Exploring the potential of two-aged white spruce plantations for the production of sawlog volume with simulations using SORTIE-ND

Authors

  • Vincent St-Gelais Université de Moncton, campus d’Edmundston (École de foresterie), 165, boul Hébert, Edmundston (New Brunswick), E3V 2S8, CANADA
  • Martin Béland Université de Moncton, campus d’Edmundston (École de foresterie), 165, boul Hébert, Edmundston (New Brunswick), E3V 2S8, CANADA
  • Nelson Thiffault Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Natural Resources Canada, 1055, du P.E.P.S, P.O Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, Québec (Québec), CANADA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21750/REFOR.10.02.85

Keywords:

intensive wood production, spatially explicit modelling, Picea glauca, irregular shelterwood

Abstract

The main objective for even-aged plantation (EAP) management of producing sawlog material has driven practices towards low initial planting densities and lower post thinning densities. For semi-shade tolerant species, the resulting stand density potentially leaves enough growing space for the introduction of a second cohort of trees in the understory, making it a two-aged plantation (TAP). TAPs could have many silvicultural benefits, especially in sensitive areas where intensive treatments associated with EAPs are incompatible with local management objectives. White spruce (Picea glauca) is a good candidate species for modeling TAPs because it is the most widely planted tree species in Canada and has proven tolerance to understory planting. SORTIE-ND, a single-tree spatially explicit growth model was used to explore the yield of variable density and rotation length scenarios when each white spruce cohort is introduced mid rotation, compared to traditional even-aged management. All TAP scenarios tested produced more sawlog volume and more merchantable volume than equivalent densities of EAPs. The lowest density tested, 400 stems ha-1 planted every 35 years, had the highest sawlog yields (3.23 m3 ha-1 yr-1). Considering smaller size products changes the optimum TAP scenario but maintains the advantage over EAPs.

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2020-12-30 — Updated on 2021-01-06

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“Exploring the Potential of Two-Aged White Spruce Plantations for the Production of Sawlog Volume With Simulations Using SORTIE-ND”. REFORESTA, no. 10 (January 6, 2021): 11–24. Accessed November 2, 2024. https://journal.reforestationchallenges.org/index.php/REFOR/article/view/131.