scholarly journals Presence of Root Rot Reduces Stability of Norway Spruce (Picea abies): Results of Static Pulling Tests in Latvia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskars Krisans ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Steffen Rust ◽  
Natalija Burnevica ◽  
Lauma Bruna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Wind Damage ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Secondary Failure ◽  
The Future ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Individual Trees

Storms are the main abiotic disturbance in European forests, effects of which are expected to intensify in the future, hence the importance of forest stand stability is increasing. The predisposition of Norway spruce to wind damage appears to be enhanced by pathogens such as Heterobasidion spp., which reduce stability of individual trees. However, detailed information about the effects of the root rot on the stability of individual trees across diverse soil types is still lacking. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of root rot on the individual tree stability of Norway spruce growing on drained peat and mineral soils. In total, 77 Norway spruce trees (age 50–80 years) growing in four stands were tested under static loading. The presence of Heterobasidion spp. had a significant negative effect on the bending moment at primary and secondary failure of the tested trees irrespectively of soil type. This suggests increased legacy effects (e.g., susceptibility to pathogens and pests due to fractured roots and altered water uptake) of storms. Damaged trees act as weak spots increasing the susceptibility of stands to wind damage, thus forming a negative feedback loop and contributing to an ongoing decline in vitality of Norway spruce stands following storms in the study region in the future. Accordingly, the results support the importance of timely identification of the decayed trees, lowering stand density and/or shortening rotation period as the measures to counteract the increasing effects of storms on Norway spruce stands.

scholarly journals The effect of root rot and bark-stripping on wind stability of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) = Parastās egles (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) vēja noturības izmaiņas sakņu trupes un stumbra mizas bojājumu ietekmē

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Oskars Krisans ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Natural Disturbances ◽  
Bark Stripping ◽  
Secondary Failure ◽  
Spruce Stands

Climate change causes gradual decline of economic value of Norway spruce forestry except in boreal and hemiboreal forest zones that will remain suitable for this tree species. However, also in this region frequency and scale of damages caused by natural disturbances (abiotic and biotic factors) are expected to increase. Norway spruce will remain its economic significance and role in carbon sequestration in Latvia, if forest management practices will be changed to prevent or minimize the damages caused by natural disturbances. Information on effect of natural disturbances and their interactions on trees is vital for development of recommendations for adaptation of forestry to climate change. The aim of the thesis is to assess the effect of root rot and bark-stripping on possibility of wind induced damages in Norway spruce stands. Tree mechanical stability was primarily determined by its stem volume; however, the presence of damages, caused by biotic agents, such as root rot and bark-stripping, significantly reduced it. Morphometric parameters of Norway spruce stem and root plate differed significantly between stands on drained peat and mineral soils. Root-rot notably and significantly affected mechanical stability of trees regardless of soil type and volume of root-soil plate, resulting in similar reduction of wind load necessary to cause both primary and secondary failure. Consequences of bark-stripping primarily affected root-soil anchorage, more commonly causing uprooting than stem fracture. Most pronounced was reduction of resistance against primary failure. Changing wind climate, high population density of cervids and presence of root-rot will lead to increased risk of damages caused by (repeated) storms and subsequent legacy effects. The survival of forest stands depends on dimensions of trees and exposure time to different damaging agents, and, at current climate and silvicultural practice, was significantly reduced when transitioning into third age class (41-60 years). Targeted forestry, ensuring planting of improved material, lower initial density, timely precommercial thinning and thus ensuring faster reach of the tree dimension required for final harvest will reduce the time when stands are subjected to significant wind damage risk, thus minimizing the possibility of such disturbance and boosting value of Norway spruce stands.

Wood density in Norway spruce: changes with thinning intensity and tree age

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 1767-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuula Jaakkola ◽  
Harri Mäkinen ◽  
Pekka Saranpää
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Individual Tree Growth ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Individual Trees

The effect of thinning intensity on growth and wood density in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was investigated in two long-term thinning experiments in southeastern Finland. The stands were approaching maturity, and their development had already been studied for 30 years. The intensities of thinning were low, normal, and high (i.e., the stand basal area after the thinning was, on average, 40, 27, and 24 m2·ha–1, respectively, in Heinola, and 30, 28, and 17 m2·ha–1 in Punkaharju, respectively). Compared with the low thinning intensity, the normal and high thinning intensities increased the basal-area increment of individual trees by 52% and 68%, respectively. Normal and high thinning intensities resulted in a relatively small reduction (1%–4%) of mean ring density compared with low thinning intensity. The random variation in wood density between and within trees was large. About 27% of the total variation in wood density was related to variation between rings. Our results indicate that the prevailing thinning intensities in Norway spruce stands in Fennoscandia cause no marked changes in wood density. At least, the possible reduction in wood density is low compared with the increase in individual tree growth.

scholarly journals Transformation of even-aged spruce stands at the School Forest Enterprise Kostelec nad Černými lesy: Structure and final cutting of mature stand

