scholarly journals A meta-analysis on the impacts of partial cutting on forest structure and carbon storage

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 3691-3703 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zhou ◽  
S. Q. Zhao ◽  
S. Liu ◽  
J. Oeding
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Recovery Time ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
C Storage ◽  
Cutting Intensity ◽  
Stand Basal Area ◽  
Area And Volume

Abstract. Partial cutting, which removes some individual trees from a forest, is one of the major and widespread forest management practices that can significantly alter both forest structure and carbon (C) storage. Using 748 observations from 81 studies published between 1973 and 2011, we synthesized the impacts of partial cutting on three variables associated with forest structure (mean annual growth of diameter at breast height (DBH), stand basal area, and volume) and four variables related to various C stock components (aboveground biomass C (AGBC), understory C, forest floor C, and mineral soil C). Results show that the growth of DBH increased by 111.9% after partial cutting, compared to the uncut control, with a 95% bootstrapped confidence interval ranging from 92.2 to 135.9%, while stand basal area and volume decreased immediately by 34.2% ([−37.4%, −31.2%]) and 28.4% ([−32.0%, −25.1%]), respectively. On average, partial cutting reduced AGBC by 43.4% ([−47.7%, −39.3%]), increased understory C storage by 391.5% ([220.0%, 603.8%]), but did not show significant effects on C stocks on forest floor and in mineral soil. All the effects, if significant (i.e., on DBH growth, stand basal area, volume, and AGBC), intensified linearly with cutting intensity and decreased linearly over time. Overall, cutting intensity had more strong impacts than the length of recovery time on the responses of those variables to partial cutting. Besides the significant influence of cutting intensity and recovery time, other factors such as climate zone and forest type also affected forest responses to partial cutting. For example, a large fraction of the changes in DBH growth remains unexplained, suggesting the factors not included in the analysis may play a major role. The data assembled in this synthesis were not sufficient to determine how long it would take for a complete recovery after cutting because long-term experiments were scarce. Future efforts should be tailored to increase the duration of the experiments and balance geographic locations of field studies.

scholarly journals A meta-analysis on the impacts of partial cutting on forest structure and carbon storage

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 787-813 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zhou ◽  
S. Q. Zhao ◽  
S. Liu ◽  
J. Oeding
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Storage

Abstract. Partial cutting, which removes some individual trees from a forest, is one of the major and widespread forest management practices that can significantly alter both forest structure and carbon (C) storage. Using 746 observations from 82 publications, we synthesized the impacts of partial cutting on three variables associated with forest structure (i.e. mean annual growth of diameter at breast height (DBH), basal area (BA), and volume) and four variables related to various C stock components (i.e. aboveground biomass C (AGBC), understory C, forest floor C, and mineral soil C). Results shows that the growth of DBH elevated by 112% after partial cutting, compared to the uncut control, while stand BA and volume reduced immediately by 34% and 29%, respectively. On average, partial cutting reduced AGBC by 43%, increased understory C storage by 392%, but did not show significant effects on C storages on forest floor and in mineral soil. All the effects on DBH growth, stand BA, volume, and AGBC intensified linearly with cutting intensity (CI) and decreased linearly with the number of recovery years (RY). In addition to the strong impacts of CI and RY, other factors such as climate zone and forest type also affected forest responses to partial cutting. The data assembled in this synthesis were not sufficient to determine how long it would take for a complete recovery after cutting because long-term experiments were rare. Future efforts should be tailored to increase the duration of the experiments and balance geographic locations of field studies.

Different nitrogen sources for fertilizing western hemlock in western Washington

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Radwan ◽  
D. S. DeBell ◽  
S. R. Webster ◽  
S. P. Gessel
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Total N ◽  
Area Growth ◽  
Western Washington

