scholarly journals Effects of spot mounding and inverting on growth of conifers, exposed mineral soil and natural birch regeneration

Silva Fennica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiina Laine ◽  
Ville Kankaanhuhta ◽  
Juho Rantala ◽  
Timo Saksa
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Moderate Amount ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Downy Birch

In Nordic forests, consistent evidence about better seedling survival rate and increased growth due to site preparation have been obtained in numerous studies. Proper site preparation method can reduce costs of the whole regeneration chain through its effects on survival of planted seedlings, abundance of natural regeneration and competition in early stand development. This study compared the natural regeneration of birches (silver birch ( Roth) and downy birch ( Ehrh.)), amount of exposed mineral soil, and growth of planted seedlings between spot mounding and inverting site preparation methods. Present study was conducted in eight forest stands established in 2012 or 2015. Even though difference was not statistically significant, inverting exposed less mineral soil than spot mounding and thus reduced the natural regeneration of birch seedlings by 6135 seedlings ha compared to spot mounding. However, the variation between regeneration areas was remarkable. There was no difference in seedling mortality or growth between the site preparation methods. In order to achieve high growth of conifers, moderate amount of exposed mineral soil and thus less naturally regenerated birch, inverting should be favored over spot mounding.Betula pendulaB. pubescens–1

Effects of overstory tree density, site preparation and ground vegetation on natural Scots pine seedling emergence and survival in northern boreal pine forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Johannes Kyrö ◽  
Ville Hallikainen ◽  
Sauli Valkonen ◽  
Mikko Hyppönen ◽  
Pasi Puttonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Bottom Part ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Efficient Treatment ◽  
Seedling Emergence And Survival

Natural regeneration is commonly used forest regeneration method in Northern Finland. It is not known however, what would be the optimal overstory density and ground vegetation composition for seedling emergence and survival, and if site preparation is needed to accompany overstory density manipulation. We studied the effects of overstory density (unthinned control and thinning to 50, 150 and 250 trees ha-1) and ground vegetation removal (mechanical site preparation with disc trenching) on the number of naturally germinated pine seedlings and survival of individual seedlings during 8-11 years. Bare mineral soil was a superior seedbed compared to intact vegetation cover, even though also mortality rate was high on mineral soil. Greater cover of lingonberry, crowberry and slash had a negative effect on seedling number. Seedling mortality was initially high (60% died during the first two years) but decreased throughout the first five years. The mineral soil in the elevated part of disc trencher track showed twice the survival rate in the bottom part of the track. High coverage of small haired mosses was associated with poorer seedling survival. An overstory density of 50-150 trees ha-1 with site preparation seems to be an efficient treatment to promote regeneration under these circumstances.

Field performance of outplanted Norway spruce: effects of organic matter amendments and site preparation

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1356-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goran Hallsby
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Terminal Bud

Norway spruce (Piceaabies (L.) Karst.) seedling survival and growth response to site preparation methods involving different utilization of humus (forest floor material from the F- and H-layers) and chipped slash were studied on a recently clear-felled spruce site in northern Sweden. Five mounding treatments (pure mineral soil, mineral mound covered by or mixed with either of the two types of organic matter) and two unscarified treatments (with or without a chipped slash mulch) were applied in a randomized block design. Half of the blocks were planted in the year of clear-felling (1990) and the remaining blocks in 1991. Containerized (1/0) seedlings mechanically protected against Hylobiusabietis L. were used. For both planting occasions, seedling survival after 3 years exceeded 90% in most treatments and the occurrence of injuries was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by soil treatments only in the 1990 plantation. In general, the largest seedlings (height, dry weight, needle weight, needle length, leading shoot terminal bud diameter) developed in mounds containing humus, and mounds containing chipped slash produced the smallest seedlings. Mixing chipped slash with mineral soil appeared to suppress seedling growth. The results also indicate that planting delay should be avoided to permit Norway spruce seedlings to benefit fully from the growth-stimulating potential of humus. Successful planting without site preparation might depend on the avoidance of planting delay.

scholarly journals Effects of substrate availability and competing vegetation on natural regeneration of white spruce on logged boreal mixedwood sites

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola A. Kokkonen ◽  
S. Ellen Macdonald ◽  
Ian Curran ◽  
Simon M. Landhäusser ◽  
Victor J. Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Solid Wood ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Competing Vegetation ◽  
Survival And Growth

Given a seed source, the quality of available substrates is a key factor in determining the success of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) natural regeneration. We examined the influence of substrate and competing vegetation on survival and growth of natural regeneration of white spruce up to 4 years following harvesting in deciduous-dominated upland boreal mixedwood sites. Feather moss, thick soil surface organic layers, litter, and solid wood were poor substrates for establishment. Early successional mosses establishing on mineral soil, thin organics, and rotten wood were generally favourable microsites but were not highly available on postharvest sites. Mineral soil substrates were not as suitable as expected, likely because on a postlogged site, they are associated with unfavourable environmental characteristics (e.g., low nutrient availability, exposure). There was some evidence that survival and growth of seedlings were improved by surrounding vegetation in the first years, but heavy competing vegetation had a negative impact on older seedlings. Burial by aspen litter greatly increased seedling mortality, especially when combined with a brief period of submergence due to heavy spring snowmelt. The results provide insight into conditions under which natural regeneration could be an option for establishing white spruce following harvesting of deciduous-dominated boreal mixedwood forests.

