Long-term influence of stand thinning and repeated fertilization on forage production in young lodgepole pine forests

Author:

Lindgren Pontus M.F.1,Sullivan Thomas P.2,Ransome Douglas B.1,Sullivan Druscilla S.1,Zabek Lisa3

Affiliation:

1. Applied Mammal Research Institute, 11010 Mitchell Ave., Summerland, BC V0H 1Z8, Canada.

2. Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.

3. Ministry of Agriculture, 441 Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC V2C 2T3, Canada.

Abstract

Integration of trees with forage and livestock production as silvopastoralism is another potential component of intensive forest management. Stand thinning and fertilization may enhance growth of crop trees and understory forage for livestock. We tested the hypothesis that large-scale precommercial thinning (PCT) (particularly heavy thinning to ≤1000 stems·ha−1) and repeated fertilization, up to 20 years after the onset of treatments, would enhance production of graminoids, forbs, and shrubs as cattle (Bos taurus L.) forage. Results are from two long-term studies: (1) PCT (1988–2013) and (2) PCT with fertilization (PCT–FERT) (1993–2013) of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) stands in south-central British Columbia, Canada. Mean biomass estimates of graminoids, forbs, total herbs, and shrubs were not affected by stand density. However, fertilization enhanced mean biomass estimates of graminoids, forbs, and total herbs, but not shrubs. Thus, the density part of our hypothesis was not supported, but the nutrient addition part was supported at least for the herbaceous components. Biomass of the herbaceous understory was maintained as a silvopasture component for up to 20 years (stand age 13 to 33 years) in fertilized heavily thinned stands prior to canopy closure.

Publisher

Canadian Science Publishing

Subject

Ecology,Forestry,Global and Planetary Change

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