Growth and foliar nutrient status of black spruce and tamarack in relation to depth of water table in some Alberta peatlands

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 805-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor J. Lieffers ◽  
S. Ellen Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
The Road ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Depth To Water Table ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Concentration

Foliar nutrient status and growth rates of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and tamarack (Larixlaricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) were assessed at 21 peatland locations where the water table was affected by roadbed construction. On one side of the road the peatland may have been drained while the other side may have been flooded or unaffected by the road. For both black spruce and tamarack, concentrations of foliar N and S, needle length, and periodic annual increment in basal area were positively correlated with depth to water table. Analysis of pairs of sites (from each side of the road) showed that trees from the site with greater depth to water table had higher concentrations of foliar N and S and greater basal area increment. Foliar concentration of P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, and Fe were not correlated with depth to water table or growth rate.

Rooting of peatland black spruce and tamarack in relation to depth of water table

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 817-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Lieffers ◽  
R. L. Rothwell
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fine Root Biomass ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
Deep Roots ◽  
Depth To Water Table

Rooting of Picea mariana Mill. BSP. and Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch trees was examined in four peatlands with different depth of water table. Peat blocks, 60 cm deep, 1.0 m from the base of each tree, were excavated and sectioned into 10-cm horizontal strata and the roots extracted. The presence of and depth to frost and the depth of water table were determined on each peat block. The periodic annual increment in basal area of each tree was determined. Rooting depth was strongly correlated with depth to water table. On wet sites, roots of both black spruce and tamarack were confined to hummocks, while on dry sites, roots penetrated to 60 cm. The deep roots were generally <2 mm in diameter and held in frozen peat layers until late June. There was a strong positive correlation between fine root biomass and depth of water table; however, total root biomass was not correlated with depth to water table. In general, growth rates of both black spruce and tamarack were positively correlated with water table.

The influence of mountain alder on the growth, nutrition, and survival of black spruce and Sitka spruce in an afforested heathland near Mobile, Newfoundland

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
André J. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Humus Layer ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Ecological Basis ◽  
Alder Leaf Litter

The natural invasion of mountain alder (Alnuscrispa (Ait.) Pursh) into monoculture plantations of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) afforded an opportunity to assess the effects of mountain alder on soils, and on the growth, nutrient status, and survival of spruce in eastern Newfoundland. The plantations were established on ploughed Kalmia–Vaccinium heath in 1968–1969. Significant increases in the growth of spruce were associated with the presence of high densities of mountain alder in the two plantations studied. The increases began 3–6 years after the invasion and establishment of mountain alder. Estimated nitrogen (N) contributions to each plantation from mountain alder leaf litter fall were approximately 50 kg•ha−1•year−1. Spruce foliage N content was 10–15% higher in high-density mountain alder (HD-alder) plots than in low-density mountain alder (LD-alder) plots, but other foliar nutrient concentrations were low and possibly deficient in the HD-alder plots. Development of a litter fall–humus layer was observed in HD-alder plots but not in LD-alder plots; however, B-horizon soil-N values did not differ significantly between HD-alder and LD-alder plots. The mountain alder invasion did not reduce the densities (stems/ha) of spruce. Additional studies on the autecology of Alnus spp. native to Newfoundland, and on alder-spruce interaction are recommended to further the development of an adequate ecological basis for heathland and peatland afforestation in the region.

Effect of thinning on the foliar nutrient status of Scots pine stands on drained boreal peatlands

1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1577-1584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannu Hökkä ◽  
Timo Penttilä ◽  
Björn Hånell
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Southern Sweden ◽  
Needle Size ◽  
Boreal Peatlands ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Concentrations ◽  
Individual Trees

Foliar responses to thinning in midrotation stands of Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) were studied in six thinning experiments (0–50% of basal area removed) established on drained peatlands in northern Finland and southern Sweden. The trophic level of the sites varied from ombrotrophic to meso-eutrophic. Needle sampling and analyses were carried out on individual trees of dominant and suppressed canopy layers. The variation in the needle dry mass and in the element concentrations and contents, calculated as plot means, was explained by thinning treatment, blocking by site groups and randoming blocking within the site. Thinning increased foliar concentrations of P, needle size, and contents of N, P, and K in all the canopy layers. It was concluded that thinning improved the foliar nutrient status by reducing the competition for nutrients.

Nutrient status and growth of black spruce layers and planted seedlings in response to nutrient addition in the boreal forest of Quebec

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 729-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raynald Paquin ◽  
Hank A Margolis ◽  
René Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Root Biomass ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Residual Effect ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Nutrient Addition ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Nutrient Concentrations

The effect of nutrient addition (fertilization with N, P, and K at a rate of 448, 224, and 224 kg ·ha-1, respectively) on height growth, root biomass, leaf area, and foliar nutrient concentrations of slow-growing layers and newly planted seedlings of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) was evaluated on an apparently productive mesic site in Quebec. Annual height growth increment of fertilized layers was greater than 20 cm ·year-1compared with 3-4 cm ·year-1for the other three treatments. Fine root biomass (< 2 mm in diameter) and leaf area growth were significantly higher for fertilized layers and seedlings compared with their respective controls. For both current and 1-year-old needles, foliar N concentration on a unit leaf area basis increased significantly for both layers and seedlings, and vector analysis showed that, in all cases, N was the most limiting nutrient. Five growing seasons after treatment, the only residual effect of fertilization on foliar nutrient concentrations was higher foliar N in fertilized seedlings. Thus, it appears that the slow growth of the unfertilized layers on this site was due to resource limitation rather than to the type of regeneration as such.

scholarly journals Partial Harvest in Paludified Black Spruce Stand: Short-Term Effects on Water Table and Variation in Stem Diameter

