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How does the root system inhibit windthrow in thinned black spruce sites in the boreal forest?

Summary

Published in Trees 28: 1723–1735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1080-4

Partial cutting is frequently applied to increase the volume growth of residual stems. However, the opening of the forest increases the wind speed within the site, and consequently, the risk of windthrow. In the case of black spruce, uprooted trees are normally characterized by a lifting of the root plate. This research was conducted to compare the root systems of standing and uprooted black spruces, after commercial thinning, by looking at root architecture, volume and radial growth. For this purpose, data from a pool of 18 standing and 18 uprooted trees from three study areas were analyzed. The distribution of roots around the stump was compared between both types of trees, standing and uprooted. The radial growth was measured at 30 cm in the stem, 10 cm and 60 cm in the roots. The shape (I and T-beam) and volume were recorded for each root system. The structure of the roots was also mapped to obtain a spatial overview of the angle between roots. The root shape (at 10 and 60 cm) and the angle between roots combined with the diameter of the stem at stump height seem to determine the vulnerability of black spruce to windthrow. Uprooted trees developed fewer roots, with a large sector around the stump without lateral roots which suggests its major implication in the resistance to windthrow.

Sector(s): 

Forests

Categorie(s): 

Scientific Article

Theme(s): 

Forestry Research, Forests, Silviculture

Departmental author(s): 

Tremblay, Stéphane

Author(s)

KRAUSE, Cornelia, Audrey LEMAY, Stéphane TREMBLAY, Jean-Claude RUEL and Pierre-Y. PLOURDE

Year of publication :

2014

Format :

Paper

Keywords :

système racinaire, chablis, éclaircie commerciale, croissance radiale, morphologie des racines, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements résineux, article scientifique de recherche forestière, silviculture and yield of natural forests - softwood stands, root system, windthrow, commercial thinning, radial growth, root morphology

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