Productivity of coastal Douglas-fir and western redcedar in response to species mixture, planting density, and soil carbon:nitrogen ratio

Abstract

Mixed-species plantations have been suggested as ecologically and economically viable alternatives to monocultures. We examined the growth response of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) and western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don in Lamb.) to different species mixtures (Douglas-fir : western redcedar mixtures of 1:0, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1) and planting densities (500, 1000, and 1500 stems·ha−1) in a dry maritime forest on eastern Vancouver Island, Canada. Twenty-two years postplanting, species mixture significantly affected diameter and height growth (p < 0.001), with stand diameter and height generally decreasing with increasing redcedar composition. Inherent variation in soil productivity across the plantation (carbon:nitrogen ratio) equally constrained stand growth. The widest spacing had larger diameter than the closest spacing (p = 0.025) but the least stand basal area compared with the other spacing treatments (p = 0.003–0.031). Stand volume was significantly affected by mixture × density interaction (p = 0.024) and generally declined with increasing proportion of redcedar and decreasing stand density. In the first decades after plantation establishment, inherent species growth traits and soil fertility were most important in dictating stand productivity. Because of the differences in resource utilization of both species, stand dynamics may change as competition for light and soil resources increases. Evaluation of silvicultural recommendations regarding mixtures of both species will continue with plantation development.