Carbon balance of a forest ecosystem after stump harvest

Abstract

Stump harvest in forests can cause both reductions of CO₂ emissions through a decrease of decomposable substrate (direct effect) and emission increases as a consequence of deep and extensive soil disturbance (indirect effect). Here, the effects of stump harvest on net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) in a former Norway spruce stand in mid Sweden are presented. CO₂ exchange was continuously followed by eddy-covariance measurements during the first years after harvest. Differences in NEE from stump harvested and mounded (reference) plots were determined by soil-surface respiration measurements. Respiration from decaying stumps was estimated by a decomposition model. Fluxes indicated a direct effect (decreased efflux) during the first year after harvest that corresponded to the absence of decomposing stumps. During the following years, this emission reduction was increasingly counteracted by an indirect effect (increased efflux) of similar magnitude. This means that the expected emissions caused by extra soil disturbance occur with a certain delay and seem to increase with time. By these emissions, the substitution efficiency of stumps as bioenergy resource is reduced. Furthermore, at a time scale of centuries, instant combustion of stumps leads to a larger contribution to global warming than slow decomposition, because the stump carbon is available earlier in form of greenhouse gas. This is estimated by the time integral of emissions. Thus, despite the surprisingly low initial emissions, the overall substitution efficiency and climate benefits of stump harvest are likely to be small. The long-term consequences of stump harvest for the carbon budget are, however, still uncertain.     

Pine and spruce stump harvesting productivity and costs using a Pallari KH 160 stump-lifting tool

Abstract

Even though stumpwood may become a significant part of the future fuel mix for combined heat and power plants in Sweden, the harvesting of stumps after regeneration felling is still only performed on a trial basis. Results from time studies on two, 23 tonne, excavators fitted for stump lifting, together with follow-up data on stump lifting and forwarding, are presented. Lifting, splitting, and piling the stumps accounted for 17, 32, and 32%, respectively, of the total productive work time. A predictive model was developed to estimate operational times and productivities when lifting pine and spruce stumps. Stump diameter, species, and terrain conditions contributed significantly to the fit of the model. The model predicts that productivity of stump lifting in spruce sites with easy terrain conditions and average stump diameters of 20 and 40 cm will be 1.23 and 4.19 oven-dry tonnes (ODT) per productive work hour, respectively. This is 43% higher than in pine sites with difficult terrain conditions and the same diameters. In the follow-up data, the productivity in stump lifting varied from 1.5 to 2.9 ODT per productive work hour while the cost for lifting and extraction to roadside varied from 37.8 to 59.4 €/ODT.     

Torque required to twist and cut loose Scots pine stumps

Abstract

Stump wood is a possible source of renewable energy, but before its potential as a fuel can be utilised to a high degree, new harvesting techniques should be developed to reduce the environmental impact (notably ground disturbance) of harvesting stumps. The forces required to lift and drag stumps out of the soil are known. In this study, two unknown and important parameters were addressed: the torque required to uproot stumps by twisting them and the torque required to cut lateral roots around stumps. A new, improved stump-twisting rig was designed and used in trials with 28 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees (breast-height diameter over bark, 153–427 mm). The measured torque requirements ranged from 10 to 50 kNm. Twisting stumps required more torque than cutting lateral roots around stumps and the required torque increased with increases in stump size. The results indicate that a wrist on a big feller-buncher, but not a conventional rotator used on forest machines, should be able to generate sufficient torque to cut the roots around stumps such as those used in this study.     

