Early stand production of hybrid poplar and white spruce in mixed and monospecific plantations in eastern Maine

Forest plantations in the northeastern United States comprise a small proportion of the total forest area. Most plantations are typically softwood dominated and managed for sawlog and pulpwood production, while high-yield hardwood plantations for bioenergy feedstocks have not been as widely investigated. The objective of this study was to compare the biomass production of planted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) plantations (four clones) in monoculture, and in mixture of the two on a typical reforestation site in Maine. Three years following planting, hybrid poplar height and ground line diameter growth rates began to diverge among clones, and by 6?years, the Populus nigra?×?Populus maximowiczii (NM6) clone clearly outperformed three Populus deltoides?×?Populus nigra clones (D51, DN10 and DN70) both in pure stands and in mixtures with white spruce. In mixture, we found the yield of white spruce to decline as the yield of hybrid poplar increased. Overall, yields of white spruce monocultures were comparable to those reported in eastern Canada, while the hybrid poplar biomass yields were substantially lower than those reported from studies on abandoned agricultural lands, likely due to the harsher soil conditions at our site. The dominance of rocky and poorly drained sites (like the one tested in this study) across Maine will likely limit the feasibility of widespread hybrid poplar plantations, and thus constrains their potential use as a bioenergy feedstock.     

Ground vegetation as an indicator of site quality: effect of non-site factors on the productivity of newly established chestnut plantations in northwestern Spain

The growth of 67 young hybrid (Castanea × coudercii A. Camus) and pure sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) plantations was studied in relation to ground vegetation (GV) and non-site factors such as type of site preparation, weed control (WC), disease-related damage and prior land use. The classification and regression trees procedure was used to analyse the data. Ground vegetation communities accounted for a large amount of variability in the site index (SI) and were found to be useful as predictors of chestnut site quality. The presence of broom communities indicated the best site for establishing chestnut plantations, whereas bracken and bramble communities indicated poorer conditions, although those sites can still be considered suitable for growing chestnut. Terrain covered with herbaceous communities also indicated intermediate or even good site conditions. The poorest sites were the heathlands. As regards non-site factors, only weed control was found to be a significant variable. Ground vegetation caused a significant reduction in tree growth, indicating the importance of carrying out regular weeding to improve productivity. The most positive effect of weeding on height growth was detected in terrain covered by gorse and broom, and the least positive effect was observed in heathland. The findings are important for forest management purposes, as evaluation of ground vegetation will enable rapid prediction of site productivity classes in afforested areas and help in selecting the best land for planting this species in reforestation programmes.     

Comparing growth and fine root distribution in monocultures and mixed plantations of hybrid poplar and spruce

Disease prevention, biodiversity, productivity improvement and ecological considerations are all factors that contribute to increasing interest in mixed plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate early growth and productivity of two hybrid poplar clones, P. balsamifera x trichocarpa (PBT) and P. maximowiczii x balsamifera (PMB), one improved family of Norway spruce (Picea glauca (PA)) and one improved family of white spruce (Picea abies (PG)) growing under different spacings in monocultures and mixed plots. The plantations were established in 2003 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada, in a split plot design with spacing as the whole plot factor (1 × 1 m, 3 × 3 m and 5 × 5 m) and mixture treatments as subplot factor (pure: PBT, PMB, PA and PG, and 1:1 mixture PBT:PA, PBT:PG, PMB:PA and PMB:PG). Results showed a beneficial effect of the hybrid poplar-spruce mixture on diameter growth for hybrid poplar clones, but not for the 5 × 5 m spacing because of the relatively young age of the plantations. Diameter growth of the spruces decreased in mixed plantings in the 1 × 1 m, while their height growth increased, resulting in similar aboveground biomass per tree across treatments. Because of the large size differences between spruces and poplars, aboveground biomass in the mixed plantings was generally less than that in pure poplar plots. Leaf nitrogen concentration for the two spruce families and hybrid poplar clone PMB was greater in mixed plots than in monocultures, while leaf nitrogen concentration of clone PBT was similar among mixture treatments. Because of its faster growth rate and greater soil resources demands, clone PMB was the only one showing an increase in leaf N with increased spacing between trees. Fine roots density was greater for both hybrid poplars than spruces. The vertical distribution of fine roots was insensitive to mixture treatment.     

