Interspecific competition for nitrogen between early successional species and planted white spruce and jack pine seedlings

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1813-1821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D Hangs ◽  
J Diane Knight ◽  
Ken CJ Van Rees
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Conifer Seedlings ◽  
Pine Seedlings

Relatively little is known about belowground competition for nitrogen (N) between boreal forest species. The objective of this study was to compare the relative competitiveness of three early successional boreal forest species, trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.), and calamagrostis (Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv.), on 15N uptake and the growth response by containerized white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings. Three densities (0, 2, and 6 plants/pot) of each competitor species were interplanted with individual seedlings in pots with 15N-labelled fertilizer and grown for 3 months. The conifer seedlings had the greatest fertilizer 15N uptake (129.5 and 82.3 µg/m2 root for white spruce and jack pine, respectively) when grown in monoculture and the lowest uptake when interplanted with six competitor plants (9.2 and 8.6 µg/m2 root for white spruce and jack pine, respectively). Whether grown in monoculture or with conifer seedlings, calamagrostis took up the greatest amount of fertilizer 15N. Vegetation management practices that reduce the establishment of this grass species in the field should benefit N uptake and growth of outplanted white spruce and jack pine seedlings.

Nitrogen uptake characteristics for roots of conifer seedlings and common boreal forest competitor species

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D Hangs ◽  
J Diane Knight ◽  
Ken CJ Van Rees
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Calamagrostis Canadensis ◽  
Successional Species ◽  
Menten Kinetic

Little is known about the N uptake abilities of competitor species and planted seedlings in the boreal forest. The objective of this study was to determine the Michaelis–Menten kinetic parameters of NH4+ and NO3– for white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings, and three competitive common boreal forest early successional species: aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.), and cala magrostis (Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv.). Uptake kinetics were measured in hydroponic cultures and expressed as maximum uptake (Imax) and ion affinity (Km). The ranking of Imax values (pmol·cm-2·s–1) for NH4+ uptake was calamagrostis (84.6), fireweed (58.1), white spruce (20.7), aspen (12.5), and jack pine (10.9), and for NO3– uptake was calamagrostis (17.7), fireweed (12.5), aspen (5.8), white spruce (4.5), and jack pine (2.1). The ranking of Km values (µM) for NH4+ uptake was calamagrostis (125.9), fireweed (163.8), aspen (205.7), white spruce (217.1), and jack pine (270.5), and for NO3– uptake was calamagrostis (229.9), fireweed (274.6), aspen (336.5), white spruce (344.5), and jack pine (350.5). Calamagrostis exhibited the greatest uptake rates and affinity for NH4+ and NO3–, suggesting that silviculture practices that specifically reduce establishment of this grass should benefit the growth of planted seedlings.

Container Volume Affects Survival and Growth of White Spruce, Black Spruce, and Jack Pine Seedlings: A Literature Review

1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Craig Sutherland ◽  
Robert J. Day
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Seedling Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Greenhouse Production ◽  
Production Phase ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Survival And Growth

Abstract This paper is the first general review of the affects of container volume on the survival and growth of containerized white spruce, black spruce, and jack pine seedlings. The review shows that the literature on this topic is fragmentary and inconsistent. Seedling growth in the greenhouse production phase has been more completely quantified than subsequent establishment and growth after out-planting in the field. In the greenhouse production phase, seedling growth increased from 72 to 360% when the container volume was tripled in size. After outplanting in the field, seedling growth trends were more variable. Seedling height growth increased from 34 to 84% when container volume was tripled in size. Seedling survival was more difficult to assess because of limited data. Only white spruce showed a 10% increase in survival with an increase in container volume. The indications from this literature review suggest that nursery managers and practicing foresters should become more aware of the limitations imposed on seedling survival and growth due to container volume. To maintain optional survival and growth for white spruce, black spruce and jack pine, the container volume should range from 90 to 120 cm3. North. J. Appl. For. 5:185-189, Sept. 1988.

scholarly journals Taper Equations for Five Major Commercial Tree Species in Manitoba, Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J. Klos ◽  
G. Geoff Wang ◽  
Qing-Lai Dang ◽  
Ed W. East
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Volume Estimation ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Stem Form ◽  
Taper Equation ◽  
Taper Equations

Abstract Kozak's variable exponent taper equation was fitted for balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in Manitoba. Stem taper variability between two ecozones (i.e., Boreal Shield and Boreal Plains) were tested using the F-test. Regional differences were observed for trembling aspen, white spruce, and jack pine, and for those species, separate ecozone-specific taper equations were developed. However, the gross total volume estimates using the ecozone-specific equations were different from those of the provincial equations by only 2 percent. Although the regional difference in stem form was marginal within a province, a difference of approximately 7 percent of gross total volume estimation was found when our provincial taper equations were compared with those developed in Alberta and Saskatchewan. These results suggest that stem form variation increases with spatial scale and that a single taper equation for each species may be sufficient for each province.

