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Conifer regeneration in managed temperate mixedwood stands: the balance between release and competition

Summary

Published in New Forests 46: 409-425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-015-9468-6

We established a long-term experiment in a temperate mixedwood stand to evaluate the effectiveness of silvicultural treatments in regenerating a mixed-species cohort while maintaining the dominance of conifers. Silvicultural treatments included clearcutting using careful logging around advanced growth (CLAAG), uniform shelterwood (US), group shelterwood with (GS-s) or without scarification (GS), and an uncut control (control). After 10 years, height and ground-line diameter growth responses of advanced balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) regeneration were substantial in CLAAG and GS compared to the control, and intermediate in US. Growth responses were proportional to increases in canopy light transmittance resulting from harvest. Advanced balsam fir regeneration had low mortality (<10 %) and a high potential for release as measured by the apical dominance ratio. At the stand level, however, a shift in species composition occurred in the regenerating cohort. Over the 10-year period, composition changed from conifer-dominated to hardwood-dominated in CLAAG, GS, and GS-s compared to the control. Scarification increased the magnitude of this shift by favoring shade-intolerant hardwoods. Results highlight the need to find a balance between releasing advance conifer regeneration and limiting competition from less desirable species.

Sector(s): 

Forests

Categorie(s): 

Scientific Article

Theme(s): 

Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture

Departmental author(s): 

Larouche, Catherine

Author(s)

LAROUCHE, Catherine, Martin-Michel GAUTHIER, Vincent ROY and Donald BLOUIN

Year of publication :

2015

Format :

Paper

Keywords :

sapin baumier, trouées, peuplements mixtes, coupes partielles, régénération, coupe progressive, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements mélangés, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements résineux, article scientifique de recherche forestière, Abies balsamea, balsam fir, gaps, mixedwood stands, partial cuts, regeneration, shelterwood, silviculture and yield of natural forests - mixed stands, silviculture and yield of natural forests - softwood stands

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