Modeling Climatic Effects on Stand Height/Site Index of Plantation-Grown Jack Pine and Black Spruce Trees

The objective of this study was to develop variable growth intercept models for coniferous species of major importance in Quebec using Nigh's (1997a) modelling technique. Eighty-three, 68, and 70 stem analysis plots of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill) were used, respectively. The growth intercept models for black spruce were the most precise, followed by those for jack pine and finally by those for balsam fir, based on the root mean square errors. Results indicated that the accuracy of the models was good, relative to those previously published for other species in Canada. Interim testing of the models revealed a low mean error for all three species that may not be of practical significance for site index determination, although more data should be obtained to further test the models. Key words: balsam fir, black spruce, growth intercept, jack pine, model, nonlinear regression, site index

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An assessment of the structural method of deriving a black spruce site equation

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x87-182 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 1181-1189 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Victor G. Smith ◽

Martin Watts

Keyword(s):

Black Spruce ◽

Nonlinear Models ◽

Site Index ◽

Stand Age ◽

Structural Method ◽

Northern Ontario ◽

Data Set ◽

Permanent Sample Plots ◽

Stochastic Error ◽

Stand Height

To date, methods of deriving site index (S) equations assume that stochastic error is only present in the regressor. This paper develops a method, termed the "structural method," which recognizes that both dominant stand height (H) and S measurements contain stochastic error. To achieve this, the structural method utilizes the structural relationship that exists between H and S to derive an S equation. S equations are derived for black spruce, Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P., using the structural method and various other methods, with linear and nonlinear models that are currently in use. Data used in the study consist of 56 black spruce permanent sample plots, containing a total of 382 observations, from north central Ontario and the Clay Belt Region of northern Ontario. This data set is split into 36 plots (260 observations) for deriving S equations and 20 plots (122 observations) for testing the equations for accuracy in predicting H, S, and future H. The equations are also examined for bias over stand age. Results show that height development of black spruce is not asymptotic and is best described by a linear model. Overall, the structural method provides the most accurate S equation within the range of the data. It predicted 90% of the H test observations with an error of 0.4 m or less, 89% of the S test observations with an error of 0.4 m or less, and 90% of the future H test observations with an error of 0.7 m or less. The structural method also has the advantage of producing only one equation for predicting both H and S. This enables estimates of both H and S to be made from one graph of H over age by S classes.

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Climate effects on jack pine and black spruce productivity in natural origin mixed stands and site index conversion equations

Trees, Forests and People ◽

10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100089 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 100089

Author(s):

Mahadev Sharma

Keyword(s):

Black Spruce ◽

Site Index ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Mixed Stands ◽

Natural Origin ◽

Climate Effects

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The effect of advance regeneration height on future yield of black spruce stands

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x95-061 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 536-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

David Pothier ◽

René Doucet ◽

Jocelyn Boily

Keyword(s):

Black Spruce ◽

Site Index ◽

Site Quality ◽

Management Tools ◽

Clear Cutting ◽

Advance Regeneration ◽

Short Period ◽

Index Site ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Stand Height

The advance regeneration often present following clear-cutting in black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands is generally composed of individuals of various heights. This initial height difference is hypothesized to affect the yield of the future stand. Height of the advance regeneration at time of release was determined on several black spruce trees within 33 stands distributed across the boreal forest of the province of Quebec, Canada. From these data, a regeneration structure index was developed and used to explain a part of the variation in subsequent stand yield. Dominant trees of stands developing for 38 to 65 years since clear-cutting generally originated from the tallest advance regeneration at time of release. Stands with the tallest regeneration at time of release produced the largest yields for a given site quality and number of years since harvesting. A 3-m increase in advance-regeneration height resulted in a similar yield gain as a 3-m increase in site index. Site indices calculated from age-height relationships of dominant trees originating from tall advance regeneration were less than those calculated from trees that have undergone a relatively short period of suppression. These results suggest that traditional management tools developed for fire-origin black spruce stands, i.e., stands mainly composed of seed-origin trees established after perturbation, should be adjusted for clearcut-origin stands that largely develop from advance regeneration.

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Régénération artificielle des pessières noires à éricacées : effets du scarifiage, de la fertilisation et du type de plants après 10 ans

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc80141-1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 141-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Nelson Thiffault ◽

Guillaume Cyr ◽

Guy Prégent ◽

Robert Jobidon ◽

Lise Charette

Keyword(s):

Seedling Growth ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Basal Area ◽