Stand and landscape level effects of a major outbreak of spruce beetles on forest vegetation in the Copper River Basin,Alaska

From 1989 to 2003, a widespread outbreak of spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the Copper River Basin, Alaska, infested over 275,000 ha of forests in the region. During 1997 and 1998, we measured forest vegetation structure and composition on one hundred and thirty-six 20-m × 20-m plots to assess both the immediate stand and landscape level effects of the spruce beetle infestation. A photo-interpreted vegetation and infestation map was produced using color-infrared aerial photography at a scale of 1:40,000. We used linear regression to quantify the effects of the outbreak on forest structure and composition. White spruce (Picea glauca) canopy cover and basal area of medium-to-large trees [≥15 cm diameter-at-breast height (1.3 m, dbh)] were reduced linearly as the number of trees attacked by spruce beetles increased. Black spruce (Picea mariana) and small diameter white spruce (<15 cm dbh) were infrequently attacked and killed by spruce beetles. This selective attack of mature white spruce reduced structural complexity of stands to earlier stages of succession and caused mixed tree species stands to lose their white spruce and become more homogeneous in overstory composition. Using the resulting regressions, we developed a transition matrix to describe changes in vegetation types under varying levels of spruce beetle infestations, and applied the model to the vegetation map. Prior to the outbreak, our study area was composed primarily of stands of mixed white and black spruce (29% of area) and pure white spruce (25%). However, the selective attack on white spruce caused many of these stands to transition to black spruce dominated stands (73% increase in area) or shrublands (26% increase in area). The post-infestation landscape was thereby composed of more even distributions of shrubland and white, black, and mixed spruce communities (17–22% of study area). Changes in the cover and composition of understory vegetation were less evident in this study. However, stands with the highest mortality due to spruce beetles had the lowest densities of white spruce seedlings suggesting a longer forest regeneration time without an increase in seedling germination, growth, or survival.     

Fertilization at planting influences seedling growth and vegetative competition on a post-mining boreal reclamation site

Reclamation of post-mining sites is challenged by limiting factors including adverse soil chemical and physical properties, along with weed competition. Fertilization may alleviate nutrient deficiencies, but broadcast fertilization with immediately available fertilizers (IAF) results in generally low rates of nutrient recovery for planted trees. Directed application of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) to the rhizosphere offers an alternative to extend nutrient longevity while reducing nutrient leaching or uptake by competing vegetation. We evaluated white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) development on a mine reclamation site in the Oil Sands Region of northern Alberta in response to IAF and polymer-coated CRF (3–4 and 8–9 month release). IAF and CRF (each NPK plus other macro- and micro-nutrients) were applied at 20 and 40 g N seedling^?1 and 2 and 4 g N seedling^?1, respectively. No effect on seedling survival occurred. White spruce year-1 height and diameter growth responded positively to both IAF and CRF relative to non-fertilized controls, but in year-2 seedlings treated with CRF (i.e., 8–9 month) outperformed those fertilized with IAF, which were similar to controls. Aspen height growth did not respond strongly to fertilization in either year, but diameter growth showed positive responses to all fertilizer treatments in year-1 and to all CRF treatments and the high IAF rate in year-2. Responses were attributed to a pronounced increase in vegetative competition observed for IAF relative to CRF or controls following the first growing season, and generally higher levels of foliar N in year-1 for CRF compared to IAF or unfertilized trees. Thus, directed root zone application of CRF promoted seedling growth responses similar to or better than those induced by broadcast IAF applications, but at 90–95 % lower N application rates.     

Influences of gap position, vegetation management and herbivore control on survival and growth of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings

