Vegetation management with glyphosate has little impact on understory species diversity or tree growth in a sub boreal spruce plantation – A case study
2013
Hawkins, C. D. B. | Dhar, A. | Lange, J.
In central British Columbia (BC), forest management practices have altered natural stand development pathways by controlling “non commercial” tree species and other competing species with the objective of maximizing crop tree growth. This potentially decreases overall diversity within the stand. We conducted a retrospective study on a 13-year-old stand to investigate the impacts of vegetation management with glyphosate on tree growth, species diversity and forest health in central BC. Results revealed that spruce was marginally taller than birch in the herbicide treated area and significantly shorter than birch in the untreated area. There was no difference in spruce diameter at breast height (DBH) and mean stem volume by treatment. White pine weevil attack was significantly reduced in the untreated area. In total, 133 plant species were recorded from 2002 to 2006, but 30% of the species present in 2002 were not present in 2006. Species' richness and alpha diversity were similar between treatments but beta diversity was relatively low indicating little treatment effect. There was a greater occurrence and abundance of “weedy” and pioneer species in the herbicide-treated area. Overall, this study suggests that glyphosate application does not remove all birch and showed minimal or no impact on under-story vegetation. Therefore, a move away from broadcast vegetation control to spot control where warranted could result in better tree growth, improved forest health and structural diversity.
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