Crown morphology of Norway spruce from usual tree measurements

Intr0ducti0nNorwayspruce(PiceaabiesKarst)is0l1eoflI1e111ostimportal1tc011iferinFra11ce.lnl99l,tI1etotaIareaofNorwaysprLICewasestimatedt0be723000I11112.ItsvoIUmewasl27Inilli0I1m3.Tl1eanl1uaIvoILl111eiI1crc-mentwas5.74millionm3.ltiswideIyacceptedII1atIargeri11itialspacingssI1ouldbeusednow.l111940's,thedensity0ftl1epIantatiol1rangedfr0m5000to10000stems/hm2.Nowtl1einitiaIdensityvariesbetweenI000to250Ostems/I1m2.TI1eIargestspacit1g111aybe650~800stems/hm2.S0ithasasignifica11cetostLldyt…     

Effect of wide spacing on increment and branch properties of young Norway spruce

The effects of stand density on increment and branch properties were studied in three spacing experiments of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. The stand densities ranged from 350 stems ha⁻¹, regarded as open-grown trees, up to 1,600 stems ha⁻¹, corresponding to the density recommended for forestry practice. Properties of all the branches were measured from the stem apex downwards. The study material included a total of 5,661 branches from 45 trees. Increasing stand density resulted in a decrease in radial increment as well as shorter and narrower crowns, but it had no effect on height increment. The average number of spike knots per tree was 0.87, 0.27, and 0.33 in densities of 350, 700 and 1,600 ha⁻¹, respectively. Additionally, in the widely spaced stands of 350 stems ha⁻¹, the fraction of trees having spike knots was high (over 50%). At a density of 1,600 ha⁻¹, the sample trees had somewhat less branches in a whorl compared with the more widely spaced plots. The most pronounced effect of stand density was the increase in branch diameter with decreasing stand density. At a density of 350 ha⁻¹, the maximum branch diameter of all the sample trees exceeded the diameter limit of quality class B in the European quality requirements for round wood. The results give some indication that trees subjected to severe competition would produce smaller branches per unit of crown projection area. However, the possibilities for reducing branch dimensions relative to stem and crown size through competition appear quite restricted.     

Modeling jack pine branch characteristics in Eastern Canada

A total of 83 trees were sampled in three regions of Eastern Canada in order to model branch characteristics (number of branches per annual shoot, branch insertion angle and diameter) using linear mixed-effects models. Differences in branch characteristics according to branch type (pseudo-whorl at annual shoot apical end (PWA) versus pseudo-whorl between shoot apical ends (PWB)) were also studied. The number of both PWA and PWB branches are proportional to annual shoot length, whereas the number of PWB branches also decreases with tree age. Insertion angle was mainly driven by annual shoot number from apex (branch age). The diameter models showed the most complexity with branch vertical position and tree size (DBH and total height) among the statistically significant variables. Region and plot random effects were minimal compared with tree and annual shoot levels. Tree-level random effects were significant for every model and might be a symptom of genetic control over the number of branches and, to a small extent, branch diameter. Interaction between insertion angle and diameter is relatively strong because all the models using them as independent variables (except for the model of insertion angle for PWB branches) showed better fit statistics. These results lead us to believe that tree-, annual shoot- and branch-level variables should be further explored in order to better understand branch dynamics.     

Effect of wide spacing on tree growth, branch and sapwood properties of young Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] in south-western Germany

The influence of stand density on Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] is conceptually understood, but for wide spacings not well quantified, particularly in Europe. This study used 41 trees from 7 different locations in south-western Germany to compare important tree- and branch-level attributes across three different densities, namely 100, 200, and 1,200 stems ha⁻¹. In general, there were only a few tree and branch attributes that were significantly different between the 100 and 200 ha⁻¹ densities. Crown projection area and diameter of the thickest branches were the most important differences between the 100 and 200 ha⁻¹ densities. The most obvious and significant differences in this study were between 100 and 1,200 ha⁻¹ densities, where nearly every examined tree and branch attributes were statistically significant. However, relative sapwood area, the number of branches, branch angle, and the occurrence of spike knots were insensitive to stand density. Although the two lowest stand densities in this study represent rather extremely wide spacings, these results still have important implications for the development of effective thinning regimes for Douglas-fir in south-western Germany. Important management recommendations from this study include thinned stands should be maintained to at least 200 stems ha⁻¹ to maintain high log quality and stand stability. Furthermore, even at stand densities exceeding more than 1,200 trees ha⁻¹ planted trees, artificial pruning may even be necessary to produce high quality logs.     

Effect of Nutrient Optimization on Branch Characteristics in Picea abies (L.) Karst

The number and size of branches are major determinants of log grading. To study the effect of fertilization on branch characteristics in Norway spruce, trees were sampled in a nutrient optimization experiment in northern Sweden. Data were collected from 24 40-yr-old trees from fertilized and control plots after 12 yrs of annual nutrient application. On the fertilized plots, all essential macronutrients and micronutrients were supplied in irrigation water every second day during the growing season. Fertilization increased the number of new branches, but its effect on branch angle and branch mortality was small. Fertilization increased the diameter of the branches that were formed after the initiation of the treatment, but also the diameter of the branches that were formed before the fertilization commenced. Fertilization enhanced the general growth of a tree, but there were no significant changes in the relationships between stem and branch characteristics. Improved growth rate of trees, as an effect of fertilization, may impair branching quality of logs. Such negative effects may, however, to some extent be counteracted by planting density at stand establishment and later thinning regimens.     

Effects of site preparation on soil properties and on morphology of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies seedlings sown at different dates

The aims of the study are to find out the effects of site preparation on soil properties and on the morphology of three-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. seedlings sown at different dates along a slope with variation in soil texture, water, and fertility. Based on the hypothesis that soil texture affects soil water content, water retention capacity, and nutrient content, we studied site preparation of varying intensities: exposed C horizon, mounds (broken O/E/B horizons piled over undisturbed ground), and exposed E/B horizon. Though the growing time difference between sowings was about one month, after three growing seasons, spring-sown seedlings were larger than summer-sown seedlings. P. sylvestris seedlings were largest with mounds and smallest with exposed C horizon, but site preparation did not affect the morphology of P. abies seedlings.     

Branch characteristics of widely spaced Douglas-fir in south-western Germany: Comparisons of modelling approaches and geographic regions

Models of Douglas-fir branch and whorl characteristics were developed from contrasting spacing experiments in southwest Germany. The dataset was based on 100 young (20–30 years old), unpruned and partially pruned trees from a 100, 200, and 1200 stems ha⁻¹ spacing experiment on Douglas-fir that was replicated 3 times across the region. The material was used to predict (1) the number of branches whorl⁻¹, (2) branch angle, (3) status (living/dead) of the branches within the living crown, (4) maximum branch diameter whorl⁻¹, and (5) relative diameter of branches within a whorl. For each of these models (except branch status), both a linear and nonlinear, generalised hierarchical mixed effects equation was developed. The comparison of the linear and nonlinear approaches showed that both had a relatively similar level of bias, but the nonlinear equations generally performed better (reduction in mean absolute error of 1.1–69.5%). Overall, individual branch and tree properties were sufficient to give logical and precise predictions of the branch characteristics for the models across the range of sampled stand densities. In addition, the models showed a similar behaviour compared to models on Douglas-fir crown structure from the Pacific Northwest, USA. This suggests that the allometric relationship between tree size and branch characteristics for a given species may be relatively consistent across regions, even ones with highly contrasting growing conditions like in this study. The models performed well across a range of stand conditions and now will be further integrated into an individual tree growth and yield simulations system.