The use of glyphosate for the management of secondary coppice regrowth in a Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla coppice stand in Zululand,South Africa

In South Africa, commercial eucalypt stands may be regenerated through the stepwise reduction of coppice shoots following felling. The development of secondary coppice regrowth following these reduction operations results in competition with the remaining stems, possibly resulting in a reduction in growth. Currently, secondary coppice regrowth is controlled manually, or through spraying with glyphosate at 0.6% when ca. 0.75?m in height. No research has been conducted to determine whether alternative rates and/or timing of application are possible or cost-effective. In 2006 a trial was implemented in Zululand, South Africa on a recently coppiced stand of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla so as to optimise rates of glyphosate application (0.6%, 1.2% and 1.8%) for the control of secondary coppice regrowth at various heights (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5?m). Tree and secondary coppice regrowth variates were measured annually until rotation-end (9 years, 3 months). The volume of herbicide used, the number of occasions each treatment was sprayed and associated costs were combined to provide an indication of the most cost-effective treatment. Although there were no significant differences in final coppice yield for the various rates of glyphosate and timing of application (as assessed by the size of the secondary coppice regrowth) tested, treatment efficacy in terms of treating secondary coppice regrowth increased with an increase in the rate of glypho- sate applied (0% < 0.6% < 1.2% < 1.8%), especially when treated at either 1.0 or 1.5?m in height. The use of glypho- sate, irrespective of rate and/or timing of application (as assessed by secondary coppice regrowth height), proved to be more cost-effective compared with manual control or the spraying of the secondary coppice regrowth at 0.75?m height with 0.6% glyphosate. The most cost-effective treatment was 1.2% glyphosate applied when the secondary coppice regrowth was 1.5?m. If reduced herbicide use is a major criterion within a company portfolio, then the secondary coppice regrowth can be manually removed when 1.5?m.     

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.     

Effect of planting Scots pine around Norway spruce stumps on the spread of Heterobasidion coll.

Management of a Norway spruce stand planted on a site infected by Heterobasidion coll. is problematic because the fungus spreads vegetatively from the colonized stumps of the previous generation to the new seedlings. Growing of mixed stand with more resistant tree species has been suggested to decrease the economic losses caused by butt rot in Norway spruce trees. The mechanistic simulation model Rotstand describing the spread of Heterobasidion coll. in coniferous stands of southern Finland was used to study the effect of planting Scots pines around colonized clear‐felling stumps of Norway spruce of the previous generation. Planting of Scots pines in clusters around colonized stumps markedly decreased the butt rot of Norway spruce trees at the age of 20 years and at clear felling. If the same number of Scots pines were planted randomly, the effect was weak. When the average diameter of colonized clear‐felling stumps was 30 cm, a Scots pine circle with a radius of 3 m resulted in the highest soil expectation value (SEV) at 2% discounting rate, whereas with 40‐cm stump diameter, a 4‐m radius produced the highest SEV. When the proportion of Heterobasidion parviporum in the old colonized stumps was 50% instead of 95%, planting pines around colonized stumps still clearly decreased the butt rot at the age of 20 years and in final felling.     

Precommercial thinning of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): Early effects of stump height on growth and natural pruning of potential crop trees

Abstract

This paper reports the early effects of stump height on the growth and natural pruning of potential crop trees after precommercial thinning of a young stand of naturally regenerated beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Denmark. The experiment comprises five treatments based on combinations of three grades of precommercial thinning and three stump heights. Treatments include the unthinned control, thinning only of whips and wolf trees (using low stumps), and thinning for potential crop trees using low, medium or high stumps. All treatments were replicated three times. Stump heights averaged 10, 90 or 230 cm, respectively. Pretreatment stem number (live trees) varied from 17,500 to 41,000 ha^?1. In the potential crop tree treatment, post-treatment stem number ranged from 4750 to 9500 ha^?1. Following two growth seasons, the quantity of stump regrowth increased with increasing stump height, the rate of stump regrowth increased with increasing stump height, the diameter growth of potential crop trees increased with decreasing stump height, the increase in stand height did not depend on stump height or post-treatment stem number, and the natural pruning of potential crop trees increased with increasing stump height. It remains to be seen whether these trends hold in the long run, and whether additional economic return from the increase in wood quality with increasing stump height compensates for the reduction in diameter growth.     

