Containerized seedlings, summer planting, direct seeding and site preparation Niclas Scott Bentsen & Palle Madsen Forest & Landscape Denmark. Royal Vet. And Agr. University.
Outline A synthesis of research in Denmark on: Development of planting regimes in Denmark based on containerized seedlings. Direct seeding - where are we and where are we heading. Site preparation - different strategies affected by different reasons for site preparation.
Aim: Reducing regeneration costs in Danish forestry Focus: Container volume/size: Focus on small containers: 50-90 cm 3, range 15-200 cm 3 Stock type: Containerized versus bareroot Container types:focus on Jiffy ( 3 rd generation), but also eg. Hiko (2 nd generation)
Research sites Cheap, but high quality regeneration in Danish forestry
Regeneration sites and techniques Clear cut Shelterwood Farm land (afforestation) Abandoned Christmas tree plantations Nurse trees Delayed regeneration (hyggeshvile) Soil preparation
Species Oak (Q. robur, Q. petrea) Beech (F. sylvatica) Sycamore (A. pseudoplatanus) Ash (F. excelsior) Wild cherry (P. avium) Lime (T. cordata) Birch (B. pubescent, B. pendula) Hybrid larch (L. eurolepis) Black alder (A. glutinosa) Douglas fir (P. menziesii) Norway spruce (P. abies) Sitka spruce (P. sitchensis) Scotch pine (P. sylvestris) Silver fir (A. alba) Noble fir (A. procera) Western red cedar (T. plicata)
Beech containerized planted fall 2002; bareroot planted spring 2003 100% 80% Survival, % 60% 40% 20% Birkebæk, shelterwood Lindet, clear-cut 0% Bareroot JIFFY 200 HIKO V93 Madsen, P., Bentsen, N. S., 2005: Dækrodsplanter Nu og fremover, Skov & Landskabskonferencen 2005
Oak containerized planted fall 2002; bareroot planted spring 2003 100% 80% Survival, % 60% 40% Birkebæk, shelterwood Lindet, clear-cut Randbøl, clear-cut 20% 0% Bareroot Unsorted bareroot Small bareroot JIFFY 200 HIKO V93 Madsen, P., Bentsen, N. S., 2005: Dækrodsplanter Nu og fremover, Skov & Landskabskonferencen 2005
Sitka spruce containerized planted fall 2002; bareroot planted spring 2003 100% 80% Survival, % 60% 40% Birkebæk, shelterwood Lindet, clear-cut Randbøl, clear-cut 20% 0% Bareroot JIFFY 90 HIKO V93 HIKO V50 Madsen, P., Bentsen, N. S., 2005: Dækrodsplanter Nu og fremover, Skov & Landskabskonferencen 2005
Norway spruce containerized planted fall 2002; bareroot planted spring 2003 100% 80% Survival, % 60% 40% Birkebæk, clear-cut Lindet, clear-cut Randbøl, clear-cut 20% 0% Bareroot JIFFY 90 HIKO V93 Madsen, P., Bentsen, N. S., 2005: Dækrodsplanter Nu og fremover, Skov & Landskabskonferencen 2005
Scotch Scots pine containerized planted fall 2002; bareroot planted spring 2003 100% 80% Survival, % 60% 40% Birkebæk, clear-cut Lindet, clear-cut Randbøl, clear-cut 20% 0% Bareroot HIKO V93 HIKO V50 Madsen, P., Bentsen, N. S., 2005: Dækrodsplanter Nu og fremover, Skov & Landskabskonferencen 2005
Beech and oak in different containers Background: Beech and oak are very important species in Danish forestry and landscape plantings. Very little international experience on beech and oak as containerized seedlings The experiment: Started in 2001 4 locations 5 container types tested and compared to bare roots
Seedling types tested Container type Design Cavity Volume (cm 3 ) Height (cm) HIKO 265 (A) Hard wall, guiding ribs (G. II) 265 15 Quick (B) Hard wall, guiding ribs (G. II) 200 11 HIKO 150 (A) Side slit (G. III) 150 10 Ellegaard (C) Mesh (G. III) 180 15 Jiffy7 50 (D) Mesh (G. III) 180-200 9 Plug +1 Bareroot 1/0 Bareroot 2/0 Bareroot (A): BCC, Sweden (B): Herkulast, Germany, (C): Ellegaard, Denmark (D): Jiffy, Canada Jensen, J. S., Jakobsen, H. S., 2006: Undersøgelse af forskellige dækrodssystemer for eg og bøg ved udplantning i skov.