Effects of different sources of fertilizer N on selected chemical characteristics of soils and foliage, and on growth of western hemlock (Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) were compared at three different sites in western Washington. Treatments were the following: untreated control (O), ammonium nitrate (AN), ammonium sulfate (AS), calcium nitrate (CN), urea (U), and urea – ammonium sulfate (US). Fertilizers were applied in the spring (April–May) at 224 kg N/ha. Forest floor and mineral soil, to a depth of 5 cm, and foliage were sampled periodically for 2 years. Height and diameter of selected trees were measured periodically for 4 years. Results are reported mostly for two sites, one in the Cascade Range and one in the coastal zone in western Washington. The pH of forest floor and mineral soil varied by treatment, and the two urea fertilizers caused substantial initial rise. Effects on soil and foliar nutrients varied by fertilizer, sampling date, and location. In general, all fertilizers increased NH4 N, N03 N, and total N in the forest floor and mineral soil, and total N in the foliage. Also, with some exceptions, especially with foliar P in the Cascade site, fertilization reduced foliar content of important nutrients. At the Cascade site, 4-year growth responses in height, basal area, and volume averaged over all fertilizers were 30, 34, and 32%, respectively. AN, AS, CN, and urea resulted in height growth significantly (P < 0.20) higher than that of the control. Significant basal area growth and volume-growth responses were produced by AN, CN, and US. No significant height-growth response to any fertilizer occurred in the coastal stand; basal area growth and volume-growth responses averaged 27 and 21%, respectively, and best response occurred with urea. These results suggest that the low and inconsistent response of hemlock to N fertilization cannot be improved by applying some N fertilizer other than urea. Factors limiting response to N fertilization may be associated with availability of native N and other nutrients or other characteristics of hemlock sites and stands.

scholarly journals Aspects of ecological development in managed stands of jack pine and black spruce in northern Ontario: Understory vegetation and nutrient relations

2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Hunt ◽  
A M Gordon ◽  
D M Morris
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Nutrient Pools ◽  
Site Type ◽  
Stand Basal Area

This study investigated relationships between understory vegetation and nutrient pools in managed stands of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) in the Lake Nipigon region of northern Ontario. The species composition, biomass, and nutrient pool sizes in the understory vegetation, as well as biomass and nutrient pools in trees and soils, were determined in 16 managed stands ranging in age from 10 to 53 years since establishment and one mature, natural stand. Patterns of above-ground biomass accumulation in understory vegetation varied with overstory tree species and general site type (dry, sandy soils, or mesic, finer-textured soils). Understory vegetation contributed little (0.3 to 2.6%) to total above-ground organic matter (live biomass plus forest floor) but accounted for higher proportions of total above-ground nutrient pools (e.g., 0.7 to 3.4% of N; 3.2 to 11.7% of K) and net primary productivity (1.2 to 21.2%). The species composition of the understory vegetation was strongly related to stand basal area as well as to concentrations of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) in the forest floor and mineral soil. The greatest amount of change in vegetation community composition occurred from the pre-to post-canopy closure stages of stand development; fewer differences were observed among stands of a given species and site type 35 to 50 years after establishment. The effects of silvicultural practices were detected in certain stands 35 years after establishment; for example the most severely treated (bladed and thinned) jack pine stand differed from other stands of similar age and soils with its Cladina/Vaccinium-dominated understory, and large amounts of biomass in the moss/lichen stratum. The understory vegetation communities in other managed jack pine stands, by 35 to 50 years, were similar to that of the mature, natural stand, indicating resilience to silvicultural disturbances. Silviculture may have lasting effects on understory vegetation biomass and species composition through its effects on stand basal area, overstory species, and soil nutrients. This research serves as baseline information for further studies into the ecology of managed stands in northern Ontario. Key words: understory, nutrients, managed forests, jack pine, black spruce, canonical correspondence analysis

scholarly journals Effect of Thinning and Harvest Type on Storage and Losses of Phosphorous inPinus taedaL. Plantations in Subtropical Argentina

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Andrés Martiarena ◽  
Jorge Luis Frangi ◽  
Martín Alcides Pinazo ◽  
Alejandra Von Wallis ◽  
Roberto Antonio Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stability Index ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
P Content ◽  
Misiones Province ◽  
Total P

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of thinning intensity and different harvest types on ecosystem P conservation in 20-year-oldPinus taedaplantation ecosystems at Misiones province, Argentina. The plantation was established in 1985, thinned at three intensities—0, 33, and 66% of basal area of control plots removed by thinning—and harvested in 2005. The nutrient content at harvest was determined for tree, shrub, and herb layers, the forest floor and upper mineral soil. Two harvest types were simulated: stem only and whole tree. Total P content was 56.8, 46.8, and 38.6 kg· ha−1for 0, 33, and 66% thinning, respectively. Total P exported by harvest was different among treatments, the highest at 0% thinning treatment. Phosphorus stability index values indicated that the P most conservative management option is 66% thinning, harvest of stem only and retention of forest floor, understory, and harvest residues.

