The distribution of logging residues and its impact on seedling establishment and early plant growth in two Norway spruce stands

Abstract

In Fennoscandia, logging residues (LR) are increasingly being harvested to provide fuel for renewable energy. However, the removal of LR is thought to lead to decreased growth in the next generation of trees. The effect on tree growth has generally been obtained by comparing the total removal of residues with retained residues spread evenly on the ground. With current clear-cutting practices, residues can be left with different spatial distributions, confounding the effects of residue removal. Field experiments were, therefore, established at two Norway spruce sites, comprising six treatments with varying distributions and volumes of residues. Before planting seedlings, the sites were disc-trenched. At one of the sites, seedling survival was significantly lower when all residues were removed immediately. At both sites, after 10 years there were statistically significant growth losses after removal of residues. There were no differences in plant growth if the residues were concentrated in small heaps and strings, simulating the normal distribution of LR following stem-only harvesting, compared with residues left evenly spread on the ground. To determine the duration of the observed growth effects, these study sites must be monitored more long term.

Keywords

Bio-fuel; clear-cutting; final felling; fuel-adapted felling; nitrogen; Picea abies; whole-tree harvesting

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research
2017, Volume: 32, number: 2, pages: 134-141 Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

SLU Authors

• Nohrstedt, Hans-Örjan

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG7 Affordable and clean energy


UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2016.1194456

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/94205