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On the relationship between saplings and ingrowth in northern hardwood stands

Summary

Published in Forest Ecology and Management 358: 261-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.09.020

We used long-term data collected from 22 study sites in northern hardwood stands comprised of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) to establish relationships between sapling abundance and tree ingrowth. After 10 years, postharvest sapling density in the 6 cm diameter class (5.1–7.0 cm) showed linear relationships with ingrowth. Proportion of variation explained (r2) varied from 36% to 83% depending upon tree species and silvicultural treatment (partial cutting vs. uncut control). After 20 years, linear relationships were also established (r2 = 24–65%) between ingrowth and sapling density in the 2 cm diameter class (1.1–3.0 cm). From a wide pool of variables related to stand species composition, climate, physiography, and soil nutrients, postharvest sapling density was most strongly correlated to merchantable tree density (r = 0.43–0.75). Sugar maple sapling density was also positively correlated with base saturation and calcium saturation of the B horizon (r = 0.56 and 0.58). Over a 30-year period, the increase in American beech sapling basal area was substantial compared to mitigated increases found in sugar maple and yellow birch depending upon treatment. Our results provide useful information on integration of sapling data into forest management.

Sector(s): 

Forests

Categorie(s): 

Scientific Article

Theme(s): 

Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture

Departmental author(s): 

Bédard, Steve, Guillemette, François

Author(s)

GAUTHIER, Martin-Michel, François GUILLEMETTE and Steve BÉDARD

Year of publication :

2015

Format :

PDF available upon request

ISSN

0378-1127

Keywords :

bouleau jaune, coupes partielles, érable à sucre, hêtre à grandes feuilles, recrutement, régénération, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements feuillus, article scientifique de recherche forestière, Betula alleghaniensis, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Silviculture and yield of natural forests - hardwood stands, American beech, ingrowth, partial cuts, regeneration, sugar maple, yellow birch

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