Post-storm regeneration of Norway spruce
2019
Snepsts, G., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia); Latvia Univ. of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava (Latvia) | Donis, J., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia) | Strelnieks, K., MVR LUX, SIA, Riga (Latvia) | Krisans, O., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia) | Desaine, I., Skogssallskapet, SIA, Riga (Latvia) | Adamovics, A., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia)
Impact of abiotic (wind, summer drought) and secondary (bark beetle (Scolytinae)) or primary (cervids (Cervidae)) biotic factors affect the survival of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) that is an economically important tree species. Norway spruce is mostly regenerated via planting – thus with significant investment. Therefore it is important to improve the resistance of Norway spruce stands as much as possible. Aim of the study was to characterize damages in Norway spruce stands by cyclonic wind storm and the regeneration of the stands, destroyed by the storm. Data from 4491 Norway spruce dominated stand, destroyed by the storm of 2005, from State Forest service database were obtained. Areas of post-storm sanitary clearcuts ranged from 0.1 to 7.6, mean 0.9 ± 0.02 ha. Most of the clearcuts were larger than 0.5 ha, demonstrating a relatively large size of gaps created by this natural disturbance. Changes of dominant trees species after the storm were statistically significantly affected by the forest type and type of regeneration. Overall, it happened in 55% of the former Norway spruce areas and was predominantly in cases, where natural regeneration was practiced. No indications of measures to increase stability of future stands against wind damages were found.
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]