scholarly journals A review of thinning effects on Scots pine stands: From growth and yield to new challenges under global change

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. eR03S ◽  
Author(s):  
Miren Del Río ◽  
Andrés Bravo-Oviedo ◽  
Hans Pretzsch ◽  
Magnus Löf ◽  
Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado

Aim of the study: Thinning experiments in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands have been carried out since long in different regions of its distribution. The aim of this paper is to gather the knowledge about the thinning effects on Scots pine stands, from the effects on growth and yield to the provision of ecosystem services in the framework of climate change.Area of study: The review covered studies from different regions of the distribution area of Scots pineAim of the study: Thinning experiments in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands have been carried out for many years in different regions of its distribution. The aim of this paper is to gather knowledge regarding the effects of thinning on Scots pine stands, from the effects on growth and yield to the provision of ecosystem services in the context of climate change.Area of study: The review covers studies from different regions of the distribution area of Scots pineMaterial and methods: We reviewed the effect of thinning on four aspects: growth and yield, stability against snow and wind, response to drought, and ecosystem services.Main results: Heavy thinning involves a loss in volume yield, although the magnitude depends on the region, site and stand age. Thinning generally does not affect dominant height while the positive effect on tree diameter depends on the thinning regime. The stability of the stand against snow and wind is lower after the first thinning and increases in the long term. The impact of extreme droughts on tree growth is lower in thinned stands, which is linked to a better capacity to recover after the drought. Thinning generally reduces the wood quality, litter mass, and stand structural diversity, while having neutral or positive effects on other ecosystem services, although these effects can vary depending on the thinning regime. However, scarce information is available for most of the ecosystem services.Research highlight: Existing thinning experiments in Scots pine stands provided valuable information about thinning effects, but new experiments which cover a broad range of ecosystem services under different site conditions are still needed.

Trees ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Oberhuber ◽  
M. Stumböck ◽  
Werner Kofler

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Makkonen ◽  
H.-S. Helmisaari

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1421
Author(s):  
Longina Chojnacka-Ożga ◽  
Wojciech Ożga

The aim of this study was to evaluate Scots pine stand degradation caused by the pollutants emitted from Zakłądy Azotowe Puławy, one of the biggest polluters of the environment in Poland for over 25 years (1966–1990). To assess the pollution stress in trees, we chose the dendrochronological analysis We outlined three directions for our research: (i) the spatio-temporal distribution of the growth response of trees to the stress associated with air pollution; (ii) the direct and indirect effects of air pollution which may have influenced the growth response of trees; and (iii) the role of local factors, both environmental and technological, in shaping the growth response of trees. Eight Scots pine stands were selected for study, seven plots located in different damage zones and a reference plot in an undamaged stand. We found that pollutant emission caused disturbances of incremental dynamics and long-term strong reduction of growth. A significant decrease in growth was observed for the majority of investigated trees (75%) from 1966 (start of factory) to the end of the 1990s. The zone of destruction extended primarily in easterly and southern directions, from the pollution source, associated with the prevailing winds of the region. At the end of the 1990s, the decreasing trend stopped and the wider tree-rings could be observed. This situation was related to a radical reduction in ammonia emissions and an improvement in environmental conditions. However, the growth of damaged trees due to the weakened health condition is lower than the growth of Scots pine on the reference plot and trees are more sensitive to stressful climatic conditions, especially to drought.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-106
Author(s):  
Jyrki Hytönen ◽  
Hannu Hökkä ◽  
Markku Saarinen

AbstractWe studied the effect of regeneration (planting/seeding) and soil preparation methods (no soil preparation/scalping/mounding) on the regeneration success of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on three drained peatland Scots pine stands in northern Finland. After ten years, planting and sowing showed no differences in the total number of Scots pine seedlings (one seedling per sowing spot accepted) with the exception of the Sievi experiment. Without soil preparation the total number of Scots pine seedlings was 350–600 per ha. Scalping increased the number of Scots pine seedlings to 550–900 per ha, with the exception of seeding at Sievi. In mounded plots, with the exception of seeded plots at the Sievi site, the number of planted or seeded seedlings was 1,325–2,350 per ha. The number of crop seedlings in all the experiments and for all the soil preparation treatments reached the target of 2,000 seedlings per ha if naturally regenerated Scots pine, Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) or birch (Betula spp.) seedlings were accepted as such. Moose (Alces alces L.) damage in Scots pine crop seedlings ranged from 4% in Sievi to 65% in Simo. The proportion of planted or seeded Scots pines of the crop seedlings was 23% in unprepared plots, 30% in scalped plots and 75% in mounded plots. Mounding increased the share of Scots pine seedlings in the overall crop seedlings. Planted seedlings were taller than seeded seedlings. Planting in mounds gave the best overall results in terms of the number of crop seedlings and their height ten years after the treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 514-522
Author(s):  
Viktoriia Lovynska ◽  
Petro Lakyda ◽  
Svitlana Sytnyk ◽  
Mykola Kharytonov ◽  
Iryna Piestova

Leaf area index (LAI) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus) in the Northern Steppe of Ukraine was estimated. LAI estimated directly (LAI d, destructive sampling) was compared with LAI determined by digital hemispherical photography (indirect method, LAI id) in Scots pine stands. The studies to determine LAI were performed in pine stands of the age ranging from 57 to 87 years. The high coefficient of determination between needle weight and crown diameter as dependent variables and stand age as an independent variable was found at the tree level. LAI values of the stands estimated by the direct method were higher than those obtained by the indirect method on average by 8.8%. The results obtained by both methods were used for LAI determination from allometric relationships with tree mensuration parameters and stand biometric characteristics. There was a more significant relationship between LAI id values and tree crown diameter, basal area of stands as independent variables.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 283
Author(s):  
Joanna Barniak ◽  
Agnieszka Jureczko

Tree-ring analysis was used to investigate the impact of air pollution on forest stands in the southern part of the Upper Silesia region of southern Poland. Four about 120 years old Scots pine stands located near Wodzisław Śląski and Rybnik were selected for study and 20 increment core samples from each stand were taken. All study stands were selected based upon their considerable exposure to air and dust pollution.The results of dendrochronological analysis showed strong and significant reductions in tree ring growth especially during the period from 1960 to 1990. A significant number of trees with reductions (85%) was observed in two Scots pine stands both of which are directly exposed to air pollution from mine-owned coking plant and power and heating plants. Since 1990s the improved growth of these pines was clearly noted. A comparison for the period 1970 to 1990 for stands located west from the main emitters’ versus stands east and directly exposed found fewer trees with growth reductions (ca. 40%). At the beginning of the 21st century, a large number of trees in these western stands were observed with growth reductions between 50 and 60%. Probably, these trees were affected by air pollution from a nearby power plant located immediately across the border in the Czech Republic. Relationships between periods of severe reductions in ring width growth or missing rings were noted in a large percentage of pine trees in all four stands; these cross-stand relationships suggested common weather-related impacts. Missing rings were noted in 1956, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1979.


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