Regeneration in a multi-layered forest after single-tree harvest
Location:
Romperöd/North Skåne
Experiment description:
For more than 60 years, 50 ha of the farm have been managed by
single tree selection. This special type of management created
uneven-aged stand structures which are often desired for
ecological or recreational reasons. However, silvicultural
knowledge regarding partial cuttings and the establishment of
natural regeneration is limited. The forest in Romperöd provides a
unique possibility to study regeneration processes under different
shelter and stand density conditions.
The goal of this master thesis is the documentation of
regeneration pattern under different structural conditions and to
find a correlation between height growth of established seedlings
and overstory density.
A recently harvested single-tree selection stands on a typical site
will be chosen to plan and carry out a systematic regeneration
survey. Permanent sample plots which allow re-measurement will
be established.
Students labor input:
literature study
Entering the topic with selected
literature
Establishment of 50 sample
plots á 5 m²,
recording regeneration,
overstory density and local basal
area,
tree height measurements and
age estimation of the largest
trees
Height curve and site index
estimation,
regeneration analysis and
correlation with stand density
Stand description,
demonstrating the relationship
between regeneration and
overstory,
discussing silvicultural potentials
to promote natural regeneration
Language check
Presentation
Official finalization
field work
data analysis
theses writing
Finishing
one month, halftime
3 weeks
one month
two months
2 weeks
Research questions:
(1) Does overstory density influence the regeneration performance?
(2) Is it possible to identify an optimum stand density when aiming for
maximum height growth of seedlings?
(3) Does the top shoot/lateral shoot ratio of spruce seedlings indicate optimum
light conditions?
Introductory literature:
Lundqvist L. 1989. Blädning i Granskog. SLU, Institutionen för skogskötsel, avhandling, Umeå. ISBN 91-5763837-3. (in Swedish with English chapters)
Greis, I. and Kellomäki, S. 1981. Crown structure and stem growth of Norway spruce under varying shade. Silva
Fennica 15: 306-322.
Nilson, K., 2001. Studies on single-tree selection from 1830 to 1949—a review. In: Nilson, K. (Ed.), Regeneration
Dynamics in Uneven-aged Norway Spruce Forests with Special Emphasis on Single-tree Selection. Acta
Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae, Silvestria 209.
Tjoelker M.G., Boratynski A., Bugala W. 2007. Biology and ecology of Norway spruce. In Szymanski S. (ed.)
Silviculture of Norway spruce. Springer. Netherlands. ISBN 978-1-4020-4840-1. pp 295-307.
Contact:
Lars Drössler, [email protected], mobile 0764283980