Fuel quality of Norway spruce stumps – influence of harvesting technique and storage method

Abstract

The interest in using stump biomass as a biofuel has recently increased in Sweden. The uneven consumption of wood fuel during the year creates a need for storage. This study examined the properties of stump biomass and how they vary at two sites in Sweden depending on harvesting technique, storage method and storage period. Norway spruce stumps, extracted using three different stump harvesting heads (Pallari, Rotary Cutter and Aalto), were stored in windrows or heaps. After 3 months, stumps stored in heaps were gathered into windrows. The fuel quality parameters moisture content (MC), ash content (AC) and calorific value (CV) were evaluated on five occasions in the period May 2008–September 2009. After 16 months of storage, the MC in all treatments had decreased to <25% (wet basis). Average AC decreased from 3.8% to around 1% (dry basis), whereas CV marginally increased. Stumps split during harvesting dried better than those harvested in one piece. The influence of storage method was minimal, although initial storage in heaps allowed better drying in the stumps harvested in one piece. In general, fuel quality improved in all treatments after storage.     

Long-term effects of stump harvesting on soil properties and tree growth in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands

Abstract

Effects of stump harvesting on the properties of surface soil and on the density, structure and growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands were estimated in a field trial in western Finland. The experiment was established in 1977 and measured in 2010. Stems and logging residues were harvested after clear-cutting, and stumps were lifted and removed from half of the experimental area. Sixteen plots were planted with pine seedlings and 16 with spruce. The main effects of stump harvesting were improved survival of planted trees and an increase in natural regeneration. No clearly negative effects were noted in the stand development. Stump harvesting had no or minimal effects on the properties of the organic layer and those of the 0- to 10-cm mineral-soil layer. Soil properties did not differ between tree species. Pine production was higher on plots with stump removal compared to plots without soil treatment.     

Factors influencing stump sprouting by pondcypress (Taxodium distichum var. nutans (Ait.) Sweet)

Sprouting can be an important mechanism of regeneration in harvested cypress (Taxodium sp.) wetlands; however, limited information exists on factors influencing sprouting. We examined the influence of harvesting practices, tree size, and site conditions on stump sprouting in eight pondcypress (Taxodium distichum var. nutans (Ait.) Sweet) wetlands in Florida, USA. Stumps were cut at three heights: 20 cm below high water level, at high water, and 40 cm above high water. Half of each site was harvested using a sawhead feller and the other half using shearhead. We monitored sprouting for 2 years post-harvest. Stump height affected first year sprouting, but the effect disappeared during year 2. Felling equipment did not affect sprouting; however, the shearhead caused greater stump damage. Sprouting declined with increasing parent tree size; percentage of stumps with sprouts after 2 years was 68% for trees 10–14 cm dbh and 28% for trees 20–24 cm dbh. Stump sprouting ranged among sites from 23 to 54% after 2 years. Results indicate that sprouting may be an important, but inadequate, form of regeneration. At sites with short hydroperiods, dense understories, and/or predominance of trees greater than 20 cm dbh, reduced sprouting may occur, and planting seedlings may be beneficial.     

Soil-CO2 flux after patch scarification,harrowing and stump harvest in a hemi-boreal forest

Abstract

Stump harvesting is one way of increasing the amount of bioenergy, but little is known about the consequences of tree-stump harvesting on the carbon balance in the forest. Therefore, soil-surface CO₂ flux (soil respiration, R _s) was determined two years after clear-cutting for common soil disturbances occurring after patch scarification, harrowing and stump harvest in southern Sweden. R _s from intact soil was found to be of the same magnitude as emissions from areas of mixed humus, indicating only small effects of disturbance. Elevated mounds produced lower emissions than in the intact soil during the second year despite larger amounts of organic matter, probably due to low soil moisture. The lowest R _s was found in soil surfaces with exposed mineral soil. The treatment effects on R _s were estimated considering the actual area of different disturbances. During the first year, there was no difference in R _s among the treatments, whereas in the second year the flux was 10% higher after harrowing and stump harvesting than after patch scarification, implying that the effects on CO₂ flux after stump harvest were comparable to conventional harrowing. However, it is unclear whether this finding basically applies to regions where decomposition is limited by soil moisture during the summer.     

