Influence of stand age and spatial location on throughfall chemistry beneath black spruce

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1917-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Carleton ◽  
Trudy Kavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Summer Precipitation ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Nutrient Deposition ◽  
Young Stand ◽  
Throughfall Chemistry

Total summer precipitation and throughfall chemistry are investigated beneath black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) in central Canada under the null hypothesis that no variation occurs with postfire stand age nor from one location on the feather moss dominated forest floor to another. Data from collectors at inner, mid, and edge radial positions beneath individual tree crowns and between neighbouring trees (gaps), within each of a 61-, 90-, and 120-year-old stand, were summed to yield a growing season total volume and the deposition of NO3−-N, NH4+-N, PO43−-P, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+. Relative to incident precipitation, NO3−-N and NH4+-N showed highly significant net uptake by the canopy foliage. In contrast, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ showed net losses from the canopy throughfall. No appreciable difference in net throughfall (i.e., throughfall minus precipitation) volume and K+ deposition appeared among the stands. However, NH4+-N, NO3−-N, PO43−-P, Ca2+, and Mg2+ showed significant differences. NH4+-N and NO3−-N were less readily retained by foliage of the old stand than by that of the young stand, whereas Ca2+ and Mg2+ leached more readily from trees in the 120-year-old stand than in the other two. PO43−-P showed no net throughfall in the 61- and 120-year-old stands, whereas there were net losses from the canopy of the 90-year-old stand. This may reflect soil differences between the 90-year-old site and the other two. Significant differences in spatial location emerged for all variables measured. Net throughfall deposition of PO43−-P, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ declined from the inner to gap positions, whereas volume, NO3−-N, and NH4+-N increased. These effects were proportional to the canopy profile depth above each collector. The heterogeneity observed in nutrient deposition on the forest floor has important implications for the distribution and growth of forest floor plants, such as mosses and lichens, which seem to depend on precipitation and throughfall for their nutrient supply.

Comparison of the structures of even-aged aspen stands in three geographic regions

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Pielou ◽  
J. S. Campbell ◽  
V. J. Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
The Other ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Young Stand ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Northern Alberta

Even-aged aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands in regions with contrasting climates differ from one another in the growth rates of individual stems and in the rates at which they self-thin. The dependence on stand age of four statistics describing stand structure (the mean, standard deviation, and skewness of the distribution of tree girths and the number of trees in a 400-m2 plot) were studied in three geographical regions: northern Alberta, Yukon, and the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta. Each region has unique stand statistics. The annual radial increment is least in the Yukon, presumably because of the short growing season. Foothills plots are unique in having girth distributions that are approximately symmetrical at all ages; this contrasts with the other two regions, where girth distributions exhibited positive skewness in young stands and skewness decreased with age. Also in Foothills plots, the standard deviations of the girths increased more slowly with age than in the other two regions. A model was devised to simulate the progressive changes in these statistics in a stand as it ages. To run the model, one begins with data from an actual, observed stand for which the distribution of the trees in different size classes is known. It is then assumed that the trees grow; the growth rate of a tree is greater the larger the tree was initially. Simultaneously, trees die; the probability that a tree will die is greater the smaller the tree was initially. Thus, the values that the descriptive statistics of a given young stand are expected (according to the model) to have when the stand is old can be predicted; the predictions can be compared with current statistics of observed stands that are already old.

Black spruce growth response to varying levels of biomass harvest intensity across a range of soil types: 15-year results

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave M. Morris ◽  
Martin M. Kwiaton ◽  
Dan R. Duckert
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Crown Closure

With a growing interest in the diversification (e.g., bioenergy, biochemicals) of the forest industry beyond the traditional product streams, concerns that higher harvest utilization levels may compromise site productivity have been heightened. This study reports on 15-year tree growth responses to varying levels of biomass removals conducted on four soil types: loamy tills, outwash sands, wet mineral, and peatlands. Experimental harvest treatments included stem-only, full-tree, full-tree chipping (a full-tree harvest with the roadside material chipped and returned to the site), and full-tree + bladed (a full-tree harvest followed by forest floor removal). Results indicated no significant effect on height growth on the loamy tills, a significant decline for the blading treatment on the sandy soils, and an increase when the blading treatment was applied to the peatland sites. At the stand level, better planted seedling survival and higher recruitment of naturals on the more extreme removal treatment (forest floor removal on sandy sites) tended to nullify any negative impacts identified in the individual-tree growth measurements. The more than doubling of the slash loading on the stem-only treatment plots compared with the full-tree plots did not result in differences in tree productivity levels between these two operational treatments. The stands, however, were just approaching crown closure by year 15, suggesting that ongoing monitoring will be required to confirm that the growth trajectories for the various harvest treatment – soil type combinations can be maintained.

