Early above- and below-ground responses of subboreal conifer seedlings to various levels of deciduous canopy removal

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1891-1899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Claveau ◽  
Philip G Comeau ◽  
Christian Messier ◽  
Colin P Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Root Diameter ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Canopy Removal

We examined the growth of understory conifers, following partial or complete deciduous canopy removal, in a field study established in two regions in Canada. In central British Columbia, we studied the responses of three species (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm., and Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.), and in northwestern Quebec, we studied one species (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). Stem and root diameter and height growth were measured 5 years before and 3 years after harvesting. Both root and stem diameter growth increased sharply following release but seedlings showed greater root growth, suggesting that in the short term, improvement in soil resource capture and transport, and presumably stability, may be more important than an increase in stem diameter and height growth. Response was strongly size dependent, which appears to reflect greater demand for soil resources as well as higher light levels and greater tree vigour before release for taller individuals. Growth ratios could not explain the faster response generally attributed to true fir species or the unusual swift response of spruces. Good prerelease vigour of spruces, presumably favoured by deciduous canopies, could explain their rapid response to release.

Growth and crown morphological responses of boreal conifer seedlings and saplings with contrasting shade tolerance to a gradient of light and height

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Claveau ◽  
Christian Messier ◽  
Philip G Comeau ◽  
K Dave Coates
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Light Level ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Morphological Responses ◽  
Picea Species

The effects of gradients in light levels and tree height on growth and crown attributes of six conifer species were studied in eastern and western Canada. Three conifers were studied in British Columbia (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt., Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm., and Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.), and three in Quebec (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., Picea glauca, and Pinus banksiana Lamb.). For several growth and morphological parameters, conifers reacted strongly to both an increase in light and tree height. Significant or nearly significant interactions between light classes and height were found for height and diameter growth of most species as well as for many crown attributes for both Abies and Picea. These interactions usually indicated that growth or morphological changes occurred with increasing height from a certain light level. Within a single genus, both eastern and western tree species showed the same overall acclimation to light and height. As generally reported, Pinus species showed less variation in growth and morphological responses to light than Abies and Picea species.

Effects of shelter and competition on the early growth of planted white spruce (Picea glauca)

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1002-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Groot
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Vegetation Control ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Canopy Removal ◽  
Second Year

Overstory manipulation and vegetation control treatments were applied at three experimental locations in northern Ontario, Canada, to examine shelter and competition effects on planted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Overstories were nearly pure trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) or aspen-conifer mixedwoods. Overstory treatments included clear-cutting, uniform shelterwood (40% canopy removal), strip shelterwood (widths from 0.5 to 1.0H, where H is the height of dominants), patch shelterwood (diameter about 1.0H), narrow strips (width 0.25H), and intact overstory. Vegetation-control treatments included herbicide and no-herbicide treatments. Second-year seedling growth was poorest under intact overstories and in 0.25H strips, and vegetation control had little effect on growth in this situation. Vegetation control in clearcuts increased seedling diameter but not height growth. In shelterwood treatments, however, vegetation control often increased both diameter and height growth. Greatest diameter tended to occur in clearcuts with vegetation control, whereas greatest height growth tended to occur in shelterwoods with vegetation control. These differing responses likely occur because diameter growth is influenced primarily by light availability, but height growth is additionally affected by other environmental factors. Combining early vegetation control along with shelterwood treatments appears to provide the optimum environment for establishing white spruce.

Height development of shade-tolerant conifer saplings in multiaged Acadian forest standsPublication 2954 of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2715-2723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Moores ◽  
Robert S. Seymour ◽  
Laura S. Kenefic
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Forest Experiment Station

Understory growth dynamics of northern conifer species were studied in four stands managed under multiaged silvicultural systems in eastern Maine. Height growth of Picea rubens Sarg., Abies balsamea (L.) Mill., and Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. saplings between 0.5 and 6.0 m in height was related to the proportion open sky (POS), using sapling height as a covariate. Height growth of T. canadensis equaled A. balsamea and exceeded P. rubens under very low light levels (POS < 0.1) but is much less responsive to both increasing POS and taller heights, reaching 50% of its maximum height growth at a POS of only 0.09. Abies balsamea outgrew P. rubens under similar dark conditions; at higher light levels (POS > 0.10), both species grew similarly. Evidently, no feasible overstory manipulation of light alone can promote more rapid height development of P. rubens saplings over A. balsamea. A nonlinear light-prediction model using stand basal area is linked with height-growth prediction equations to quantify sapling development from 0.5 to 6 m. Depending on overstory density, P. rubens requires a height advantage of 0.14–0.33 m over a 0.5 m tall A. balsamea to reach a height of 6 m over the same time period.

