Age, stand density, and tree size as factors in root and basal grafting of lodgepole pine

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 983-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin C Fraser ◽  
Victor J Lieffers ◽  
Simon M Landhäusser
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Tree Distribution ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Exposed Root

This study investigated stand factors associated with the rate of root graft formation in lodgepole pine stands. Forty plot areas, each containing 10 trees, were excavated in pure, even-aged pine stands in western Alberta. Exposed root systems were examined for grafts and various stand measurements were recorded at each plot. Results indicate that the number of grafts per square metre is controlled by plot tree density and tree diameter. Also, the percentage of grafted trees increased with both increasing tree age and decreasing distance between trees. Grafts also appear to form relatively early in stand development; the majority of grafts in the present study had formed by the time roots were 20 years old and 50 mm in diameter. These results suggest that grafting is a common occurrence in lodgepole pine stands where trees are <109 cm apart, which translates to a density of approximately 8500 stems/ha (based on even tree distribution). However, even clumps within relatively low density stands are likely to be grafted from a relatively early stage of development.Key words: Pinus contorta, graft formation, stand dynamics.

The effects of crown ratio on the transition from juvenile to mature wood production in lodgepole pine in western Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 1450-1459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn D. Mansfield ◽  
Roberta Parish ◽  
James W. Goudie ◽  
Kyu-Young Kang ◽  
Peter Ott
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Mature Wood ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Wood Production ◽  
Crown Length ◽  
Pine Trees

Crown depth, tree spacing, and stand density have major effects on wood quality and fibre characteristics of trees. Lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Doug. ex Loud.) trees from a mixture of plantation and fire origin stands were employed to determine how crown ratio, a surrogate for stand density, affected mature wood production. In total, 104 trees were sampled, ranging from 24 to 110 years of age, from stands in western Alberta and interior British Columbia, Canada. Samples taken along the bole were measured for wood density, which was subject to segmented regression analysis to identify the transition point from juvenile to mature wood production. On average, the lodgepole pine trees were 31 (±17 SD) years old before mature wood production began. A mixed-effects model, in which combination of fixed effects (tree age, height of the sample disc relative to crown base, and crown length) and random effects (site, trees nested in sites, and discs nested in both trees and sites) proved to be the best predictor of years of mature wood production along the bole. The transition from juvenile to mature wood was shown to be below the crown base in trees <50 years old with deep crowns, and above the crown base otherwise.

Incidence of main stem infections of lodgepole pine by western gall rust decreases with tree age

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1314-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter V Blenis ◽  
Wuhan Li
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Stem Elongation ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Main Stem ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Artificial Inoculations

Infection of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) by western gall rust has been shown to decrease with tree height and age, but the effects of those two factors have not been separated. Five replicate artificial inoculations were done on a total of 327 trees of different ages in two height classes. Temperature and percentage of spore germination at the height of inoculation, shoot development (stem elongation at the time of inoculation as a proportion of final shoot elongation), main stem leader length at the time of inoculation, tree height, and tree age were measured. Modeled percentages of infected trees and the number of galls per 10 cm of shoot length decreased by 85% and 88%, respectively, as tree age increased between 2 and 10 years, indicating the undesirability of early, aggressive precommercial thinning of lodgepole pine stands in areas where western gall rust is common. By controlling and (or) statistically accounting for inoculum, microclimate, and phenological factors, it was possible to demonstrate that changes in susceptibility with tree age are sufficient to account for the reduction in infection with tree height.

scholarly journals Long-term influence of stand thinning and repeated fertilization on forage production in young lodgepole pine forests

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1123-1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pontus M.F. Lindgren ◽  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Douglas B. Ransome ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan ◽  
Lisa Zabek
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
South Central ◽  
Stand Thinning

Integration of trees with forage and livestock production as silvopastoralism is another potential component of intensive forest management. Stand thinning and fertilization may enhance growth of crop trees and understory forage for livestock. We tested the hypothesis that large-scale precommercial thinning (PCT) (particularly heavy thinning to ≤1000 stems·ha−1) and repeated fertilization, up to 20 years after the onset of treatments, would enhance production of graminoids, forbs, and shrubs as cattle (Bos taurus L.) forage. Results are from two long-term studies: (1) PCT (1988–2013) and (2) PCT with fertilization (PCT–FERT) (1993–2013) of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Mean biomass estimates of graminoids, forbs, total herbs, and shrubs were not affected by stand density. However, fertilization enhanced mean biomass estimates of graminoids, forbs, and total herbs, but not shrubs. Thus, the density part of our hypothesis was not supported, but the nutrient addition part was supported at least for the herbaceous components. Biomass of the herbaceous understory was maintained as a silvopasture component for up to 20 years (stand age 13 to 33 years) in fertilized heavily thinned stands prior to canopy closure.