Impacts of logging residue and stump removal on nitrogen export to a stream: A modelling approach

Abstract

The use of forest chips for energy can decrease net carbon emissions to the atmosphere, but harvesting logging residues and stumps may have adverse effects on the environment, including changes in nutrient export to water-bodies. The aim of this study was, with the aid of a computer model, to simulate the effects of logging residue and stump removal on nitrogen (N) export from a clear-cut area to a stream. A spatially semi-distributed FEMMA ecosystem model (tool for Forestry Environmental Management) was used to simulate N export from a catchment subject to clear-cutting and four different scenarios of logging residue and stump removal. These scenarios were compared with a conventional clear-cutting scenario, where the logging residues were left on site. Simulations suggested that the logging residue recovery does not decrease N export to the stream. In the model this was explained by a decrease in microbial immobilization, which in the case of conventional clear-cutting reduces net release of N in decomposition and mitigates the export of N. The decrease in immobilization is directly related to the removal of the woody debris from the site. Simulations suggested that harvesting of logging residues in low atmospheric N-deposition areas is not an effective strategy for reducing N loads in water-bodies.     

Criteria and guidance considerations for sustainable tree stump harvesting in British Columbia

Abstract

Stump extraction for forest health has been carried out operationally in British Columbia (BC) for many years. Emerging bioenergy opportunities plus the anticipated need for more fibre because of reductions in timber supply may increase interest in stump harvesting, but there are numerous environmental, economic and policy barriers that must be overcome first before industrial-scale stump harvesting can be seriously considered in BC. The potential for a future change in practice provides an opportunity to learn from the existing literature and identify knowledge gaps. In this article we review the available literature on stump harvesting from the European Union within the context of BC's forests, economy, biodiversity, environment and policies. We provide recommendations on how the government of BC could move forward if they decide to enable stump harvesting for fibre and bioenergy, including assessment of net economic and carbon benefits and environmental effects, improvements in inventory and the scientific knowledge base needed to support policy and guidance, and investigation of operational enhancements.     

Short-term responses of soil decomposer and plant communities to stump harvesting in boreal forests

Recently, in addition to logging residues, stumps have become an important component in energy production since there is growing global interest in the use of renewable energy sources in order to decrease anthropogenic carbon emissions. Harvesting of stumps influences the forest floor by changing vegetation and soil organic layers and exposing mineral soil across large areas. We studied whether stump harvesting after clear felling poses further short-term changes in boreal forest soil decomposer community (microbes and mesofauna) and vegetation when compared to the traditional site preparation practice (mounding). In general, stump harvesting caused decline in enchytraeid abundance but did not induce further major changes in decomposer community otherwise nor in vegetation of each soil micro-habitat (intact soil and exposed mineral soil). However, the abundances of almost all decomposer animals were lower in the exposed mineral soil than in the intact soil. Stump removal increased the area of exposed mineral soil in the clear felled areas, leading to lower amount of high quality habitat for most decomposer organisms. Hence, it is obvious that there are (or will be) differences in the decomposer community dynamics between the treatments at the forest stand level. Both species richness and coverage of plants benefitted from large-scale exposure of mineral soil. Because the stump removal procedure disturbs soil organic layers and negatively affects the decomposer community, it has the potential to alter nutrient dynamics in forests.     

Quality,productivity and costs of spot mounding after slash and stump removal

Abstract

In Nordic countries, the harvesting of slash and stumps from regeneration areas for energy purposes has rapidly increased, and will increase further in the future. This development has unknown technoeconomic effects on soil scarification. This study investigated three spot mounding methods and factors affecting their quality, productivity and costs in regeneration areas after slash and stump removal. The methods were integrated stump lifting and spot mounding (INTE), separate excavator-based spot mounding (BLADE), and separate spot mounding by a continuously working mounding unit (CONT). The average quality of work was worst in INTE, while CONT was the most sensitive to stoniness. Average work times per spot mound were 4.1 and 3.1 times higher in INTE and BLADE, respectively, than in CONT. Altogether, the cost–quality ratio of CONT was better than that of the other methods, except in very small areas.     

