Abstract

Growth data were collected from 32 stands of common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and 26 stands of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.) growing on forest land in Sweden. The stands ranged in latitude from 56 to 60 N and from 58 to 63 N. The mean age of common and grey alder stands was 48 years (range 21-91) and 40 years (range 21-66), respectively, the mean stand density 1 114 stems ha-1 (range 431-2 994) and 1 854 stems ha-1 (range 546- 4 031), and the mean diameter at breast height (on bark) 21 cm (range 12-28 cm) and 17 cm (range 9-25 cm). No statistically significant differences in site index were found between the four soil groups in common alder stands or between the three soil groups in grey alder stands. The mean total dry weight above stump level for common alder stands was 152 tonnes ha-1 with a range of 73 to 257 tonnes d.w.ha-1 and grey alder stands averaged 139 tonnes ha-1 with a range of 82 to 218 tonnes d.w.ha-1. Mean MAI (ob) for common alder was 3.5 tonnes ha-1 years-1 and 3.4 for grey alder stands. Mean LAI for common alder stands was 2.85 and 3.04 for grey alder stands. Mean SLA was 13.3 m2 kg-1 for common and 12.8 m2 kg-1 for grey alders. Some recommendations for management of common and grey alder stands are given

Keywords

Abandoned farmland; Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.; Alnus incana (L.) Moench.; common alder; dry weight production; grey alder; LAI.; MAI; natural regeneration

Published in

Canadian Journal of Forest Research
1998, volume: 29, number: 4, pages: 1679-1690
Publisher: NRC Research Press (Canadian Science Publishing)

Authors' information