林龄、采伐方式对大叶相思萌芽更新的影响*

在海南省琼海县进行了不同林龄、不同采伐方式对大叶相思萌芽更新影响的研究，同时比较了保留不同萌条数量的萌芽林生长表现。结果表明：（１）林龄对伐桩萌芽率没有显著影响，但对伐桩存活率及萌条的径、高生长影响显著或极显著。林龄越大，萌芽更新效果越差；（２）皆伐和隔行采伐对大叶相思伐桩的萌芽率、萌条数量和存活率均无显著影响，但对萌条的径、高生长影响极显著。试验证明对大叶相思林分施以隔行采伐通过萌芽更新建立复层     

尾叶桉萌芽林留条数量对生长和产量的影响

对 5 5年生尾叶桉实生林砍伐后 ,保留不同萌条数量对其萌芽林生长和产量的影响开展了研究。结果表明 ,定株使桩的存活率明显下降 ,特别是保留单株 ,但保留一定的株数却有利于萌芽林的生长 ;萌芽林的高、径和单株材积生长随保留株数的减少而显著增加 ;3 5年生单位面积蓄积量和出材率 (顶木 )以保留 3株·桩- 1为最好 ,其次为 4株·桩- 1和 2株·桩 - 1,蓄积量分别为 4 5 4 9、4 4 2 1和4 2 5 1m3·hm- 2 ,分别是对照的 131 7%、12 8 0 %和 12 3.0 % ,出材率 (顶木 )分别是对照的 174 .3%、14 8.6 %和 15 5 .4 %。因此 ,在中等地力 ,种植密度为 3m× 2m的尾叶桉萌芽林 ,以纸浆材和顶木为主要经营目的的林分 ,建议其萌芽林的保留株数为 2　 4株·桩 - 1。     

印度阿鲁纳恰尔邦温带阔叶混交林树桩周长和高度对受干扰的树形杜鹃再发芽的影响

Sprout contribution to natural regeneration of Rhododendron arboreum following the tree felling for fuel wood and other purposes was studied in two disturbed sites (Paipraw and Falockchar) of Rhododendron forest in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India. Cut stumps were categorized into seven girth and height classes to evaluate the effect of stump girth and height on production of sprouts. Effect of stump girth on survival of sprouts was also investigated. Results show that highest number of cut stumps is recorded in medium girth classes (50–80, 80–110, and 110–140 cm) in both Paipraw and Falockchar stands. However, density of cut stumps is higher in Paipraw (1 210 stumps·ha⁻¹) than Falockchar (1 154 stumps·ha⁻¹). Nevertheless, a little higher percentage of sprouting is recorded in Falockchar (18%) than that of Paipraw (15%). Similarly, maximum number of cut stumps is observed in the medium height classes (50–80, 80–110 and 110–140 cm) in both the sites. Cut stumps with lower girths show greater ability of sprouting than that of larger girth classes. Significant correlations are observed between stump girth and sprout number and between stump height and number of sprouts. Survival of sprouts also depends on stump girth. Survival of sprout shows significant variations between different sampling times in both the sites. Though overall sprout regeneration of R. arboreum is very poor, sprouts arising from lower girth classes survive well than those of higher girth classes. The findings of this investigation signify that stump sprouting is not playing much role in the natural regeneration of R. arboreum though it has the ability to sprout. Sprout survival is not adequate to restore a stand where indiscriminate tree felling is continued and the species may be considered as a poor coppicer. Therefore, regeneration through seeds and seedlings should be preferred over regeneration through sprouting.     

Comparison of taper functions between two planted and coppiced eucalypt clonal hybrids, South Africa

In addition to regeneration through seed, certain eucalypts are able to regenerate via the production of coppice shoots following felling, which can then be selectively thinned over time and managed as a coppice stand for the commercial production of timber. Little information could be found if tree form differs between coppiced (where one or two stems had been left per stump) and planted eucalypts, or whether different volume taper models would need to be developed. To determine if this was necessary, rotation-end stem taper data was collected from an Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla and an E. grandis × E. camaldulensis trial to compare volume taper equations for planted versus coppiced commercially grown Eucalyptus clonal hybrids. For treatment comparisons, taper data were collected from the parent crop (1R), the replanted crop (2R), as well as from coppiced stands where either a single (Cop_Sngl) or double stem (Cop_Dbl) had been left per stump. Stem taper functions used for treatment comparisons indicated differences between clones, as well as between treatment, with the models based on single stems (1R, 2R or Cop_Sngl) being significantly different from those containing two stems (Cop_Dbl). Despite any non-significant model differences (for example between 1R, 2R and Cop_Sngl single stem crops) the percentage magnitude of any bias in utilizable volume differences when comparing the individual models (between a 6.31% over-prediction to a 3.8% under-prediction) still needs to be taken into account as these differences may have importance in terms of the volume and product prediction.     

