Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration
Well site development associated with oil sands exploration is common in boreal mixedwood forests of northern Alberta, Canada, and necessitates reforestation to accommodate other land uses. Little is known about the impact of soil and debris handling strategies during well site construction on long-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/6/201 |
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| author | Laurie A. Frerichs Edward W. Bork Terrance J. Osko M. Anne Naeth |
| author_facet | Laurie A. Frerichs Edward W. Bork Terrance J. Osko M. Anne Naeth |
| author_sort | Laurie A. Frerichs |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Well site development associated with oil sands exploration is common in boreal mixedwood forests of northern Alberta, Canada, and necessitates reforestation to accommodate other land uses. Little is known about the impact of soil and debris handling strategies during well site construction on long-term forest regeneration. This study addresses the impact of soil disturbance intensity, debris treatment, soil storage, and planting on the reforestation of 33 well sites reclaimed prior to 2006. Data on the survival and growth of planted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and the regeneration density of deciduous trees, including trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx), are presented from 2014 to 2015. The survival of planted spruce increased from 81% to 88% at well sites with a high relative to low soil disturbance. The total tree densities were lower in most treatments (≤2.69 stems m−2) than those in clear cuts (5.17 stems m−2), with the exception of root salvage areas where clear cuts had greater balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) densities (2.05 stems m−2 vs. <0.71 stems m−2 on all other treatments). Aspen densities were up to five times greater at well sites with low disturbance when compared to those with high disturbance, and this was further aided by shallow mulch at low disturbance sites. Spruce growth did not respond to well site treatments. Aspen growth (diameter and height) remained similar between well site disturbance regimes; aspen exposed to high disturbance underperformed relative to low disturbance well sites and clear cut controls. With high disturbance, progressive soil piling led to increases in the density of aspen and birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall). Few long-term changes in soil were found due to well site development, with a greater soil pH in high disturbance sites compared to low disturbance sites. Overall, these results indicate that the nature of well site construction, including the extent of soil removal, soil piling, and debris treatment, may collectively alter forest re-establishment, with associated implications for forest management. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:44:26Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f2030aa63874397a12940986a43dd672022-12-22T02:39:07ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072017-06-018620110.3390/f8060201f8060201Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree RegenerationLaurie A. Frerichs0Edward W. Bork1Terrance J. Osko2M. Anne Naeth3Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Service Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 410 Agriculture Forestry Centre University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, CanadaCircle T Consulting, PO Box 339, Vegreville, AB T9C 1R3, CanadaDepartment of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Service Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, CanadaWell site development associated with oil sands exploration is common in boreal mixedwood forests of northern Alberta, Canada, and necessitates reforestation to accommodate other land uses. Little is known about the impact of soil and debris handling strategies during well site construction on long-term forest regeneration. This study addresses the impact of soil disturbance intensity, debris treatment, soil storage, and planting on the reforestation of 33 well sites reclaimed prior to 2006. Data on the survival and growth of planted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and the regeneration density of deciduous trees, including trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx), are presented from 2014 to 2015. The survival of planted spruce increased from 81% to 88% at well sites with a high relative to low soil disturbance. The total tree densities were lower in most treatments (≤2.69 stems m−2) than those in clear cuts (5.17 stems m−2), with the exception of root salvage areas where clear cuts had greater balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) densities (2.05 stems m−2 vs. <0.71 stems m−2 on all other treatments). Aspen densities were up to five times greater at well sites with low disturbance when compared to those with high disturbance, and this was further aided by shallow mulch at low disturbance sites. Spruce growth did not respond to well site treatments. Aspen growth (diameter and height) remained similar between well site disturbance regimes; aspen exposed to high disturbance underperformed relative to low disturbance well sites and clear cut controls. With high disturbance, progressive soil piling led to increases in the density of aspen and birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall). Few long-term changes in soil were found due to well site development, with a greater soil pH in high disturbance sites compared to low disturbance sites. Overall, these results indicate that the nature of well site construction, including the extent of soil removal, soil piling, and debris treatment, may collectively alter forest re-establishment, with associated implications for forest management.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/6/201boreal forestplantingreforestationtree densitywell site reclamation |
| spellingShingle | Laurie A. Frerichs Edward W. Bork Terrance J. Osko M. Anne Naeth Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration Forests boreal forest planting reforestation tree density well site reclamation |
| title | Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration |
| title_full | Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration |
| title_short | Effects of Boreal Well Site Reclamation Practices on Long-Term Planted Spruce and Deciduous Tree Regeneration |
| title_sort | effects of boreal well site reclamation practices on long term planted spruce and deciduous tree regeneration |
| topic | boreal forest planting reforestation tree density well site reclamation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/8/6/201 |
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