Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada
Because they generate more wood per area and time, short rotation plantations are likely to play an increasing role in meeting the global increase in the demand for wood fiber. To be successful, high-yield plantations require costly intensive silviculture regimes to ensure the survival and maximize...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/7/785 |
| _version_ | 1797561707364614144 |
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| author | Nelson Thiffault Raed Elferjani François Hébert David Paré Pierre Gagné |
| author_facet | Nelson Thiffault Raed Elferjani François Hébert David Paré Pierre Gagné |
| author_sort | Nelson Thiffault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Because they generate more wood per area and time, short rotation plantations are likely to play an increasing role in meeting the global increase in the demand for wood fiber. To be successful, high-yield plantations require costly intensive silviculture regimes to ensure the survival and maximize yields. While hybrid poplar (<i>Populus</i> spp.) is frequently used in intensive, short rotation forestry, it is particularly sensitive to competition and resource levels. Mechanical site preparation is thus of great importance to create microsites that provide sufficient light levels and adequate soil water and nutrient availability. We conducted an experiment in Québec (Canada) to compare two intensive site preparation treatments commonly used to establish hybrid poplar. We compared the effects of double-blade site preparation (V-blade), mounding and a control on hybrid poplar growth and nutritional status four growing seasons after planting on recently harvested forested sites. We also evaluated the effects of site preparation and planted poplar on inorganic soil N. Our results confirmed general positive effects of site preparation on the early growth of hybrid poplar clones. After four growing seasons, survival was higher in the mounding treatment (99%) than in the V-blade (91%) and the control (48%). Saplings planted in the V-blade and in the mounding treatments had mean diameters that were respectively 91% and 155% larger than saplings planted in the control plots. Saplings were 68% taller in the mounding treatment than the control plots, but differences between the V-blade and controls were not significant. We did not detect significant effects of site preparation or the presence of planted hybrid poplar on soil inorganic N. Sapling foliar nutrient concentrations were not influenced by the site preparation treatments. Based on these results, mounding appears to be a good management approach to establish hybrid poplar plantations under the ecological conditions we have studied, as it is less likely to cause erosion because of the localized nature of the treatment. However, these environmental benefits need to be balanced against economic and social considerations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:18:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23b4c81540ef438f9aeff42914a237f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:18:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-23b4c81540ef438f9aeff42914a237f82023-11-20T07:28:48ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-07-0111778510.3390/f11070785Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, CanadaNelson Thiffault0Raed Elferjani1François Hébert2David Paré3Pierre Gagné4Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Sainte-Foy Stn., Québec, QC G1V 4C7, CanadaRéseau Reboisement Ligniculture Québec, Université TÉLUQ, 5800 Saint-Denis, Bureau 1105, Montréal, QC H2S 3L5, CanadaMinistère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Direction de la Protection des Forêts, 5700 4e avenue Ouest, Québec, QC G1H 6R1, CanadaLaurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Sainte-Foy Stn., Québec, QC G1V 4C7, CanadaChaire Industrielle de Recherche sur la Construction Écoresponsable en Bois, Université Laval, 2425 de la Terrasse, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaBecause they generate more wood per area and time, short rotation plantations are likely to play an increasing role in meeting the global increase in the demand for wood fiber. To be successful, high-yield plantations require costly intensive silviculture regimes to ensure the survival and maximize yields. While hybrid poplar (<i>Populus</i> spp.) is frequently used in intensive, short rotation forestry, it is particularly sensitive to competition and resource levels. Mechanical site preparation is thus of great importance to create microsites that provide sufficient light levels and adequate soil water and nutrient availability. We conducted an experiment in Québec (Canada) to compare two intensive site preparation treatments commonly used to establish hybrid poplar. We compared the effects of double-blade site preparation (V-blade), mounding and a control on hybrid poplar growth and nutritional status four growing seasons after planting on recently harvested forested sites. We also evaluated the effects of site preparation and planted poplar on inorganic soil N. Our results confirmed general positive effects of site preparation on the early growth of hybrid poplar clones. After four growing seasons, survival was higher in the mounding treatment (99%) than in the V-blade (91%) and the control (48%). Saplings planted in the V-blade and in the mounding treatments had mean diameters that were respectively 91% and 155% larger than saplings planted in the control plots. Saplings were 68% taller in the mounding treatment than the control plots, but differences between the V-blade and controls were not significant. We did not detect significant effects of site preparation or the presence of planted hybrid poplar on soil inorganic N. Sapling foliar nutrient concentrations were not influenced by the site preparation treatments. Based on these results, mounding appears to be a good management approach to establish hybrid poplar plantations under the ecological conditions we have studied, as it is less likely to cause erosion because of the localized nature of the treatment. However, these environmental benefits need to be balanced against economic and social considerations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/7/785intensive silviculture<i>Populus maximowiczii</i> × <i>P. deltoides</i> × <i>P. trichocarpa</i>fast-growing tree speciessevere soil disturbancefoliar nutritionsoil inorganic N |
| spellingShingle | Nelson Thiffault Raed Elferjani François Hébert David Paré Pierre Gagné Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada Forests intensive silviculture <i>Populus maximowiczii</i> × <i>P. deltoides</i> × <i>P. trichocarpa</i> fast-growing tree species severe soil disturbance foliar nutrition soil inorganic N |
| title | Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada |
| title_full | Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada |
| title_short | Intensive Mechanical Site Preparation to Establish Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Plantations—A Case-Study in Québec, Canada |
| title_sort | intensive mechanical site preparation to establish short rotation hybrid poplar plantations a case study in quebec canada |
| topic | intensive silviculture <i>Populus maximowiczii</i> × <i>P. deltoides</i> × <i>P. trichocarpa</i> fast-growing tree species severe soil disturbance foliar nutrition soil inorganic N |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/7/785 |
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