Predicting survival of lodgepole pine stands infected with western gall rust

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 878-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Wolken ◽  
P V Blenis ◽  
I Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Main Stem ◽  
Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares ◽  
Risk Of Mortality ◽  
Endocronartium Harknessii ◽  
Stem Gall ◽  
Pine Stands

The probability of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.) having main-stem galls caused by western gall rust, Endocronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka, surviving to rotation is unknown. To evaluate survival, 400 galled trees with at least one stem gall and 400 trees without stem galls were measured in 1992 in two precommercially thinned stands approximately 20 years old. The survival of trees was assessed in 2003. Nonlinear regression using iteratively reweighted least squares was employed to estimate the survival of galled trees as a function of the proportion of the main stem encircled by galls. Galls encircling >79% and >91% of the stem in the two stands increased the risk of mortality relative to non-galled trees, with the risk increasing steeply with percent gall encirclement; smaller stem galls did not cause tree mortality. The 11-year pattern of survival of galled trees was similar for infections that occurred on the main stem and those that had reached the stem from a nearby branch infection. Based on an earlier model of gall expansion, 38%–43% of stem-galled trees would be expected to survive until age 80. Scribing of stem galls to prevent their expansion does not appear to be a feasible management strategy.

scholarly journals Winter Habitat Use by Moose, Alces alces, in Central Interior British Columbia

2005 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Proulx ◽  
Rhonda M. Kariz
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Alces Alces ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Pine Beetle ◽  
Pine Stands

In central British Columbia, recent epidemics of Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) have resulted in the use of expansive clearcut areas to remove infested mature and old Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) stands. This study aimed to determine if Moose (Alces alces) use late-successional Lodgepole Pine stands in mid- to late-winter. Moose activity and habitat use was determined during February-March track surveys in 2000 (60 km) and 2001 (55.7 km). In 2000 (69 tracks) and 2001 (313 tracks), Moose track distribution differed significantly (P < 0.05) from random. They were significantly more abundant than predicted in young stands (dominated by Picea spp.), or early seral stages; they were less abundant than predicted in mature and old Lodgepole Pine stands. It is unlikely that harvesting late-successional Lodgepole Pine stands would affect Moose winter habitat supply.

scholarly journals Stand structure governs the crown collisions of lodgepole pine

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1238-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Rudnicki ◽  
Victor J Lieffers ◽  
Uldis Silins
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Empty Space ◽  
Tree Sway ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Crown Dimensions

We investigated tree sway and crown collision behavior of even-aged lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands of different structure in Alberta, Canada, to examine how these factors might affect loss of leaf area as stands mature. The Two Creeks stand (TC) had high density and slender trees, while the Chickadee stand (CH) had stout trees. The TC stand was then thinned (TCT) to reduce the stand density. For each stand, simultaneous tree sways of a group of 10 trees were monitored with biaxial clinometers during wind speed of 5 m/s (canopy top). Crown collisions were reconstructed by combining sway displacement of individual trees with their respective crown dimensions. Comparing the sway statistics between stands with contrasting mean bole slenderness (TC and CH) indicated that more slender trees have greater sway displacements, faster sway speeds, and a greater depth of collision. Disturbance by thinning increased sway displacements, sway speeds, and depth of collisions at TCT. Tree sway patterns were circular in shape and not aligned with wind direction, but patterns were elongated after thinning. This demonstrates the high frequency of crown collision experienced by stands with slender trees and supports the notion that crown collisions result in empty space between crowns of trees.

Plant community attributes 12 to 14 years following precommercial thinning in a young lodgepole pine forest

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M.F Lindgren ◽  
D B Ransome ◽  
D S Sullivan ◽  
T P Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Tree Layer ◽  
Moss Layer ◽  
Pine Stands

We investigated plant community responses (abundance, species diversity, and structural diversity) to a range of precommercial thinning densities in young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands 12 to 14 years after thinning, with both unthinned and old-growth stands for comparison. Abundance of understory plants, especially herbs, appeared to increase dramatically in the thinned stands. The moss layer was significantly more abundant in old-growth stands than in the young pine stands. Of a total of 108 species sampled, only three were introduced species, all of which occurred more frequently in the low-density stands than in any of the other stands. Thinning treatments appeared to increase the abundance of late-seral species. Our results suggest that by disrupting canopy closure, thinning decreased the dominance of tall trees and increased the abundance of herbs, shrubs, and trees in the understory height classes. As a result, thinning to low densities significantly increased the structural richness of the tree layer and caused an increase in total structural diversity, which, although only marginally significant (p = 0.06), was likely biologically important. Our results suggest that thinning will enhance the abundance, species diversity, and structural diversity of the plant community 12 to 14 years postthinning.

