Ten-year results of strip clear-cutting in Quebec black spruce stands

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pothier
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Harvesting Method ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
One Year ◽  
Cutting System

Regeneration of first-cut strips in a two-cut system of strip clear-cutting was compared to that of large clear-cutting in four different areas representative of the black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands of the boreal forest of Quebec. Seedlings were more evenly distributed in clearcut strips than in large clearcuts. Differences of about 10 000 black spruce seedlings per hectare and 20% of stocking were observed in favour of clearcut strips compared to large clearcuts. Black spruce stocking was about 14% larger on lowland than on upland sites but height growth was better on upland sites. A regeneration problem similar to that of large clearcuts was observed when the second strips were cut. One year after cutting these second strips, winter harvesting resulted in a 23% gain in black spruce stocking as compared to summer harvesting. Even if black spruce stocking marginally increased during the years following winter harvesting, the height advantage of the preserved advance growth justifies the application of this harvesting method. The strip clear-cutting system effectively improved the stocking of former black spruce stands but if the stocking level of advance growth is adequate, careful harvesting to preserve advance regeneration should be the preferred method since it would be more cost-efficient.

scholarly journals Comparative Height Growth of Eastern Larch and Black Spruce in Northwestern Ontario

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
Spruce Stands

Height growth of eastern larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined using standard stem analysis methods on trees from two sites in northwestern Ontario. The data were obtained from mixed larch-spruce stands which were relatively undisturbed. The larch exhibited substantially better height growth than the spruce through age 65.

scholarly journals A NEW APPROACH TO THE NORTHERN SPRUCE REGENERATION PROBLEM

1954 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri LeBlanc
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Normal Concentration ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Seed Supply ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Intensive Work

Lack of reproduction of black spruce, Picea mariana, in pure black spruce stands in old cut-over areas, has always been a great subject of discussion and one for intensive work among foresters. Many reasons such as the absence of an adequate seed supply stored on top of humus, or adverse germination conditions are said to be partly responsible.This study on the humus of this unregenerated cut-over area, indicates clear cutting of this stand will influence the normal concentration of definite micro-nutrients such as manganese and magnesium.The augmentation of manganese in the soil has a detrimental effect on the growth of plants when, its concentration is too high. The diminution of magnesium, which is an element necessary to stimulate the growth, must create abnormal nutritive conditions of the habitat. This visible lack of equilibrium might be the cause of the absence of seedlings of Picea mariana on certain parts of this cut-over area.

Croissance en hauteur à long terme de la régénération préétablie dans des pessières noires boréales régénérées par marcottage, au Québec

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raynald Paquin ◽  
René Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Effective Age ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
To Come

Height-growth patterns of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) in the boreal forest were studied in layer-origin stands released by clear-cutting in the first half of this century. Most stems responded to release brought about by clear-cutting of the main stand. Initially, small stems responded more rapidly and more strongly, but their height-growth rate culminated between 20 and 30 years following release, the same period when height-growth rate culminated for the taller, older stems. After the culmination period, growth rates were independent of height at the time of release. Consequently, the taller stems at time of release were able to maintain their dominant position. Height growth over the recent years indicates that this position could be maintained in the years to come, and even indefinitely. It seems that second-growth black spruce stands behave like even-aged stands despite their uneven-aged structure. Consequently, years since release and stem height are more accurate measures of stem effective age than total age. Moreover, the taller stems in the understory, which are usually considerably older, should be considered to be as valuable as smaller regeneration when a stand is cut.

The effect of advance regeneration height on future yield of black spruce stands

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pothier ◽  
René Doucet ◽  
Jocelyn Boily
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Site Quality ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Index Site ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Stand Height

The advance regeneration often present following clear-cutting in black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands is generally composed of individuals of various heights. This initial height difference is hypothesized to affect the yield of the future stand. Height of the advance regeneration at time of release was determined on several black spruce trees within 33 stands distributed across the boreal forest of the province of Quebec, Canada. From these data, a regeneration structure index was developed and used to explain a part of the variation in subsequent stand yield. Dominant trees of stands developing for 38 to 65 years since clear-cutting generally originated from the tallest advance regeneration at time of release. Stands with the tallest regeneration at time of release produced the largest yields for a given site quality and number of years since harvesting. A 3-m increase in advance-regeneration height resulted in a similar yield gain as a 3-m increase in site index. Site indices calculated from age-height relationships of dominant trees originating from tall advance regeneration were less than those calculated from trees that have undergone a relatively short period of suppression. These results suggest that traditional management tools developed for fire-origin black spruce stands, i.e., stands mainly composed of seed-origin trees established after perturbation, should be adjusted for clearcut-origin stands that largely develop from advance regeneration.

Croissance juvénile de marcottes d'épinette noire en régénération après récolte du couvert dominant

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1396-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jocelyn Boily ◽  
René Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Management Unit ◽  
Site Quality ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Ecological Regions ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Stand Height

Annual height growth of natural regeneration was measured in 18- to 21-year-old clear-cuts of black spruce stands growing on sites of contrasted drainage, in two ecological regions of the Haute-Gatineau-et-Cabonga management unit in western Quebec. Most regeneration was established by layering and was growing slowly on all sites at time of release by clear-cutting of the main stand. Height growth rates increased rapidly thereafter on mesic sites: about 7 to 8 years after release, it reached 15 cm or more per year, and 32 to 45 cm per year 20 years after harvest. On moist sites, growth rates of 15 cm per year were attained only 10 to 15 years after release, and did not exceed 25 cm at age 20. These results show that growth of black spruce natural regeneration is controlled more by site quality than by the mechanism responsible for reproduction.