scholarly journals Effects of pH and Mineral Nutrition on Growth and Physiological Responses of Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides), Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), and White Spruce (Picea glauca) Seedlings in Sand Culture

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Feng Xu ◽  
Maryamsadat Vaziriyeganeh ◽  
Janusz J. Zwiazek
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Sand Culture ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
High Ph

Responses of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), and white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings to root zone pH ranging from 5 to 9 were studied in sand culture in the presence of two mineral nutrition levels. After eight weeks of treatments, effects of pH on plant dry weights varied between the plant species and were relatively minor in white spruce. Higher nutrient supply significantly increased dry weights only in trembling aspen subjected to pH 5 treatment. There was little effect of pH and nutrition level on net photosynthesis and transpiration rates in white spruce and jack pine, but net photosynthesis markedly declined in aspen at high pH. Chlorophyll concentrations in young foliage decreased the most in trembling aspen and jack pine. The effects of high pH treatments on the concentrations of Mg, P, Ca, Mn, Zn, and Fe in young foliage varied between the plant species with no significant decreases of Fe and Zn recorded in trembling aspen and white spruce, respectively. This was in contrast to earlier reports from the studies carried out in hydroponic culture. The sand culture system that we developed could be a more suitable alternative to hydroponics to study plant responses to pH in the root zone. Plant responses to high pH appear to involve complex events with a likely contribution of nutritional effects and altered water transport processes.

Mixed-species effect on tree aboveground carbon pools in the east-central boreal forests

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Cavard ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Han Y.H. Chen ◽  
David Paré
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Niche Complementarity ◽  
Aboveground Carbon

This study investigates the potential of mixed forest stands as better aboveground carbon sinks than pure stands. According to the facilitation and niche complementarity hypotheses, we predict higher carbon sequestration in mature boreal mixedwoods. Aboveground carbon contents of black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns, Poggenb.) and trembling aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) mixtures were investigated in the eastern boreal forest, whereas jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and trembling aspen were used in the central boreal forest. No carbon gain was found in species mixtures; nearly pure trembling aspen stands contained the greatest amount of aboveground carbon, black spruce stands had the least, and mixtures were intermediate with amounts that could generally be predicted by linear interpolation with stem proportions. These results suggest that for aspen, the potentially detrimental effect of spruce on soils observed in other studies may be offset by greater light availability in mixtures. On the other hand, for black spruce, the potentially beneficial effects of aspen on soils could be offset by greater competition by aspen for nutrients and light. The mixture of jack pine and trembling aspen did not benefit any of these species while inducing a loss in trembling aspen carbon at the stand level.

Dispersal of white spruce seed in mature aspen stands

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D Stewart ◽  
Edward H Hogg ◽  
Patrick A Hurdle ◽  
Kenneth J Stadt ◽  
Peter Tollestrup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Leaf Fall ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Artificial Seed ◽  
The Mean

The dispersal of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seed through trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests was investigated by releasing artificial seed (confetti) from different heights on a meteorological tower, and, secondly, by observing the distribution of spruce regeneration along transects radiating out from small isolated patches of mature spruce seed trees. Mean dispersal distance of confetti increased with height of release. Before leaf fall of the aspen canopy, most confetti landed close to and in all directions around the tower. After leaf fall, no confetti was observed upwind from the tower and the mean dispersal distance increased, with peak densities occurring at a distance of 15 m in the downwind direction. The rate of decrease in regeneration density with distance from patches of mature, seed-bearing white spruce was much less than that observed during confetti release experiments. Furthermore, regeneration densities were significantly greater in the prevailing downwind direction (toward the east). The results indicate that stronger than average winds, primarily from the northwest, west, and southwest, play a major role in the dispersal of white spruce seed. Simulation modelling of the observed distribution of regeneration suggests that long-distance (>250 m) dispersal may be an important mechanism for the persistence of white spruce in the fire-prone boreal forest of western Canada.Key words: seed dispersal, boreal forest, mixedwood, wind dispersal, artificial seed.

Climate-sensitive height–age models for top height trees in natural and reclaimed oil sands stands in Alberta, Canada

2019 ◽  
pp. 297-307
Author(s):  
Yuqing Yang ◽  
Shongming Huang ◽  
Robert Vassov ◽  
Brad Pinno ◽  
Sophan Chhin
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Positive Effects

Climate-sensitive height–age models were developed for top height trees of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in natural and reclaimed oil sands stands. We used stem analysis data collected from the Athabasca oil sands region in northern Alberta, Canada, and climate data generated by the ClimateWNA model. Height–age trajectories differed between top height trees in natural and reclaimed stands for jack pine and white spruce, but not for trembling aspen. At a given age, white spruce top height trees were taller and jack pine top height trees were shorter in reclaimed stands than those in natural stands, suggesting that it is easier to achieve similar forest productivity for oil sands sites reclaimed with white spruce stands than for sites reclaimed with jack pine stands. The principal climate variables were growing season (May to September) precipitation averaged over the previous 10 years for trembling aspen and jack pine and summer (June to August) precipitation averaged over the previous 10 years for white spruce. These variables had positive effects on the height–age trajectories.