Site Index ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Strong Impact ◽

Ericaceous Shrubs ◽

Soil Scarification ◽

Stock Types ◽

A Minor

Site invasion by ericaceous shrubs after perturbation, either natural or human, is a major concern on some sites of the boreal forest of Québec. A dense cover of ericaceous shrubs often induces a conifer "growth check," which can last several decades. An interaction study was initiated in 1991 with the general objective of developing silvicultural strategies to ensure plantation success on such sites. Black spruce, jack pine, and tamarack seedlings were planted. Stock type, scarification, and fertilization treatments were organised in a randomized block split plot design. We measured seedling total height periodically over a ten-year period and assessed basal area and survival ten years after plantation. Most responses to treatments were additive. Results indicated that mechanical soil scarification is of major importance to ensure seedling growth, both in height and basal area, on spruce-ericaceous shrub sites of northeastern Québec. Scarification allowed a better expression of the site index, implying a sustainable impact on microsite characteristics that is greater than short-term effects on mineralization and nutrient availability. Fertilization positively influenced seedling growth, but less than soil scarification. Species choice had a strong impact on site productivity. Over a ten-year period, stock types only had a minor influence on plantation success, when compared to scarification or fertilization effects. Key words: Kalmia angustifolia, ericaceous shrubs, survival, growth, regeneration, black spruce, jack pine, tamarack

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A Site Index Formula for Peatland Black Spruce in Ontario

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc54039-1 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 39-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Bijan Payandeh

Keyword(s):

Black Spruce ◽

Growth Function ◽

Site Index ◽

Index Formula ◽

Stand Age ◽

Northern Ontario ◽

Analysis Of Results ◽

Stand Height ◽

A Site ◽

Index Formulas

Site index formulas were derived for peatland black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) in northern Ontario based on stem analysis of 60 dominant and codominant trees. Nonlinear regression analysis and a biological growth function were employed to express both height as a function of site index and stand age and also site index as a function of stand height and age. Analysis of results indicates that peatland black spruce has a different pattern of height growth than that shown by Plonski's site index curves, particularly for site indices less than 8 m and stands older than 80 years.

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Modèles de croissance internodale pour l'épinette noire, le pin gris et le sapin baumier au Québec

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc81114-1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 114-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Daniel Mailly ◽

Mélanie Gaudreault

Keyword(s):

Pinus Banksiana ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Abies Balsamea ◽

Site Index ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Balsam Fir ◽

Practical Significance ◽

Interim Testing ◽

Growth Intercept ◽

Mean Square Errors

The objective of this study was to develop variable growth intercept models for coniferous species of major importance in Quebec using Nigh's (1997a) modelling technique. Eighty-three, 68 and 70 stem analysis plots of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill) were used, respectively. The growth intercept models for black spruce were the most precise, followed by those for jack pine and finally by those for balsam fir, based on the root mean square errors. Results indicated that the accuracy of the models was good, relative to those previously published for other species in Canada. Interim testing of the models revealed a low mean error for all three species that may not be of practical significance for site index determination, although more data should be obtained to further test the models. Key words: balsam fir, black spruce, growth intercept, jack pine, model, nonlinear regression, site index

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A Method of Constructing Site-Index Curves from Stem Analyses

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc44011-4 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 11-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

L. Heger

Keyword(s):

Black Spruce ◽

Lodgepole Pine ◽

White Spruce ◽

Site Index ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Total Height ◽

Independent Variable ◽

Linear Regressions

Site-index curves were constructed from stem-analyses data with the help of linear regressions derived for relationships between site index (total height at BH age of 50 years, the independent variable) and total heights attained at the end of the previous nine 5-year periods. The method was tested for white spruce, black spruce, lodgepole pine and jack pine.

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Allometric Equations for Estimating Biomass and Carbon Stocks in Afforested Open Woodlands with Black Spruce and Jack Pine, in the Eastern Canadian Boreal Forest

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Olivier Fradette ◽

Charles Marty ◽

Pascal Tremblay ◽

Daniel Lord ◽

Jean-François Boucher

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Tree Height ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Allometric Equations ◽

C Stocks ◽

The Difference ◽

Canadian Boreal Forest

Allometric equations use easily measurable biometric variables to determine the aboveground and belowground biomasses of trees. Equations produced for estimating the biomass within Canadian forests at a large scale have not yet been validated for eastern Canadian boreal open woodlands (OWs), where trees experience particular environmental conditions. In this study, we harvested 167 trees from seven boreal OWs in Quebec, Canada for biomass and allometric measurements. These data show that Canadian national equations accurately predict the whole aboveground biomass for both black spruce and jack pine trees, but underestimated branches biomass, possibly owing to a particular tree morphology in OWs relative to closed-canopy stands. We therefore developed ad hoc allometric equations based on three power models including diameter at breast height (DBH) alone or in combination with tree height (H) as allometric variables. Our results show that although the inclusion of H in the model yields better fits for most tree compartments in both species, the difference is minor and does not markedly affect biomass C stocks at the stand level. Using these newly developed equations, we found that carbon stocks in afforested OWs varied markedly among sites owing to differences in tree growth and species. Nine years after afforestation, jack pine plantations had accumulated about five times more carbon than black spruce plantations (0.14 vs. 0.80 t C·ha−1), highlighting the much larger potential of jack pine for OW afforestation projects in this environment.

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