Abstract

Long-term effects of complete deep-soil cultivation on forest growth and yield were evaluated in an experiment initiated in 1988 on six different sites in Sweden. Complete deep-soil cultivation was compared with less intensive site preparation. Ten years after the start. growth. stand structure. damage and survival were evaluated. Conifer seedling growth and survival on sandy sites, frost-prone sites or both. generally increased following deep-soil cultivation compared to patch scarification. Silty sites exposed to summer frost mere also positively affected by deep-soil cultivation. although the risk of frost-heaving increased. For deciduous seedlings the result varied. but survival in birch was improved by deep-soil cultivation. On former farmland. deep cultivation may effectively control competing vegetation. Deep-soil cultivation in strips over half the area appeared to be as efficient as complete treatment. This has financial and environmental implications. Deep cultivation reduced variability in tree size, since it provided a more uniform environment during stand establishment. When long-term effects of complete deep-soil cultivation on forest growth and yield are evaluated. the significant differences in stand establishment demonstrated in the study must be considered. Future revisions of the experiment must address the question of the Ions-term effects of intensive soil cultivation on forest growth and yield.

Keywords

forest regeneration; intensive soil scarification; seedling damage; seedling establishment; stand structure; Picea abies; Pinus contorta; Pinus sylvestris; Betula pendula; Tilia cordata; Quercus robur; Norway spruce; Lodgepole pine; Scots pine

Published in

Studia Forestalia Suecica
2002,
ISBN: 91-576-6294-0
Publisher: Skogsvetenskapliga fakulteten, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/125781