Whole-tree harvesting with stump removal versus stem-only harvesting in peatlands when water quality,biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation matter

This article examines alternative forest harvesting regimes when ecosystem services in terms of water quality, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation are included in the analysis. The harvesting regimes are whole-tree harvesting with stump removal and conventional stem-only harvesting. The harvesting regimes are evaluated under two alternative climate policy contexts. The first alternative is a carbon neutral bioenergy policy, which assumes the carbon dioxide (CO₂) neutrality of bioenergy and produces substitution benefits, as bioenergy replaces fossil fuels. The second alternative climate policy, a carbon non-neutral bioenergy policy, takes into account the fact that bioenergy causes carbon dioxide emissions, producing substitution costs, and that harvested woody biomass affects the ability of a forest to act as a carbon sink. We extend the traditional Faustmann (1849) rotation model to include nutrient load damage, biodiversity benefits, and climate impacts. The empirical analysis is based on Finnish data from a catchment experiment carried out on drained peatland forests. The empirical results show that under a carbon neutral bioenergy policy, whole-tree harvesting with stump removal produces the highest net social benefits. However, if a carbon non-neutral bioenergy policy is assumed, the net social benefits are greater under stem-only harvesting.     

Understory light predicts stump sprout growth in mixed multiaged stands in north coastal California

Regeneration of commercial species is central to long-term success of multiaged management for wood production. We examined relationships between understory light, varying overstory tree retention, and growth of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens; commercial species) and tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) stump sprouts initiated by group selection and single-tree selection harvesting in 80–100 year old mixed stands at four sites. Treatments included a complete harvest in 1-ha group selection openings, low-density dispersed retention, and either aggregated or dispersed high-density retention. Post-harvest stand density index and basal area were useful predictors of understory light. Mean and maximum understory light did not differ significantly between treatments with the same density where residual trees were retained in aggregated versus dispersed spatial patterns. However, the dispersed retention had lower minimum light levels when compared to the aggregated retention treatment. Aspect appeared to influence understory light more in dispersed treatments. At all light levels, the dominant sprout within clumps of redwood stump sprouts generally grew faster than dominant tanoak sprouts within tanoak sprout clumps. Differences in sprout height growth between aggregated and dispersed treatments were minimal. Stump size had a significant effect on redwood stump sprout height growth, with sprouts on the largest stumps growing approximately twice as quickly as sprouts on the smallest stumps. In the low density dispersed treatment, redwood sprouts outperformed tanoak sprouts by the greatest margin. Regeneration of redwood and tanoak was most rapid within group selection openings.     

Decomposition of stump and root systems of Norway spruce in Sweden—A modelling approach

The demand for quantifying the biomass of stumps and roots and the carbon stored therein is related to aspects of biodiversity, site productivity, atmospheric carbon cycling issues, and the demand for bioenergy. This, in turn, creates a need to develop high-quality tools for estimating biomass and carbon-equivalents in the ground. The objective of this study was to develop decomposition functions for quantifying the remaining dry weight of the biomass of individual stumps and their associated roots in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The negative exponential model was chosen for this purpose, combined with a chronosequence approach, involving 99 stumps and their roots from three sites in Sweden. The results showed a relative decay rate of 4.6% annually for stump and root systems. Based on this rate, the time required for the loss of 50% (t_0.5) and 95% (t_0.95) of the wood is 15 and 64 years, respectively. Although there are many variables that affect decomposition, residual studies indicated that the remaining biomass could be predicted fairly accurately on the basis of the independent variables stump diameter and time.     

Effect of inoculum density and borate concentration in a stump treatment trial against Heterobasidion annosum

The effectiveness of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) as a stump treatment chemical for Sitka spruce in Britain was tested on six occasions by inoculating treated and untreated stumps with basidiospores of Heterobasidion annosum at three concentrations ranging from an average 49 viable spores/ml to 4.9 × 10⁵/ml of water. The extent of colonization of heartwood by H. annosum was measured and, along with the incidence of infected stumps, provided a measure of the combined effects of spore concentration and of the two DOT treatments (15 and 30 g/m²) on the trial results. On untreated stumps, both the incidence of infection and the cross‐sectional area of stump heartwood colonized by the fungus increased with inoculum density. The same effect was evident in treated stumps, but it was reduced by increasing DOT application. Infection was at its lowest in stumps treated with DOT at 30 g/m², being entirely absent from those 60 stumps that were inoculated with the fewest spores. The implications of these findings for the design of trials of control agents that rely on artificial inoculation with H. annosum and for the selection of dose rates to use in harvesting operations are discussed.     