The impact of two harvesting systems on residual stems in a partially cut stand of northern hardwoods

1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.T. Nichols ◽  
R.C . Lemin Jr. ◽  
W.D. Ostrofsky
Keyword(s):  
Conventional Treatment ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Northern Hardwood ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Stand Damage ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Residual Stand Damage ◽  
Stand Basal Area ◽  
Better Than

Residual stand damage was evaluated following partial cutting with a mechanical and a conventional harvesting system in a northern hardwood stand in Maine. Damage from harvesting using a swing to bunch feller–buncher and grapple skidder was compared with damage from a chainsaw and cable skidder operation. Harvesting resulted in actual residual basal areas of 10 and 16.5 m2/ha in a heavy and light conventional treatment, respectively, and in 9 and 6.9 m2/ha in two mechanized treatments. The proportion of stems wounded averaged 22–44% in the conventional, and 20–31% in the mechanized operation. Wounds were significantly (p < 0.05) longer in the heavy conventional [Formula: see text] treatment than in light conventional [Formula: see text] and mechanized ([Formula: see text] and 60.2 cm) treatments. Wounds were located higher on the stems in the 9 m/ha mechanized [Formula: see text] than in the 10 m2/ha conventional treatment [Formula: see text]. A separate survey of the mechanized harvest showed that season of harvest (winter vs. summer) significantly affected wound location and the wound width to tree circumference ratio. A model was developed that relates harvesting treatment (light and heavy conventional and two heavy mechanical), species, distance of a stem from the edge a skid trail or access corridor, and initial stand basal area to the probability of injuring an individual stem. Mechanized harvesting using equipment with long-reach swing to bunch felling capability appears to be better than some other mechanical systems, and no worse than conventional harvesting systems, but the need to further reduce damage levels is evident.

scholarly journals Carbon and nitrogen in forest floor and mineral soil under four forest species in the Mediterranean region

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felícia Fonseca ◽  
Tomás Figueiredo
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Castanea Sativa ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
N Storage ◽  
C Storage ◽  
Species Effect ◽  
C And N

The organic and mineral horizons of soils are of great importance in C and N storage in forest areas. However, knowledge of the effects of forest species on the stocks of these elements is still scarce, especially in Portugal. In order to contribute to this knowledge, a study was carried out in forest stands of <em>Pinus pinaster</em> Aiton (PP), <em>Pinus nigra</em> Arnold (PN), <em>Pseudotsuga menziesii</em> (PM) and <em>Castanea sativa</em> Miller (CS), installed in the 1950s in northern Portugal. Sampling areas with similar topography, lithology and climate were selected, in order to better identify hypothesized differences in C and N storage due to forest species effect. In each stand, 15 sites were selected randomly and the forest floor (organic layers) was collected in a 0.49 m<sup>2</sup> area. The layers H, L and F of the forest floor were identified and, for L and F, their components were separated in leaves, pine cones/chestnut husks and branches. At the same sites, soil samples were also collected at 0-10 and 10-20 cm depth. At these depths, undisturbed samples were also collected for bulk density determination. The concentrations of C and N were determined in forest floor and mineral components of the soil, and converted in mass per unit area. The quantity of C storage per unit area followed the sequence PN &gt; PM &gt; CS &gt; PP, while for N the sequence was CS &gt; PM &gt; PN &gt; PP, OM and PP keeping the same relative position in the sequence in both C and N concentrations. The PM and CS species store similar amounts of C and N, and about 90% of these elements is found in the upper 20 cm of the mineral soil. In PN and PP species, the contribution of forest floor to the storage of these elements is more expressive than in the other species, but lower than 30% in all cases.

Nutrient management in a Pinusradiata plantation after thinning: the effect of thinning and residues on nutrient distribution, mineral nitrogen fluxes, and extractable phosphorus

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1278-1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Clive Carlyle
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
N Mineralization ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
Extractable P ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Residue Retention