Spatially explicit modeling of PAR transmission and growth of Picea glauca and Abies balsamea in the boreal forests of Alberta and Quebec

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J Stadt ◽  
Victor J Lieffers ◽  
Ronald J Hall ◽  
Christian Messier
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Spatially Explicit ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Functional Relationships

To investigate the feasibility of a spatially explicit, radiation-based regeneration model for the boreal forest, we tested the predictions of a three-dimensional simulator of photosynthetically active radiation transmission (%PAR), MIXLIGHT, and the growth response of understory Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (balsam fir) and Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce) to %PAR in two large (>1 ha) mixed-species forest sites, one in eastern Canada at Lac Duparquet, Quebec, and one in western Canada at Calling Lake, Alberta. Overstory tree locations and dimensions were obtained from aerial photographs or ground measurements and allometric relationships. Seasonal %PAR calculated by MIXLIGHT for the Calling Lake site was very similar to seasonal %PAR measured by quantum sensors (n = 5, %PAR range = 15%–33%, r = 0.93). Daily measurements of %PAR were also predicted well by simulations at both sites (n = 34–36, %PAR range = 1%–45%, r ≥ 0.76). Functional relationships, designed to saturate at the maximum height growth potential of these sites, were developed to predict sapling height growth from simulated seasonal %PAR and initial height (R2 ≥ 0.74). These results demonstrate the potential of the MIXLIGHT simulator for estimating PAR at microsites within heterogeneous forests and for modeling understory tree growth.

scholarly journals Improving Early Field Growth of Leyland Cypress Liners by Grading and Potting

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-38
Author(s):  
L. Eric Hinesley ◽  
Frank A. Blazich
Keyword(s):  
Height Growth ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Stem Cuttings ◽  
Initial Size ◽  
Distinct Root ◽  
Field Growth

Abstract Stem cuttings of Leyland cypress [Callitropsis × leylandii (A. B. Jacks. & Dallim.) D. P. Little; syn. × Cupressocyparis leylandii (A. B. Jacks. & Dallim.) Dallim. & A. B. Jacks.] were rooted beginning May 2004. In February 2005, liners were sorted into four grades [1 = firm root ball, top to bottom, 2 = good root ball, but loose in the upper one-third; 3 = no distinct root ball, but with enough roots to survive when potted and grown in irrigated containers; and 4 = roots ≤ 2 cm (0.8 in) in length (discarded)]. Liners from Grades 1 and 2 were transplanted to the field April 2005. Additional liners of Grades 1, 2, and 3 were grown in 3.8-liter (1-gal) containers in a nursery during 2005, and field planted early September 2005. Height and stem diameter were recorded after 1 and 2 years. Containerizing affected stem diameter more than height. Growth during the first 2 years was proportional to initial size, indicating the benefits of grading. After 2 years, the largest plants were Grade 1 liners that went directly to the field April 2005, with no intermediate potting.

scholarly journals Application of Nursery Testing in Long-Term White Spruce Improvement Programs

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhui Weng ◽  
Kathy Tosh ◽  
Yill Sung Park ◽  
Michele S. Fullarton
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Positive Assortative Mating ◽  
The Family ◽  
Improvement Programs

Abstract Polycross-pollinated white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) families were evaluated in field and retrospective nursery tests in 1989, 1991, and 1992, respectively. Height growth was measured at age 10 for the field tests and at ages 1 to 6 for the retrospective nursery tests. Except for a few cases, the family mean correlations between nursery and field heights were significant for the 1989 and 1992 series, and their corresponding genetic correlations ranged from low to medium (from 0.37 to 0.74). Because of heavy noncrop competition, height growth in the 1991 nursery series showed consistently lower heritabilities and correlations with field performance compared with those of the other two series. Early nursery selection by theoretical prediction was generally efficient for the 1989 and 1992 series. Rank classification analysis indicated that application of early nursery selection should be used with caution for identifying elite families but could be used to cull inferior families or clones, apply multiple-stage selection, or perform positive assortative mating.

Influence of Site Factors on Incidence of Vole and Lemming Feeding Damage to Forest Plantations

1991 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Wayne L. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Abies Lasiocarpa ◽  
Feeding Damage ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Average Survival

Abstract The incidence of meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and brown lemming (Lemmus sibiricus) feeding damage to young plantations of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) and interior spruce (Picea glauca × Picea engelmannii) was studied in west-central British Columbia. Fifty-eight plantations were surveyed for seedling survival and stocking, and an additional 21 older plantations of lodgepole pine were surveyed for tree damage. Average survival of pine (47.7%) was significantly lower than that of spruce (56.0%). Because of mortality from vole feeding, 24 of the 58 plantations were not satisfactorily restocked. Planted trees were attacked significantly more than natural regeneration. Severely attacked plantations occurred in the spruce-subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forest type at elevations > 800 m on N to NE aspects. Susceptible plantations generally had mechanical or no site preparation with complex post-harvest debris and limited vegetation cover. West. J. Appl. For. 6(3):64-67.

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