Sprouting ability and biomass production of downy and silver birch stumps of different diameters

Halli lepa, hübriidlepa ja arukase biomassi produktsioon endistel põllumaadel The present study is based on four experimental sites, located in Southern-Estonia: hybrid alder and grey alder plantations located in Põlva county, and two sample plots of silver birch, located in Tartu county. The stand characteristics, above-ground biomass and current annual production (CAP) were estimated in order to evaluate production capacity of different tree species growing on abandoned agricultural lands. Due to fast growth and high biomass production capacity the most promising tree species for short-rotation forestry in Estonia is grey alder. The stem mass in the 13-years-old grey alder and hybrid alder stand was 63.4 t ha-1 and 40.0 t ha-1, respectively. However, the different biomass production is mainly affected by stand densities, 6170 trees per ha and 4080 trees per ha, respectively. During ageing, the differences between the alder stands diminish. At the age of 14, mean height and diameter at breast height were practically equal. Also the mean stem mass in the older, 13-year old stand, is almost equal: 10.3 kg in grey alder stand and 9.8 kg in hybrid alder stand. At a younger age, the mean stem mass was higher in grey alder stand, but later, at the age of 13, the mean stem mass has become almost the same (10.3 kg in grey alder stand and 9.8 kg in hybrid alder stand). The rotation period for hybrid alder is longer than for grey alder and bulk maturity will occur later. Silver birch is also a highly productive tree species and has a prospect for short-rotation forestry. The mean stem mass and annual current increment of 8-year-old silver birch stand was in same the magnitude as in the grey alder stand. Although the average stand diameter and height were lower in the silver birch stand than in the grey alder stand, it is compensated by the higher wood density of birch wood. The number of trees has affected silver birch stand production, the above-ground biomass in the very high density birch stand (35 600 trees per ha) was significantly lower than in the sparse stand (11 600 trees per ha), 22.8 t ha-1 and 31.2 t ha-1, respectively.

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Biomass production and carbon sequestration in a fertile silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) forest chronosequence

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2011.11.033 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 267 ◽

pp. 117-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

V. Uri ◽

M. Varik ◽

J. Aosaar ◽

A. Kanal ◽

M. Kukumägi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Betula Pendula Roth

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Young Silver Birch Grows Faster and Allocates Higher Portion of Biomass into Stem Than Norway Spruce, a Case Study from a Post-Disturbance Forest

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12040433 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 433

Author(s):

Bohdan Konôpka ◽

Jozef Pajtík ◽

Vladimír Šebeň ◽

Peter Surový ◽

Katarína Merganičová

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Standing Stock ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Radial Increment ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Stem Wood ◽

Wood Processing ◽

Research Activities

The aim of the paper was to compare young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) growing at the identical site, from the point of contribution of tree components to their aboveground biomass stock, their wood density, radial increment and aboveground biomass production. Our research activities were performed in the High Tatra Mts., which belong to the Tatra National Park (TANAP), Northern Slovakia. Currently, the substantial part of the TANAP territory is covered by post-disturbance young forests which have been growing there since the large-scale windstorm episode in November 2004. Our study combined non-destructive repeated tree measurements performed at two transects in 2016–2020, with destructive tree sampling of twenty 14-year-old individuals for each species. From the gathered data, we derived models estimating standing stock and annual production of aboveground biomass in individual tree components (foliage, branches, stem bark and stem wood), using diameter at breast height (DBH) as a predictor. The results showed contrasting contributions of tree compartments to aboveground biomass stock between birch and spruce. While spruce trees had four times higher contribution of foliage than birches, the reverse situation (1.5-fold difference) was observed for stem over bark biomass. At the same time, birch trees had a 40% greater diameter increment and a 30% denser stem wood than spruce. As for aboveground biomass production, the contribution of the stem as an economically important component was greater in birch than spruce. The results suggest that, in the young growth stage, birch may be advantageous over spruce in both ecological and production properties. Therefore, we believe that strengthening research activities focused on birch ecology and production issues would bring practical recommendations for better utilization of this tree species in forestry and wood-processing industry sectors

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The growth and production of some fast growing deciduous tree species stands on abandoned agricultural land

Forestry Studies / Metsanduslikud Uurimused ◽

10.2478/v10132-011-0080-z ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 18-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Veiko Uri ◽

Jürgen Aosaar ◽

Mats Varik ◽

Merit Kund

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Tree Species ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Rotation Period ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Stem Volume ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Agricultural Lands ◽

Growing Stock ◽

Ground Biomass

Mõningate kiirekasvuliste lehtpuupuistute kasv ja produktsioonivõime endisel põllumaalSeveral studies about stands growing on abandoned agricultural lands are induced by extensive afforestation of agricultural lands and more intensive use of biomass. Overview of above-ground biomass production of grey alder, hybrid alder and silver birch young stands growing on former agricultural areas are presented in current paper. The results of 16- and 6-year period of alders and silver birch stands, respectively, are reported. Above-ground biomass and biomass production of stands were estimated. The growing stock and current annual increment (CAI) of 16-years-old grey alder stand were 250 m3ha-1and 35.6 m3ha-1, respectively. Due to fast growth and high biomass production capacity grey alder is promising tree species for short-rotation forestry in Estonia. Hybrid alder is productive tree although not exceeding the productivity of grey alders. Stem volume and CAI of the 16-years-old hybrid alder stand were 155 m3ha-1and 21 m3ha-1, respectively. Our results supported earlier data reported in literature: rotation period of hybrid alder is longer than for grey alder and CAI of hybrid alder stands culminate later. The productivity of young silver birch stands on abandoned agricultural land is varying in a broad range. One young silver birch stand growing on abandoned agricultural land was involved into study. Growing stock and CAI in 13-years old stand were 118 m3ha-1and 15 m3ha-1, respectively. These values are exceeding respective values of several yield tables of silver birch and biomass production capability of silver birch stands in favourable conditions is high.

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Sprouting ability of aerial and underground dormant basal buds of Betulapendula

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x91-073 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 528-533 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

A. Kauppi ◽

K. Paukkonen ◽

P. Rinne

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Ground Level ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Intact Plants ◽

Sprouting Ability ◽

Internal Condition ◽

Uncovered Part ◽

Pot Plants

The effect of ground level on the bursting and development of primary basal buds, formation of secondary basal buds, and survival of sprouts was studied with 2-year-old pot plants of silver birch (Betulapendula Roth) in an experiment in which the ground level was changed. Both intact and decapitated seedlings were manipulated. Raising the ground level reduced the bursting of dormant basal buds, while lowering it promoted both the bursting of buds and survival of the sprouts, especially in the decapitated plants. Many new basal buds developed regardless of the ground level. The intact plants also formed secondary basal buds, but these mostly remained dormant, like old, primary buds. In addition, the concentration of new bud clusters in the uncovered part of the stem suggested that although the plant's internal condition is important for the development and bursting of its basal buds, environmental factors are also involved. Ground-level changes on drained mires and at afforestation sites may significantly affect the success of sprouting.

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