Soil properties and lodgepole pine growth on forest landings rehabilitated by tillage and fertilizer application

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Krzic ◽  
L. Zabek ◽  
C E Bulmer ◽  
B K Chapman ◽  
C. Trethewey

Soils on forest landings are often degraded and unable to support optimal growth of planted conifers unless rehabilitation practices are applied. This study evaluated the effects of tillage and fertilization on soil properties and growth of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) seedlings on rehabilitated forest landings in the central interior of British Columbia. Six study sites were rehabilitated in 1998 (but without topsoil replacement) and planted with lodgepole pine in 1999. Tillage treatments were: (i) no tillage; (ii) low intensity (one pass of an excavator and six-toothed rake, target clod size 8–10 cm); (iii) medium intensity (two passes, target clod size 4–7 cm); and, (iv) high intensity (three passes, target clod size 1–3 cm). Fertilizers were applied at the time of planting as slow-release formulations; treatments included: (i) no fertilizer; (ii) NPK-fertilizer; and, (iii) NPK + S-fertilizer. After 5 yr, soil mechanical resistance was higher on the untilled control than the tilled treatments. Neither tillage nor fertilization had any effects on soil chemical properties (total C and N, pH, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations). Tillage effects after one growing season were variable; however, after four or five growing seasons, the low-intensity tillage resulted in greater seedling height and diameter growth than the untilled control. After one growing season, fertilization increased seedling height and diameter growth relative to the untreated control, but after four or five growing seasons, fertilization had no effect on lodgepole pine growth. Our findings indicate that a single pass with the excavator and rake was the most suitable rehabilitation practice on these sites. Key words: Forest soil rehabilitation, landing and road rehabilitation, soil conservation, soil degradation, soil compaction, soil productivity

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. M. Blouin ◽  
M. G. Schmidt ◽  
C. E. Bulmer ◽  
M. Krzic

Forest landings are areas located adjacent to haul roads where harvested trees that were skidded from the cutblock are processed and loaded onto trucks. Soils on landings are often excessively compacted by heavy timber harvesting machinery and may take many years to recover from such disturbance. This study examined soil properties and tree growth on unrehabilitated landings (with and without natural regeneration) and adjacent naturally regenerated clearcuts in the central interior of British Columbia (BC), 23 yr after landing construction. Landings (both with and without natural regeneration) had less favorable conditions for tree growth than did clearcuts, including significantly greater surface soil bulk density and mechanical resistance (on some dates) and lower total porosity and concentrations of C and N. Landings without natural regeneration had the least favorable soil conditions, which may account for the lack of natural regeneration. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) growing on portions of the landings did not differ in height from those growing in adjacent clearcuts. Site index, as estimated using the growth intercept method, did not differ between naturally regenerated landings (21.7 m) and clearcuts (22.0 m), suggesting that the soils may be equally capable of supporting productive forests. Key words: Forest soil disturbance, soil mechanical resistance, soil productivity, soil water content, natural regeneration


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Bulmer ◽  
M. Krzic

We determined post-establishment tree growth and soil properties on rehabilitated log landings and forest plantation sites with medium texture in northeastern British Columbia. Six years after rehabilitation treatments were applied, 60% of rehabilitated landing plots had more than 1000 stems ha-1, while 17% had fewer than 600 stems ha-1. The average height of undamaged lodgepole pine trees on rehabilitated landings was consistently lower than for trees of the same age on plantations. Surface (0–7 cm) and subsurface (10–17 cm) soil bulk densities were higher for rehabilitated landings than for adjacent plantations. Rehabilitated landing and plantation soils had similar values of total and aeration porosity. Plantation soils had higher available water storage capacity (AWSC) than rehabilitated soils. Soil mechanical resistance after landing rehabilitation was often higher than for plantation soils at the same depth. Soils on both rehabilitated landings and plantations showed an increase in mechanical resistance from June to September 2001. With the exception of June 2001, soil mechanical resistance after landing rehabilitation was often higher than 2500 kPa. For surface mineral soils, there were no differences in total C, N, or cation exchange capacity (CEC) between rehabilitated landings and plantations. Rehabilitated landing soils had significantly higher total C and N at 10–17 cm depth than plantation soils, which coincided with higher clay content for the landing subsoils. Key words: Forest soil rehabilitation, soil degradation, soil productivity, soil conservation


1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1089-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Trowbridge ◽  
F.B. Holl

