Young Silver Birch Grows Faster and Allocates Higher Portion of Biomass into Stem Than Norway Spruce, a Case Study from a Post-Disturbance Forest

The aim of the paper was to compare young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) growing at the identical site, from the point of contribution of tree components to their aboveground biomass stock, their wood density, radial increment and aboveground biomass production. Our research activities were performed in the High Tatra Mts., which belong to the Tatra National Park (TANAP), Northern Slovakia. Currently, the substantial part of the TANAP territory is covered by post-disturbance young forests which have been growing there since the large-scale windstorm episode in November 2004. Our study combined non-destructive repeated tree measurements performed at two transects in 2016–2020, with destructive tree sampling of twenty 14-year-old individuals for each species. From the gathered data, we derived models estimating standing stock and annual production of aboveground biomass in individual tree components (foliage, branches, stem bark and stem wood), using diameter at breast height (DBH) as a predictor. The results showed contrasting contributions of tree compartments to aboveground biomass stock between birch and spruce. While spruce trees had four times higher contribution of foliage than birches, the reverse situation (1.5-fold difference) was observed for stem over bark biomass. At the same time, birch trees had a 40% greater diameter increment and a 30% denser stem wood than spruce. As for aboveground biomass production, the contribution of the stem as an economically important component was greater in birch than spruce. The results suggest that, in the young growth stage, birch may be advantageous over spruce in both ecological and production properties. Therefore, we believe that strengthening research activities focused on birch ecology and production issues would bring practical recommendations for better utilization of this tree species in forestry and wood-processing industry sectors

Download Full-text

Growth response to thinning and its relation to site resources in Eucalyptusregnans

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x95-009 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 69-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

P.W. West ◽

G.H.R. Osier

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Growth Response ◽

Radiation Absorption ◽

Light Use Efficiency ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Individual Tree Growth ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Individual Trees

The factors determining individual tree growth response are examined during the 4 years following thinning in experiments in even-aged, 8- or 12-year-old regrowth Eucalyptusregnans F. Muell. forest at two sites in southern Australia. At one site, a vigorous understorey dominated by a sedge developed after the thinning. At that site, light-use efficiency by the trees was unaffected by thinning and the aboveground biomass production by the trees in the thinned stand was substantially less than that in the unthinned stand. At the other site, little understorey developed, light-use efficiency by trees in the thinned stand was greater than that in the unthinned stand, and aboveground biomass production was unaffected by thinning even though the leaf weight of the thinned stand was far below that of the unthinned stand. Where the understorey developed, it was concluded that it competed successfully with the trees for water, thereby reducing production in the thinned stand when compared with the unthinned stand. The individual tree growth response that occurred in the thinned stand at that site appeared to be due soley to the extra light available to individual trees following the canopy opening. Where the understorey did not develop, it was concluded that individual tree growth response was due not only to the extra light available to individual trees but also to the increased availability of belowground resources, most probably soil water. Application of a pre-existing stand growth model suggested that at that site the tendency for increased growth resulting from extra water availability in the thinned stand was just balanced by decreased growth due to lower radiation absorption by the reduced canopy, so that net production was unaffected by thinning.

Download Full-text

Effect of early to late wood proportion on Norway spruce biomass

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun201260060287 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 287-292

Author(s):

Radek Pokorný ◽

Petra Rajsnerová ◽

Jiří Kubásek ◽

Irena Marková ◽

Ivana Tomášková

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Stand Age ◽

Allometric Relationships ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Stem Wood ◽

Late Wood ◽

Growing Conditions ◽

Summer Time ◽

Lower Stem

Aboveground biomass, allometric relationships and early to late wood proportions were investigated in two even-aged monocultures of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) located at mountain and highland localities of the Czech Republic. However similar stand age and tree size, mountain trees comparing to them from highland showed less/tapering stems, lower aboveground biomass and lower stem wood density along the whole stem vertical profile as a result of different early to late wood proportion. These proportions were 79 % and 54 % for early wood, and 21 % and 46 % for late wood within mean stem annual circle in mountain and highland locality, respectively. These different proportions seem to reflected site specific growing conditions, particularly highly sufficient water availability during spring time in mountain region- support early wood growth, whereas elevated air temperature during summer time in highland region stimulate late wood growth.

