Harvesting of logging residues affects diameter growth and pine weevil attacks on Norway spruce seedlings. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hanssen, Kjersti Holt; Fløistad, Inger Sundheim; Granhus, Aksel; Søgaard, Gunnhild
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of forest research. Volume 33:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 49
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Bioenergy -- Hylobius abietis -- nitrogen -- Picea abies -- regeneration -- seedling mortality -- whole-tree harvesting; Forests and forestry -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; Forests and forestry -- Periodicals; Forests and forestry -- Research -- Scandinavia -- Periodicals; 634.90948
• DOI: 10.1080/02827581.2017.1315957
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0282-7581

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Removal of logging residues causes significant nutrient losses from the harvesting site. Furthermore, collection of residues into piles could lead to small-scale differences in establishment conditions for seedlings. We studied the effects of stem-only (SOH) and aboveground whole-tree harvesting (WTH) on Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) seedling growth and pine weevil ( Hylobius abietis ) damage at two sites (SE and W Norway). We also compared two planting environments within the WTH plots (WTH-0: areas with no residues, WTH-1: areas where residue piles had been placed and removed before planting). In practice, one-third of the residues were left on site after WTH. After three growing seasons there were no differences for height or diameter increment between SOH and WTH (WTH-1 and WTH-0 combined) treatments. However, relative diameter increment was largest for WTH-1 seedlings and lowest for WTH-0 seedlings. Few seedlings sustained pine weevil attacks at the W Norway site, with no differences among treatments. At the SE Norway site, the percent of seedlings damaged by pine weevils and average debarked area were significantly higher after WTH (82% and 3.3 cm 2 ) compared to SOH (62% and 1.7 cm 2 ). We conclude that WTH may lead to spatial differences in establishment conditions.