不同林地清理方式对杉木萌芽更新的影响研究

在杉木林采伐迹地上进行不同林地清理方式对杉木萌芽更新影响的定位研究。结果表明：炼山清理迹地能提高萌条数量而且能促进萌条生长，提高萌条质量，并对伐桩的萌条分布也有一定影响，采伐时应尽量降低伐桩高度，并正确留条。     

Modern aspects of biological control of Fomes and Armillaria1

Biological methods can help to control root-infecting fungi such as Fomes annosus and Armillaria mellea. For example, inoculation of pine stumps with the fungus Peniophora gigantea is widely used against F.annosus in Britain. Experiments arc in progress to determine whether similar methods can be used for stumps of other conifers. The main sources of infection by Armillaria are stumps of broad-leaved trees, which are often treated chemically to prevent regrowth. Some of these treatments promote colonization by saprophytic fungi that compete well with Armillaria. In experiments, direct inoculation of stumps combined with chemical treatment has given encouraging results.     

Prescribed burning and hexazinone herbicide as release treatments in a sapling hardwood-loblolly pine stand

To compare release treatments, a randomized complete block study was established in a 7-year-old hardwood-loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand in central Louisiana established using chopping and burning. There were 5 blocks of 3 treatments each: (1) check, (2) hexazinone applied once, and (3) prescribed backfiring applied twice. The first burn in December 1985 (7 years after site preparation) had a fire intensity of 90 kJ/s/m. The hexazinone herbicide was applied in April 1986 (the 8th year after site preparation) with a metered spotgun applicator at a rate of 3.0 kg active ingredient/ha. The second burn in March 1989 (the 11th year after site preparation) had a fire intensity of 106 kJ/s/m.The two prescribed burns increased the number of stems less than 1.5 m tall from 1,380 to 2,960/ha red maple (Acer rubrum L.), blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica var. bifora), and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.). Burning reduced the number of loblolly pines less than 2.0 m tall, which resulted in a significant increase in average loblolly pine height and diameter. Loblolly pine comprised 62 and 59% of the basal area on the check and burn treatments, respectively, 11 years after site preparation. Hexazinone reduced the number of blackgum, sweetgum, and oak (Quercus spp.) from 6,100 to 4,560 stems/ha and resulted in significantly less hardwood tree basal area than found on the check or burn treatments. Therefore, the herbicide treatment resulted in principally a loblolly pine stand (over 80% of the total tree basal area was pine) four years after hexazinone application.     

Fibre volume losses of eight softwood clearfell harvesting systems in South Africa

A study of both fibre volume loss and related opportunity cost was performed across the South African softwood sawtimber industry to gain information on the actual utilisation of useful fibre and potential loss or gain of opportunity in terms of potential revenue from both field practices and policy. The study quantified volume losses from high stumps, felling and crosscut saw kerf, log allowances, excessive removal of merchantable wood, incorrect log trimming allocation, and utilisable wood left in-field. Eight treatments were examined: four terminated with merchandising at roadside landing and four at merchandising yards. Within the treatments, felling was either motor-manual or mechanised and compartments were classed by average compartment tree size (less than or greater than 1 m³). Total wood utilisation was found to be 92.07%. Stumps were found to be 7 cm higher than necessary and volume losses because of high stumps were 0.79% and 0.07% for mechanical and motor-manual felling, respectively. For felling saw kerf losses, mechanical felling showed 0.92% loss, whereas motor-manual felling resulted in only 0.15% loss. Incorrect log trimming allowance provided for 0.60% loss. Excessive trimming of logs resulted in 2.02% loss. Volume lost because of crosscutting saw kerf was low at 0.20%, but tops not being extracted resulted in 2.57% loss. Using SIMSAW 6 simulations, these volume losses translated into an additional annual harvested volume of 421 722 m³ or additional 1 278 ha harvested area, R166 million log value and R393 million net lumber value loss. Total loss was lowest (6.49%) in the average tree size class less than 1 m³, which was mechanically felled regardless of merchandising location. For the majority of volume loss categories, motor-manual felling caused greater loss when compared to mechanical felling methods. Log trimming allowance consumed 80 604 m³ annually. The results indicate that the human element may have a greater impact on fibre and value losses than the system choice. Further research is recommended to quantify the effect of the human element.     

