Metla Project 3451

Modelling establishment and early development of forest stands

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

Duration: 2007-2011   Keywords: early development, forest regeneration, growth modelling, management of sapling stand
Research project group: Forest regeneration and sapling stand management

Objectives

Stand-level models will be prepared for the establishment of regeneration in planted, direct seeded and naturally regenerated stands using the regeneration survey data, and for the early development of seedlings up until a height of 5 – 8 m. The effects of moose damage on the structure and development of young stands will also be taken into account in juvenile growth models.

The models can be included in silviculture decision tools (e.g. Motti) in order to study the profitability of forest regeneration and treatment of young stands. Results will enhance silviculture planning through more accurate predictions for the regeneration success and early development of forest stands.

Results

Establishment of regeneration was predicted in 3-, 4- and 5-year-old regeneration areas planted, direct seeded and naturally regenerated, respectively, for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in southern Finland. Establishment of regeneration was described by the number of planted, seeded and natural tree seedlings, as well as by the height of pines and the dominant height of broadleaves. In planted stands, the number of natural crop-tree conifers was also predicted. For each regeneration method, establishment of regeneration was modelled by fitting a multilevel multivariate model to regeneration survey data. Temperature sum, altitude, site fertility, soil quality and method of site preparation were used as explanatory variables in the models.

Stochastic simulations that accounted for the random between-stand variation in the regeneration result were conducted to evaluate the uncertainty and risk involved in different methods of regeneration for Scots pine. Counting both planted pines and supplementary natural crop-tree conifers, on relatively fertile growing site of Scots pine (MT), planting was more effective than direct seeding and natural regeneration. On poorer sites (VT and CT), in terms of the number of pine seedlings, direct seeding proved to be the most effective method for establishing pine stands.

In silvicultural planning, the regeneration models can be used to simulate and compare the outcomes of different regeneration methods, and in forest management systems, to initiate stand development after regeneration cutting.

Project leader: Miina, Jari
The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu Office, PL 68, FI-80101 JOENSUU, FINLAND
Phone: +358 10 211 3106 Telefax: +358 10 211 2103
E-mail: jari.miina@metla.fi

Other researchers: Heinonen, Jaakko, JO (2007), Leskinen, Pekka, JO (2007), Nylander, Anne, JO (2007), Päätalo, Marja-Leena, OU (2008-09,2011), Sirkiä, Seija, JO (2009-11)


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Updated 24.05.2012
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