures 1 2 1 1 3 Arid Environ 64: p. 77-96. from degraded lands from experimental perimeters. 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Intl Centre of Integrated Untaru E., Caloian Gr., Traci C., Ciortuz I. and colab., District 1, 013975, Bucharest, Romania Mountain Development. Katmandu, Nepal. 1982. The afforestation of sliding fields and ravines Novruzov E.N., Aslonov S.M., 1983. Studies on the from Moldavia’s Plateau, Curvature Carpathians and Corresponding author email: [email protected] dynamics of ascorbic acid accumulation in sea Cotmeana Platform ICAS, II Series, Bucuresti, 68 p. buckthorn fruits. Doklady Akademii Nouk Varlamov G.P., Gabuniya V.G., 1990. Picking sea Abstract Azebaidzanski SSR39:59-63 (Nort. Abstr. 54: 8057). buckthorn fruit by suction air stream. Taktory i Olander S., 1995. Mechanical harvesting of sea sel’skokhozyaistvennye Mashiny 1: p. 29-30. Maize (Zea mays L.) is important for supplying biomass to be used as substrate for biogas production either as energy buckthorn. Proc. Intl. Sea Buckthorn Workshop, Wolf D., Wegert F., 1993. Experience gained in the crop or as crop residues. As energy crop for producing biomass, maize is recognized as being one of the most used Beijing, China. harvesting and utilization of sea buckthorn. In crops. Maize as energy crop need a specific crop technology, with specific technological features among which there Rajchal R., 2009. Sea buckthorn Management Guide. Cultivation and utilization of wild fruit crops. are counting the using of the suitable plant density and row spacing. From this perspective, the aim of the present paper Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation, UK and Bernhard Talacker Verig Gmbh&Co. is to present the results we have obtained regarding the biomass yield at several maize hybrids studied under different ComForM (Community Based Natural Forest and Yang Y., Yao Y.N., Xu G., Li C.Y., 2005. Growth and plant density and row spacing conditions. In this respect, four maize hybrids (H1, H2, Cera 400, and Cera 430) were Tree Manag. in the Himalaya), IoF, Pokhara, Nepal. physiological responses to drought and elevated studied at different plant densities (70.000, 80.000, 90.000, 100.000, 110.000, 120.000, and 125.000 plants.ha-1) and at Rehder A., 1960. Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs - ultraviolet- B in two contrasting populations of two row spacing conditions (75 cm and 37.5 cm). Researches were performed in a field experiment in the year 2015, second edition. Macmillan Company, New York. Hippophae rhamnoides. Physiol Plantarum 124: p. under rainfed conditions. The field experiment was located in South Romania, respectively at Fundulea, Calarasi Rongsen A., 1992. Sea buckthorn a multi-purpose plant 431-440. County (44o28’ N latitude and 26o28’ E longitude). The biomass determinations were performed in the early dough - species for fragile mountains. ICIMOD Occasional Zhang W., Yan J., Duo J., Ren B., Guo J., 1989. dough plant growth stages, with the purpose to calculate the yields of above-ground biomass (expressed in tons.ha-1) in Paper No. 20, Khathmandou, p. 62. Preliminary study of biochemical constitutions of the growth stages of the maize plants when the biomass could be used as raw material for biogas production, but also Sabir S.M., Maqsood H., Hayat I., Khan M.Q., Khaliq berry of sea buckthorn growing in Shanxi province as fodder (silo) for animals. In our field experiment, increasing in plant density was associated with an increase of A., 2005. Elemental and nutritional analysis of sea and their changing trend. In: Proceedings of above-ground biomass yield up to a threshold beyond which the biomass yield is decreasing, this threshold being buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) international symposium on sea buckthorn (H. different according to row spacing. Smaller plant densities favoured the biomass yields at wide rows (row spacing of berries of Pakistani origin. J. Med Food 8: p. 518-22. rhamnoides L.), Xian, China, p. 96-105. 