Height and growth year 1-2. Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Quick Quick Quick Quick Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 barrod10 barrod10 barrod10 barrod10 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0-10 2004 2003 2002 Start cm Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Quick Quick Quick Quick Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 barrod10 barrod10 barrod10 barrod10 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0-10 -20 2004 2003 2002 Start Oak Jensen, J. S., Jakobsen, H. S., 2006: Undersøgelse af forskellige dækrodssystemer for eg og bøg ved udplantning i skov. cm HIKO 265 QUICK HIKO 150 HIKO 265 QUICK HIKO 150 ELLE GAARD JIFFY PLUG +1 BARE ROOT 1/0 ELLE GAARD JIFFY PLUG +1 BARE ROOT 1/0
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2004 2003 2002 Start Beech cm -10 Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Quick Quick Quick Quick Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 barrod20 barrod20 barrod20 barrod20 HIKO 265 QUICK HIKO 150 ELLE GAARD JIFFY PLUG +1 BARE ROOT 2/0 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2004 2003 2002 Start Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Hiko265 Quick Quick Quick Quick Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Hiko150 Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Ellegaard Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Jiffy Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 Plug+1 barrod10 barrod10 barrod10 barrod10 barrod20 barrod20 barrod20 barrod20 cm Height and growth year 1-2. Jensen, J. S., Jakobsen, H. S., 2006: Undersøgelse af forskellige dækrodssystemer for eg og bøg ved udplantning i skov. HIKO 265 QUICK HIKO 150 ELLE GAARD JIFFY PLUG +1 BARE ROOT 1/0 BARE ROOT 2/0
Summer planting why on earth should we do that?? Luoranen et al., 2003: Root Egress and Field Performance of Actively Growing Betula pendula Container Seedlings. Scand J. For. Res. 18 2.
Late planting decreased production period Early planting 60 Højde ved udplantning Højdetilvækst i 1. Vækstsæson 50 1. års højdetilvækst (cm) 40 30 20 10 0 T1 (311) T2 (190) T3 (162) T4 (125) Behandling (produktionstid, dage) Fraysse & Crémiere, 1998: Nursery Factors Influencing Containerized Pinus pinaster Seedlings initial Growth. Silva Fennica 32(3).
Early planting Increased production period Late planting Hultén, 1996: Från frö till etablerad föryngring. SkogForsk, Redogörelse nr. 3. P. sylvestris, after two growing seasons
Summer planting Perspectives: Short production time Better planning Cheaper seedlings Better root development -?? But: Will we get satisfactory regeneration?? Preliminary results are promising and full scale testing begins this summer
Summing up on containerized We think we know seedlings that containerised seedling should not be planted in autumn or spring, that containerised seedlings should not be over-wintered (except for few species). We know we think that optimum planting time is when seedlings are actively growing, that actively growing seedlings are not prone to desiccation under normal conditions - but where is the limit.
