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Abstract

Mixed stands are the most frequent type of stand in Nordic countries. A mixture between Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is a common stand type in the region. But for most foresters and persons common with forestry mixed stand is equal with a conifer species and at least one broad-leaved species. Management and silviculture of mixed stands of conifers and broadleaves has increased rapidly. But very soon it was obvious that an efficient management of mixed stands could increase both profits for the owner and wood quality in the stand. Practical examples of how to manage mixed stands of birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) are now available. In Finland, Norway and Sweden this is more or less a common alternative to manage pure stands of conifers. In Norway, besides mixed stands of birch and spruce, they have experiences on mixed stands of European aspen (Populus tremula L.) and Norway spruce. Existing yield studies are based on mixed stands which initially were not managed in a right way until the study was started. But a rough figure of yield for birches growing for 35 years was 100 m3 ha-1. The growth of Norway spruces was reduced by 10% compared with spruces growing in pure spruce stands. In a mixed stand of European aspen and Norway spruce the 36-year-old aspen stand growing on farm land produced 480 m3 ha-1. The spruce understory had a reduced growth compared with pure spruce stands. Depending upon the biofuel prize and the market for utilisation of biofuel the forest owner might use the broadleaves as biofuel. Some studies indicate that the harvested biomass yield of birch in a mixed stand of birch and spruce could be 48 ton d.w. ha-1

Keywords

Betula pendula; Betula pubescens; management; Nordic countries; Picea abies; Populus tremula; yield

Published in

Biomass and Bioenergy
2003, volume: 24, number: 4-5, pages: 365-372
Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(02)00165-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/8645