The boreal mixedwood forest type of the Canadian interior boreal is largely comprised of two dominant tree species: white spruce and trembling aspen (Picea glauca and Populus tremuloides). This forest type is expansive, providing important ecosystem services and economic production, yet such mixtures are difficult to establish after harvests. While aspen resprouts and grows vigorously following disturbance, spruce growth is relatively slow and is often limited by intense competition from associated vegetation, including aspen. To improve management, it is important to understand how environmental and vegetative conditions vary in relation to the competitive-facilitative relationship of spruce-aspen mixtures. In this study white spruce was planted across large canopy openings to determine whether survival and height growth is influenced by position within gap and by differing levels of competing vegetation control of aspen and understory plants. In addition, we addressed the issue of herbivory, which can pose a significant threat to planted spruce seedlings. Within each of four sites, linear gaps were created and five gap positions were recognized spanning the southern and northern forest understories, and southern, center and northern positions within each opening. Three different levels of vegetation management were implemented: a brush saw treatment in which all vegetation was cut to ground level, a mixing treatment in which all vegetation and rootstock was ground up, and a control with no vegetation management. The three herbivory treatments excluded large ungulates, small herbivores (rabbits, hares) or had no herbivore exclusion. Growth and survival of white spruce seedlings were measured for four years (1997-2000). Understory survival was significantly lower than within the gap, with the sheltered southern edge position providing the best initial environmental conditions and or ameliorative cover for spruce establishment. However, after four years the shelter effect starts to be inhibitive relative to center and northern gap positions, suggesting the removal of the canopy is necessary before spruce productivity declines. The optimal vegetation management treatment also changed over the study period. The most intensive treatment (mixing) initially showed a negative influence on survival and growth, but by year four, survival converged to approximately 75% for all treatments, and the mixing treatment produced the best height growth. The growth advantage became most evident in the center gap positions, which initially lagged the brushsaw and control treatments. Lastly, some growth losses from herbivory must be expected in boreal mixedwoods, although not enough to merit control. Results have implications for the timing and intensity of silvicultural treatments for harvesting and planting.     

Growth, allocation and leaf gas exchanges of hybrid poplar plants in their establishment phase on previously forested sites: effect of different vegetation management techniques

The effect of different vegetation control methods (mowing and cultivation between plantation rows, herbicide application and cover plant sowing) on hybrid poplar (P. maximowiczii × balsamifera) growth, biomass allocation and leaf carbon assimilation was investigated in two plantations (1- and 2-year-old) established in previously forested sites of south-eastern Québec. Any vegetation control treatment applied the same year in which the plantation was established did not have an effect on hybrid poplar aboveground growth. However significant differences among treatments were observed belowground, where the removal of the competing vegetation at the tree base increased the fine root:leaf biomass ratio of plants, thus probably facilitating their establishment. In contrast, 2-year-old plants grew better when treated with herbicides, but no positive effect of the mechanical treatments was detected. In both sites, trees growing on herbicide-treated plots showed considerably higher leaf carbon assimilation and leaf N concentration which were both strongly correlated. We conclude that a strong vegetation competition for nutrients takes effect on hybrid poplar plantations on previously forested sites since there was no water shortage for any treatment during the study period.     

Direct impacts of sheep upon Douglas-fir trees in two agrosilvopastoral systems

Livestock may provide important service and production functions in agroforestry systems. However, use of livestock in conifer/improved pasture agrosilvopastoral systems is currently limited by concerns about potential damage to trees by livestock. Effects of sheep grazing on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees in two patterns of sheep/pasture/conifer agroforest (cluster and grid plantations) were studied from 4 years after planting (1983) until the first precommercial thinning at age 10 years (1988). Trees averaged over 1 m in height when grazing began in summer 1983. Some browsing of tree lateral branches by sheep occurred regardless of grazing season in 1983–1985. However, the 2 to 10% of current year's lateral branch growth removed by grazing sheep was too low to impact tree growth. Sheep removed the terminal leaders from only 3 to 9% of trees each year during 1983–1985. Most browsing of terminals occurred in the summer when other forages had become mature and were relatively unpalatable to sheep. Less than 13% of agroforest trees were debarked by sheep each year during 1983–1987. By the end of grazing in 1987, less than 8% of agroforest trees had sustained a level of debarking likely to impact future growth (>50% of tree circumference debarked). Grazing had no discernible effect upon tree diameter or height in any year (P > 0.05). Total tree mortality attributable to sheep grazing during 1983–1987 was only 0.9%, including three trees girdled by sheep and two debarked trees which were subsequently attacked by insects. Overall, grazing had no detrimental impact on timber stand growth or mortality.Submitted as Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 9628.     

Understory structure and function following release from cattle grazing and overstory thinning in Mediterranean conifer plantations

Key message

Cattle grazing and overstory cover restrict understory growth and interact in shaping the understory community structure in Mediterranean conifer plantations.

Context

Understanding how silvicultural manipulations drive understory structure and function in Mediterranean pine plantations is essential for their multifunctional management.

Aims

This paper aims to study the interactive effects of cattle grazing and overstory thinning on understory structure and function.