Development of stump suckers by betula pubescens at different light intensities

Young trees (4–5 year old) of Betula pubescens Ehrh. growing in a stand in the middle of Sweden (lat. 60°15'N) were cut in early June to stump heights of 0 and 10 cm. The birch stumps were exposed to different relative light intensities (100, 50, 25 and 10%) for 100 days until mid September. Five stumps per treatment were used in a randomized complete block with seven blocks on mesic dwarf‐shrub type with low herbs and three blocks on moist dwarf‐shrub type. The number of sprouting stumps was correlated with relative light intensity and forest type. 2.5 % of the stumps of mesic and 14 % of moist forest type did not produce suckers. On mesic forest type, 7% of the stumps exposed to 10% light did not sprout compared with 1.4, 3.0 and 0% at 25, 50 and 100% light, respectively. At stump height 0 cm fewer sprouting stumps were produced than at 10 cm. The mean height of suckers was significantly lower at 10% light intensity than at other levels. The number of suckers per sprouting stump was not related to light intensity but to forest type. More suckers were produced on mesic than on moist forest type. The dry weight of suckers was significantly lower at 10 and 25% relative light intensity than at 50 and 100%. On moist forest type, the dry weight of suckers was lower than on mesic forest type.     

Estimating the biomass and carbon pool of stump systems at a national scale

Countries that are signatories to the UNFCCC and its supplementary Kyoto Protocol are obliged to report changes in carbon pools. These should include the pool of carbon held in tree stumps and roots but, to date, few countries have been able to report this or separate it from the dead-wood pool. The aim of this study was to develop a general system for estimating and monitoring changes in stump system carbon using data from a traditional National Forest Inventory. The system was derived using data based on measurements of carbon (biomass) in inventoried permanent sample plots representing all relevant classes of land-use. With this design it was possible to trace matched carbon at the level of individual trees or stumps back to land-use prior to the 1990 baseline year. Between 1990 and 2003 in Sweden, the average annual net sink of stump systems was estimated to amount to 6.7 Mt CO₂ equiv. year⁻¹ – comparable to the reported net sink in 2008 of about 15 Mt CO₂ equiv. year⁻¹ from the whole Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sector, which excluded any carbon in stump systems. In 2003 the carbon stock of stumps and roots was estimated at 495 Mt CO₂ equiv.; approximately five times that of the dead-wood pool as defined in Sweden, i.e. dead wood that mainly consists of boles. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change requests that reported carbon should be matched to land-use and traced back to the 1990 base year; however, the present study confirms expectations that most carbon in stumps and roots is found on Forest land. The minimum requirements for estimating the carbon pool in stump systems at a national scale using the proposed methodology are that there should be: (i) a consistent time-series of harvest data, usually estimated as merchantable volume; (ii) conversion factors from merchantable volume to stump system biomass at death; and (iii) a representative decomposition model.     

Rhizomorph production and stump colonization by co‐occurring Armillaria cepistipes and Armillaria ostoyae: an experimental study