The effects of thinning and residues on nutrient distribution, N fluxes, and extractable P were studied for 3 years after the first thinning of a 10-year-old Pinusradiata D. Don plantation. Treatments were (i) unthinned, (ii) thinned to 52% of basal area with all residues removed (zero residue; ZR), (iii) thinned with all residues retained and spread uniformly (normal residue; NR), and (iv) thinned with all residues retained plus the addition of those removed from the ZR treatment, approximately doubling the amount of residue in treatment NR (high residue; HR). The total nutrient contents of trees (above ground), residues, forest floor, and the top 0.30 m of mineral soil were 1206 kg N•ha−1, 126 kg P•ha−1, 828 kg K•ha−1, and 1272 kg Ca•ha−1 after thinning. Residues contained 11, 10, 10, and 7% of site N, P, K, and Ca, respectively. Thinning without residue retention (unthinned cf. ZR) elevated mean monthly maximum soil temperatures at a depth of 50 mm by up to 5.3 °C in summer and 1 °C in winter. Thinning had no effect on forest floor or mineral soil (0–0.30 m) moisture content. In the unthinned treatment an average of 25 kg N•ha−1•year−1 was mineralized, all of which was taken up by the trees, and there was no leaching. Thinning caused a 10% increase in rates of N mineralization and uptake and a small transient increase in soil mineral N concentrations, but had no effect on leaching. Maintenance of prethinning levels of N uptake by the remaining trees (after a 48% reduction in basal area) suggests that uptake per tree was approximately doubled. Maintenance of N uptake after thinning was consistent with maintenance of basal area growth (m2•ha−1) and an increase in foliar N concentrations. Thinning had no effect on extractable P in the forest floor or mineral soil. The retention of residues (NR and HR) decreased mean monthly maximum and elevated mean monthly minimum soil temperatures relative to the ZR treatment, and the effect increased with the amount of residue. Forest floor moisture content increased with the amount of residue, but residue retention had no effect on mineral soil moisture. Rates of mineralization were higher in the presence of residue and annual averages were 28, 33, and 42 kg N•ha−1•year−1 for ZR, NR, and HR treatments, respectively. Despite increased N mineralization in the presence of residue there was no leaching and all the additional N was taken up by the trees. Basal area increment increased in the presence of residue (P = 0.235) and was 10.7 (ZR), 11.1 (NR), and 11.8 (HR) m2•ha−1 over 4 years of measurement.

scholarly journals Contrasting conifer species productivity in relation to soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of British Columbia perhumid rainforests

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247-1260
Author(s):  
John Marty Kranabetter ◽  
Ariana Sholinder ◽  
Louise de Montigny
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Element Ratios ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract. Temperate rainforest soils of the Pacific Northwest are often carbon (C) rich and encompass a wide range of fertility, reflecting varying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability. Soil resource stoichiometry (C : N : P) may provide an effective measure of site nutrient status and help refine species-dependent patterns in forest productivity across edaphic gradients. We determined mineral soil and forest floor nutrient concentrations across very wet (perhumid) rainforest sites of southwestern Vancouver Island (Canada) and employed soil element ratios as covariates in a long-term planting density trial to test their utility in defining basal area growth response of four conifer species. There were strong positive correlations in mineral soil C, N, and organic P (Po) concentrations and close alignment in C : N and C : Po both among and between substrates. Stand basal area after 5 decades was best reflected by mineral soil and forest floor C : N, but in either case included a significant species–soil interaction. The conifers with ectomycorrhizal fungi had diverging growth responses displaying either competitive (Picea sitchensis) or stress-tolerant (Tsuga heterophylla, Pseudotsuga menziesii) attributes, in contrast to a more generalist response by an arbuscular mycorrhizal tree (Thuja plicata). Despite the consistent patterns in organic matter quality, we found no evidence for increased foliar P concentrations with declining element ratios (C : Po or C : Ptotal) as we did for N. The often high C : Po ratios (as much as 3000) of these soils may reflect a stronger immobilization sink for P than N, which, along with ongoing sorption of PO4-, could limit the utility of C : Po or N : Po to adequately reflect P supply. The dynamics and availability of soil P to trees, particularly as Po, deserves greater attention, as many perhumid rainforests were co-limited by N and P, or, in some stands, possibly P alone.

Barriers to Establishment of Invading, Non-forest Plants in Deciduous Forest Nature Reserves

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Reader ◽  
Bradlay D. Bricker
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Minimum Area ◽  
Forest Plants ◽  
Range Of Values ◽  
Experimental Plots

A field experiment was conducted to define minimum values of irradiance (i.e. light reaching the forest floor) and exposed mineral soil required for non-forest species to become established in deciduous forest in Southern Canada. Three logging intensities (0%, 33%, and 66%, of tree basal-area removed) were combined with three plot sizes (0.01, 0.05, and 0.20 ha) to create a range of values of irradiance and exposed mineral soil. The total number of non-forest species that became established during the first three years after logging was recorded.Non-forest species invaded experimental plots only when irradiance was at least 8% of incident light. There was no single minimum area of exposed mineral soil required for invasion. A few non-forest species became established even in the absence of exposed mineral soil where penetrating irradiance was 8% or greater. More non-forest species became established as irradiance and the amount of exposed mineral soil increased.Logging increased both irradiance and the amount of exposed mineral soil. Only a small amount of logging (e.g. 33% removal of tree basal-area from a 0.01 ha plot) would be compatible with the conservation objective of preventing invasion by undesirable non-forest species.

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