Comparing productivity of pure and mixed Douglas-fir and western hemlock plantations in the Pacific Northwest

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1484-1496 ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Amoroso ◽  
E C Turnblom
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Mixed Stand ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Increase In Productivity

We studied pure and 50/50 mixtures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) plantations to compare attained total yields between mixed-species stands as opposed to monocultures of equal densities. Whether overall stand density influences this outcome has not been adequately investigated, and to address this we included three density levels (494, 1111, and 1729 trees/ha) in the analysis. At age 12, as components of the mixed stands, Douglas-fir exhibited greater height, diameter, and individual-tree volume than western hemlock at all densities. At 494 and 1111 trees/ha the monocultures had a higher volume per hectare than the mixed stand, but at 1729 trees/ha the mixed stand appeared to be just as productive as the pure stands. The increase in productivity by the mixture at high densities seems to have resulted from the partial stratification observed and most likely also from better use of the site resources. Because of this, less interspecific competition was probably experienced in the mixed stand than intraspecific competition in the pure stands. This study shows the important role density plays in the productivity of mixed stands and thus in comparing mixed and pure stands.

Canopy disturbances over the five-century lifetime of an old-growth Douglas-fir stand in the Pacific Northwest

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1057-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda E Winter ◽  
Linda B Brubaker ◽  
Jerry F Franklin ◽  
Eric A Miller ◽  
Donald Q DeWitt
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Variable Density ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
History Of ◽  
Horizontal Heterogeneity ◽  
Restoration Strategies

The history of canopy disturbances over the lifetime of an old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand in the western Cascade Range of southern Washington was reconstructed using tree-ring records of cross-dated samples from a 3.3-ha mapped plot. The reconstruction detected pulses in which many western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) synchronously experienced abrupt and sustained increases in ringwidth, i.e., "growth-increases", and focused on medium-sized or larger ([Formula: see text]0.8 ha) events. The results show that the stand experienced at least three canopy disturbances that each thinned, but did not clear, the canopy over areas [Formula: see text]0.8 ha, occurring approximately in the late 1500s, the 1760s, and the 1930s. None of these promoted regeneration of the shade-intolerant Douglas-fir, all of which established 1500–1521. The disturbances may have promoted regeneration of western hemlock, but their strongest effect on tree dynamics was to elicit western hemlock growth-increases. Canopy disturbances are known to create patchiness, or horizontal heterogeneity, an important characteristic of old-growth forests. This reconstructed history provides one model for restoration strategies to create horizontal heterogeneity in young Douglas-fir stands, for example, by suggesting sizes of areas to thin in variable-density thinnings.

Initiation of an old-growth Douglas-fir stand in the Pacific Northwest: a reconstruction from tree-ring records

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1039-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda E Winter ◽  
Linda B Brubaker ◽  
Jerry F Franklin ◽  
Eric A Miller ◽  
Donald Q DeWitt
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Closed Forest ◽  
Initial Spacing ◽  
Epicormic Branching

We used tree-ring records to reconstruct the stand initiation of an old-growth Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand in the western Cascade Range of southern Washington. All tree-ring samples were prepared and crossdated. Following a stand-replacing fire, the stand initiation period lasted from 1500 to 1540, with gradual filling-in of growing space over this period. All sampled Douglas-fir were initial colonizers, establishing (at stump-height) 1500–1521 under open conditions. A small number of the sampled western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) were also initial colonizers. Growing space filled as tree crowns widened, and by 1540, closed forest conditions had developed. At this time, Douglas-fir were spaced about 3.5 m from equivalent competitors (ca. 800 trees/ha). In the centuries following canopy closure, considerable natural thinning of the initial colonizers occurred, but the canopy never opened enough again to allow further Douglas-fir establishment. Surviving Douglas-fir developed deep crowns despite the narrow initial spacing, and without epicormic branching from the bole. Most western hemlock that were canopy trees in 1992 established after 1540, originating in the understory. This reconstruction provides an example that may be useful where management policies emphasize the development of old-growth structures.

