Effects on the Forest Floor of Whole-Tree Harvesting in an Appalachian Oak Forest

1985 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Johnson ◽  
David Wm. Smith ◽  
James A. Burger
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Oak Forest ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

Impacts of whole-tree harvesting and winter windrowing on soil pH and base status of clayey sites of northwestern Quebec

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 997-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Brais ◽  
C. Camiré ◽  
D. Paré
Keyword(s):  
Cation Exchange ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Cation Exchange Capacity ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Exchangeable Ca ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

To assess the impact of forest operations on soil nutrient status, modifications to forest floor, to 0–10 and 10–20 cm mineral soil base status, and to pH were evaluated 5–12 years following whole-tree harvesting and winter windrowing on dry to fresh and moist clayey sites in the clay belt region of northwestern Quebec. Whole-tree harvesting had few impacts on base concentrations and soil pH of dry to fresh sites. On moist sites, significant decreases in pH (−0.60 to −0.84 units), exchangeable Ca, total Ca, and, exchangeable Mg concentrations, base saturation, and effective cation exchange capacity were observed following harvesting. On dry to fresh sites, a decrease in the forest floor weight (−55%) accounted for significant reductions in exchangeable Ca (−55%), total Ca (−61%), and exchangeable K (−40%) pools in this layer, while reserves of both mineral layers were not affected. On moist sites, significant decreases in exchangeable Ca (−42 to −65%) and Mg (−35 to −56%) reserves occurred in all soil layers, while forest floor reserves of total Ca, Mg, and K decreased by 67, 48, and 40%, respectively. These reductions were caused by a loss of substrate in the forest floor (−44%) and a decrease in effective cation exchange capacity, exchangeable Ca saturation, and total Ca concentrations. Impacts of windrowing following whole-tree harvesting were limited to a reduction in reserves of exchangeable Ca (−22%), exchangeable Mg (−27%), total Ca (−20%), and total Mg (−29%) pools of the forest floor of moist sites. Values reported here are much greater than values generally predicted by a balance sheet approach and underline the need for more process-oriented studies. Impacts of these losses on long-term site productivity remain to be investigated.

scholarly journals Imitated Whole Tree Harvesting Show Negligible Effect on Economic Value of Spruce Stands

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Annija Kārkliņa ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Anna Pastare ◽  
Andis Adamovičs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.

Whole-tree Harvesting Depletes Soil Nutrients

1974 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 530-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin H. White
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Nutrient Pool ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

This paper reports the effects of whole-tree harvesting of eight cottonwood stands on the soil nutrient pool. The data indicate possible site degradation by depletion of soil reserves of N, P, and K but not Ca and Mg on a range of alluvial site conditions in Alabama. Foresters must establish the rate of nutrient removal in intensive tree cropping systems for a variety of species and sites and develop prescriptions to minimize the impact.

Whole-Tree Harvesting with a Medium Capacity Cable Yarder

1984 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 002-004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleveland J. Biller ◽  
Edward L. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

Whole-Tree Harvesting Affects Pine Regeneration and Hardwood Competition

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. McMinn
Keyword(s):  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

Abstract Mixed upland hardwood-pine stands of low quality in the Upper Piedmont of Georgia were whole-tree harvested to 1-inch and 4-inch diameter limits in both winter and summer. Natural pine regeneration and hardwood sprouting were observed two growing seasons after harvesting. Early pine establishment was generally successful after winter harvesting but not after summer harvesting. Pine regeneration was excellent following the 1-inch winter harvest and acceptable following the 4-inch winter harvest. The treatment resulting in the best pine regeneration also produced the greatest coverage of hardwood sprouts.1

Nutrient removals with harvesting and by deep percolation from white birch (Betula papyrifera [Marsh.]) sites in central Newfoundland

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. Titus ◽  
Bruce A. Roberts ◽  
Keith W. Deering
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Budget ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Deep Percolation ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
Nutrient Losses ◽  
White Birch ◽  
Biomass Removal ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

The effects of conventional stem-only and whole-tree harvesting on nutrient losses in biomass removal and in leachate fluxes over a 3-yr period after cutting three white birch stands in central Newfoundland were determined. Losses of nutrients in biomass were proportionately greater with more intensive harvesting as tree components with higher nutrient concentrations (branches, foliage) were removed. Stem-only harvesting removed 126, 9, 51, 126 and 23 kg ha–1 of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in biomass, respectively. Whole-tree harvesting led to a 19% increase in biomass removal as compared to stem-only harvesting, but nutrient removals with whole-tree harvesting increased by 127% for N, 138% for P, 151% for K, 72% for Ca and 90% for Mg. Nutrient losses in deep percolation of soil solution during the first 3 yr after harvesting were generally greater following stem-only than whole-tree harvesting. This may be the result of increased leaching from slash, increased mineralization beneath slash, and retardation by slash of the successional vegetation that could act as a nutrient sink. In the first 3 yr following harvesting, leaching losses after whole-tree harvesting were 4, 0.2, 8, 23 and 7 kg ha–1 of N, P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively, as compared with 9, 0.1, 7, 28 and 9 kg ha–1 of N, P, K, Ca and Mg after stem-only harvesting. Nutrient losses in leachate were generally small compared to losses in biomass removal. Key words: Intensive harvesting; slash; nutrient budget; sustainable site productivity; Betula papyrifera (Marsh.)

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