Impacts of thinning and fertilization on timber and energy wood production in Norway spruce and Scots pine: scenario analyses based on ecosystem model simulations

Routa, Johanna; Kellomäki, Seppo; Peltola, Heli; Asikainen, Antti

doi:10.1093/forestry/cpr003

Cited by 35 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 13 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The Motti model is a statistical growth and yield model in which tree growth estimation is based on data from a large number of forest inventory sample plots over the whole territory of Finland. This comparison (Ruota et al 2011) showed that there is a fairly good correlation between the corresponding simulated values with the Motti and Sima simulators for different tree species. The Sima simulator seems slightly (10-20%) to underestimate the growth compared to the Motti simulator.…”

Section: Outlines Of Ecosystem Modelmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Furthermore, recently, Ruota et al (2011) compared the growth of parallel simulations with the Sima model and the Motti model (Hynynen et al 2002). The Motti model is a statistical growth and yield model in which tree growth estimation is based on data from a large number of forest inventory sample plots over the whole territory of Finland.…”

Section: Outlines Of Ecosystem Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Impacts of initial stand density and thinning regimes on energy wood production and management-related CO2 emissions in boreal ecosystems

2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An ecosystem model (Sima) was utilised to investigate the impact of forest management (by changing both the initial stand density and basal area thinning thresholds from current recommendations) on energy wood production (at energy wood thinning and final felling) and management-related carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions for the energy wood production in Finnish boreal conditions (62°39 0 N, 29°37 0 E). The simultaneous effects of energy wood, timber and C stocks in the forest ecosystem (live and dead biomass) were also assessed. The analyses were carried out at stand level during a rotation period of 80 years for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) growing in different fertility sites. Generally, the results showed that decreased basal area thinning thresholds, compared with current thinning, reduced energy wood (logging residues) and timber production, as well as carbon stocks in the forest ecosystem. Conversely, increased thinning thresholds increased energy wood production (ca. 1-27%) at both energy wood thinning and final felling and reduced CO 2 emissions (ca. 2-6%) related to the production chain (e.g. management operations), depending on the thinning threshold levels, initial stand density, species and site. Increased thinning thresholds also enhanced timber production and carbon stocks in the forest ecosystem. Additionally, increased initial stand density enhanced energy wood production for energy wood thinning for both species, but this reduced energy wood production at final felling for Scots pine and Norway spruce. This study concluded that increases in both initial stand density and thinning thresholds, compared with the current level, could be useful in energy wood, timber and carbon stocks enhancement, as well as reducing management-related CO 2 emissions for energy wood production. Only 2.4-3.3% of input of the produced energy (energy wood) was required during the whole production chain, depending on the management regime, species and sites. However, a comprehensive substitution analysis of wood-based energy, in respect to environmental benefits, would also require the inclusion of CO 2 emissions related to ecosystem processes (e.g. decomposition).

show abstract

Section: Outlines Of Ecosystem Modelmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Outlines Of Ecosystem Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of initial stand density and thinning regimes on energy wood production and management-related CO2 emissions in boreal ecosystems

2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The tree height (H, m) is calculated based on diameter and the current temperature sum (TS, d.d. ), the latter one indicating ecotype differences (provenances) in growth related to climatic conditions (see [4,34] for further details). Thus, in the north the trees are, to some degree, shorter for a given diameter than in the south which is in line with findings of provenance experiments (see, e.g., [35,36]).…”

Section: Outlines Of the Ecosystem Model Sima Used In Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The basic idea of thinning recommendations is that whenever a given basal area threshold at a given dominant height (i.e., the average of the height of the 100 largest trees) is reached, thinning is done and basal area is reduced to the recommended value. The N addition in a single fertilizing event is also expected to gradually reduce and finally disappear (see [34] for further details).…”

Section: Outlines Of the Ecosystem Model Sima Used In Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Intensive Management and Landscape Structure on Timber and Energy Wood Production and net CO2 Emissions from Energy Wood Use of Norway Spruce

Routa¹,

Kellomäki

Peltola

2011

Bioenerg. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of intensive management and forest landscape structure (in terms of age class distribution) on timber and energy wood production (m 3 ha −1 ), net present value (NPV, € ha −1 ) with implications on net CO 2 emissions (kg CO 2 MWh −1 per energy unit) from energy wood use of Norway spruce grown on medium to fertile sites. This study employed simulations using a forest ecosystem model and the Emission Calculation Tool, considering in its analyses: timber (saw logs, pulp) and energy wood (small-sized stem wood and/or logging residuals for top part of stem, branches, and needles) from the first thinning and harvesting residuals and stumps from the final felling. At the stand level, both fertilization and high pre-commercial stand density clearly increased timber production and the amount of energy wood. Short rotation length (40 and 60 years) outputted, on average, the highest annual stem wood production (most fertile and medium fertile sites), the 60 year rotation also outputted the highest average annual net present value (NPV with interest rates of 1-4%). On the other hand, even longer rotation lengths, up to 80 and 100 years, were needed to output the lowest net CO 2 emissions per year in energy wood use. At the landscape level, the largest productivity (both for timber and energy wood) was obtained using rotation lengths of 60 and 80 years with an initial forest landscape structure dominated by older mature stands (a right-skewed age-class distribution). If the rotation length was 120 years, the initial forest landscape dominated by young stands (a left-skewed ageclass distribution) provided the highest productivity. However, the NPV with interest rate of 2% was, on average, the highest with a right-skewed distribution regardless of the rotation length. If the rotation length was 120 years, normal age class distribution provided, on average, the highest NPV. On the other hand, the lowest emissions (kg CO 2 MWh −1 a −1 ) were obtained with the left-skewed age-class distribution using the rotation lengths of 60 and 80 years, and with the normal age-class distribution using the rotation length of 120 years. Altogether, the management regimes integrating both timber and energy wood production and using fertilization provided, on average, the lowest emissions over all management alternatives considered.

show abstract

“…Stand density also affects the growth and thus carbon stock in forests. Routa et al (2011Routa et al ( , 2012 showed that high stand density at precommercial stage increase the wood production in Finnish boreal forests. This actually implies that high stand density enhances forests growth and carbon sequestration.…”

Section: Impacts Of Management Practices On Carbon Stock In Nordic Fomentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Forests in Climate Change: Nordic Experience

Portin¹,

Barua²,

Clarke³

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Impacts of thinning and fertilization on timber and energy wood production in Norway spruce and Scots pine: scenario analyses based on ecosystem model simulations

Cited by 35 publications

References 13 publications

Impacts of initial stand density and thinning regimes on energy wood production and management-related CO2 emissions in boreal ecosystems

Impacts of initial stand density and thinning regimes on energy wood production and management-related CO2 emissions in boreal ecosystems

Impacts of Intensive Management and Landscape Structure on Timber and Energy Wood Production and net CO2 Emissions from Energy Wood Use of Norway Spruce

The Role of Forests in Climate Change: Nordic Experience

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About