| Abstract: | A field experiment in northern Sweden was established to compare different regeneration methods. Pinus sylvestris (L.) seeds of various origins were used. On the plots on the clear‐felled area where local seed had been sown, the naturally established conifer regeneration was recorded. Eleven growing seasons after sowing, the total number of seedlings increased by 335% giving a total of 4 754 seedlings ha‐1 when the number of naturally established conifers was added to the number of seedlings from the artificial regeneration. The number of main crop plants almost doubled. The number of naturally established seedlings decreased with increasing distance from the neighboring seed‐tree stand. Up to 110 m from the seed‐tree stand 50% of the sowed 2 × 2 m quadrats had at least one naturally regenerated seedling. The extent of natural regeneration found in this study suggest that it could contribute to a significant increase in stand density under appropriate management on suitable sites. Moreover, naturally established seedlings on artificially regenerated sites may serve as an insurance factor in future perturbations, lead to better tree form shaping conditions and maintain genetic diversity even if material from a narrow genetic base is used for planting or sowing. |