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Samuel Roy Proulx ◽  
Sylvain Jutras ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Marc J. Mazerolle ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Area Reduction ◽  
Partial Harvest ◽  
Diameter Variation ◽  
Water Table Rise

The boreal forest is considered to be a low productivity forest due to its cold climate and poorly drained soils promoting paludification. These factors create conditions favouring accumulation of undecomposed organic matter, which causes declining growth rates of forest stands, ultimately converting mature stands into peatlands. Under these conditions, careful logging is conducted during winter, which minimizes soil disturbance in northwestern Quebec boreal forest. This results in water table rise, increased light availability and paludification. Our main objective was to evaluate the short-term effect of partial harvesting as an alternative method to careful logging in winter to mitigate water table rise on black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) stands. We quantified tree stem diameter variation and daily variation in water table depth in mature spruce stands before and after partial harvest (basal area reduction of 40%) and girdling (same basal area reduction with delayed mortality) during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Water table variation prior to and following silvicultural treatments did not differ one year after treatment. Daily stem diameter variation in black spruce did not differ between treatments and control. Furthermore, temperature exerted a positive effect on variation in water table and on stem diameter. These results suggest that partial harvest could be more effective than clearcutting to mitigate negative effects of a high water table while limiting paludification.

scholarly journals Growth and nutrient status of black spruce seedlings as affected by water table depth

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miroslaw M. Czapowskyj ◽  
Robert V. Rourke ◽  
Walter J. Grant ◽  
Walter J. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Water Table Depth

scholarly journals Response of advance regeneration to intensity of harvest and fertilization on boreal wetlands

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Teng ◽  
S E Bailey ◽  
N W Foster ◽  
P W Hazlettr
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Boreal Peatlands ◽  
Advance Regeneration ◽  
Limiting Nutrients ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
K Fertilization ◽  
Light Medium

Post-harvest nutrient status and growth of understory black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) advance regeneration during the first seven years after harvest with advance regeneration protection (HARP) was evaluated on two boreal wetlands in northeastern Ontario. Three intensities of HARP were investigated: light, medium and heavy, corresponding to 35, 50, 100% basal area removal of merchantable trees. Limiting nutrients were diagnosed with a nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) potassium (K) fertilization trial. Release by HARP significantly improved foliar N by 43–214%,and P by 40–317%, stimulated needle mass by 13–114% and annual height increment of spruce by 6–50% on all three HARP treatments. Growth of spruce was statistically greater after heavy release than the other two HARP treatments by the sixth year. Fertilization with a combination of N and P further increased needle biomass and height increment by 23–46% and 16–26%, respectively. Nitrogen and, secondly, P were limiting for rapid natural reestablishment of black spruce stands on boreal peatlands. Key words: black spruce, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, clearcut

scholarly journals Foliar nutrient status of a natural fir forest in Greece

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Michopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Critical Values ◽  
Short Supply ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Abies Cephalonica ◽  
Foliar Nutrient ◽  
Foliar Concentrations

The foliar nutrient status was examined in a degraded Greek fir (Abies cephalonica Loud.) forest in Mount Parnitha near Athens, Greece. The examination lied in comparing the foliar concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, N, P, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu with the critical values referring to conifers and the elemental percentages with regard to N of the forest with the corresponding percentages of a healthy Bulgarian fir (Abies borisii regis) stand, the closest relative of the Greek fir. It was found that the needles of the Greek fir had significantly lower concentrations from the N and P critical values. Significant differences were found for the Ca/N, Mg/N, P/N, Fe/N and Mn/N percentages. Significant correlations for the Greek fir were found between needle weight and foliar N as well as between needle weight and the percentages Ca/N and Fe/N. It is highly probable that N and P in the Greek fir are in short supply. &nbsp;

Upland black spruce stand development 17 years after cleaning and precommercial thinning

2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
R L Fleming ◽  
D S Mossa ◽  
G T Marek
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fibre Production ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
Stand Volume ◽  
Quadratic Mean ◽  
Precommercial Thinning ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Four Levels

Density management is often used by silviculturists to guide stand composition and development. We examined the effects of cleaning (hardwood removal) and four levels of precommercial thinning (0, 20, 35 and 50% basal area removal) on stand development in a dense, 24-year-old upland black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) plantation near Beardmore, Ontario. Immediately before treatment, stand densities and basal areas for all species and for black spruce averaged 7375 and 6415 stems ha-1, and 27.9 and 20.5 m2 ha-1, respectively. Seventeen years after treatment, black spruce total stand volume (VT) was higher in the cleaned, unthinned plots (243 m3 ha-1) than in the untreated controls (171 m3 ha-1) while total stand volume increment of all species combined was similar in these two treatments. Compared with cleaning alone, thinning cleaned plots from below increased quadratic mean diameters (DQ) by up to 9% but decreased VT by up to 28%. At plantation age 41, increases in black spruce densities of 1000 stems ha-1 resulted in mean decreases of 0.6 cm in DQ and mean increases of 43 m3 ha-1 in VT. Endemic black spruce stem mortality rates decreased with thinning intensity, with mortality concentrated in the smallest size classes. In some plots, mortality was increased by wind or snow damage, and by root rots. Height increment of dominant trees was unaffected by thinning. Projected yields at age 55 (the physical rotation age—the age at which maximum mean annual increment occurs) suggest the heaviest precommercial thinning could increase quadratic mean diameter from 16.1 to 17.7 cm, but decrease merchantable stand volume from 292 to 225 m3 ha-1. Results indicate that total black spruce fibre yields and product value on these sites will be maximized in denser stands. Cleaning appears to offer greater benefits for black spruce fibre production than precommercial thinning. Key words: black spruce, precommercial thinning, cleaning, density management, projected yields

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