75 cm), while higher plant densities favoured the biomass yields at narrow rows (row spacing of 37.5 cm). The biomass Schroeder W.R. and Yao Y., 1995. Sea buckthorn. A Zhang J.T., Chen T.G., 2007. Effects of mixed yields registered higher values at row spacing of 37.5 cm than at row spacing of 75 cm. promising multipurpose crop for Saskatchewan. Hippophae rhamnoides on community and soil in Prairie Farm rehabilitation Administration, planted forests in the Eastern Loess Plaetau, China. Agriculture and AgriFood, Canada. Ecol. Eng. 31: p. 115-121. Key words: biomass, yield, maize, plant density, row spacing. Solonenka L.P., Shishkina E.E., 1983. Protein and Zhong C., Zhang X., Shu R., 1989. Clinical effects of aminoacids in sea buckthorn fruits. Biologiya, cosmetics with sea blackthorn extracts. In: Proc. Intl. INTRODUCTION et al., 2013). It seems that the most efficient Khimiya i Farmakologiya Oblepikhi, p. 67-82. Symp. Sea Buckthorn, Xian, China, p. 322-324. utilization of maize is supplying of green maize Souci S.W., Fachmann W., Kraut H., 2000. Food Zhou Y., Ruan D., Yang B., Wang S., 1991. A study on Biomass is the most common form of biomass directly to biogas plants for heat and composition and nutrition tables. Stuttgart, Germany: vitamin C content of (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Medpharm Scientific Publishers. fruit and its changing roles. Forest Res. 4: p. 345-349. renewable energy (McKendry, 2002), this power energy production (Dubrovskis et al., Strat D., 2005. Beach and sand dune species plant of ***Relansin 1649/2003 Project. The rehabilitation of being used as source of energy since ancient 2010). deltaic shore between Cape Buival-Câșla Vădanei degraded lands, inefficient for agricultural usage times. In a time when the human society has to Energy crops used for biogas production have (Sărăturile marine field). Revista de geomorfologie 7: from Vrancea through forest cultures with rely more and more on renewable sources of to be easy to be cultivated and they have to be p. 51-60. fructiferous trees and shrubs/ INCDS Archive. energy, the importance of biomass became not too much demanding for inputs. Apart these Suryakumar G., Gupta A., 2011. Medicinal and ***PN 9460313/2015 Project - valuating/monitoring therapeutic potential of Sea buckthorn (Hippophaë forest cultures and species for the protection of even greater. Within the agricultural systems, characteristics, they should provide high dry rhamnoides L.). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 138: degraded fields in the conditions of climatic changes. biomass could be used for energetic purposes matter yield and high methane output per area p. 268-278. INCDS Archive. either as crop residues or as energy crop. unit (Dubrovskis et al., 2010). From this Thomas S.C. Li; Schroeder W.L., 1996. Sea Backthorn ***Invention patent: nr. 109910/1996 - Installation Among the energy crops, maize (Zea mays L.) respect, maize as a C4 plant has a high capacity (Hippophae rhamnoides L.): A multipurpose plant. procedure for forest vegetation on degraded fields by has a great potential to produce biomass which to produce biomass and it is already the most HortTehnology 6: p. 370-380. using vegetal armed terrace - E. Untaru, Gr. Caloian, Tong J., Zhang C., Zhao Z., Yang Y., Tian K., 1989. The C. Traci. could be used for different energy purposes used crop for biogas production in several determination of the physical chemical constants and ***Invention patent nr. 109958/1996 - The consolidation (Ion et al., 2016). Thus, maize is considered to countries. For instance, maize is the main crop sixteen mineral elements in sea buckthorn raw juice. method for ogas and small ravines by using vegetal be very suitable for producing biomass that can grown for biogas production (biomass crop) in In: Proceedings of international symposium on sea thresholds - Gr. Caloian, E. Untaru, C. Traci. be used as substrate for biogas production Germany (Brauer-Siebrecht et al., 2016) and (Amon et al., 2006; Balodis et al., 2011; Băşa maize is the most important energy crop grown