Methods

Ten plots (0.25 ha) were selected in East Mediterranean mature Pinus brutia plantation (rainfall = 600 mm year^?1) representing thinned (≈100 trees ha^?1, leaf area index (LAI) ≈ 1.6) and non-thinned (≈230 trees ha^?1, LAI ≈ 3.5) areas. Two subplots (100 m²) within each plot were fenced in 2000 and 2006 while a third one remained grazed. Understory growth and species composition were measured in 2010.

Results

Thinning and grazing exclusion both positively influenced woody growth with their combined effect during 10 years leading to 20-fold increase in vegetation volume. An increase (15-fold) in herbaceous biomass was recorded 4 years after grazing exclusion but disappeared 10 years after exclusion due to increased woody cover. Species richness was not influenced by grazing but was positively affected by thinning. Understory composition was affected by grazing × thinning interaction with herbaceous ephemerals and short woody species being more frequent in grazed, thinned areas while larger woody species were more associated with ungrazed, non-thinned areas.

Conclusion

Grazing impacts on forest understories depend on overstory cover. We propose variable grazing-thinning combinations to meet multiple management objectives.

     

Yield capacity of planted Picea abies in northern Sweden

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is the dominant species in the older forests of central northern Sweden. However, spruce has seldom been planted in the area, partly because existing tools for site classification have indicated a low yield capacity for the species. The aim of this study was to examine the yield capacity of spruce on the basis of existing plantations. In total, 91 operational and experimental plantations in the age interval 27–46 yrs were sampled. Stands were located between 62° and 65° N at altitudes 130–620 m a.s.l. Site index was estimated by height growth and site‐factor equations previously developed from old‐growth stand data. Height developments in the plantations indicate that site index for these stands is on average 4.6 m higher than predicted by site‐factor equations. The differences between the two methods are larger on poor sites than on rich sites. No systematic deviations of top height development from the site index curves could be detected on remeasured sample plots. Existing growth models were applied on measured stand data to predict future growth. Calculated mean annual increments were on average 20% lower when site index was predicted by site factors instead of height and age. The bias means that the yield capacity of planted spruce in northern Sweden has been underestimated by about 35%.     

The effect of understory removal on microclimate and soil properties in two subtropical lumber plantations

Understory vegetation is an important component in forest ecosystems. However, the effects of understory on soil properties in subtropical forests are not fully understood. We thus conducted an experimental manipulative study in two young fast-growing plantations—Eucalyptus urophylla and Acacia crassicarpa—in southern China, by removing understory vegetation in both plantations, to estimate the effects of understory vegetation on microclimate, soil properties and N mineralization. Our data showed that, after 6 months, understory removal (UR) in both plantations had greatly increased soil surface luminous intensity (90–500 cd) and temperature (0.5–0.8 °C); soil moisture was reduced in the Eucalyptus plantation but not in the Acacia plantation. Understory removal also reduced soil organic matter (SOM), but had little impact on other soil chemical properties, including total phosphorus, C/N, pH, exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg), available P, ande extractable NH₄–N and NO₃–N. We found a significant decline of soil N mineralization and nitrification rates in the 0–5 cm soils of UR in both plantations. The decline of SOM in UR may contribute to the lower N transformations rates. This study indicates that a better understanding of understory vegetation effects on soil N cycling would be beneficial to forest management decisions and could provide a critical foundation for advancing management practices.     

Modelling the scaling of stem growth with crown size and optimum stocking densities for systematic grid plantation of Faidherbia albida

Faidherbia (Faidherbia albida) is being promoted widely in interventions for combating desertification, re-greening of the Sahel, carbon offset and various agroforestry projects. However, there is a dearth of information on its growth and canopy development. There are also no guidelines for optimum stocking densities for practitioners to follow. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate scaling relationships between its growth in height, stem diameter and crown size and based on these relationships define stocking densities. In order to achieve this we: (1) modelled its growth in relation to plant density; (2) identified appropriate models for scaling stem height and diameter with crown size; (3) using information from step 2, we derived stocking densities under different scenarios. Crown diameter (CD) was found to scale with stem diameter (D) isometrically, while stem height scaled with CD allometrically. The scenarios derived using the CD–D scaling indicated that densities >50 plants ha^?1 are untenable when DBH exceeds 40 cm. High initial densities (>625 plants ha^?1) appear to lead to rapid self-thinning. Starting with low initial densities (<100 plants ha^?1) was also expected to result in sub-optimal use of site resources and delayed net ecosystem production. As a compromise, we recommend establishment of stands at initial densities of about 625 trees ha^?1 (or 4 m × 4 m spacing) and progressive thinning as stem diameter increases. The focus of this analysis has been on monoculture plantations of Faidherbia and the spacing may not be directly applicable where crops are integrated with trees. Therefore, we propose a follow-up study including modelling tree behaviour in mixed stands in order to refine recommendations.     

