Establishment Report
White Spruce and White Spruce – Aspen
Mixedwood Management
Silvicultural Studies
Rice Property, TFL 48, Dawson Creek Forest District
Prepared by: Nicole Wilder
November, 2000
Introduction
The following is a summary of the establishment activities carried out over the 2000 field
season under the White Spruce and White Spruce – Aspen Mixedwood Management
Silvicultural Studies on the Rice Property, TFL 48, Dawson Creek Forest District.
Two different aspen stands (young and oldgrowth) are being examined to determine the
impact of aspen densities on the survival and growth performance of under-planted white
spruce and to determine the optimum aspen densities required to maximize under-planted
white spruce survival and growth and yield. These results will be compared to the
survival and growth performance of white spruce in a clearcut (Fig. 1).
Young Aspen Stand
1. Identification of suitable areas for the research trial (Fig. 2)
 A suitable location for this part of the trial was identified in May by Jian Wang,
Richard Kabzems and Chris Hawkins and laid out by Tony Letchford and
Patience Byman.
2. Research trial layout
 16 treatment plots, measuring 70x70m were established along Wangler Road by
Tony Letchford and Antoine LaLumiere in June, while Chris Hawkins and
Patience Byman collected soil samples from the area.
3. Pre-treatment aspen densities
 Patience Byman and Anne Cole returned to the stand in early July to confirm pretreatment aspen densities and basal areas.
4. Spruce underplanting
 White spruce seedlings were planted at a density of 1600-1800 sph in all
treatment areas in July and August. Planting was carried out by Evertree (Jonus
Irving).
5. Aspen girdling
 Aspen stems were thinned to densities of 600 sph, 1200 sph, 2500 sph, and 5000
sph within specific treatment areas in August. Unthinned aspen treatments were
retained as controls. Girdling and snapping was done by Evertree (Jonus Irving).
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6. Reasearch plot establishment and measurement
 Individual treatment areas are identified by a cedar stake in the southwest corner.
 Within each of the 15 treatment plots (plot 3 is a spare), five 3.99 m radius
permanent sample plots were located in a 30x30 m area, leaving a 20 m buffer
zone (Fig. 3).
D
E
C
A
B
SW
Fig. 3 Permanent sample plot design in young aspen treatment areas

Within each of the five 3.99 m radius permanent sample plots (PSP’s) aspen,
cottonwood and willow, were tallied and diameters at breast height recorded
(Table 1a/b). Spruce seedlings were tagged and measured for height and diameter
(ground level) (Table 1c/d). Each subplot centre was marked with a cedar stake.
Sample plot location and measurements were carried out in August by Tony
Letchford, Anne Cole, Marcin Partyka, Antoine LaLumiere, Oli Ciputa, Patience
Byman and Nicole Wilder.
7. Boundary traversing
 The external boundary of the 16 treatment plots were GPS’d in early November
by Nicole Wilder.
Oldgrowth Aspen
1. Identification of suitable areas for the research trial (Fig. 4)
 A suitable location for this part of the trial was identified in July and laid out by
Tony Letchford and Patience Byman.
2. Spruce underplanting
 White spruce seedlings were planted at a density of 1600-1800 sph throughout the
oldgrowth area in August of 2000. The planting was carried out by Evertree
(Jonus Irving).
3. Research trial layout, plot establishment and measurement
 Four 30x30 m plots were located and identified with a cedar stake in the NE
corner. Five 5.64 m sub-plots were established within these boundaries. Each of
these plot centers were marked permanently with cedar stakes. Aspen was tallied
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and diameters measured at breast height for each plot (Table 2a/b). 3.99 m radius
permanent sample plots were located inside each 5.64 m radius sub-plot. Within
each of these plots, spruce seedlings were tallied, tagged and measured for height
and diameter (ground level) (Table 2c/d). Plots were established and measured by
Nicole Wilder and Patience Byman in late October.
NE
B
A
C
E
D
Fig. 5 Permanent sample plot design in oldgrowth aspen treatment areas
4. Boundary traversing
 The external boundary of the four plots were GPS’d in early November by
Patience Byman.
Clearcut
1. Spruce planting
 White spruce seedlings were planted at a density of 1600-1800 sph in the summer.
2. Identification of suitable areas for the research trial
 Suitable areas were identified by Dennis Sabourin in late October.
3. Research trial plot establishment and measurement
 Seven plots were located in the clearcut area west of the young aspen stand (Fig.
6) in November by Chris Hawkins and Sue Nykoluk. Each plot centre was
marked with a cedar stake. Spruce seedlings were tagged and measured for height
and diameter (ground level )(Table 3a/b).
4. Boundary traversing
 The seven plots were GPS’d in early November by Nicole Wilder.
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