Soil and groundwater characteristics of saline sites supporting boreal mixedwood forests in northern Alberta

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
E B Lilles ◽  
B G Purdy ◽  
S X Chang ◽  
S E Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Sodium Adsorption Ratio ◽  
Forest Vegetation ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Northern Alberta

The influence of salinity on boreal forest plants is of growing concern today because oil sands mining and other energy-related industrial activities in northern Alberta and elsewhere produce large areas of salt-affected soils that require reclamation and revegetation. We characterized soils (salinity, pH, and nutrient and moisture availabilities) and groundwater at six naturally saline sites in northern Alberta which were occupied by boreal mixedwood forests dominated by aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss]. Salinity increased with depth in the soil profile and decreased with distance away from adjacent non-forested saline wetlands. In areas where forest vegetation existed, the electrical conductivity (ECe) of the surface soil (0-20 cm depth) was always below 4 dS m-2; chemical properties of the lower subsurface soil (50-100 cm depth) and groundwater ranged well above what has been conventionally considered to be suitable for tree growth: ECe ranged from 4 to 23 dS m-2, sodium adsorption ratio ranged from 13 to 70, and the pH of some soil horizons was above 9.0. These sites had relatively high soil moisture and nutrient availabilities, and we hypothesize that these facilitate survival of forest vegetation on these sites, despite the high levels of salinity. Key words: Salinity tolerance, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, alkalinity, boreal forest, reclamation

Growth of aspen and white spruce on naturally saline sites in northern Alberta: Implications for development of boreal forest vegetation on reclaimed saline soils

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.B. Lilles ◽  
B.G. Purdy ◽  
S.E. Macdonald ◽  
S.X. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Forest Vegetation ◽  
Saline Soils ◽  
Basal Area Growth ◽  
Area Growth ◽  
Northern Alberta ◽  
Over Time

Lilles, E. B., Purdy, B. G., Macdonald, S. E. and Chang, S. X. 2012. Growth of aspen and white spruce on naturally saline sites in northern Alberta: Implications for development of boreal forest vegetation on reclaimed saline soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 213–227. We examined height and basal area growth over time for trembling aspen and white spruce in plots along a salinity gradient at six naturally saline sites in northern Alberta, as a benchmark for forest productivity on reclaimed saline sites. We measured root distributions and analyzed foliage for ions, nutrients and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios. Both species grew on soil conditions previously considered unsuitable for forest vegetation [pH>8.5; electrical conductivity>10 dS m−1, sodium adsorption ratio>13 at depth (50–100 cm)] yet there was little evidence of nutritional toxicities or deficiencies. Aspen basal area growth decreased 50% as salinity increased, but aspen was commercially productive (site index=22) on soils with electrical conductivity of 7.8 dS m−1at 50–100 cm depth. Growth of white spruce seemed to be unaffected by salinity level differences, but 78% of white spruce site indexes were less than 13 and would be considered non-productive. Both species showed growth declines over time, compared with non-saline reference growth curves, and rooted primarily in the forest floor and top 20 cm of soil. This suggests that rooting limitations may constrain longer-term productivity of forests established on sites with salinity at depth.

Are mixtures of aspen and white spruce more productive than single species stands?

1999 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongzhou Man ◽  
Victor J. Lieffers
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Physical Separation ◽  
Soil Resource ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Environmental Extremes ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
Boreal Mixedwoods

In boreal mixedwood forests, aspen (Populus tremuloides) and white spruce (Picea glauca) commonly grow in mixture. These species may avoid competition through differential shade tolerance, physical separation of canopies, phenological differences, successional separation, and differences in soil resource utilization. Aspen may also be able to positively affect the growth of white spruce by improving litter decomposition and nutrient cycling rates, controlling grass and shrub competition, ameliorating environmental extremes, and reducing pest attack. These positive relationships likely make mixed-species stands more productive than pure stands of the same species. The evidence regarding the productivity of pure versus mixed aspen/white spruce stands in natural unmanaged forests is examined in this paper. Key words: Tree mixture; productivity; boreal mixedwoods; aspen; white spruce

Patterns of initial versus delayed regeneration of white spruce in boreal mixedwood succession

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1597-1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vernon S Peters ◽  
S Ellen Macdonald ◽  
Mark RT Dale
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Regeneration Period ◽  
Postfire Regeneration ◽  
Distance To Seed Source ◽  
Mixedwood Stands