Density-dependent effects of northern hardwood competition on selected environmental resources and young white spruce (Picea glauca) plantation growth, mineral nutrition, and stand structural development – a 5-year study

The effects of competition from red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and northern hardwood tree species on white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings were examined on a clearcut site of the boreal mixedwood forest of the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Canada. A controlled experiment involving a gradient of five vegetation densities on the basis of the leaf area index (LAI) was established in a completely randomized plot design with six replications. Each of the five levels of vegetation cover (including vegetation-free plots) were examined to evaluate how they affected environmental factors (quantity and quality of light reaching the spruce seedlings, and soil temperature), spruce growth (height, basal diameter, volume index, and above-ground biomass), spruce mortality, browsing damage, spruce foliar mineral nutrition, as well as the stand structural development, during the first 5 years after seedling planting.

Each spruce growth variable analyzed in this study, according to a RMANOVA procedure, followed a negative hyperbolic form of density dependence of competitive effects. Loss of growth in young white spruce plantations in competition with northern hardwoods is likely to occur with the first few competitors. In cases where higher levels of competing vegetation were maintained over time, loss of spruce growth was extremely severe, to an extent where the exponential growth character of the young trees has been lost. At the end of the fifth year, spruce growing with no interference were larger in mean total above-ground biomass by a factor of 9.7 than those growing with the highest level of vegetation cover. Spruce did not develop a strategy of shade avoidance by increasing tree height, on the contrary. Spruce mortality differed among treatments only in the fifth year, indicating that early evaluation of spruce survival is not a strong indicator of competitive effects, when compared to diameter growth. Spruce foliar N and Ca contents were significantly reduced by the first level of competing vegetation cover, while K increased with the density of the vegetation cover, and P and Mg were not affected. Nitrogen nutrition of young white spruce planted on recently disturbed sites is discussed in relation to the potential root discrimination of this species against soil nitrate, a reaction observed by Kronzucker et al. [Kronzucker, H.J., Siddiqi, M.Y., Glass, A.D.M., 1997. Conifer root discrimination against soil nitrate and the ecology of forest succession. Nature London 385, 59–61]. The effects of hardwood competition indicate a prevalence of competition for light over a competition for nutrients, as revealed by the substantial increase in the h/d ratio of white spruce. Two indicators, h/d ratio and the quantity of light received at the tree seedling level, are suggested as a basis for the management of hardwood competition in a white spruce plantation.

Analysis of the stand structural development indicates that spruce height distribution was affected only by moderate or dense cover of vegetation, while diameter distribution, when compared to competing vegetation-free plots, was affected by the lowest level of vegetation cover. This study shows that competition influenced the stand structural development in the same way as genetic and micro-site factors by aggravating the amplitude of size inequality. The impact of hardwood competition is discussed in view of reaching an equilibrium between optimal spruce plantation growth and benefits from further silvicultural treatments, and maintaining hardwood species known to improve long term site quality, within a white spruce plantation.     

Autoregressive spatial analysis and individual tree modeling as strategies for the management of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eremanthus erythropappus</Emphasis>

The objectives of this study were to apply statistical techniques to discriminate fertilization treatments of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish. through autoregressive modeling, and to develop individual tree models for diameter and crown area (CA) projection to define management strategies for candeia plantations subjected to different fertilization treatments. This is an important tree species originating from the Brazilian Atlantic Rain forest and Savannah biomes, intensively used in the cosmetic industry. Nonetheless, to date, research has not addressed the management of natural stands or plantations of the species. Our experiment was located in Baependi, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and comprised of four randomized blocks and 13 treatments. The treatments consisted of 12 different regimes of fertilization plus a control. Each sample plot was composed of 50 plants plus two border plants in a planting spacing of 2.5 × 2.0 m and undergoing pruning at 5 and 6 years of age. Starting in the second year, total tree height (H) and circumference (at 1.30 m from the ground or breast height, CBH) were measured every 6 months. Starting in the fifth year CA was measured. Tree growth varied by fertilization strategy. Differences were detected by using an autoregressive approach, considering that standard statistical methods were not powerful enough to detect significant differences. Three growth groups were formed, and maximum growth was obtained for treatment 10 (NPK, 8-28-16). Management guidelines are provided based on individual tree models for different fertilization levels.     