Coppice regrowth in a disturbed tropical dry limestone forest in Jamaica

The Hellshire Hills are an extensive area of tropical dry forest over limestone, located on the south coast of Jamaica. Despite being a protected area, they are subject to encroachment and clearance by charcoal burners, leaving a relatively pristine core within more disturbed areas of forest. Future management requires a consideration of the forest’s resilience to such disturbance, and this study reports on coppice regrowth following clearance. The number of coppice shoots and the length and diameter at breast height (DBH) of the leading shoots were measured on tree stumps 14 months after they were cut in an experiment. Coppice regrowth after cutting was measured on a total of 476 stumps, representing 51 species. Coppice production and growth was vigorous as there was an extremely high incidence of coppice regrowth among and within the species in this forest after it had been cut. Initial regrowth was high with the diameter recovered by the leading shoots after 14 months approximating to 29% per year. Of the 51 species sampled three did not coppice at all and the average percent of individuals found with shoots within each species was 81%. The height and diameter of the leading shoots was significantly different among the species and the average height recorded of the leading shoots was 114 cm while the average diameter recorded was 10 mm. Larger sized stems (>10 cm DBH) on average produced more coppice shoots and larger sized shoots than smaller sized stems (<10 cm DBH) while smaller sized stems recovered more biomass than larger sized stems irrespective of species. The average diameter of the leading shoots decreased significantly with increasing shoot densities. At the species level there was a significant relationship between stem diameter and the number of shoots produced in seven of the 27 species analysed and three species returned significant relationships between stem diameter and average height of leading shoots. Coppice regrowth clearly offers considerable resilience to disturbance in this dry forest where successful regeneration by seed is highly susceptible to rainfall seasonality. However, the different abilities of species to produce coppice shoots will likely affect long-term species diversity if the present rate of clearance continues.     

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.

     

The spreading of the S type of Heterobasidion annosum from Norway spruce stumps to the subsequent tree stand

The occurrence of Heterobasidion annosum in stumps and growing trees was investigated on 15 forest sites in southern Finland where the previous tree stand had been Norway spruce (Picea abies) infected by H. annosum, and the present stand was either Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Siberian larch (Larix siberica), silver birch (Betula pendula) or Norway spruce 8–53 years old. Out of 712 spruce stumps investigated of the previous tree stand, 26.3% were infected by the S group and 0.3% by the P group of H. annosum. The fungus was alive and the fruit bodies were active even in stumps cut 46 years ago. In the subsequent stand, the proportion of trees with root rot increased in spruce stands and decreased in stands of other tree species. On average, one S type genet spreading from an old spruce stump had infected 3.0 trees in the following spruce stand, 0.5 trees in lodgepole pine, 0.3 trees in Siberian larch, 0.05 trees in Scots pine and 0.03 trees in silver birch stand. Although silver birch generally was highly resistant to the S type of H. annosum, infected trees were found on one site that was planted with birch of a very northern provenance.     

Soil Amendment Effects on Growth and Sprouting Success in a Pennsylvania Northern Red Oak Stand on Extremely Acidic Soils

Abstract

On the Laurel Hill, anecdotal accounts reported coppice regeneration of oaks to be limited. Possible causes of poor sprouting success were large stump size, deer browsing, season of cutting and poor tree vigor. Our study site had been partially cut three years before this study to salvage some northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) which had died. We attempted to increase Q. rubra vigor, as measured by increasing basal area growth, with soil amendments of 6,600 kg/h dolo-mitic lime, 110 kg/h K2O equivalents and 220 kg/h P2O5 equivalents while accounting for other growth variables. The objective was to improve overall Q. rubra sprouting success by increasing vigor prior to harvest. The soil amendments increased soil available calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) and reduced available aluminum (Al). Foliar concentrations of Ca, Mg and K were increased. Basal area increment of treated Q. rubra trees increased by 10 percent and terminal elongation increased by nearly 100 percent. Two years after treatment, the trees were cut during the dormant season and all stumps were protected from deer browsing. After two years, 80 percent of the stumps had sprouted. No effect of lime and fertilizer on the sprouts was found.     