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 158-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Remeš
Keyword(s):  
Forest Stand ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Main Criterion ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Main Method ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Mature Stand ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Very High

This paper deals with the transformation of pure even-aged forest stands to mixed and more uneven-aged stands on an example of selected even-aged Norway spruce stands in the School Forest Enterprise (SFE) in Kostelec nad Černými lesy. A forest stand where individual tree felling was used as the main method of forest stand regeneration was chosen as a conversion example. The main criterion of tree maturity is the culmination of mean volume increment of a single tree. The analyses confirmed a very high variability in the growth potential of individual trees. The potential and actual increment was strongly influenced by the stand position of tree and by crown release. These results show a high potential level of tree growth even at the age of 120 years. From 30% to 9% of all trees on particular experimental plots achieved felling maturity.

scholarly journals Risk evaluation of the climatic change impact on secondary Norway spruce stands as exemplified by the Ktiny Training Forest Enterprise

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 256-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Čermák ◽  
L. Jankovský ◽  
P. Cudlín
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Change ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Future Development ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
The Future ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
Climatic Change Impact ◽  
A Site

The paper proposes a method of assessing the potential risks of the future development of stands in relation to a climatic change. To assess risks of the future development of a stand simple point scales have been worked up based on primary properties of a site and a stand according to data of the forest management plan (FMP). In assessing the health condition, the risk of damage to stands by Armillaria sp. in the felling age was evaluated on the basis of a present attack by Armillaria sp. and also defoliation of the crown primary structure assessed during a simple field examination. The evaluation was carried out in the region of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise (TFE) Masarykův les, ranger district Proklest, in 2002. The study was conducted in <br />118 Norway spruce stands aged more than 20 years. The majority of evaluated stands ranked among the category of high and medium risk from the viewpoint of site and stand risks and among the category of high Armillaria sp. attack. &nbsp; &nbsp;

scholarly journals Spatio-temporal patterns of the Norway spruce decline in the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki (Western Carpathians) in southern Poland

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 38-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Grodzki
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Bark Beetle ◽  
Forest Decline ◽  
Wind Damage ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Southern Poland ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Winter Time

A dramatic forest decline due to the bark beetle outbreak, which occurs in the Norway spruce stands in the Western Beskidy (southern Poland) since 2003, was started after severe physiological drought during winter time. An analysis describing some spatio-temporal characteristics of this process, with special regard to the patterns of bark beetle occurrence related to root fungal diseases, is presented. In 2003 the bark beetle occurrence level assessed as high and catastrophic was recorded on 40% of the area, while in 2006 – on 59%. The range of <I>Armillaria</I> root disease and bark beetle outbreak increased towards higher altitudes, including the zone above 1,000 m a.s.l. The wind damage in 2004 and 2007, and high temperatures in the summer 2006, further stimulated the increase in bark beetle populations level. Some conclusions on possible development of the outbreak and recommendations concerning related needs in forest protection, are given.

scholarly journals MANAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL TREE DIAMETER GROWTH AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRUNING FOR BRAZILIAN Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden

FLORESTA ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Nutto ◽  
Peter Spathelf ◽  
Irene Seling
Keyword(s):  
Eucalyptus Grandis ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Rotation Periods ◽  
Crown Cover ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Crown Width ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Trees

In the present work a thinning program and a model describing dynamic of crown base recession for Eucalyptus grandis was established on an individual tree basis. Therefore, 485 trees were measured on temporary plots in forests of the companies Klabin Riocell (Guaíba), Todeschini (Cachoeira do Sul), the Federal University of Santa Maria and Aracruz Company, located in Rio Grande do Sul, Espirito Santo and Bahia, Brazil. A straight relationship between crown width and diameter at breast height (DBH) was found by using regression analysis. The equation obtained was crown width = e0.504+0.0307* DBH, with a coefficient of determination of 0.78 and a standard error of 0.034. With this equation the standing space of the individual trees was calculated over the whole rotation period, taking into account a crown cover of 70 %. Therefore the number of trees which can be grown on a hectare was derived for different variants of management systems aiming to produce eucalypt sawlogs in short rotation periods. Beside this a multivariate model describing height of crown base as a function of DBH and total height was found. Based upon this model the dynamics of crown base recession for different site qualities and thinning regimes are described, giving advice for time and intensity of green pruning.

scholarly journals Yellowing of Norway spruce stands in the Silesian Beskids – damage extent and dynamics

2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Šrámek ◽  
M. Vejpustková ◽  
R. Novotný ◽  
K. Hellebrandová
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Regional Survey ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Stand Damage ◽  
Ring Analysis ◽  
Mosaic Distribution ◽  
Individual Trees

In recent years, the Czech part of the Silesian Beskids has been affected by strong yellowing of Norway spruce stands and gradual decline of individual trees. Similar damage has also been observed in the neighbouring parts of Poland and Slovakia. The article presents the results of an investigation in the Forest District Jablunkov – part Nýdek. To evaluate the situation, monitoring plots were established and a regional survey was carried out together with tree-ring analysis. The results show a mosaic distribution of damage in the region studied, independent of the altitude and forest type. Defoliation was lower in 20–40 years old stands. Even these young classes, however, show yellowing symptoms. The decline of stands started to be visible at the end of the 1990s; significant loss of vitality was observed in the most affected stands in 2003, after an extremely hot and dry vegetation period. Actual development of meteorological conditions plays an important role in the stand damage. Lastly, possible causes of damage and further development are discussed.

scholarly journals THE INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF NORWAY SPRUCE: A COMPROMISE BETWEEN FINANCIAL GAIN AND GENETIC DIVERSITY?