Direct seeding Perspectives of direct seeding: Potentially very cheap regeneration More stable forests due to more natural root development Development of browse tolerant and high stocked species mixtures Research sites
Seedling establishment rates after 2 years in shelterwood regeneration Douglas fir Scots pine Silver fir Norway spruce Sitka spruce Mean 1. Nordjyllands Statsskovdistrikt, Uggerby Klitpltg. afd. 712a, skærm af ædelgran. 10 10 - - 3 6 2. Ulborg Statsskovdistrikt, Blåbjerg Pltg. afd. 399c, skærm af rødgran. 4 7 2 16-7 3. Feldborg Statsskovdistrikt, Stendal Pltg. afd. 3141b, skærm af rødgran og douglas. 11 34 14-22 20 4. Palsgaard Statsskovdistrikt, Gludsted Pltg. afd. 258, skærm af rødgran. 13 19 13 9-14 5. Fussingø Statsskovdistrikt, Fussingø Vesterskov afd. 244c, skærm af rødgran og sitkagran. 1 5 12 5-6 6. Lindet Statsskovdistrikt, Råbjerg Pltg. afd. 430a, skærm af rødgran. 11 4 20 15-13 7. Frederiksborg Statsskovdistrikt, Grib Skov afd. 372b, skærm af rødgran. 12 17 7 18-14 8. Tisvilde Statsskovdistrikt, Asserbo Pltg. afd. 147a, skærm af skovfyr. 24 26 9 9-17 Mean 11 15 10 12 13 Madsen, P., 2005: Såning af skov en dyrkningsvejledning.
Single species sprouting rates are far more variable than total sprouting rate 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 Nål ialt Bøg+eg 4000 2000 0 Siel 68 73 7 24 21 71 56 Torben Lynge Madsen, St. Hjøllund Forest Estate. Madsen, P., 2005: Såning af skov en dyrkningsvejledning.
Beech Bøg Etableringsprocent, % Etableringsprocent, % 100 80 60 40 20 0 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 12 24 36 48 60 Måneder Oak Eg 0 12 24 36 48 Måneder Blåbjerg Plt., skærm, forår 95 Stråsø Plt., renafdrift, forår 95 V.Thorup Klitp. renafdrift forår 95 Blåbjerg Plt., skærm, forår 95 Stråsø Plt., renafdrift, forår 95 V.Thorup Klitp., skærm, forår 97 V.Thorup Klitp., skærm, efterår 97 V. Thorup Klitp., renafdrift, forår 97 V. Thorup Klitp., renafdrift, efterår 97 V. Thorup Kliptp., renafdrift, forår 98 Different species exhibit very different sprouting characteristics Madsen, P., 2005: Såning af skov en dyrkningsvejledning.
Recomandations for direct seeding. Direct seeding is appropriate on lighter soils and afforestation sites. Avoid broadleaved shelterwood on fertile sites. Always use species mixtures Recomandable species are: Oak, beech, ash, birch, rowan, norway spruce, sitka spruce, doug. fir, larch, silver fir, scots pine and lodgepole pine. Problematic species are: Cherry, lime (perhaps). Expect the unexpected.
Site preparation Reasons for site preparation in forestry: Improve seedling survival Facilitate planting Reduce weed competition Reduce water competition in shelterwood regeneration Facilitate mechanised weeding Chemical weeding is prohibited on public owned land in Denmark.
Site preparation in shelterwood regeneration Suadicani, K., 2003: Site Preparation and Planting in a Picea abies Shelterwood Stand. Scand. J. For. Res. 18, 2003.
Seedling mortality MORTALITY OF PLANTED SEEDLINGS Row thinning in Norway Spruce shelterwood regeneration 25 Beech Oak 20 Mortality (%) 15 10 5 0 MANUAL TRENCHER HARROW ROTATOR AUGER EXCAVATOR Site preparation treatments Suadicani, K., 2003: Site Preparation and Planting in a Picea abies Shelterwood Stand. Scand. J. For. Res. 18, 2003.
25 20 What about the cost?? MORTALITY OF PLANTED SEEDLINGS Row thinning in Norway Spruce shelterwood regeneration Beech Oak Cost 1.600 1.400 1.200 Mortality (%) 15 10 1.000 800 600 Cost (EUR) 5 400 200 0 MANUAL TRENCHER HARROW ROTATOR AUGER EXCAVATOR Site preparation treatments - Suadicani, K., 2003: Site Preparation and Planting in a Picea abies Shelterwood Stand. Scand. J. For. Res. 18, 2003.
Site preparation to facilitate mechanical weeding In 1998 public landowners agreed on reducing and eventually stopping the use of pesticides. Jan. 1. 2003 the agreement is implemented to full extend. To meet the obligation the Forest and Nature Agency looked for new strategies on site preparation and mechanised weeding. An experiment was made: 3 locations 5 species Beech, Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Doug. Fir, Nordmann Fir 3 (4) site preparations Clearing, Superf. mulching, Deep mulching, (Kulla harrow) Weeding or mowing 1, 2 and diff. times a year.