Quaternary Palynology of the Pacific Slope of Washington

1977 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin J. Heusser
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Olympic Peninsula ◽  
The Holocene ◽  
Pollen Stratigraphy ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Slope

Quaternary deposits on the Pacific slope of Washington range in age from the earliest known interglaciation, the Alderton, through the Holocene. Pollen stratigraphy of these deposits is represented by 12 major pollen zones and is ostensibly continuous through Zone 8 over more than 47,000 radiocarbon yr. Before this, the stratigraphy is discontinuous and the chronology less certain. Environments over the time span of the deposits are reconstructed by the comparison of fossil and modern pollen assemblages and the use of relevant meteorological data. The Alderton Interglaciation is characterized by forests of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), alder (Alnus), and fir (Abies). During the next younger interglaciation, the Puyallup, forests were mostly of pine, apparently lodgepole (Pinus contorta), except midway in the interval when fir, western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and Douglas fir temporarily replaced much of the pine. Vegetation outside the limits of Salmon Springs ice (>47,00034,000 yr BP) varied chiefly between park tundra and forests of western hemlock, spruce (Picea), and pine. The Salmon Springs nonglacial interval at the type locality records early park tundra followed by forests of pine and of fir. During the Olympia Interglaciation (34,000–28,000 yr BP), pine invaded the Puget Lowland, whereas western hemlock and spruce became manifest on the Olympic Peninsula. Park tundra was widespread during the Fraser Glaciation (28,000–10,000 yr BP) with pine becoming more important from about 15,000 to 10,000 yr BP. Holocene vegetation consisted first of open communities of Douglas fir and alder; later, closed forests succeeded, formed principally of western hemlock on the Olympic Peninsula and of western hemlock and Douglas fir in the Puget Lowland. Over the length of the reconstructed environmental record, climate shifted between cool and humid or relatively warm, semihumid forest types and cold, relatively dry tundra or park tundra types. During times of glaciation, average July temperatures are estimated to have been at least 7°C lower than today. Only during the Alderton Interglaciation and during the Holocene were temperatures higher for protracted periods than at present.

scholarly journals Understory Tree Development with Repeated Stand Density Treatments in Coastal Douglas-Fir Forests of Oregon

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P.A. Shatford ◽  
John D. Bailey ◽  
John C. Tappeiner
Keyword(s):  
Stand Density ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Advanced Regeneration ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Sapling Growth ◽  
Stand Density Management

Abstract We studied the potential for stand density management treatments to increase growth rates of advanced regeneration in the understory of 50- to 70-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests. Study sites in Oregon included a mesic coastal site, a moderate coast range site, and a drier coast range foothills site. Commercial thinning treatments in 1974–1984 led to the establishment of Douglas-fir and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) in the understory and, in 1997, parts of these same stands were thinned for a second time to release this advanced regeneration and promote two-story structure. Both species responded positively where overstory was reduced to 30–40 m2/ha, but western hemlock saplings grew 30–80% more rapidly than Douglas-fir. Average annual height growth of all western hemlock saplings that were more than 1.0 m tall in 1999 was 23–30 cm/year in twice-thinned stands but only 13 cm/year in denser, once-thinned stands. About one-half of all western hemlock saplings doubled or tripled their height in 4 years after a second overstory treatment; the largest 10% of these saplings grew 74–93 cm/year and now represents midstory structure. The response of Douglas-fir saplings to a partial overstory removal was limited. Repeated density management treatments in these Douglas-fir forests can accelerate growth of understory saplings, resulting in the development of two or more canopy layers over time; however, repeated and/or heavy thinning will be required for Douglas-fir sapling growth. Furthermore, because of western hemlock's potential for rapid height growth, some reduction of hemlock sapling density may be needed to maintain vigorous Douglas-fir.