An overdense lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. ex Loud.) stand was knocked down and the site was prepared by broadcast burn, windrow burn, or mechanical forest floor removal. Inoculated alsike clover (Trifoliumhybridum L.) was seeded at 0, 10, 20, and 30 kg/ha for the three different site preparation treatments to determine the effects of (i) site preparation on infection and effectiveness of the clover–Rhizobium symbiosis and clover percent cover and (ii) the clover–Rhizobium N2-fixing symbiosis on survival, early growth, and foliar nitrogen concentration of lodgepole pine seedlings. The N2-fixing symbiosis established well in all treatments. Clover percent cover increased with increasing rate of seeding, although by relatively few percent in the clover seeded plots. Broadcast burning, windrow burning, and mechanical forest floor removal did not affect the establishment of the N2-fixing symbiosis or clover percent cover. Lodgepole pine survival was not affected by the seeding treatments in any year, nor were height measurements during the first three growing seasons. Seedling height was slightly less in clover-seeded plots compared with controls in the fourth growing season. Lodgepole pine seedlings on clover-seeded plots had decreased diameter growth compared with controls during the first three growing seasons, but incremental diameter growth no longer showed this effect by the fourth growing season. Needle mass (g/100 needles) was less in clover-seeded plots at the end of the second growing season, but this effect was reversed by the fourth growing season, when both needle mass and foliar nitrogen concentration in lodgepole pine foliage were greater in clover-seeded plots.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Opio ◽  
Kona van Diest ◽  
Norman Jacob

Abstract Height to diameter ratio (HDR) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional procedures for assessing competition between crop trees and other vegetation. Yet HDRs vary throughout the growing season due to variations in the rate of change in height and diameter. There is an interest, therefore, in determining variations in HDR within a growing season (intra-seasonal changes) and the time of the year when measurements of HDR should be taken for operational purposes. HDR measurements were taken on five occasions at two lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) sites in the central interior of British Columbia, from early May to late October through the 1999 growing season. Although the focus of the article is the investigation of intra-seasonal changes in HDR, we also compared August 1999 measurements with August 1998 measurements to determine the variation in HDR between growing seasons (inter-seasonal change). The study involved a completely randomized, one-factor experimental design, with replication over time. The removal of competing vegetation (known as brushing) was the factor. The design consisted of four levels of brushing, replicated three times on each study site. The results indicated that HDRs increased from early May to July and then decreased until October to levels equal to or lower than those obtained in August 1998. The highest HDR values were observed in control plots. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures indicated that treatment (brushing radius) and date of HDR measurement had significant (P < 0.05) effects on the intra-seasonal changes in HDR. The results suggest that HDR measurements should be taken either after mid-August, or before mid-May when changes in HDR are negligible. West. J. Appl. For.18(1):52–59.


2000 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam K. Takyi ◽  
Graham R. Hillman

Abstract Artificial reforestation experiments compared survival and growth of five species of coniferous containerized seedlings, and seedling browsing by ungulates on a clearcut, drained, and mounded peatland in the boreal forest. Six to seven growing seasons after planting, 91% of all seedlings had survived. Height and diameter growth in five species were ranked as follows: Siberian latch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) > lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.) > tamarack (Larix laricina [Du Roi] K. Koch) > black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) = white spruce(Picea glauca [Moench] Voss). Overall, tamarack height and diameter growth was twice that of either spruce species. Height and diameter growth of tamarack, black spruce, and white spruce planted in the spring was 65% to 97% greater than that of the more robust seedlings for the same species planted in the fall of the same year. Repeated winter browsing by ungulates did not affect survival and growth of the five species. In an experiment where survival and growth of tamarack and black spruce seedlings planted on the mounds were compared with that of seedlings planted on the flat areas between mounds, there were no differences in survival, height, or root collar diameter growth between the two planting sites. In the event that suitable peatlands are used to augment existing timber supplies, lowering the water table through ditching, combined with mound-planting, is a feasible method of reforesting timber-harvested, boreal wet sites with Siberian latch, lodgepole pine, and white spruce. Tamarack and black spruce, however, survive and grow well on drained peatlands without mound-planting. North. J. Appl. For. 17(2):71-79.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Donna C. Fare

Abstract Two studies were conducted to determine container size and liner (young bare root trees) trunk diameter effects on growth of Acer rubrum L. ‘Franksred’, Red Sunset™ red maple. In experiment 1, maples liners with initial mean trunk diameters of 12.2 mm (0.5 in), 15.9 mm (0.6 in), and 22.3 mm (0.9 in) were potted in 26.5 liter (#7), 37.8 liter (#10), and 56.8 liter (#15) containers and grown for 18 months (2 growing seasons). Height and trunk diameter growth at the end of each growing season were affected by both the initial liner trunk diameter and container size. During year 1, liners with an initial trunk diameter of 12.2 mm (0.5 in) increased 28 and 70% more in height growth compared to liners initially 15.9 mm (0.6 in) and 22.3 mm (0.9) in trunk diameter, respectively. Twenty three percent more height growth occurred with maples in 37.8 liter (#10) and 56.8 liter (#15) containers compared to those in 26.5 liter (#7) containers. Trunk diameter growth increased 50% more with 12.2 mm (0.5 in) liners compared to 22.3 mm (0.9 in) liners. A 25% increase in trunk diameter growth occurred with liners potted in 56.8 liter (#15) compared to 26.5 liter (#7) containers. At the end of the second growing season, final tree size was similar with liners that were initially 12.2 mm (0.5 in) and 15.9 mm (0.6 in) liners in trunk diameter to those initially 22.3 mm (0.9 in) when potted into 37.8 liter (#10) and 56.8 liter (#15) containers. In experiment 2, maple liners with trunk diameters 17.5 mm (0.7 in), 20.5 mm (0.8 in), and 29.0 mm (1.1 in) were potted in container sizes 26.5 liter (#7), 37.8 liter (#10), and 56.8 liter (#15) and grown for 18 months (2 growing seasons). Liners grown in 56.8 liter (#15) containers had 92% more height growth and 48% more trunk diameter growth than with liners in 26.5 liter (#7) containers. At termination, the shoot dry weight was 41% larger with maples in 56.8 liter (#15) containers compared to those grown in 26.5 liter (#7) containers.


