Planting recommendations for blueberry — sweetfern sites in northern Ontario

Abstract

This is an extension of a 1968 report on experiments established to study species, age-classes, and planting site treatments for blueberry-sweet-fern (Vaccinium-Comptonia) sites in northern Ontario. Red pine (3–0 and 2–2) and jack pine (2–0 and 2–1) were planted in scalped spots, in furrows, in herbicide-spray strips, in ground cover, and in bulldozed plots. This report is based on survival and height at 10 years after planting.The results suggest that jack pine is more satisfactory than red pine, producing much greater aggregate height (survival × average height). In both species transplants performed better than seedlings. Comparisons of site treatment and planting methods showed that furrowing and bulldozing were both satisfactory for 2–2 red pine, but that bulldozing was clearly the best method for jack pine.Reforestation of dry "blueberry-sweetfern" sites in north-central and northeastern Ontario has often been difficult. These plant associations occur on dry sands and gravels, usually following a fire, or a cutover and burn. The ground cover is Vaccinium spp. and Comptonia peregrina (L) Coult., with scattered herbs and grasses. There may also be light or open cover of trees, such as jack pine Pinus banksiana Lamb.), white birch (Betula payrifera Marsh) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). Jack pine is the common species for planting but under some local conditions red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) may be preferred.In 1959 experimental plots were established in the forest districts of Chapleau, Swastika and North Bay, to examine some aspects of the planting requirements for these sites. This report is based on the tenth-year survival and height measurements at Swastika and North Bay. The Chapleau plots are not included because of uncertainty caused by invasion of natural seedlings. An earlier report (Mullin 1968a) was based on the Chapleau and Swastika plots to the fifth-year after planting.