Recruitment dynamics of naturally regenerated Scots pine under different overstorey densities in southern Sweden

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in a mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand at the J & auml;dra & aring;s Experimental Forest in Central Sweden (60.82 degrees N, 16.50 degrees E). A fully randomized experimental design was used, with nine treatments and four replicates per treatment. The treatments included different regeneration methods (planting, direct seeding, and natural regeneration), site preparation techniques (disc trenching and wheel tracks), seed sources (seed orchard vs. local seeds), fertilization of seed trees, and tree species (Scots pine vs. lodgepole pine). The goal was to evaluate the impact of these treatments on regeneration success and growth. Results indicated that planting produced significantly greater height growth than both direct seeding and natural regeneration, likely due to the initial height advantage of the planted seedlings. After disc trenching, no significant height differences were observed between direct seeding and natural regeneration. Disc trenching improved natural regeneration, leading to a higher number of trees per hectare and taller trees compared to areas prepared with wheel tracks, which provided insufficient soil disturbance to expose mineral soil effectively. Fertilizing seed trees did not significantly affect tree density. Both Scots pine and lodgepole pine showed similar height growth and tree density, when comparing planted and sown trees, respectively.

Keywords

Drought; mechanical site preparation; natural regeneration; Pinus sylvestris L; recruitment; shelterwood

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
2024
Publisher: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Lula, Mikolaj

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Domevscik, Matej

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hjelm, Karin

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Andersson, Mikael

  • Unit for Field-based Forest Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Johansson, Ulf

  • Unit for Field-based Forest Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wallertz, Kristina

  • Unit for Field-based Forest Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nilsson, Urban

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2024.2443058

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/140014