Conversion of conifer plantations to native hardwoods: influences of overstory and fertilization on artificial regeneration

Forest tree species in the eastern US such as American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh) and oaks (Quercus spp.) have been negatively impacted by forest changes over the past century. Many mature, introduced pine (Pinus spp.) plantations exist in the Midwest US following establishment 50–60 years ago yet have little economic and ecological value. As oak and chestnut have similar site preferences to pines, these stands may be ideal sites for hardwood restoration plantings. We sought to determine optimal management strategies for converting pine plantations by manipulating their canopies. We underplanted hybrid American chestnut and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings into three canopy treatments (control, shelterwood, clearcut) and included an open field treatment. For each of two growing seasons, 0, 30, or 60 g 19N–6P–12K of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) were also applied to seedlings. Soil chemical parameters and leaf nutrients were analyzed throughout the study. Chestnut and oak seedlings had significantly greater height after two growing seasons in the clearcut and shelterwood than the control and open field, and chestnut had significantly greater diameter as well. Chestnut height and RCD growth were threefold that of oak after two growing seasons. In general, fertilization increased seedling growth more in the clearcut and open field than shelterwood and control for both species. Soils had significantly higher pH, K, and S in the open field than in pine stands. Results suggest that pine plantations may serve as target sites for restoration of these hardwood species. Shelterwoods and clearcuts are both favorable conversion options for oak and chestnut, and addition of CRF may augment further growth increase, especially in open environments.     

Long-term effects of nitrogen fertilization on the productivity of subsequent stands of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest

The carryover effects of N fertilization on five coastal Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) plantations were studied. “Carryover” is defined as the long-term impact of N fertilizer added to a previous stand on the growth of a subsequent stand. Average height and diameter at 1.3 m above-ground (DBH) of 7–9-year-old Douglas-fir trees and biomass and N-content of understory vegetation were assessed on paired control (untreated) and urea-N-fertilized plots that had received cumulative additions of 810–1120 kg N ha⁻¹ to a previous stand. Overall productivity was significantly greater in the fertilized stands compared to the controls. In 2006, the last growth measurement year, mean seedling height was 15% greater (p = 0.06) and mean DBH was 29% greater (p = 0.04) on previously fertilized plots compared to control plots. Understory vegetation biomass of fertilized plots was 73% greater (p = 0.005), and N-content was 97% greater (p = 0.004) compared to control plots. These results show that past N fertilization markedly increased seedling growth in these plantations as well as biomass and N-content of understory vegetation in a subsequent rotation. These findings suggest that N fertilization could potentially increase site productivity of young Douglas-fir stands found on low quality sites in the Pacific Northwest 15–22 years after application by a carryover effect. These plantations have not yet reached the age where marketable materials can be harvested from them, and the growth of trees should be monitored over a longer time period before potential impacts on older stands, if any, can be determined.     

Split fertilizer application affects growth, biomass allocation, and fertilizer uptake efficiency of hybrid Eucalyptus

Fertilization is indispensable to the establishment success of many eucalypt plantations. Split application of fertilizer has proven effective in agronomic systems; however, its potential impact on eucalypt tree growth and fertilizer uptake efficiency (FUE) is not well understood. This study investigated the effects of split fertilizer applications on seedling growth and biomass production, nutrient uptake, and FUE for the Guanglin No. 9 clone [hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis (Hill ex Maiden) × Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake]. Three application timings and a control were established at rates of 125 and 250 g inorganic fertilizer (16N–7P–7K) per seedling. Split application played a more pronounced role than fertilization rate in eucalypt seedling growth and biomass accumulation. Compared to a single-time application, split applications increased eucalypt seedling height and root collar diameter growth, biomass, and nutrient uptake. The ratio of root to seedling dry mass showed a decreasing trend with split applications, whereas ratios of stem and branch to seedling dry mass tended to increase with split applications. Split applications also significantly improved FUE compared to the single-time application treatment. Findings of this study suggest that split applications of inorganic fertilizer with two application times could be an appropriate fertilization method to improve seedling growth and FUE of this eucalypt clone.     

