Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021
Varying rectangular spacing yields no difference in forest growth and external wood quality in coniferous forest plantations
Ara, Mostarin; Barbeito, Ignacio; Elfving, Bjorn; Johansson, Ulf; Nilsson, UrbanAbstract
Historically square or almost square spacing design has been used in plantation forest, as it has been claimed to maximize productivity. In this study, based on field experiments established in the mid-1980s, we tested the effect of square or different rectangular planting designs (2 x 2, 1.33 x 3, 1 x 4, 0.8 x 5, 1.46 x 1.46 x 4 m) on productivity, stand heterogeneity, and external wood properties of three coniferous species: Scots pine, Lodgepole pine, and Norway spruce. Stand production (volume, diameter), external wood properties (ovality, branch thickness, living crown height, height-diameter ratio), and stand heterogeneity (Gini coefficient) were not significantly affected by the different rectangular designs. Based on this evidence, we propose that more flexibility is available than previously thought for rectangular spacing layouts and consequently for the choice of planting spots and machinery operations.Keywords
Lodgepole pine; Norway spruce; Scots pine; Planting design; Stand heterogeneityPublished in
Forest Ecology and Management2021, volume: 489, article number: 119040
Publisher: ELSEVIER
Authors' information
Ara, Mostarin
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Barbeito, Ignacio
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Barbeito, Ignacio
National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Unit for Field-based Forest Research
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119040
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111650