This book, based on research carried out at the Academia Sinica over the past 30 years, explains the basic difference between the variable charge soils of tropical and subtropical regions, and the constant charge soils of temperate regions. It will focus on the chemical properties of the variable charge soils--properties which have important bearing on soil management practices, including maximizing soil productivity and combating soil pollution.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 943
Author(s):  
Katri Nissinen ◽  
Virpi Virjamo ◽  
Antti Kilpeläinen ◽  
Veli-Pekka Ikonen ◽  
Laura Pikkarainen ◽  
...  

We studied the growth responses of boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings to simulated climate warming of an average of 1.3 °C over the growing season in a controlled field experiment in central Finland. We had six replicate plots for elevated and ambient temperature for each tree species. The warming treatment lasted for the conifers for three growing seasons and for the birch two growing seasons. We measured the height and diameter growth of all the seedlings weekly during the growing season. The shoot and root biomass and their ratios were measured annually in one-third of seedlings harvested from each plot in autumn. After two growing seasons, the height, diameter and shoot biomass were 45%, 19% and 41% larger in silver birch seedlings under the warming treatment, but the root biomass was clearly less affected. After three growing seasons, the height, diameter, shoot and root biomass were under a warming treatment 39, 47, 189 and 113% greater in Scots pine, but the root:shoot ratio 29% lower, respectively. The corresponding responses of Norway spruce to warming were clearly smaller (e.g., shoot biomass 46% higher under a warming treatment). As a comparison, the relative response of height growth in silver birch was after two growing seasons equal to that measured in Scots pine after three growing seasons. Based on our findings, especially silver birch seedlings, but also Scots pine seedlings benefitted from warming, which should be taken into account in forest regeneration in the future.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Jodie A. Crose ◽  
Misha R. Manuchehri ◽  
Todd A. Baughman

Abstract Three herbicide premixes have recently been introduced for weed control in wheat. These include: halauxifen + florasulam, thifensulfuron + fluroxypyr, and bromoxynil + bicyclopyrone. The objective of this study was to evaluate these herbicides along with older products for their control of smallseed falseflax in winter wheat in Oklahoma. Studies took place during the 2017, 2018, and 2020 winter wheat growing seasons. Weed control was visually estimated every two weeks throughout the growing season and wheat yield was collected in all three years. Smallseed falseflax size was approximately six cm in diameter at time of application in all years. Control ranged from 96 to 99% following all treatments with the exception of bicyclopyrone + bromoxynil and dicamba alone, which controlled falseflax 90%. All treatments containing an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide achieved adequate control; therefore, resistance is not suspected in this population. Halauxifen + florasulam and thifensulfuron + fluroxypyr effectively controlled smallseed falseflax similarly to other standards recommended for broadleaf weed control in wheat in Oklahoma. Rotational use of these products allows producers flexibility in controlling smallseed falseflax and reduces the potential for development of herbicide resistance in this species.


Weed Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Muhammad Javaid Akhter ◽  
Per Kudsk ◽  
Solvejg Kopp Mathiassen ◽  
Bo Melander

Abstract Field experiments were conducted in the growing seasons of 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 to evaluate the competitive effects of rattail fescue [Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C. Gmel.] in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and to assess whether delayed crop sowing and increased crop density influence the emergence, competitiveness, and fecundity of V. myuros. Cumulative emergence showed the potential of V. myuros to emerge rapidly and under a wide range of climatic conditions with no effect of crop density and variable effects of sowing time between the two experiments. Grain yield and yield components were negatively affected by increasing V. myuros density. The relationship between grain yield and V. myuros density was not influenced by sowing time or by crop density, but crop–weed competition was strongly influenced by growing conditions. Due to very different weather conditions, grain yield reductions were lower in the growing season of 2017 to 2018 than in 2018 to 2019, with maximum grain yield losses of 22% and 50% in the two growing seasons, respectively. The yield components, number of crop ears per square meter, and 1,000-kernel weight were affected almost equally, reflecting that V. myuros’s competition with winter wheat occurred both early and late in the growing season. Seed production of V. myuros was suppressed by delaying sowing and increasing crop density. The impacts of delayed sowing and increasing crop density on seed production of V. myuros highlight the potential of these cultural weed control tactics in the long-term management programs of this species.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document