A trial of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate for the control of Heterobasidion annosum

The extent of heartwood infection of Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis stumps following inoculation with basidiospores of Heterobasidion annosum was significantly reduced by application of 2% and 4% solutions of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) immediately after felling. Infection of sapwood was so rare in all treatments, including controls, that the effectiveness of DOT in this tissue could not be judged. The results of this trial suggest that DOT may be toxic to H. annosum at lower levels of borate loading than previously thought possible. Over the 10 months of the experiment the borate loading in the stumps appeared to reach an equilibrium that was independent of the initial concentration applied. Stump-surface fruiting of Melanotus proteus, a potential fungal competitor of H. annosum, was not inhibited by these treatments.     

Trends of tree growth in Swedish forests 1953–1992: An analysis based on sample trees from the national forest inventory

Average tree height and basal area growth for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in Sweden were studied as functions of species, age, stand density, location and year of inventory in the period 1953–1992, on the basis of sample tree data from the National Forest Inventory. A highly significant annual increase of both height and basal area growth was found, of the magnitude 0.5–0.8%, during the 40 yr period. Possible reasons for the trend are discussed. The altered way of cutting in the early 1950s, from selective cutting to clear felling and thinning from below, has had a large impact. Also, improved regeneration methods, nitrogen fertilization and ditching have increased growth. The increasing atmospheric deposition of nitrogen is another possible factor.     

Swiss stone pine trees and spruce stumps represent an important habitat for Heterobasidion spp. in subalpine forests

In the Western Italian Alps (WIA), the three European species of the forest pathogen Heterobasidion spp. can coexist in the same area. Heterobasidion parviporum Niemelä & Korhonen and Heterobasidion abietinum Niemelä & Korhonen are normally found in areas with a significant presence of their respective primary hosts, spruce (Picea spp.) and fir (Abies spp.). The host/niche occupied by Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. in the region still remains unclear. Although Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), a major host for this fungal species in other parts of Europe, is abundant in the region, little or no evidence of disease caused by H. annosum is visible in this tree species. Two different, but not mutually exclusive, hypotheses can explain the presence of H. annosum: (1) Scots pines are infected but largely asymptomatic and (2) H. annosum has adapted to different hosts. An analysis of Heterobasidion species was performed in two natural, mixed‐conifer forests using traditional isolation techniques and novel direct molecular diagnosis from wood. In a subalpine stand of mixed spruce (Picea abies), larch (Larix spp.), and Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra), 18 naturally infected spruces and larches only yielded H. parviporum. A Swiss stone pine in the same stand was extensively colonized by both H. parviporum and H. annosum. In a second subalpine stand, an analysis of 18 spruce stumps and nine Swiss stone pine stumps yielded both H. parviporum and H. annosum isolates. Pine stumps had been mostly colonized by H. parviporum prior to tree felling, suggesting that this species may be secondarily infected by the locally predominant Heterobasidion species (i.e. H. parviporum). Results of our analysis also indicated that primary colonization of spruce stumps (e.g. through basidiospores) was caused by both H. parviporum and H. annosum, while secondary infection of such stumps was mostly because of H. parviporum.     

萌生杉木林空间结构特征研究

利用结构参数角尺度、大小比数、混交度对浙江龙泉萌生杉木林的空间结构进行分析,结果表明:林分的平均角尺度为0.512,林分空间格局为随机分布;杉木树种分布格局为团状分布,木荷树种整体分布格局为随机分布,其它树种的整体分布格局为均匀分布;林分的平均混交度为0.438 4,在弱度混交和中度混交之间;林分中树种以胸径作为比较指标的林木个体的优势排列顺序为:苦槠、马尾松> 杉木> 樟树> 木荷> 枫香、红豆树> 拟赤杨> 榆树。根据萌生杉木林的结构特征提出经营对策, 通过合理择伐和补植乡土树种进行林分结构调整,提高林分质量,优化林分空间结构,以便更好地发挥其功能。