Metla Project 3341

Regeneration of peatland stands - a preliminary study

[  Suomeksi  |  Objectives  |  Results  |  Project leader  |  Metla Research  ]

Duration: 2002   Keywords: Norway spruce, Scots pine, forest drainage, natural regeneration, peatland , planting, sowing
Research Program: Ecologically and economically sustainable forestry on drained peatlands

Objectives

This preliminary study is carried out to find out the present need of information related to the regeneration of peatland stands in forestry organizations, to make a review of previous research, as well as to assess the quantity and quality of previous field studies in this subject. Based on this work, the aim is also to work out a research plan for a more covering research project in which the regeneration methods, their related environmental effects and profitability will be studied.

Results

As the results of this preliminary study we made a review of previous research and a research plan and a proposal for the first independent research project on the regeneration of peatland forests. The proposal was accepted in 2003 and a new project (3387 Forest regeneration and afforestation on peatlands) started in January 2004. It is mainly based on material generated in a number of earlier sub-projects, and the aim is to achieve as comprehensive a research entity as possible. The project is divided into seven sub-projects. They deal with effects of the special properties of peat substrates on seed germination and the initial development of germlings. Also differences between regeneration methods and selection criteria based on regeneration results and regeneration economics are studied. The breakdown of these sub-projects is as follows:

  1. Peat properties and the moisture content of the germination medium in the site preparation of peatlands
  2. Comparison of forest regeneration methods for old drainage areas
  3. Economics of regeneration alternatives
  4. Early development of peatland forests and the effect of seedling stand tending
  5. Exploitation of advance growth in the regeneration of peatland forests
  6. Effects of typical ground vegetation and vegetation changes on the development of a seedling stand
  7. Quality and condition of seedling stands and the factors affecting them

Project leader: Saarinen, Markku
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Parkano Research Unit, Kaironiementie 54, 39700 Parkano
Phone: +358 10 211 4058 Telefax: +358 10 211 4001
E-mail: markku.saarinen@metla.fi

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Updated 31.12.2005
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