Lichen chronosequences (postfire and postharvest) in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) forests of northern interior British Columbia

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 1449-1464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darwyn S Coxson ◽  
Janet Marsh
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Floor Surface ◽  
Fire Origin

Lichen community development was examined in a postfire chronosequence from lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud var. latifolia Engelm.) forests in the Omineca region of north-central British Columbia and in stands originating from logging in the early 1980s. Fire-origin stands showed dense regeneration of pine and widespread growth of acrocarpous mosses such as Polytrichum spp. As canopy thinning progressed, Cladonia spp. lichens initiated development at the forest floor surface. By 50–100 years after stand origin, Cladina mitis and Cladina rangiferina dominated at the forest floor surface, remaining at high cover values well into the second century of stand development. Late seral stages of stand development (approximately 150+ years) showed increasing basal area and canopy cover of lodgepole pine, with feathermoss mats (e.g., Pleurozium schreberi) replacing terrestrial lichens at the forest floor surface. Stand ordinations confirmed these groupings of species. Stand structural factors that correlate best with lichen mat development include tree density, basal area, and canopy cover. Changes in the leaf area index and associated litterfall loading appear to precipitate the replacement of terrestrial lichen mats in "old-growth" stands. Interestingly, this trend was reversed in mature stands where winter harvesting of trees removed canopy cover without disturbing the forest floor surface. Lichen cover in these sites, 15 years after harvest, exceeded that of comparably aged fire-origin stands. Summer harvesting (with a presumed greater disturbance of soils) did not trigger a similar rebound of lichen communities. Instead, vascular plants appeared to invade these sites, following a seral sequence different from that occurring in fire-origin stands.Key words: terrestrial lichens, pine woodlands, caribou habitat.

The effects of dwarf mistletoe, witches' brooms, stand structure, and site characteristics on the crown architecture of lodgepole pine in Oregon

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1360-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
R C Godfree ◽  
R O Tinnin ◽  
R B Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Crown Dimensions

We investigated the importance of lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum Nutt.) in determining the height to crown top (HCT), height to crown base (HCB), and live crown ratio (LCR) of 2025 lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. murrayana (Grev. & Balf.) Engelm.) growing over a 24-km2 study site in central Oregon. We compared the effects of infection and associated witches' brooms with those of site topography, soil type, shrub cover, stand density, and the abundance of mature ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. Laws. & C. Laws). using multiple regression and path analysis. The density of dominant-size P. contorta was consistently the most important factor influencing HCT, HCB, and LCR across the study site. In dense stands, trees tended to have elevated crown bases due to self-pruning and, hence, lower values of LCR. Dwarf mistletoe and related witches' brooms uniquely explained 6.9% of the variance in LCR, which was close to that of dominant P. contorta (7.1%) and more than that of soil type (3.0%), but explained only 2.6% of the variance in HCB, which was less than that of dominant P. contorta (6.5%) and soil type (4.6%). Regression models suggest that heavily infected trees should be 18% shorter and have crown bases 37% lower than uninfected trees, while moderately infected trees should have an LCR over 20% larger than that of uninfected and heavily infected trees. We also found that the largest 25 heavily infected trees sampled were approximately 19% shorter and 11–13% smaller in diameter than the largest 25 uninfected trees. The results suggest that dwarf mistletoe can be an important factor in determining the crown dimensions of P. contorta but that these effects may be interpreted only in the context of site characteristics and stand structure.

Estimation of foliage area in dense Montana lodgepole pine stands

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Hungerford
Keyword(s):  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Density Range ◽  
Sapwood Area ◽  
Crown Length ◽  
Pine Stands

Six stands of lodgepole pine, Pinuscontorta ssp. latifolia (Engelm.) Critchfield, in Montana were sampled to evaluate sapwood area (at 1.37 m and the crown base), basal area (at 1.37 m), tree height, and crown length as predictors of foliage area. Densities of the six stands ranged from 2900 to 17 800 stems/ha. This density range was picked to determine how stand density affects the ratio of foliage area to basal sapwood area. Regression estimates of foliage area using basal area and sapwood area at 1.37 m and the crown base were equally good. Within the sampled range of stand densities, differences in the foliage area to sapwood area ratio were not significant. The amount of foliage area served per unit of sapwood area (at 1.37 m) averaged 0.25 m2/cm2 for all 54 trees sampled. This value of foliage area per unit of sapwood area in dense stands was smaller than most other published values.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document