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Solveiga Luguza ◽  
Endijs Bāders ◽  
Pauls Zeltiņš ◽  
Roberts Čakšs ◽  
Dainis Edgars Ruņģis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Seed Orchard ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
The Impact

INTRODUCTION Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is a high-yielding commercial tree species grown in the Baltic sea region. It not only ensures timber production, but also provides a notable amount of crown branch biomass and a substantial amount of technically accessible stump biomass for energy. Thus, it has a high potential as a source of renewable materials and energy in the bioeconomy. Recent studies in Latvia have shown no long-term negative consequences to forest ecosystems from whole-tree harvesting. Hence, this management method can be considered sustainable for Norway spruce stands in fertile mineral soils. Not only yield, but also risks need to be considered to ensure financial sustainability, mainly the impact of wind-storms, drought, and pests. A combination of silviculture and genetics (tree breeding) can be used to reduce the probability of damage to Norway spruce stands. The aim of our study was to assess the potential of simultaneously ensuring both genetic gain and diversity in Norway spruce plantations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data characterizing/showing tree growth – current height, diameter at breast height, survival, as well as radial increment (increment cores) – were obtained from a 50-year-old Norway spruce plantation. Data characterizing genetic diversity were collected from a gene reserve stand (48 trees), Norway spruce seed orchard progenies consisting of 20 clones, as well as 12 pure Norway spruce stands. DNA was extracted and analysed with 6 to 14 nuclear SSR markers. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between the seed orchard progenies, the trees from the gene reserve stand and other Norway spruce stands using the assessed parameters – allelic richness, observed heterozygosity, genetic diversity and relatedness. This indicates that the use of a seed orchard containing a relatively low number of clones as a seed source for plant production and forest regeneration would not have a negative impact on genetic diversity. However, notable gains in productivity can be achieved using selected plant material. At the age of 50 years, phenotypically selected clones in the low-density (5×5m) plantation had a mean yield of 327±42 m3ha-1, significantly exceeding the mean yield (277±56 m3ha-1) observed in Norway spruce stands of the same age and the same site conditions (forest type), while no significant differences were observed compared to the average stand yield at the age of 80 years (347±47 m3ha-1). The target diameter of 31 cm was reached at the age of 42±0.9 years on average, but this varied significantly among clones. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate a notable potential to reduce the rotation period, thereby: a) increasing the availability of raw material for further processing and energy production, and b) reducing financial risks due to lowering the probability that the stand will sustain substantial damage (i.e. wind storm). This gain can be achieved without significantly compromising genetic diversity. Further studies shall address potential changes in genetic diversity at the landscape level over a longer period when using a very limited set of clones. Stands in nature reserves could serve as a basis for comparison in such studies.

The effect of stump harvesting on tree growth and the infection of root rot in young Norway spruce stands in hemiboreal Estonia

2020 ◽  
Vol 475 ◽  
pp. 118425
Author(s):  
Jürgen Aosaar ◽  
Tiia Drenkhan ◽  
Kalev Adamson ◽  
Kristiina Aun ◽  
Hardo Becker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Spruce Stands

The effect of winter thinning on the spread of Heterobasidion parviporum in Norway spruce stands

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 2589-2595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuula Piri ◽  
Kari Korhonen
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Areal Unit ◽  
Tree Generation ◽  
Thinning Operation ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Vegetative Spread

Genets of Heterobasidion were identified in eight 43- to 56-year-old Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands in southern Finland. Four of the stands had been thinned in winter ca. 10 years prior to the study, and four had been left unthinned. It was hypothesized that the felling of decayed trees promotes the vegetative spread of the fungus from thinning stumps into the adjacent trees, and hence the Heterobasidion genets should be larger in thinned stands. Although the number of infected stumps per areal unit was lower and the genets were slightly smaller in the previous tree generation of thinned plots, the genets, particularly the old ones, in the present tree generation were larger on thinned plots. The genets originating from the previous rotation included, on average, 12.2 trees on thinned plots and 6.7 trees on unthinned plots. The mean number of trees infected by new genets (not found in previous generation) was also slightly higher (p < 0.05) on thinned than on unthinned plots, 1.8 and 1.2 trees, respectively. The results indicate that the rapid expansion of old Heterobasidion infections after a thinning operation may significantly contribute to the occurrence of root rot in the residual stand.

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