scholarly journals Patterns of Biomass and Carbon Allocation across Chronosequence of Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) Forest in Pakistan: Inventory-Based Estimate

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Amir ◽  
Xiaodong Liu ◽  
Adnan Ahmad ◽  
Sajjad Saeed ◽  
Abdul Mannan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Pinus Roxburghii ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Young Stand ◽  
Sequestration Potential ◽  
Chir Pine

The quantitative relationship between carbon sequestration potential and stand ages of Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest is not documented in Pakistan. Using field inventory data, this study underlines the patterns of biomass and carbon allocation across a chronosequence of Chir Pine forest. Based on the uniform shelterwood silvicultural management system, the forest was classified into three stand age classes representing the young stand (<50 years), mature stand (50–75 years), and overmature stand (> 75 years). The results showed an increasing trend in living tree biomass carbon with stand age. However, soil carbon showed gradually decreasing trend from young to overmature stand. Similarly, deadwood, litter, and understory biomass carbon showed an increase pattern of changes. Altogether, the results highlighted that the mean carbon values of all components varied between 90.3 t·C·ha−1 in the young stand and 309.5 t·C·ha−1 in the overmature stand. Furthermore, our results confirm that the current management operations affect the forest floor and soil carbon. Therefore, we suggest that different protection measures should be considered during management operations to enhance soil and forest floor carbon.

scholarly journals The Difficulty of Predicting Eastern Spruce Dwarf Mistletoe in Lowland Black Spruce: Model Benchmarking in Northern Minnesota, USA

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 843
Author(s):  
Ella R. Gray ◽  
Matthew B. Russell ◽  
Marcella A. Windmuller-Campione
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Model Interpretation

Insects, fungi, and diseases play an important role in forest stand development and subsequently, forest management decisions and treatments. As these disturbance agents commonly occur within and across landscapes, modeling has often been used to inform forest planning and management decisions. However, models are rarely benchmarked, leaving questions about their utility. Here, we assessed the predictive performance of a Bayesian hierarchical model through on–the-ground sampling to explore what features of stand structure or composition may be important factors related to eastern spruce dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum Peck) presence in lowland black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B. S. P.). Twenty-five state-owned stands included in the predictive model were sampled during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. Within each stand, data related to the presence of eastern spruce dwarf mistletoe, stand structure, and species composition were collected. The model accurately predicted eastern spruce dwarf mistletoe occurrence for 13 of the 25 stands. The amount of living and dead black spruce basal area differed significantly based on model prediction and observed infestation, but trees per hectare, total living basal area, diameter at breast height, stand age, and species richness were not significantly different. Our results highlight the benefits of model benchmarking to improve model interpretation as well as to inform our understanding of forest health problems across diverse stand conditions.

Root rot damage in naturally regenerated stands of spruce and balsam fir in Ontario

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Root Decay ◽  
Forest Region

In an 11-year study in northern Ontario, root rot damage was heaviest in balsam fir, intermediate in black spruce, and least in white spruce. As a result of root rot, 16, 11, and 6%, respectively, of dominant or codominant trees of the three species were killed or experienced premature windfall. Butt rot, which resulted from the upward extension of root rot into the boles of living trees, led to a scaled cull of 17, 12, and 10%, respectively, of gross merchantable volume of the remaining living trees in the three species. The total volume of wood lost to rot was, therefore, 33, 23, and 16%, respectively. Of 1108 living dominant and codominant balsam fir, 1243 black spruce, and 501 white spruce in 165 stands, 87, 68, and 63%, respectively, exhibited some degree of advanced root decay. Losses resulting from root rot increased with tree age. Significant amounts of root decay and stain (>30% of root volume) first occurred at 60 years of age in balsam fir and 80 years in black spruce and white spruce. For the three species together, the proportion of trees that were dead and windfallen as a result of root rot increased from an average of 3% at 41–50 years to 13% at 71–80 years and 26% at 101–110 years. The root rot index, based on the number of dead and windfallen trees and estimated loss of merchantable volume, also increased, from an average of 17 at 41–50 years to 40 at 71–80 years and 53 at 101–110 years. Death and windfall of balsam fir and black spruce were more common in northwestern Ontario than in northeastern Ontario. Damage to balsam fir was greater in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Forest region than in the Boreal Forest region. In all three tree species, the degree of root rot (decay and stain) was highly correlated with the number of dead and windfallen trees, stand age, and root decay at ground level (as a percentage of basal area) for a 10-tree sample.

