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Forest soil-site studies – II. The use of forest vegetation for evaluating site fertility of black spruce

Summary

Published in Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada 107(16): 1-32

This report presents data from 125 black spruce stands located in the Boreal forest of Canada from Newfoundland to western Ontario. A description of the vegetation is presented by strata and in total.

Two major vegetation regions were found: the Atlantic located to the east, and the Continental, located to the west of the 65th meridian. Site fertility was lower in the Atlantic region than in the Continental region. The diversity of the vascular species increased from east to west, with a maximum found to the north of the Great Lakes. The highest number of species was found on the most fertile of the mesic to hydric sites. The herb stratum contributed most to the total number of observed species. For the sake of comparison the stands were also described according to currently used site types.

To explore the possibility of using the dominance of vegetation as a continuous variable in relation to site fertility, certain species and species groups were selected for intensive study. By grouping appropriate species, a closer correlation with site index was obtained than by considering the species individually. For site index prediction, the multiple regression equations for these groups were developed which would minimize prediction errors, and would consist of variables which would be easy to identify and be suitable for air photo interpretation or direct ground measurement. Both multiple regression equations and currently used site types appear to be applicable throughout the study area. However, site index prediction was better with regression equations than with site types. This is due, in part, to the wide range of fertility found within a given site type.

Sector(s): 

Forests

Categorie(s): 

Scientific Article

Theme(s): 

Forestry Research, Forests

Author(s)

VALLÉE, Gilles and Gerald L. LOWRY

Year of publication :

1970

Format :

Paper

Keywords :

forests, soil (material), soil water, soils (types), sites, fertility, site index, site surveys, ecology, canopy (forest), softwoods, Picea mariana, regression analysis, statistical analysis, black spruce, épinette noire

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