An alternative to clear-cutting in the boreal forest of Alaska: a 27-year study of regeneration after shelterwood harvesting

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 999-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
T L Wurtz ◽  
J C Zasada
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Seed Crop ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Calamagrostis Canadensis ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
All Treatment

We present 27-year results from a comparison of clear-cutting and shelterwood harvesting in the boreal forest of Alaska. Three patch clear-cut and three shelterwood units were harvested in 1972; about 100 dispersed white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) leave trees per hectare were retained in the shelterwoods. Units were mechanically scarified and an exceptionally large seed-crop was dispersed that year. Shelterwood trees were removed after 15 years. After 27 years, overstory treatment had no effect on the density or growth of the species we studied, while scarification had highly significant effects. In 1999, scarified areas were densely populated with white spruce seedlings and saplings (118 000 – 129 000 stems/ha, with spruce in 100% of plots). Unscarified areas had far fewer spruce stems but were nevertheless well stocked (11 000 – 15 000 stems/ha, with 87% frequency). Initially, spruce grew best on scarified surfaces, but by 27 years, growth of the tallest spruce saplings was significantly greater on unscarified than scarified surfaces. By 27 years, cover of the grass Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Nutt. had returned to preharvest levels in all treatment types. Because criteria for evaluating forest management practices have changed since this study was begun, partial overstory retention systems for the management of Alaska's boreal forest deserve further study.

scholarly journals Crown allometry and application of the pipe model theory to white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the western boreal forest of Canada

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek F. Sattler ◽  
Philip G. Comeau
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Model Theory ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Allometric Relationship ◽  
Sapwood Area ◽  
Crown Length ◽  
Pipe Model ◽  
Pipe Model Theory

White spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) from unmanaged stands in the boreal forest of Alberta, Canada, were examined for two of the main structural assumptions in the process-based model CROBAS: (i) a constant allometric relationship between foliage mass and crown length and (ii) a constant relationship between foliage mass and sapwood area. We evaluated these relationships at both at the whole-crown and within-crown levels. Results indicated that for both species, a constant allometric relationship between foliage mass and crown length was maintained at the whole-crown level over a period exceeding the peak mean annual increment of each species. Within the crowns of spruce, foliage mass accumulated faster near the tree apex as total crown length increased. For aspen, the increase in foliage mass per unit crown length for any section within the crown showed greater similarity to the relationship observed at the whole-crown level. The assumption of a constant relationship between foliage mass and sapwood area at the crown base generally held for spruce but showed considerable variation for any given diameter class. For aspen, this assumption did not appear to be appropriate. For both species, there was more foliage mass per unit sapwood area with increasing height from the ground for nearly all tree size classes. This latter finding was in conflict with the pipe model theory but could not be explained by the hydraulic theory of crown architecture, which predicts a decrease in the ratio of foliage mass to sapwood area with increasing path length.

Tree bole mineralization rates of four species of the Canadian eastern boreal forest: implications for nutrient dynamics following stand-replacing disturbances

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 2331-2340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Brais ◽  
David Paré ◽  
Cédric Lierman
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Nutrient Dynamics ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Tree Biomass ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Nutrient Immobilization

To assess nutrient dynamics in decomposing logs of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), we monitored mass losses and changes in N and P contents in dead boles from a chronosequence of sites following stand-replacing disturbances. To assess the importance of wood decomposition to nutrient cycling, we compared net estimates of nutrient release from logs with net nutrient immobilization in live-tree biomass of stands as a function of time since disturbance. Mineralization rates were 0.060, 0.053, 0.038, and 0.020·year–1 for trembling aspen, white birch, white spruce, and jack pine logs, respectively. Trembling aspen boles released large quantities of N and P during the first year of decomposition (51 kg·ha–1 of N and 7 kg·ha–1 of P, assuming a bole volume of 150 m3·ha–1). White birch boles acted initially as a nutrient sink and delayed the release of immobilized nutrients until a period when the stand's net nutrient immobilization rates were highest. Jack pine boles appeared to be intermediate in terms of their contribution as a sink or a source of nutrients but, in mature stands, provided up to 40% of N and 26% of P immobilized annually in tree biomass. As pure stands of white spruce are rare in boreal Quebec, information on nutrient accumulation in white spruce stands was not available.

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