Pre-commercial thinning in Norway spruce-birch mixed stands can provide abundant forage for ungulates without losing volume production

Ara, Mostarin; Holmström, Emma; Petersson, Lisa; Berglund, Mattias; Johansson, Ulf; Nilsson, Urban

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120364

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…We observed that, even when accounting for the same stand density, the stands with PCT prior to CT (PCT_CT_800 or 600) had higher individual tree growth compared to stands with no PCT prior to CT (CT_800 or 600). This means that in stands with CT with prior PCT, individual trees maintained their increased earlier growth obtained from PCT [40,41] in current stands (PCT_CT_800 or 600). Therefore, the positive growth effect of PCT was additive to the growth benefits of CT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Thinning Increases Individual Tree Growth While Reducing the Growth Heterogeneity of Lodgepole Pine

Ara

Pinno

Scaria

et al. 2023

Forests

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The positive effect of thinning on individual tree growth is well known, but the subsequent growth dynamics of individual trees over a rotation is relatively unknown, even though this is critical for interpreting actual thinning effects. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the thinning response of individual tree growth dynamics of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) over rotation using an individual tree growth model. We used data from an operational site to use as input to the Mixedwood Growth Model, an individual tree growth model, to simulate tree growth throughout the rotation. Overall, we found that thinning increased the absolute growth of individual trees and reduced the growth heterogeneity throughout the rotation. Combining pre-commercial thinning prior to commercial thinning provided maximum growth and less growth variability in individual trees. The positive effect of thinning was immediate and declined with time since thinning with most of the responses occurred within the first 10–15 years of thinning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Thinning Increases Individual Tree Growth While Reducing the Growth Heterogeneity of Lodgepole Pine

Ara

Pinno

Scaria

et al. 2023

Forests

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“…The experiment was established between 2013 and 2014 in planted Norway spruce stands with admixed naturally regenerated birch. The stands had previously been used to study different PCT strategies and their effect on forage production and stand development [41]. An early PCT was conducted when Norway spruce was 1-2 m and birch was 2-2.5 m tall.…”

Section: Field Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A mixed forest can also function as a shield against biological agents [62,63] and provide cultural ecosystem services [35]. Further, young Norway-spruce-birch mixtures can provide forage for ungulates without production loss of Norway spruce [41]. It is not possible to translate all ecosystem services into monetary values and it was also not possible to incorporate all these benefits into the simulation system, for example, the benefit of resistance to pathogens, storm damage, etc.…”

Section: Do Norway Spruce-birch Mixtures Lower the Yield And Economic...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-Commercial Thinning Increases the Profitability of Norway Spruce Monoculture and Supports Norway Spruce–Birch Mixture over Full Rotations

Ara

Berglund

Fahlvik

et al. 2022

Forests

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Pre-commercial thinning (PCT) is a common measure in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stands but the profitability of doing PCT and timing of PCT has not been fully investigated over a full rotation. Further, limited knowledge is available for mixed forest management compared to monocultures. In this study, different PCT strategies were tested to investigate the effect of PCT and timing of PCT on the production and profitability of Norway spruce monocultures and mixed Norway spruce–birch stands. A forest decision support system was used to simulate stand development during the whole rotation. Our study findings show that there is a positive effect of PCT on Norway spruce plantations’ long-term profitability but that the timing of PCT has little effect on profitability. However, site variation might influence the effect of PCT timing on the profitability of Norway spruce stands. Moreover, we also found that retaining 1000 Norway spruce ha−1 and 1000 birch ha−1 after PCT supports a mixture of Norway spruce and birch over a full rotation, with little or no economic loss compared to pure Norway spruce stands. Therefore, such a mixture can lead to profitable production while still providing other ecosystem services.

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“…Mixed stands of conifers and broadleaves can be kept and managed without necessarily suffering economically compared to monocultures (Dahlgren Lidman et al, 2021;Ara et al, 2022b). This admixture could also be a good way of maintaining a good amount of forage for ungulates, reducing browsing pressure on crop trees (Ara et al, 2022c). However, the MSP method must be chosen according to the desired amount of natural regeneration that should compose the future forest, and the levels of effort and cost that will be reasonable for future management (Ahtikoski et al, 2010;Uotila et al, 2010).…”

Section: Site Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, most of the natural regeneration consisted of deciduous trees, predominantly birch, which can be utilized to meet certification requirements and create mixed forest (Nilsson et al, 2006). Secondly, managing for mixtures of Norway spruce and birch can be advantageous in terms of flexibility (Dahlgren Lidman et al, 2021), forage production (Ara et al, 2022c), and creation of a larger variety of microhabitats in the future stand which can enhance biodiversity (Felton et al, 2010). Site preparation should therefore be chosen to meet multiple goals while also being well-suited to the site properties.…”

Section: Natural Regenerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regeneration measures in time and space: Site preparation, planting and digital tools

Nordin¹

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Regeneration success depends on decisions made based on factors on aregional, site, and microenvironmental level. Therefore, understanding andmapping of such factors between and within sites can guide decisions forbetter seedling establishment. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to findcombinations of regeneration measures that result in low seedling mortalityand high growth. Additionally, to explore the potential of digital tools inregeneration planning. Aims were handled using field experiments and asurvey, by integrating digital tools in the analysis and experimental set-up. Increased precipitation and decreased air temperatures between April andOctober during the planting year lowered seedling mortality. Planting inmineral soil also lowered the mortality rate, which emphasized theimportance of planting and site preparation quality (Paper I). Selection ofsite preparation method was found to be of minor importance. The sitepreparation’s ability to create suitable planting spots was most important forseedling survival and growth. Selection of site preparation affected soildisturbance, and natural regeneration was promoted with all methods usedin the experiments (Paper II). Adapting planting position choice, followingsite preparation, to within-site variation was valuable to decrease mortalityrates and promote growth (Paper II-III). In wet conditions, elevatedplanting positions were advantageous compared to lower ones, but moreflexibility could be applied in drier conditions. Norway spruce, Scots pine,and silver birch reacted differently to planting position choice (Paper III).Paper I-III indicated that digital tools could be used in regenerationplanning. A depth-to-water-raster successfully explained seedling mortalityand growth in the extreme ends of the soil moisture spectrum. Using remotesensing derived variables can be valuable for further mapping andunderstanding of between and within-site variation in future regenerationplanning. There were no long-term negative effects on stand productivityafter 30 years following site preparation. The standing volume was largestafter ploughing but disc trenching and mounding also had higher standingvolume than the unscarified control (Paper IV). I conclude that regenerationdecisions made today, regarding species selection and regeneration method,should strive for increased precision for the benefit of the forests oftomorrow.

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Pre-commercial thinning in Norway spruce-birch mixed stands can provide abundant forage for ungulates without losing volume production

Cited by 5 publications

References 39 publications

Thinning Increases Individual Tree Growth While Reducing the Growth Heterogeneity of Lodgepole Pine

Thinning Increases Individual Tree Growth While Reducing the Growth Heterogeneity of Lodgepole Pine

Pre-Commercial Thinning Increases the Profitability of Norway Spruce Monoculture and Supports Norway Spruce–Birch Mixture over Full Rotations

Regeneration measures in time and space: Site preparation, planting and digital tools

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