RELATIV TILVÆKST 2000-2002 BØG - FUSSINGØ SKOVDISTRIKT -35% -30% -25% -20% -15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Clearing no weeding Rydning /ingen renholdelse a no weeding Knusning *) /ingen renholdelse bc 1 x weeding Knusning *) /1 x rensning c 2 x weeding Knusning *) /2 x rensning a Superf. Mulching diff. weeding Knusning *) /diff. rensning ab 1 x mowing Knusning *)/1x slåning ab Results: 2 x mowing Knusning *) /2 x slåning diff. mowing Knusning *) /diff. slåning ab ab RELATIV TILVÆKST 2000-2002 BØG - FELDBORG SKOVDISTRIKT Growth of beech no weeding Knusning #) /ingen renholdelse 1 x weeding Knusning #) /1 x rensning 2 x weeding Knusning #) /2 x rensning -150% -125% -100% -75% -50% -25% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% b c b Deep Mulching diff. weeding Knusning #) /diff. rensning a 1 x mowing Knusning #)/1x slåning 2 x mowing Knusning #) /2 x slåning c c diff. Mowing Knusning #) /diff. slåning b Bentsen, N. S., 2003: Mekanisk renholdelse af skovkulturer Skov & Landskab (FSL) Superf. Mulching Kulla Harrow no weeding Knusning *) /ingen renholdelse no weeding Kulla /ingen renholdelse d c
RELATIV TILVÆKST 2000-2002 BØG - THY SKOVDISTRIKT -40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% More results on beech no weeding Rydning /ingen renholdelse Clearing 1 x weeding Superf. Mulching Superf. Mulching Rydning /1 x rensning 2 x weeding Rydning /2 x rensning diff. Weeding Rydning / diff. rensning no weeding Knusning *) /ingen renholdelse 1 x weeding Knusning *) /1 x rensning 2 x weeding Knusning *) /2 x rensning diff. weeding Knusning *) /diff. rensning 1 x mowing Knusning *)/1x slåning 2 x mowing Knusning *) /2 x slåning diff. mowing Knusning *) /diff. slåning e de cde bcde bcde bcde abcd abcd abc ab a Conclusions on growth: Extensive methods turn out well in many cases. Deep mulching turns out well in all cases. Superficial mulching doesn t always turn out well. Bentsen, N. S., 2003: Mekanisk renholdelse af skovkulturer, Skov & Landskab (FSL)
PRIS PR. OVERLEVENDE PLANTE BØG - FELDBORG DISTRIKT Plantens pris (kr/stk) 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 Overfladisk knusning Dyb knusning Dyb knusning + rensning Dyb knusning + slåning Kulla kultivering Lineær (Dyb knusning + rensning) Lineær (Dyb knusning + slåning) y = 0,0003x + b y = 0,0003x + b 8 27.000 29.000 31.000 33.000 35.000 37.000 39.000 41.000 43.000 45.000 47.000 49.000 51.000 Kulturomkostning (kr/ha) What about the cost?? The price of living seedlings after 3 years Conclusions on cost: Intensification may or may not reduce price. More than 1 x weeding always increases price. Intensification should only be considered for susceptible species. Plantens pris (kr/stk) 9 8 7 Rydning Overfladisk knusning Overfladisk knusning + rensning Overfladisk knusning + slåning Lineær (Overfladisk knusning + rensning) Lineær (Overfladisk knusning + slåning) PRIS PR. OVERLEVENDE PLANTE BØG - FUSSINGØ DISTRIKT y = 0,0002x + b y = 0,0002x + b Bentsen, N. S., 2003: Mekanisk renholdelse af skovkulturer, Skov & Landskab (FSL) 6 40.000 42.000 44.000 46.000 48.000 50.000 52.000 54.000 56.000 58.000 Kulturomkostninger (kr/ha)
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