Effects of silvicultural practices on carbon stores in Douglas-fir – western hemlock forests in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.: results from a simulation model

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark E Harmon ◽  
Barbara Marks
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Rotation Length ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Carbon Stores ◽  
Slash Burning ◽  
Landscape Level

We used a new model, STANDCARB, to examine effects of various treatments on carbon (C) pools in the Pacific Northwest forest sector. Simulation experiments, with five replicates of each treatment, were used to investigate the effects of initial conditions, tree establishment rates, rotation length, tree utilization level, and slash burning on ecosystem and forest products C stores. The forest examined was typical of the Cascades of Oregon and dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg). Simulations were run until a C steady state was reached at the landscape level, and results were rescaled relative to the potential maximum C stored in a landscape. Simulation experiments indicated agricultural fields stored the least (15% of the maximum) and forests protected from fire stored the greatest amount (93% of the maximum) of landscape-level C. Conversion of old-growth forests to any other management or disturbance regime resulted in a net loss of C, whereas conversion of agricultural systems to forest systems had the opposite effect. The three factors, in order of increasing importance, most crucial in developing an optimum C storage system were (i) rotation length, (ii) amount of live mass harvested, and (iii) amount of detritus removed by slash burning. Carbon stores increased as rotation length increased but decreased as fraction of trees harvested and detritus removed increased. Simulations indicate partial harvest and minimal fire use may provide as many forest products as the traditional clearcut – broadcast-burn system while increasing C stores. Therefore, an adequate supply of wood products may not be incompatible with a system that increases C stores.

Fire-mediated pathways of stand development in Douglas-fir/western hemlock forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA

Ecology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (8) ◽  
pp. 1729-1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J. Tepley ◽  
Frederick J. Swanson ◽  
Thomas A. Spies
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
The Pacific

Growth ofPseudotsuga menziesiiandTsuga heterophyllaseedlings along a light gradient: resource allocation and morphological acclimation

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1424-1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mailly ◽  
J. P. Kimmins
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Morphology ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Light Gradient ◽  
Relative Light Intensity

Silvicultural alternatives that differ in the degree of overstory removal may create shady environments that will be problematic for the regeneration of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Gradients of light in the field were used to compare mortality, growth, and leaf morphological acclimation of two conifer species of contrasting shade tolerances: Douglas-fir and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.). Results after two growing seasons indicated that Douglas-fir mortality occurred mainly at relative light intensity (RLI) below 20%, while western hemlock mortality was evenly distributed along the light gradient. Height, diameter, and biomass of the planted seedlings increased with increasing light for both species but at different rates, and maximum biomass accumulation always occurred in the open. Douglas-fir allocated more resources to stem biomass than western hemlock, which accumulated more foliage biomass. Increases in specific leaf area for Douglas-fir seedlings occurred at RLI ≤ 0.4 and red/far red (R/FR) ratio ≤ 0.6, which appear to be the minimal optimum light levels for growth. Conversely, western hemlock seedlings adjusted their leaf morphology in a more regular pattern, and changes were less pronounced at low light levels. These results, along with early mortality results for Douglas-fir, suggest that the most successful way to artificially regenerate this species may be by allowing at least 20% of RLI for ensuring survival and at least 40% RLI for optimum growth. Key words: light, light quality, leaf morphology, acclimation.

Invasive scotch broom alters soil chemical properties in Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA

2015 ◽  
Vol 398 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 281-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Slesak ◽  
Timothy B. Harrington ◽  
Anthony W. D’Amato
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Soil Chemical Properties ◽  
Scotch Broom ◽  
The Pacific

Survival dynamics of mechanically topped Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) snags in Douglas-fir plantations, Oregon, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 433 ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Hane ◽  
Andrew J. Kroll ◽  
Aaron Springford ◽  
Jack Giovanini ◽  
Mike Rochelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudotsuga Menziesii ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock
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