Effects of repeated whole-tree harvesting on soil properties and tree growth in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stand

2014 ◽  
Vol 313 ◽  
pp. 180-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilli Kaarakka ◽  
Pekka Tamminen ◽  
Anna Saarsalmi ◽  
Mikko Kukkola ◽  
Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

scholarly journals Ground vegetation composition and diversity in drained Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands 50 years after whole-tree harvesting management: case study in Latvia

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Roberts Čakšs ◽  
Linda Robalte ◽  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Baiba Džeriņa ◽  
Aris Jansons
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Mature Stand ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

Abstract The long-term (50 years) effect of whole-tree harvesting (stump harvesting) on ground vegetation in experimental drained Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands was studied. We used a chronosequence approach to assess the long-term impact of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) on stands’ ground vegetation. WTH stands were compared with four control stands with different age and with the same forest type: young stand (15 years), middle-aged stand (45 years), mature stand (110 years) and over-mature stand (140 years). Species richness was similar between the WTH stand and middle-aged stand (61 and 60 species, respectively). Shannon-Wiener diversity indices in the WTH and middle-aged stand (3.40 and 3.19, respectively) indicated that the stands were similar to each other. A community similarity analysis showed that the composition of vegetation was similar between the WTH and middle-aged stand, although some species like Lycopodium clavatum and Diphasiastrum complanatum occurred only in the WTH stand. The study showed that a period of 50 years is sufficient for ground vegetation of a typical drained spruce forest to recover after WTH management.

scholarly journals Imitated Whole Tree Harvesting Show Negligible Effect on Economic Value of Spruce Stands

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Annija Kārkliņa ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Anna Pastare ◽  
Andis Adamovičs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.

scholarly journals Modelling the effects of forest management intensification on base cation concentrations in soil water and on tree growth in spruce forests in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliana Zanchi ◽  
Klas Lucander ◽  
Veronika Kronnäs ◽  
Martin Erlandsson Lampa ◽  
Cecilia Akselsson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Solution ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Base Cation ◽  
Forest Residues ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

AbstractThe study investigated the effects of forest residue extraction on tree growth and base cations concentrations in soil water under different climatic conditions in Sweden. For this purpose, the dynamic model ForSAFE was used to compare the effects of whole-tree harvesting and stem harvesting on tree biomass and the soil solution over time at 6 different forest sites. The study confirmed the results from experimental sites showing a temporary reduction of base cation concentration in the soil solution for a period of 20–30 years after whole-tree harvesting. The model showed that this was mainly caused by the reduced inputs of organic material after residue extraction and thereby reduced nutrient mineralisation in the soil. The model results also showed that whole-tree harvesting can affect tree growth at nitrogen-poor forest sites, such as the ones in northern Sweden, due to the decrease of nitrogen availability after residue removal. Possible ways of reducing this impact could be to compensate the losses with fertilisation or extract residue without foliage in areas of Sweden with low nitrogen deposition. The study highlighted the need to better understand the medium- and long-term effects of whole-tree harvesting on tree growth, since the results suggested that reduced tree growth after whole-tree harvesting could be only temporary. However, these results do not account for prolonged extraction of forest residues that could progressively deplete nutrient pools and lead to permanent effects on tree growth.

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