Jonsson, Axelina
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Doctoral thesis2024Open access
Jonsson, Axelina
Forest regeneration is complicated by many factors, so active regeneration treatments such as site preparation and planting are often applied in Sweden. These have proven to increase seedling survival and growth during establishment. But, since forestry in Sweden is related to long rotations the long-term effect of these treatments needs to be studied. This thesis aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of forest regeneration success on volume production, economics and stand structure. Both experimental data from field trials and data from the Swedish National Forest Inventory were used. Simulations using the Heureka software were made to facilitate long-term analyses. Active regeneration treatments were found to increase survival of planted Norway spruce seedlings, as well as long-term volume growth. A high initial survival of planted and improved seedlings adapted to the site resulted in the highest long-term volume growth, although the investment in regeneration treatments was not always found to be economically viable when compared to natural regeneration. Increased growth could however be of importance for future biomass production and carbon sequestration. On the other hand, intensively managed forests might have negative effects on other ecosystem services. Therefore, different objectives need to be balanced to create and maintain a diversity of forests.
planting; natural regeneration; site preparation; slash removal; multiple damage; simulation; Norway spruce; Scots pine; broadleaves
Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae
2024, number: 2024:77ISBN: 978-91-8046-368-3, eISBN: 978-91-8046-404-8Publisher: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Forest Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54612/a.ab5c6jfqkc
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/130472