scholarly journals Four-year-performance of oak and pine seedlings following mechanical site preparation with lightweight excavators

Silva Fennica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noé Dumas ◽  
Mathieu Dassot ◽  
Jonathan Pitaud ◽  
Jérôme Piat ◽  
Lucie Arnaudet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Quercus Petraea ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Pteridium Aquilinum ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Mechanical Site Preparation

Mechanical site preparation methods that used tools mounted on lightweight excavators and that provided localised intensive preparation were tested in eight experimental sites across France where the vegetation was dominated either by (L.) Moench or (L.) Kuhn. Two lightweight tools (Deep Scarifier: DS; Deep Scarifier followed by Multifunction Subsoiler: DS+MS) were tested in pine ( L., var. (Loudon) Hyl. or Aiton) and oak ( (Matt.) Liebl. or  L.) plantations. Regional methods commonly used locally (herbicide, disk harrow, mouldboard plow) and experimental methods (repeated herbicide application; untreated control) were used as references in the experiments. Neighbouring vegetation cover, seedling survival, height and basal diameter were assessed over three to five years after plantation. For pines growing in , seedling diameter after four years was 37% and 98% greater in DS and DS+MS, respectively, than in the untreated control. For pines growing in , it was 62% and 107% greater in the same treatments. For oak, diameter was only 4% and 15% greater in , and 13% and 25% greater in , in the same treatments. For pines, the survival rate after four years was 26% and 32% higher in and 64% and 70% higher in , in the same treatments. For oak, it was 3% and 29% higher in and 37% and 31% higher in . Herbicide, when applied for three or four years after planting, provided the best growth performances for pines growing in and and for oaks growing in . For these species and site combinations, DS+MS and DS treatments reduced the neighbouring vegetation cover for one to four years following site preparation.Molinia caeruleaPteridium aquilinumPinus sylvestrisPinus nigracorsicanaPinus pinasterQuercus petraeaQuercus roburM. caeruleaP. aquilinumM. caeruleaP. aquilinumM. caeruleaP. aquilinumM. caeruleaP. aquilinumM. caerulea P. aquilinumP. aquilinum

Germination, survival, and early growth of red alder seedlings in the central Coast Range of Oregon

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1639-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sybille Haeussler ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
Brian J. Greber
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
Red Alder

Effects of forest disturbance and soil moisture levels on establishment of red alder (Alnusrubra Bong.) seedlings were studied at four sites representing a climatic moisture gradient within the central Coast Range of Oregon. On average, there was no difference in seedling emergence between recent clearcuts and second-growth forests, but emergence was much higher on mineral soil than on organic seedbeds. Emergence, on both types of seedbed, was positively correlated with spring soil moisture conditions (R2 = 0.60). Seedling survival, on the other hand, differed greatly between clearcut and forest. In clearcuts, heat and drought injuries were the primary causes of seedling mortality. In the forest, seedlings had poor vigour and quickly succumbed to pathogens, herbivores, and rain splash. First-year survival rates were strongly correlated with minimum summer soil moisture levels (R2 = 0.71). Height growth of seedlings on clearcuts (2–5 cm after 1 year; 8–23 cm after 2 years) was much slower than rates typically described for red alder. Best establishment occurred on skid trails and landings, suggesting that young seedlings may suffer less from heat or moisture stress on these heavily disturbed microenvironments.

scholarly journals White Spruce Regeneration on a Blade-Scarified Alaskan Loess Soil1

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmond C. Packee
Keyword(s):  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Aspen Forest

Abstract Following hardwood removal from a mixed spruce-birch-aspen forest stand, portions of the stand were blade-scarified to encourage natural white spruce regeneration. Six years after treatment the number and height of white spruce seedlings were significantly greater on scarified than on unscarified plots. Whereas 100% of scarified sample plots contained five or more seedlings, 73% of unscarified plots contained no seedlings. Exposure of mineral soil and removal of grass competition are essential for the satisfactory natural regeneration of white spruce. Detailed regeneration surveys should not be considered for white spruce until seedlings are 15 cm tall, typically the fifth or sixth year after site preparation. North. J. Appl. For. 7:121-123, September 1990.

scholarly journals Effects of Site Preparation Methods on the Establishment and Natural-Regeneration Traits of Scots Pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Northeastern Poland

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Aleksandrowicz-Trzcińska ◽  
Stanisław Drozdowski ◽  
Marcin Studnicki ◽  
Henryk Żybura
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Base Cations ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Mechanical Site Preparation ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Aridity Indices ◽  
Moisture Conditions

While some tree species can regenerate naturally without mechanical site preparation (MSP), Scots pine has been shown to benefit from this process. We compared three methods: using a double-mouldboard forest plough (FP), an active single-disc plough (AP), and a forest mill (FM), as well as a no-MSP control, in terms of growth, survival and density of occurrence of pines during the first 4 years of natural regeneration. Moisture conditions were expressed via calculated de Martonne aridity indices, while the microhabitats generated via different MSP methods were further characterised by the total contents of N and C, and the C/N ratio, P2O5, and base cations, as well as bulk density and actual moisture. The trials showed inferior regeneration without MSP in terms of the density and cover of young pines. Any of the studied treatments influenced survival, though the best growth was achieved by seedlings using the FP and AP methods, while the best density and evenness results were obtained using AP. The factors most influencing regeneration features were high precipitation during the first growing season after sowing and reduced competition with other vegetation in the cleared area. This impact seems far more important than the capacity of different MSPs to produce differentiation in soil microhabitats in terms of nutrient status or bulk density.

