THE EFFECTS OF MICROTOPOGRAPHY AND ORGANIC LAYER THICKNESS ON SEEDLING HEIGHT GROWTH AT DIFFERENT SPATIAL SCALES IN BLACK SPRUCE STANDS PRONE TO PALUDIFICATION

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.

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

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x99-189 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 59-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

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.

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Growth of planted black spruce seedlings following mechanical site preparation in boreal forested peatlands with variable organic layer thickness: 5-year results

Annals of Forest Science ◽

10.1007/s13595-011-0136-5 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 68 (8) ◽

pp. 1291-1302 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Benoit Lafleur ◽

David Paré ◽

Nicole J. Fenton ◽

Yves Bergeron

Keyword(s):

Layer Thickness ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Organic Layer ◽

Mechanical Site Preparation

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Effect of Organic Layer Thickness on Black Spruce Aging Mistakes in Canadian Boreal Forests

Forests ◽

10.3390/f7030069 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 69 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ahmed Laamrani ◽

Annie DesRochers ◽

Line Blackburn

Keyword(s):

Layer Thickness ◽

Boreal Forests ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Organic Layer

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

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x92-081 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 613-621 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

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.

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Dynamics and morphology of giant circular patterns of low tree density in black spruce stands in northern Quebec

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b01-022 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 420-428 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jean-François Giroux ◽

Yves Bergeron ◽

Jean J Veillette

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Picea Mariana ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Tree Density ◽

Surface Elevation ◽

Organic Layer ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Spruce Mortality ◽

Soil Measurements

Giant circular patterns of low tree density in black spruce (Picea mariana) stands were investigated in the Abitibi region of Quebec. We used dendrochronological techniques to test the hypotheses that ring patterns of low tree density are caused either by radial changes in spruce mortality or productivity. Seven circles were sampled. We found no gradient in the age of spruce along circle radii suggesting that rings of low tree density do not expand radially, that is, they are not spatially dynamic entities. The results indicate, however, that spruce trees were less dense and productive within the rings due to excessive moisture in the soil. Measurements of surface elevation, thickness of the organic layer and elevation of the mineral substrate across the circles revealed that a depression in the mineral soil beneath the rings traps the surface water and this area of poor drainage seems to prevent the establishment of black spruce within the rings. The origin of the ring-shaped depressions was attributed to geological or geomorphological causes.Key words: black spruce, Picea mariana, mortality, productivity, rings, geomorphology.

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

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x93-176 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 1396-1401 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

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.

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Long-term recovery of soil carbon stocks and permafrost depth lags recovery of organic layer thickness following fire in black spruce forests of the Copper River Basin, Alaska

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2020-0194 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michael J Sousa ◽

Nicolas A Jelinski ◽

Marcella Anna Windmuller-Campione ◽

Andrea K Williams ◽

Edward GreyBear ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Layer Thickness ◽

River Basin ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Lacustrine Sediments ◽

Fire Frequency ◽

Fire Disturbance ◽

Organic Layer ◽

Soc Stocks

This study investigated differences in forest structure, organic layer thickness, soil organic carbon, and permafrost depth between late successional (LS) and post fire (PF, 90 to 120 years since burn) plots under black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) on fine-textured, poorly drained lacustrine sediments in the Copper River Basin, Alaska. We found that although live stem and seedling density and organic layer thickness (OLT) was not significantly different between PF and LS plots (28 ± 7 cm and 31 ± 10 cm, respectively), soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks (30 ± 10 kg m-2 and 46 ± 12 kg m-2, respectively), and permafrost depth (90 ± 28 cm and 56 ± 12 cm, respectively) remain significantly different. OLT was linearly related to 1 m SOC stocks for LS plots but not for PF plots, and LS plots had a greater proportion of highly decomposed (humic) material in the organic layer. Soil properties on PF plots appear to be on a trajectory of recovery towards LS plots with respect to SOC stocks, permafrost depth, and organic layer composition, but remain different despite nearly 100 years since fire disturbance and therefore potentially sensitive to changes in future fire frequency or climate.

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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

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/28.3.129 ◽

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.

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