Comparative physiological responses of Rhododendron groenlandicum and regenerating Picea mariana following partial canopy removal in northeastern Quebec, Canada

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1791-1802 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Hébert ◽  
Nelson Thiffault ◽  
Jean-Claude Ruel ◽  
Alison D. Munson
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
High Plasticity ◽  
Partial Harvest ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Canopy Removal ◽  
Critical Resource

In boreal black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) dominated stands, careful logging around advance regeneration contributes to protect the shrub layer while increasing light availability. Therefore, it may promote expansion of bog Labrador tea ( Rhododendron groenlandicum (Oeder) Kron & Judd), which can impair black spruce growth by direct competition for nutrients and by alteration of soil biochemical conditions. Such harvesting approaches may not be suited for irregular, uneven-aged black spruce stands in the context of ecosystem-based management. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of different intensities of partial harvest on critical resource availability and to compare the physiological and morphological responses of black spruce and Rhododendron to different intensities of partial harvest treatments. Two years after harvest, photosynthesis rate of black spruce was unchanged and was lower than that of Rhododendron, which was 63% higher after harvest. Nitrogen and water use efficiency were, respectively, 171% and 42% higher in Rhododendron than in black spruce after logging. Following harvest, black spruce physiology appeared to be regulated by the atmospheric humidity deficit, but for Rhododendron, physiology was regulated by light availability. The high plasticity of Rhododendron leaf traits could be indicative of the future advantage of this species in these stands following canopy removal associated with harvest.

scholarly journals A Height Growth Model and Associated Growth Intercept Models for Estimating Site Index in Black Spruce (Picea mariana Mill. B.S.P.) Plantations in Northern Ontario, Canada

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-137
Author(s):  
Martin M. Kwiaton ◽  
Jian R. Wang ◽  
Douglas E.B. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Site Quality ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Growth Intercept

Abstract Site quality is a key component of growth and yield models because height growth rates are known to be influenced by available site resources. Accurate prediction of future growth and yield requires site quality information for both plantations and natural stands. The forest industry in northern Ontario relies on high-quality wood and fiber from black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. B.S.P.); therefore, these tools are essential to ensure sustainable forest management. Although there are site index (SI) models for natural-origin black spruce stands in northern Ontario, models for estimating site quality of young black spruce plantations have not been developed. We used stem analysis data collected from 62 plantations (>40 years of age) of pure black spruce across northern Ontario to develop height growth, SI, and variable growth intercept models. The distinct height growth patterns we observed may be attributed to early silvicultural treatments (site preparation and herbicide) in plantations allowing black spruce trees to attain breast height (1.3 m) faster than in fire-origin stands in northern Ontario. Our models can be used to estimate site quality of black spruce plantations, a key consideration for silviculture and forest management planning. We also compare our managed stand SI model to one we developed from a comparable subset of data from black spruce growing in unmanaged stands and propose a method to assign an SI with a common base age to pure upland black spruce stands regardless of origin.

Short-term effects of cut-to-length versus full-tree harvesting on conifer regeneration in jack pine, mixedwood, and black spruce forests in Manitoba

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1938-1945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isobel Waters ◽  
Steven W Kembel ◽  
Jean-François Gingras ◽  
Jennifer M Shay
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
The Impact

This study compares the effects of full-tree versus cut-to-length forest harvesting methods on tree regeneration in jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), mixedwood (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss – Populus tremuloides Michx. – Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) sites in southeastern Manitoba, Canada. We surveyed tree regeneration densities, disturbance characteristics, and understorey vegetation in replicated control and harvested plots in each site type preharvest (1993) and 1 and 3 years postharvest (1994, 1996). In jack pine sites, the full-tree harvest method promoted regeneration of Pinus banksiana through increased disturbance of soil and the moss layer, and decreased slash deposition relative to the cut-to-length method. Conversely, in mixedwood sites the cut-to-length method resulted in less damage to advance regeneration and proved better at promoting postharvest regeneration of Abies balsamea and Picea glauca relative to the full-tree method. In black spruce sites, there were few differences in the impact of the two harvesting methods on regeneration of Picea mariana, which increased in frequency and density after both types of harvesting.

Black and White Spruce Plantings in Minnesota: Container vs Bareroot Stock and Fall vs Spring Planting

1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Alm
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Artificial Regeneration ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Spring Planting ◽  
Better Than

Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) styrob-lock and paperpot and 3-0 and 2-2 seedlings were planted spring and fall. After four seasons of growth the container seedlings had survival and height growth as good or better than the nursery seedlings. There were no differences in performance between the two container systems. The 2-2 stock generally had better survival than the 3-0 stock. Survival of fall-planted stock was equal to or better than that of the spring-planted stock. Key words: white spruce, black spruce, styroplugs, paper pots, seedlings, transplants, artificial regeneration, fall vs spring planting

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