Stumping trials in British Columbia — organic matter removal and compaction effects on tree growth from seedlings to midrotation stands
2014
Norris, Charlotte E. | Hogg, Karen E. | Maynard, Doug G. | Curran, Mike P.
There is considerable interest in understanding the repercussions of compaction and organic matter removal on soil quality and forest productivity. However, long-term field trials examining the effects of machinery and forest biomass removal on soil quality and stand regeneration are scarce. We present 20–31 years of tree growth results from four unique stump removal field trials. Each site had both treatments with varying amounts of organic matter removal (from tree stem harvesting to removal of tree stumps to loss of roots) and treatments with different levels of compaction due to site preparation machinery. Tree heights among the different treatments at midrotation were the same or taller than those with minimal organic matter removal and compaction. However, when stand development was evaluated using the quantity of tree volume for the given number of trees planted, treatment effects were clearly evident; tree volumes were significantly lower in compacted treatments, whereas organic matter removal did not appear to effect stand production. Although the sites were not directly comparable, when combined, the field trials provide insights to the possible implications of forest biomass harvesting on stand regeneration and overall forest soil quality.
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