The effect of planting stock and soil scarification on forest regeneration

Abstract The present research is a comparative analysis of how the main quality indices of containerized and barerooted coniferous (Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)) planting stock conform to the existing standards in Estonia, how the plantation development depends on planting stock and natural regeneration on soil scarification. The height of Scots pine containerized seedlings exceeded that of barerooted seedlings by 20%. The height of barerooted Norway spruce transplants exceeded that of containerized seedlings by 19%. The root-collar diameter of containerized pine stock formed 70% and the corresponding index of containerized spruce stock formed 48% of the diameter of the barerooted plants of the same species. Typically, containerized plants had better initial growth increment during the first two to three years after planting but this difference disappeared during the latter years. The growth of Scots pine barerooted and containerized seedlings was similar, while the growth of Norway spruce containerized seedlings was slightly inferior compared to barerooted plants. Survival of both test species was independent of planting stock used. After clear-cutting, certain areas of peatland and mineral areas were disc-trenched and inventoried at the end of the first growing season. The number of all woody plants was determined by microsites – untreated area, furrow, slope, and ridge. The same inventory was repeated 11 growing seasons later. After 11 growth years, a large number of Scots pine trees was found in Rhodococcum, Oxalis and Vaccinium myrtillus site types and drained peatlands. The number of pine plants on microsites on mineral soil was the greatest in furrows and on slopes (34% and 30%), and on peat soil on furrows and in untreated areas (47% and 53%). The number of naturally regenerated Norway spruce trees was the largest in Vaccinium myrtillus, Oxalis-Rhodococcum and Oxalis site types. With regard to microsites, spruce plants were the most abundant in furrows and ridges on mineral soil (31% and 24%) and in untreated areas and on slopes on peat soil (46% and 42%).

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Models for diameter and height growth of Scots pine, Norway spruce and pubescent birch in drained peatland sites in Finland

Silva Fennica ◽

10.14214/sf.10055 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jaakko Repola ◽

Hannu Hökkä ◽

Hannu Salminen

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Growth Models ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Height Growth ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Repeated Measurements ◽

Site Quality ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Tree Diameter

The aim of this study was to develop individual-tree diameter and height growth models for Scots pine, Norway spruce, and pubescent birch growing in drained peatlands in Finland. Trees growing in peatland sites have growth patterns that deviate from that of trees growing in mineral soil sites. Five-year growth was explained by tree diameter, different tree and stand level competition measures, management operations and site characteristics. The drainage status of the site was influencing growth directly or in interaction with other variables. Site quality had a direct impact but was also commonly related to current site drainage status (need for ditch maintenance). Recent thinning increased growth of all species and former PK fertilization increased growth of pine and birch. Temperature sum was a significant predictor in all models and altitude for spruce and birch. The data were a subsample of the 7th National Forest Inventory (NFI) sample plots representing northern and southern Finland and followed by repeated measurements for 15â20 yrs. Growth levels predicted by the models were calibrated using NFI11 data to remove bias originating from the sample of the modelling data. The mixed linear models technique was used in model estimation. The models will be incorporated into the MOTTI stand simulator to replace the current peatlands growth models.

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European beech leads to more bioactive humus forms but stronger mineral soil acidification as Norway spruce and Scots pine – Results of a repeated site assessment after 63 and 82 years of forest conversion in Central Germany

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118769 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 118769

Author(s):

Florian Achilles ◽

Alexander Tischer ◽

Markus Bernhardt-Römermann ◽

Martin Heinze ◽

Frank Reinhardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Soil Acidification ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

European Beech ◽

Forest Conversion ◽

Site Assessment ◽

Central Germany ◽

Humus Forms

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Localization of tree water uptake in Scots pine and Norway spruce with hydroiogical tracers

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x95-033 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 286-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Kevin Bishop ◽

Etienne Dambrine

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Water Uptake ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Xylem Sap ◽

