scholarly journals Ground vegetation composition and diversity in drained Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands 50 years after whole-tree harvesting management: case study in Latvia

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Roberts Čakšs ◽  
Linda Robalte ◽  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Baiba Džeriņa ◽  
Aris Jansons

Abstract The long-term (50 years) effect of whole-tree harvesting (stump harvesting) on ground vegetation in experimental drained Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands was studied. We used a chronosequence approach to assess the long-term impact of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) on stands’ ground vegetation. WTH stands were compared with four control stands with different age and with the same forest type: young stand (15 years), middle-aged stand (45 years), mature stand (110 years) and over-mature stand (140 years). Species richness was similar between the WTH stand and middle-aged stand (61 and 60 species, respectively). Shannon-Wiener diversity indices in the WTH and middle-aged stand (3.40 and 3.19, respectively) indicated that the stands were similar to each other. A community similarity analysis showed that the composition of vegetation was similar between the WTH and middle-aged stand, although some species like Lycopodium clavatum and Diphasiastrum complanatum occurred only in the WTH stand. The study showed that a period of 50 years is sufficient for ground vegetation of a typical drained spruce forest to recover after WTH management.

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Annija Kārkliņa ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Anna Pastare ◽  
Andis Adamovičs ◽  
...  

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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 313 ◽  
pp. 180-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilli Kaarakka ◽  
Pekka Tamminen ◽  
Anna Saarsalmi ◽  
Mikko Kukkola ◽  
Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 356 ◽  
pp. 101-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Vangansbeke ◽  
A. De Schrijver ◽  
P. De Frenne ◽  
A. Verstraeten ◽  
L. Gorissen ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 382-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin J. Himes ◽  
Eric C. Turnblom ◽  
Robert B. Harrison ◽  
Kimberly M. Littke ◽  
Warren D. Devine ◽  
...  

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