scholarly journals Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Afforested Agricultural Land in Lithuanian Hemiboreal Forest Zone

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1562
Author(s):  
Iveta Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė ◽  
Povilas Žemaitis ◽  
Kęstutis Armolaitis ◽  
Vidas Stakėnas ◽  
Gintautas Urbaitis
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Soc Stocks ◽  
Topsoil Layer

In the context of the specificity of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in afforested land, nutrient-poor Arenosols and nutrient-rich Luvisols after afforestation with coniferous and deciduous tree species were studied in comparison to the same soils of croplands and grasslands. This study analysed the changes in SOC stock up to 30 years after afforestation of agricultural land in Lithuania, representing the cool temperate moist climate region of Europe. The SOC stocks were evaluated by applying the paired-site design. The mean mass and SOC stocks of the forest floor in afforested Arenosols increased more than in Luvisols. Almost twice as much forest floor mass was observed in coniferous than in deciduous stands 2–3 decades after afforestation. The mean bulk density of fine (<2 mm) soil in the 0–30 cm mineral topsoil layer of croplands was higher than in afforested sites and grasslands. The clear decreasing trend in mean bulk density due to forest stand age with the lowest values in the 21–30-year-old stands was found in afforested Luvisols. In contrast, the SOC concentrations in the 0–30 cm mineral topsoil layer, especially in Luvisols afforested with coniferous species, showed an increasing trend due to the influence of stand age. The mean SOC values in the 0–30 cm mineral topsoil layer of Arenosols and Luvisols during the 30 years after afforestation did not significantly differ from the adjacent croplands or grasslands. The mean SOC stock slightly increased with the forest stand age in Luvisols; however, the highest mean SOC stock was detected in the grasslands. In the Arenosols, there was higher SOC accumulation in the forest floor with increasing stand age than in the Luvisols, while the proportion of SOC stocks in mineral topsoil layers was similar and more comparable to grasslands. These findings suggest encouragement of afforestation of former agricultural land under the current climate and soil characteristics in the region, but the conversion of perennial grasslands to forest land should be done with caution.

Forest floor mass and nutrients in two chronosequences of plantations: Jack pine vs. black spruce

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Krause
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Natural Forests

The purpose of this study was to determine whether change of forest cover had an effect on the development of the organic surface horizons, particularly on those variables that influence nutrient cycling and forest productivity. Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) plantations were selected from among the youngest to oldest (2–16 yr) within a 100 km2 area in southeastern New Brunswick. Natural forests were also included as benchmark sites. The forest floor and tree foliage was sampled and trees measured on 0.05-ha plots. The forest floor samples were used to determine organic mass, nutrient contents and pH. In pine plantations, organic matter accumulated rapidly during the period of exponential tree growth, but leveled off at about 45 Mg ha–1. This was within the range of benchmark sites with mixed conifer-hardwood cover. In spruce plantations, the forest floor mass ranged upward to 77 Mg ha–1. Development was strongly influenced by the nature of the previous forest. Spruce forest floors were on average more acid and had lower nutrient concentrations, particularly N and Ca. The observed differences suggest that nutrients are recycled more rapidly in the pine plantations, partly explaining the superior growth of the latter. Key words: Forest floor, Kalmia angustifolia L., Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., Pinus banksiana Lamb., nutrient cycling, plantation forest

VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF CONIFERS: VI. HORMONE SOLUTION AND DUST TREATMENTS OF SPRUCE CUTTINGS PROPAGATED IN GREENHOUSE AND OUTSIDE FRAMES

1940 ◽  
Vol 18c (8) ◽  
pp. 401-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. H. Grace ◽  
J. L. Farrar
Keyword(s):  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Vegetative Propagation ◽  
Acid Treatment ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Cane Sugar ◽  
The Other ◽  
Acid Solutions ◽  
Organic Mercury ◽  
Indolylacetic Acid

Four monthly collections of dormant Norway spruce cuttings, January to April, were treated with indolylbutyric acid solutions and propagated in sand in a greenhouse. February and April collections gave better rooting than those of the other two months, while there was appreciably greater mortality of the March and April collections. The results with short cuttings were uniformly superior to those obtained with long cuttings. Other cuttings of the April collection were propagated outside. The short cuttings responded more favourably to outside conditions, while the long cuttings gave equally poor results inside and outside. Indolylbutyric acid treatment had no beneficial effect and was followed by reduced rooting and increased mortality at concentrations from 20 to 60 p.p.m.Results of a late March collection of Norway, white, and black spruce cuttings treated with talc dusts containing indolylacetic acid, cane sugar, and organic mercury, indicated that Norway spruce rooted more readily than the two other species. Treatment failed to have a beneficial effect, although injury from indolylacetic acid was somewhat reduced by its combination with organic mercury.The results of these and the other experiments reported indicate that short Norway spruce cuttings over the period from January to April root to the extent of about 50%. A May collection, an early June collection with new growth on the cuttings, and a late June collection in which the cuttings were made from new growth only, gave inappreciable rooting. Similar new-growth cuttings did, however, give some rooting when propagated in sand watered with nutrient salts.

