Summary
Published in Journal of Forestry Research 28(3): 95-106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0778-3
We studied late-entry commercial thinning effects on growth, yield, and regeneration in a 48-year-old jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stand. Applied thinning intensities were 27, 32, and 47% of merchantable basal area (BA) excluding skidding trails. After 15 years, mean diameter at breast height of surviving trees in the 47% BA removal increased by 4.9 cm (25%) compared to the unthinned control. The 47% BA removal also increased gross merchantable volume (GMV) tree−1 by 46% compared to the control. The 27% BA removal had twice as much GMV ha−1 compared to the 47% BA removal after 15 years. Moreover, cumulative GMV ha−1 was much higher in the 27% BA removal than in the unthinned control. The highest thinning intensity produced larger trees on average, while the lowest thinning intensity maximized volume production per hectare. Maintenance of acceptable growing stock throughout the 15-year period in the 27% BA removal could provide other ecosystem functions such as biodiversity enhancement or wildlife habitat by delaying senescence. Regeneration data showed that a shift in species composition occurred in the understory. After 15 years, the understory was dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). If regenerating jack pine is an objective after final overstory removal, additional efforts will be needed to re-establish this species.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
GAUTHIER, Martin-Michel et Stéphane TREMBLAY
Year of publication :
2018
Format :
Paper
How to get the publication :
ISSN
1993-0607
Keywords :
pin gris, éclaircie commerciale, production, report de la sénescence, régénération, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements résineux, Pinus banksiana, article scientifique de recherche forestière, silviculture and yield of natural forests - softwood stands, jack pine, commercial thinning, stand yield, succession, delayed senescence, tree regeneration