The timing of white spruce regeneration in aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) – white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) boreal mixedwood stands is an important factor in stand development. We examined boreal mixedwood stands representing a 59-year period of time since fire and determined (1) whether and when a delayed regeneration period of white spruce occurred, (2) whether the relative abundance of initial (<20 years) versus delayed (≥20 years postfire) regeneration is related to seed availability at the time of the fire, and (3) what are the important regeneration substrates for initial versus delayed regeneration. Initial regeneration occurred primarily on mineral soil or humus, while delayed regeneration established primarily on logs and peaked 38–44 years after fire. Of the 20 stands investigated, seven were dominated by initial regeneration, six were dominated by delayed regeneration, and seven were even mixtures of both. The dominance of a site by initial or delayed regeneration could not be simply explained by burn timing relative to mast years or distance to seed source; our results suggested that fire severity and the competitive influence of initial regeneration on delayed regeneration were important at fine scales. Based on our results we describe several possible postfire successional pathways for boreal mixedwood forests.

scholarly journals Saline water irrigation in semiarid region: I – effects on soil chemical properties

2019 ◽  
pp. 1169-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa ◽  
Maria Betânia Galvão dos Santos Freire ◽  
Renato Lemos dos Santos ◽  
Fernando José Freire ◽  
Márcio Fléquisson Alves Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Salinization ◽  
Sodium Adsorption Ratio ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Silty Clay Loam

The use of saline water for crop irrigation is a commonly adopted practice among the farmers in the semiarid regions around the world, but the magnitude of soil salinization resulting from the use of these waters is currently insufficiently understood. This work aims to evaluate the chemical attribute changes of two Fluvisols cultivated with onion and subjected to irrigation with increasing levels of salinity, expressed by electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Sandy loam and silty clay loam soils were irrigated with three different levels of saline waters with electrical conductivity (EC - 200, 700 and 2,000 μS cm-1) and six levels of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR - 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 (mmolc L-1)0.5). Thus, the experiment consisted of a complete factorial arrangement 2 x 3 x 6 (two soils, three EC levels and six SAR levels), in four replicates. The soils were cultivated with onion and pH levels of the soil were measured at 90 days after transplanting, as were the contents of exchangeable and soluble cations. ESP and SAR values were then calculated. This study revealed that the use of water with salinity at or above 700 μS cm-1 is capable of promoting changes in the chemical properties of soils and the continuous use of irrigation water with high EC and high SAR values may promote salinization and sodification of Fluvisols in a semiarid environment. These changes were found to be more severe in silty clay loam soils than in sandy loam soils.

Dispersal of white spruce seed in mature aspen stands

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D Stewart ◽  
Edward H Hogg ◽  
Patrick A Hurdle ◽  
Kenneth J Stadt ◽  
Peter Tollestrup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Leaf Fall ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Artificial Seed ◽  
The Mean

The dispersal of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seed through trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests was investigated by releasing artificial seed (confetti) from different heights on a meteorological tower, and, secondly, by observing the distribution of spruce regeneration along transects radiating out from small isolated patches of mature spruce seed trees. Mean dispersal distance of confetti increased with height of release. Before leaf fall of the aspen canopy, most confetti landed close to and in all directions around the tower. After leaf fall, no confetti was observed upwind from the tower and the mean dispersal distance increased, with peak densities occurring at a distance of 15 m in the downwind direction. The rate of decrease in regeneration density with distance from patches of mature, seed-bearing white spruce was much less than that observed during confetti release experiments. Furthermore, regeneration densities were significantly greater in the prevailing downwind direction (toward the east). The results indicate that stronger than average winds, primarily from the northwest, west, and southwest, play a major role in the dispersal of white spruce seed. Simulation modelling of the observed distribution of regeneration suggests that long-distance (>250 m) dispersal may be an important mechanism for the persistence of white spruce in the fire-prone boreal forest of western Canada.Key words: seed dispersal, boreal forest, mixedwood, wind dispersal, artificial seed.

Climate-sensitive height–age models for top height trees in natural and reclaimed oil sands stands in Alberta, Canada

2019 ◽  
pp. 297-307
Author(s):  
Yuqing Yang ◽  
Shongming Huang ◽  
Robert Vassov ◽  
Brad Pinno ◽  
Sophan Chhin
Keyword(s):  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Positive Effects