Download Full-text

Biomass estimation equations for Norway spruce in New York

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x86-075 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 413-415 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

E. J. Jokela ◽

K. P. Van Gurp ◽

R. D. Briggs ◽

E. H. White

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Strong Predictor ◽

Allometric Equation ◽

Site Quality ◽

Biomass Estimation ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Stem Wood ◽

Estimation Equations

Biomass estimation equations for plantation-grown Norway spruce (Piceaabies (L.) Karst.) were developed from data of 30 sample trees and expressed using the linear form of the following allometric equation: In Y = b0 + b1 ln X + ln ε, where Y is dry weight and X is dbh or D2H. The accuracy of the equations for biomass estimates were ranked as follows: total tree > stem wood > stem bark > foliage > live branches > dead branches. Diameter alone was a strong predictor of biomass and the addition of height to the model only slightly reduced the standard error of the estimate for the stem component equations. Comparison of results to equations developed in Sweden showed similarity in predictions for total biomass, but also showed disparity in predictions for individual tree components. Factors that influence tree morphology and distribution patterns of dry matter accumulation, such as stocking and site quality, may be responsible for these differences.

Download Full-text

Tree biomass allometry during the early growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies) varies between pure stands and mixtures with European beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2017-0177 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 77-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ioan Dutcă ◽

Richard Mather ◽

Florin Ioraş

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

European Beech ◽

Mixed Stand ◽

Pure Stand ◽

Tree Biomass ◽

Mixed Stands ◽

Individual Tree

In this paper, we report an investigation of how forest stand mixture may affect biomass allometric relationships in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Analysis of aboveground biomass data was conducted for 50 trees: 25 sample trees from a pure Norway spruce stand and 25 from a mixed stand of Norway spruce with European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). ANCOVA results demonstrated that individual-tree biomass allometry of the pure stand significantly differed from that of the mixed stand. Allometric characteristics depended on the biomass component recorded and the type of biomass predictor used. When predicted by diameter at breast height and (or) height, the total aboveground biomass of mixed-stand trees was significantly less than that for pure-stand trees. This “apparent” lower aboveground biomass was attributed to the lower branch and needle biomass proportions of trees growing in mixed stand. The findings indicate that caution should be exercised when applying biomass allometric models developed from pure stands to predict tree biomass in mixed stands (and vice versa), as such data treatment may introduce significant bias.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

Adapting an individual tree growth model for Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) in pure and mixed species stands

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/s0378-1127(01)00713-7 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 159 (1-2) ◽

pp. 101-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Hubert Sterba ◽

Astrid Blab ◽

Klaus Katzensteiner

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Growth Model ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Mixed Species ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Individual Tree Growth ◽

Individual Tree Growth Model ◽

Tree Growth Model

Download Full-text

A Novel Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Neighboring Trees and the Orientation of Tree Social Area on Stem Radial Increment of Norway Spruce Trees

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020163 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 163

Author(s):

Jan Světlík ◽

Jan Krejza ◽

Pavel Bednář

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Growth Models ◽

Explanatory Power ◽

Radial Increment ◽

Important Indicator ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Social Area

Tree growth depends on many factors such as microsite conditions, vitality, and variations in climate and genetics. It is generally accepted that higher growth indicates both an economic benefit and better vitality of any tree. Here we use a modified approach of evaluating tree social area to study mutual tree competition based on the orientation and shape of trees social area. The investigation was performed in nine Norway spruce stands in the Czech Republic. The objective of this study performed from 2008 to 2012 was to quantify relative tree radial increments with respect to the lowest and highest competition found in specific sectors of tree social area (AS). Specific groups of trees (tree classes) were evaluated according to their classes (dominant, co-dominant and sub-dominant) and their composition status in ninety-degree sectors of AS using established classifying rules. The results showed that a spatially-available area (AA) is an inappropriate parameter for predicting tree growth, whereas AS provided robust explanatory power to predict relative radial growth. Tree size was observed as an important indicator of relative radial increments. A significantly positive correlation was found for a radial increment of sub-dominant trees with the lowest competition from western directions; whereas a negative correlation was observed when the lowest competition was observed from eastern directions. For dominant trees, there was an evident growth reaction only when more than 50% of the AS was oriented towards one of the cardinal points. Individual differences in the orientation of tree AS may be important parameters with regard to competition and its spatial variability within an area surrounding a particular tree and deserve more detailed attention in tree growth models and practice.

Download Full-text