Effects of shelterwood and site preparation on microclimate and establishment of white spruce seedlings in a boreal mixedwood forest

Abstract

Microclimate and seedling response of planted white spruce Les modifications du microclimat et les rkactions des semis were investigated under four canopy densities (control -a 120-d'Cpinette blanche en plantation ont Ct C CtudiCes sous quatre year old uncut aspenlwhite spruce stand, low and high residual densitCs de couvert forestier (un tCmoin -un peuplement non perdensities of shelterwood canopy, and cl-ut) and three site preps- diameter growth. This study danonstrates how diamktre sous les coupes progressives que dans les coupes h blanc shelterwoods and site preparation can improve the establishet pour le tkmoin. La preparation du sol a fait augment6 la ternment of white spruce. The findings of this study can be applied *ramre d~ sol, diminuC la m o d t C des semis et amtliod la croisto the situations where white spruce establishes in the understory. sance, surtout la croissance en diambtre. Cette Cmde dkmontre comment les coupes progressives et la preparation du sol peuvent Key words: shelterwood, site preparation, white spruce, seedling am6liorer l'ttablissement de l'tpinette blanche. Les rksultats de response, microclimatic conditions. cette Ctude peuvent stre appliquCs 2 des situations 02 1'Cpinette blanche s'Ctablit sous couvert.

Climate change impacts on drought-prone forests in western Canada

“…Some of the stand-level measures that have been proposed for adaptation to drought include reforestation with drought-tolerant provenances from more southerly or low-elevation areas, and precommercial thinning of stands to conserve soil moisture (see Papadopol 2000, Spittlehouse andStewart 2003). Also, seedling survival could be enhanced in climatically dry areas by planting larger stock, scheduling reforestation activities for the wettest periods, or by applying alternative measures such as partial cutting to ameliorate seedling microclimate (Man and Lieffers 1999). Where droughts become severe enough to cause large-scale tree mortality, an increased reliance on fibre from salvage logging might also be considered as a fallback option.…”

Survival and growth of eastern larch, balsam fir, and black spruce six years after winter browning in northeastern Ontario, Canada

“…Such variation may be the result of several factors, including vertical gradient of environmental extremes, spatial variation of microenvironment, and genetic variation of individuals in terms of their susceptibility to dehardening. In general, temperature fluctuations are less extreme as height above ground increases (Oke 1987, Stathers 1989, Man and Lieffers 1999. The decrease in needle and bud damage with increased tree size and higher crown position observed in the field assessments (Table 1; Fig.…”

Successful under-planting of red oak and black cherry in early-successional deciduous shelterwoods of North America

“…Available light for tree regeneration establishment (natural or artificial) is increased through thinning [17], but not so much as to promote competition by understory shrubs or herbaceous plants [12,33], or climatic stress [2,31,37]. These conditions should allow an effective establishment of the trees and their positive reaction to an eventual release [18,26].…”