Vertical Gradient ◽

Monte Carlo Analysis ◽

Horizontal Layer ◽

Mixing Model ◽

Isotopic Tracers

This study explores the potential of hydroiogical tracers for determining the proportion of water uptake by Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Piceaabies (L.) Karst.) from different layers in the upper 3 dm of podzolized forest soil. To improve the resolution of the tracer technique, a pair of tracers was employed. One tracer was the naturally occurring vertical gradient in the oxygen isotope ratio,δ18O, of soil solution. The second tracer was a 3H solution placed in the mor layer. A three-component mixing model of water uptake was used to simulate the content of these two tracers in the xylem sap. Each component in the mixing model represented a horizontal layer of soil with a characteristic composition of δ18O and 3H. Two stands were investigated. In both stands, the volume-weighted water uptake by Scots pine occurred at a depth of 8–17 cm in the upper B horizon. This was below the concentration of fine roots in the mor layer and the upper few centimeters of mineral soil. In one of the two study stands, Norway spruce was present. It had mean uptake depths ranging from within the mor layer to 5 cm below the mor–mineral soil contact. An uncertainty in the water uptake depth for each tree of ± 1–2 cm was estimated from a Monte Carlo analysis of uncertainties in the model inputs. In addition to these specific results, the study demonstrated that isotopic tracers provide a simple and effective method for determining the vertical distribution of water uptake.

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Growth Responses of Boreal Scots Pine, Norway Spruce and Silver Birch Seedlings to Simulated Climate Warming over Three Growing Seasons in a Controlled Field Experiment

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11090943 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 943

Author(s):

Katri Nissinen ◽

Virpi Virjamo ◽

Antti Kilpeläinen ◽

Veli-Pekka Ikonen ◽

Laura Pikkarainen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Root Biomass ◽

Growing Season ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Shoot Biomass ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Simulated Climate ◽

Shoot And Root Biomass

We studied the growth responses of boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings to simulated climate warming of an average of 1.3 °C over the growing season in a controlled field experiment in central Finland. We had six replicate plots for elevated and ambient temperature for each tree species. The warming treatment lasted for the conifers for three growing seasons and for the birch two growing seasons. We measured the height and diameter growth of all the seedlings weekly during the growing season. The shoot and root biomass and their ratios were measured annually in one-third of seedlings harvested from each plot in autumn. After two growing seasons, the height, diameter and shoot biomass were 45%, 19% and 41% larger in silver birch seedlings under the warming treatment, but the root biomass was clearly less affected. After three growing seasons, the height, diameter, shoot and root biomass were under a warming treatment 39, 47, 189 and 113% greater in Scots pine, but the root:shoot ratio 29% lower, respectively. The corresponding responses of Norway spruce to warming were clearly smaller (e.g., shoot biomass 46% higher under a warming treatment). As a comparison, the relative response of height growth in silver birch was after two growing seasons equal to that measured in Scots pine after three growing seasons. Based on our findings, especially silver birch seedlings, but also Scots pine seedlings benefitted from warming, which should be taken into account in forest regeneration in the future.

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Thin kerf cutting forces of frozen and non-frozen Norway spruce and Scots pine wood

Wood Material Science and Engineering ◽

10.1080/17480272.2021.1925964 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Vanessa Meulenberg ◽

Mats Ekevad ◽

Mikael Svensson

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Cutting Forces ◽

Pine Wood

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Vegetation management on grass-dominated clearcuts planted with Norway spruce in southern Sweden

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x99-071 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 1015-1026 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Urban Nilsson ◽

Göran Örlander

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Vegetation Management ◽

Shoot Length ◽

Southern Sweden ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Containerized Seedlings ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Stock Type ◽

Bare Root ◽

Relative Differences

A field experiment was established between 1989 and 1993 to study the effects of competing vegetation on growth of planted Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Effects of clearcut age, scarification (mounding), herbicide treatment, and seedling stock type were investigated 5 years after planting. On fresh clearcuts, amounts of vegetation were negligible, whereas 2.1-3.7 Mg·ha-1 was found on 4-year-old and older clearcuts. Soil temperatures were about 10% higher in mounds than in undisturbed ground, while herbicide and clearcut age only marginally affected soil temperatures. Seedlings planted on old clearcuts showed significant reductions in growth due to interference from vegetation. Five years after planting, the reduction in growth corresponded to about 1 year's growth. Most of the interaction between seedlings and vegetation occurred during the first 2 years after planting. Thus, scarification was just as effective as repeated herbicide treatments in reducing competition from vegetation. Differences in periods of drought between years could largely explain variation in leading shoot length. However, leading shoot length was affected in the same way irrespective of vegetation control treatments. Five years after planting, the relative differences in diameter between bare-root and containerized seedlings were the same as at the time of planting.

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