Cutting management and alfalfa stand age effects on organically grown corn grain yield and soil N availability

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adria L. Fernandez ◽  
Karina P. Fabrizzi ◽  
Nicole E. Tautges ◽  
John A. Lamb ◽  
Craig C. Sheaffer
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
No Removal ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Biomass Removal ◽  
Potentially Mineralizable N ◽  
Corn Grain

AbstractAlfalfa is recommended as a rotational crop in corn production, due to its ability to contribute to soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) stocks through atmospheric N2fixation and above- and belowground biomass production. However, there is little information on how alfalfa management practices affect contributions to soil and subsequent corn crop yields, and research has not been targeted to organic systems. A study was conducted to determine the effects of alfalfa stand age, cutting frequency and biomass removal on soil C and N status and corn yields at three organically managed Minnesota locations. In one experiment, five cutting treatments were applied in nine environments: two, three and four cuts with biomass removal; three cuts with biomass remaining in place; and a no-cut control. In the other experiment, corn was planted following 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-year-old alfalfa stands and a no-alfalfa control. Yield was measured in the subsequent corn crop. In the cutting experiment, the two- and three-cut treatments with biomass removal reduced soil mineral N by 12.6 and 11.5%, respectively, compared with the control. Potentially mineralizable N (PMN) was not generally affected by cutting treatments. The three-cut no-removal increased potentially mineralizable C by 17% compared with the other treatments, but lowered soil total C in two environments, suggesting a priming effect in which addition of alfalfa biomass stimulated microbial mineralization of native soil C. Although both yields and soil mineral N tended to be higher in treatments where biomass remained in place, this advantage was small and inconsistent, indicating that farmers need not forgo hay harvest to obtain the rotational benefits of an alfalfa stand. The lack of overall correlation between corn grain yields and mineral and potentially mineralizable N suggests that alfalfa N contribution was not the driver of the yield increase in the no-removal treatments. Alfalfa stand age had inconsistent effects on fall-incorporated N and soil N and C parameters. Beyond the first year, increased alfalfa stand age did not increase soil mineral N or PMN. However, corn yield increased following older stands. Yields were 29, 77 and 90% higher following first-, second- and third-year alfalfa stands than the no-alfalfa control, respectively. This indicates that alfalfa may benefit succeeding corn through mechanisms other than N contribution, potentially including P solubilization and weed suppression. These effects have been less studied than N credits, but are of high value in organic cropping systems.

Forest floor dynamics in a chronosequence of hardwood stands in central Nova Scotia

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Wallace ◽  
B. Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Ammonium N ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Mature Stands

A postclear-cutting chronosequence of hardwood stands in Nova Scotia was examined for patterns of forest floor weight, concentration of selected nutrients, rate of potential insitu litter decomposition (litterbags), and potential lab ammonification and nitrification. Some evidence was found that the forest floor experiences weight loss following clear-cutting. However, the large weight losses and clear pattern of recovery described by others for New Hampshire hardwood chronosequences were not observed. The lack of close agreement may have been a result of intra- and inter-stand variation in forest floor weight in our study. This spatial variation was greater than any effect as a result of clear-cutting. There was no significant relationship between insitu weight loss of leaves or twigs with stand age. No clear-cutting effect was observed in the laboratory for potential ammonification, which occurred readily in all stands (three clear-cuttings, three mature stands). Limed materials produced significantly more mineralized N (nitrate N + ammonium N) than did unlimed materials. Concentrations of ammonium N in F and H horizon field material were significantly higher on clear-cuttings than in mature stands. However, since this measurement reflects net rather than total production, it is not evidence that higher rates of ammonification occurred on clear-cuttings. Potential nitrification was not an important process in F and H horizon materials at their natural pH. Nitrification occurred readily in limed materials, but there were no significant differences among different aged stands. Concentrations of nitrate N in field F and H horizon material were low for all stands, with a mean of 9 ± 7 ppm (n = 350). However, in 7% of field samples, nitrate N ≥ 15 ppm was found; in 2%, ≥30 ppm was found.

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