In managed spruce forests, Armillaria cepistipes and A. ostoyae are efficient stump colonizers and may compete for these resources when they co‐occur at the same site. The aim of this experiment was to quantify the mutual competitive ability of the two Armillaria species in producing rhizomorphs and in colonizing Norway spruce (Picea abies) stumps. Five isolates of A. cepistipes and two isolates of A. ostoyae were simultaneously inoculated pair‐wise into pots containing a 4‐year‐old spruce seedling. For comparison, each isolate was also inoculated alone. One year after inoculation, stumps were created by cutting down the seedlings. Six months after creation of the stumps, rhizomorph production and stump colonization were assessed. Armillaria spp. were identified from 347 rhizomorphs and 48 colonized stumps. Armillaria cepistipes dominated both as rhizomorphs in the soil and on the stumps. Nevertheless, A. ostoyae was relatively more frequent on the stumps than in the soil and A. cepistipes was relatively more frequent in the soil than on the stumps. In both species, the ability to colonize the stumps in simultaneous inoculations was significantly reduced compared with single inoculations. In respect to rhizomorph production, simultaneous co‐inoculations had a slightly stimulatory effect on A. cepistipes and no significant effect on A. ostoyae. Our study suggests a rather neutralistic co‐existence of A. cepistipes and A. ostoyae as rhizomorphs in the soil. Concerning the ability to colonize stumps, the two species experience a mutual negative effect from the interaction, probably because of interspecific competition.     

The effect of coppice management on stump volume recovery in mechanized operations

Key message

Coppice stands result in slightly higher stump waste compared with planted stands, when felled mechanically by a harvester.

Context

The large demand for wood fibre requires efficient production and cost-effective practices throughout the supply chain.

Aims

The purpose of the study was to quantify the amount of volume lost to excessive stump height in coppiced and planted stands.

Methods

Stump height was measured on similar eucalypt stands that differed only for their origin: coppiced or planted. The study sample comprised of 543 planted stems and 851 coppice stems; of which 365 grew as double stems and 486 as single.

Results

Stump waste was highest for coppiced double stumps, smallest for coppiced single stumps and intermediate for planted tree stumps. All differences were statistically significant, but the difference between coppiced single stumps and planted tree stumps was much smaller (20%) than the difference between coppiced double stumps and the rest (220–260%). Regression analysis showed that stump waste volume increased with tree volume, and this effect was twice as large for coppiced double stumps compared with the other treatments. Stump waste seemed very small in both relative and absolute terms and is unlikely to offset the large benefits accrued through coppice management and mechanization.

Conclusion

Comparison with previous stump height studies indicates that the results obtained in this experiment for planted eucalypt may have general value and could be extended to other coppice stands, although with caution.

     

Harvesting and extraction impacts on Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla coppicing potential and rotation-end volume in Zululand,South Africa

From the early 2000s there has been a general shift in South Africa in harvesting and extraction systems from the use of semi- to fully-mechanised systems. Any increase in mechanisation, as is occurring in Zululand, will need to take into consideration damage to stumps and the subsequent ability to regenerate by coppice. In 2002, four types of harvesting and extraction systems, arranged in a randomised complete block design, were used to clearfell a stand of E. grandis × E. urophylla. A motor-manual harvesting system was used to carry out the manual harvesting system (Man). The fully mechanised system (Mech) consisted of a single-grip harvesting head used with a tracked excavator to carry out all felling and processing operations. Two additional systems (Man_Mech_3W and Man_Mech_Flexi) had increased levels of mechanisation over that of the Man treatment. Both these harvesting systems made use of a Bell debarker, with loading carried out by a Bell three-wheeled loader in the Man_Mech_3W, and by a Flexiloader in the Man_Mech_Flexi treatments. Data collected from these four treatments were used to determine the effects of mechanised harvesting systems on type and severity of stump damage, coppicing potential and coppice growth over the rotation. Irrespective of harvesting system, more damage occurred to the top than bottom half of the stump, with a significant decrease in coppice regrowth with increasing stump damage. Most damage and least coppice regrowth occurred in the extraction rows where the damage recorded could be attributed to vehicle movement, tear-outs and/or log stripping. There was no significant difference between the harvesting systems in terms of stump mortality, final stem stocking and rotation-end volume. Thus, individual components within each harvesting system can have a larger impact than the overall harvesting system used. Future research should focus on these components, and where associated damage occurs for a specific component, this should be lessened through management intervention, training or technological improvements.