Diversity of northern plantations peaks at intermediate management intensity

Tree diversity is an important component of biodiversity. Management intensification is hypothesized to affect tree diversity. However, evidence to support the relationship between management intensity and tree diversity in northern forests is lacking. This study examined the effects of fertilization, site preparation, and brush control on tree species diversity, shade tolerance diversity and size diversity of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) plantations, 15 years after planting in Ontario, Canada. Species diversity and shade tolerance diversity were highly correlated, so were diameter size diversity and height size diversity. Fertilization did not affect the tree diversity indices of any plantations. Species diversity and shade tolerance diversity was interactively influenced by site preparation and brush control in the black spruce, white pine, and white spruce plantations, showing that the highest diversity occurred on sites with intensive site preparation without brush control, whereas on sites with brush control, diversity was higher with least intensity of site preparation. However, in the jack pine plantation, neither species diversity nor shade tolerance diversity differed with management intensification, and is attributed to the fast capture of site resources by the planted crop trees of jack pine which minimized establishment of non-crop species. Tree size diversity increased with site preparation intensity in the jack pine and black spruce plantations, while it decreased with brush control in the white pine and white spruce plantations. We concluded that (1) the effects of management intensification on diversity of northern plantations differ with growth habit of planted crop tree species and (2) species diversity and tree size diversity tend to be highest at intermediate levels of silvicultural intensification during the stand establishment phase, supporting the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.     

Sheep grazing in young oak Quercus spp. and ash Fraxinus excelsior plantations: vegetation control, seasonality and tree damage

An experiment was carried out where sheep were grazed in temporary fenced paddocks at a stocking rate of 178 LSU ha⁻¹ in a 5-year old broadleaf plantation of oak (Quercus spp.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) (1.5 m spacing) on fertile, former lowland pasture in Northern Ireland. The grazing regime was rotational and intensive, with two grazing periods of 5 days in February and October 2001. Results showed that a significant proportion of the rank herbage height was removed within the first 24 h of livestock introduction. Herbage biomass was reduced by approximately half after 5 days. Sward height in grazed plots remained significantly lower than control plots for over 6 months after cessation of grazing, whilst biomass remained significantly lower for over 4 months after cessation of grazing. No significant tree damage to either oak or ash was measured during the February grazing trial, however significant damage to the lateral branches of both oak and ash was observed in the October grazing trial. Leader damage did not occur on trees greater than 152 cm. Ash was more commonly browsed than oak. Annual height increment of both tree species was unaffected by grazing, but annual stem diameter increment was significantly reduced in both oak and ash in February grazed plots. Oak trees in both February and October grazed plots were found to have a significantly smaller annual increase in canopy diameter than those in control plots. Results are discussed with regard to practical implementation of controlled grazing in young broadleaf forestry plantations on fertile, lowland soils.     

Yield and growth features of Panicum maximum (Jacq.) var Trichoglume cv Petrie (Green Panic) under woody cover,Chaco region,Argentina

Secondary forests and shrub thickets with low suitability for cattle raising are widespread in the Chaco region (NW Argentina). Concerns about the ecological sustainability of these ecosystems favor vegetation clearing methods for improving standing forage and accessibility for livestock operations that retain native tree and shrub species, a system called ‘silvopasture’ locally. These areas are characterized by a reduction of sunlight availability if compared with treeless pastures. The objective of this research was to assess the growth rate and the effect of two harvesting intervals (15 and 30 days) on the annual yield (BM) and forage quality of Panicum maximum (Jacq.) var Trichoglume cv Petrie (Green Panic) in such a system, using two approaches: successive harvests and functional, during three growth seasons (2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03). Correlation of growth features of Green panic with rainfall (mm), growing degree days (°C, GDD), and soil moisture (%) at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) was also assessed. BM varied between 3,500 and 11,500 kg dry matter ha^?1. The absolute growth rate presented two annual peaks, located in early and late summer, irrespective of growth season and harvesting interval. Growth season and harvesting interval significantly affected the relative growth rate (p > F = 0.0015 and p > F = 0.0002, respectively). BM was significantly correlated with rainfall and GDD observed between sampling dates, the magnitude of the coefficients were higher for the 30-day than for the 15-day harvesting interval. Correlation between BM and soil moisture content was not significant for both soil depths. Resting periods should be longer than 30 days to maintain the stability of the grazing system.