Climate-sensitive height–age models were developed for top height trees of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in natural and reclaimed oil sands stands. We used stem analysis data collected from the Athabasca oil sands region in northern Alberta, Canada, and climate data generated by the ClimateWNA model. Height–age trajectories differed between top height trees in natural and reclaimed stands for jack pine and white spruce, but not for trembling aspen. At a given age, white spruce top height trees were taller and jack pine top height trees were shorter in reclaimed stands than those in natural stands, suggesting that it is easier to achieve similar forest productivity for oil sands sites reclaimed with white spruce stands than for sites reclaimed with jack pine stands. The principal climate variables were growing season (May to September) precipitation averaged over the previous 10 years for trembling aspen and jack pine and summer (June to August) precipitation averaged over the previous 10 years for white spruce. These variables had positive effects on the height–age trajectories.

scholarly journals Crown allometry and application of the pipe model theory to white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the western boreal forest of Canada

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek F. Sattler ◽  
Philip G. Comeau
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Model Theory ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Allometric Relationship ◽  
Sapwood Area ◽  
Crown Length ◽  
Pipe Model ◽  
Pipe Model Theory

White spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) from unmanaged stands in the boreal forest of Alberta, Canada, were examined for two of the main structural assumptions in the process-based model CROBAS: (i) a constant allometric relationship between foliage mass and crown length and (ii) a constant relationship between foliage mass and sapwood area. We evaluated these relationships at both at the whole-crown and within-crown levels. Results indicated that for both species, a constant allometric relationship between foliage mass and crown length was maintained at the whole-crown level over a period exceeding the peak mean annual increment of each species. Within the crowns of spruce, foliage mass accumulated faster near the tree apex as total crown length increased. For aspen, the increase in foliage mass per unit crown length for any section within the crown showed greater similarity to the relationship observed at the whole-crown level. The assumption of a constant relationship between foliage mass and sapwood area at the crown base generally held for spruce but showed considerable variation for any given diameter class. For aspen, this assumption did not appear to be appropriate. For both species, there was more foliage mass per unit sapwood area with increasing height from the ground for nearly all tree size classes. This latter finding was in conflict with the pipe model theory but could not be explained by the hydraulic theory of crown architecture, which predicts a decrease in the ratio of foliage mass to sapwood area with increasing path length.

scholarly journals Regeneration of aspen following partial and strip understory protection harvest in boreal mixedwood forests

2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison D Lennie ◽  
Simon M Landhäusser ◽  
Victor J Lieffers ◽  
Derek Sidders
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Mixedwood Forests ◽  
Partial Harvest ◽  
Second Year

Trembling aspen regeneration was studied in 2 types of partial harvest systems designed to harvest mature aspen but protect immature spruce and encourage natural aspen regeneration. Two partial harvest systems, where the residual aspen was either left in strips or was dispersed uniformly, were compared to traditional clearcuts. After the first and second year since harvest, aspen sucker density and growth was similar between the 2 partial harvests, but was much lower than in the clearcuts. However, in the partial cuts the regeneration density was very much dependent on the location relative to residual trees. The density of regeneration was inversely related to the basal area of residual aspen; however, sucker height was inversely related to the basal area of the residual spruce. Although there were adequate numbers of suckers after partial harvest, their viability and contribution to the long-term productivity of these mixedwood stands is not clear. Key words: silvicultural systems, forest management, residual canopy, white spruce, Populus tremuloides, Picea glauca, traffic

Nitrogen uptake characteristics for roots of conifer seedlings and common boreal forest competitor species

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan D Hangs ◽  
J Diane Knight ◽  
Ken CJ Van Rees
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Calamagrostis Canadensis ◽  
Successional Species ◽  
Menten Kinetic

Little is known about the N uptake abilities of competitor species and planted seedlings in the boreal forest. The objective of this study was to determine the Michaelis–Menten kinetic parameters of NH4+ and NO3– for white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings, and three competitive common boreal forest early successional species: aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.), and cala magrostis (Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv.). Uptake kinetics were measured in hydroponic cultures and expressed as maximum uptake (Imax) and ion affinity (Km). The ranking of Imax values (pmol·cm-2·s–1) for NH4+ uptake was calamagrostis (84.6), fireweed (58.1), white spruce (20.7), aspen (12.5), and jack pine (10.9), and for NO3– uptake was calamagrostis (17.7), fireweed (12.5), aspen (5.8), white spruce (4.5), and jack pine (2.1). The ranking of Km values (µM) for NH4+ uptake was calamagrostis (125.9), fireweed (163.8), aspen (205.7), white spruce (217.1), and jack pine (270.5), and for NO3– uptake was calamagrostis (229.9), fireweed (274.6), aspen (336.5), white spruce (344.5), and jack pine (350.5). Calamagrostis exhibited the greatest uptake rates and affinity for NH4+ and NO3–, suggesting that silviculture practices that specifically reduce establishment of this grass should benefit the growth of planted seedlings.

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