Survival and growth response of white spruce stock types to site preparation in Alaska

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Youngblood ◽  
Elizabeth Cole ◽  
Michael Newton
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Preparation Methods ◽  
Vegetation Control ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Stock Types ◽  
Bare Root

To identify suitable methods for reforestation, we evaluated the interacting effects of past disturbance, stock types, and site preparation treatments on white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedling survival and growth across a range of sites in Alaska. Replicated experiments were established in five regions. At each site, two complete installations differed in time since disturbance: “new” units were harvested immediately before spring planting and “old” units were harvested at least 3 years before planting. We compared mechanical scarification before planting, broadcast herbicide application during the fall before planting, and no site preparation with 1-year-old container-grown seedlings from two sources, 2-year-old bare-root transplants from two sources, and 3-year-old bare-root transplants. Seedlings were followed for 11 years on most sites. Based on meta-analyses, seedling survival increased 10% with herbicide application and 15% with mechanical scarification compared with no site preparation. Scarification and herbicide application increased seedling height by about 28% and 35%, respectively, and increased seedling volume by about 86% and 195%, respectively, compared with no site preparation. Soil temperature did not differ among site preparation methods after the first 7 years. Results suggest that white spruce stands may be successfully restored through a combination of vegetation control and use of quality planting stock.

scholarly journals Fire suppression and seed dispersal play critical roles in the establishment of tropical forest tree species in southeastern Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiro Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dispersal ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Tree Seedlings ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
Seed Deposition ◽  
Syzygium Guineense

AbstractThis study examined the mechanisms of facilitation and importance of seed dispersal during establishment of forest tree species in an Afrotropical woodland. Seedling survival of Syzygium guineense ssp. afromontanum was monitored for 2.5 years at four different microsites in savannah woodland in Malawi (southeastern Africa) under Ficus natalensis (a potential nurse plant), Brachystegia floribunda (a woodland tree), Uapaca kirkiana (a woodland tree), and at a treeless site. The number of naturally established forest tree seedlings in the woodland was also counted. Additionally, S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seed deposition was monitored at the four microsites. Insect damage (9% of the total cause of mortality) and trampling by ungulates (1%) had limited impact on seedling survival in this area. Fire (43%) was found to be the most important cause of seedling mortality and fire induced mortality was especially high under U. kirkiana (74%) and at treeless site (51%). The rate was comparatively low under F. natalensis (4%) and B. floribunda (23%), where fire is thought to be inhibited due to the lack of light-demanding C4 grasses. Consequently, seedling survival under F. natalensis and B. floribunda was higher compared with the other two microsites. The seedling survival rate was similar under F. natalensis (57%) and B. floribunda (59%). However, only a few S. guineense ssp. afromontanum seedlings naturally established under B. floribunda (25/285) whereas many seedlings established under F. natalensis (146/285). These findings indicate that the facilitative mechanism of fire suppression is not the only factor affecting establishment. The seed deposition investigation revealed that most of the seeds (85%) were deposited under F. natalensis. As such, these findings suggest that in addition to fire suppression, dispersal limitations also play a role in forest-savannah dynamics in this region, especially at the community level.

scholarly journals Germination, Establishment, and Mortality of Naturally Seeded Southwestern Ponderosa Pine

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. Stein ◽  
Diana N. Kimberling
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Mortality Factors ◽  
Seedling Mortality ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Northern Arizona ◽  
Lepidopteran Larvae

Abstract Information on the mortality factors affecting naturally seeded conifer seedlings is becoming increasingly important to forest managers for both economic and ecological reasons. Mortality factors affecting ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings immediately following natural germination and through the following year were monitored in Northern Arizona. The four major mortality factors in temporal order included the failure of roots to establish in the soil (27%), herbivory by lepidopteran larvae (28%), desiccation (30%), and winterkill (10%). These mortality factors were compared among seedlings germinating in three different overstory densities and an experimental water treatment. Seedlings that were experimentally watered experienced greater mortality than natural seedlings due to herbivory (40%), nearly as much mortality due to the failure of roots to establish in the soil (20%), less mortality due to winterkill (5%), and no mortality due to desiccation. The seedling mortality data through time were summarized using survivorship curves and life tables. Our results suggest that managers should consider using prescribed burns to decrease the percentage of seedlings that die from failure of their roots to reach mineral soil and from attack by lepidopteran larvae. West. J. Appl. For. 18(2):109–114.

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