Survival Of Spruce Research Articles

Potential use of bialaphos, a microbially produced phytotoxin, to control red raspberry in forest plantations and its effect on black spruce

Bialaphos foliar sprays were tested in eastern Quebec for control of red raspberry (Rubusidaeus L.), and the tolerance of planted black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) seedlings was determined. Approximately 3 weeks after bialaphos was applied in July, August, or September, virtually all raspberry plants were killed. Efficiency of the June application, however, was much reduced. Spruce current-year foliage was more affected than older foliage. Foliar injury was more pronounced for bialaphos applications in June and July than for applications in August. First-year spruce survival was not affected by the treatments. Second-year evaluations revealed a significant quadratic relation of (i) month of application × bialaphos rate on raspberry density and (ii) bialaphos rate on raspberry height growth. Reduction in raspberry density and height growth was greater with the 2.0 and 2.5 kg active ingredient per hectare rates applied in August. As part of the evaluation of treatment efficiency, photosynthetically active radiation reaching spruce seedlings was measured using a portable integrating radiometer. Raspberry density and height growth were both negatively correlated with photosynthetically active radiation reaching spruce seedlings. A significant quadratic relation was found between bialaphos rate and 2nd-year spruce survival, which reached 95%, regardless of month and rate of application. A significant quadratic relation was found between spruce diameter growth increment and bialaphos rate. Except for calcium, 2nd-year spruce foliar mineral content was not affected by the treatments. Bialaphos treatments in August, with rates ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 kg active ingredient per hectare, had only slight or no adverse effects on spruce survival, foliar injury, and growth increment. Selective control of red raspberry in young black spruce plantations is a function of bialaphos rate and month of application.

Growth and survival of black spruce in the range-wide provenance study

Field experiments of the range-wide black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) provenance study were established between 1973 and 1977 through the cooperation of several organizations in the United States and Canada from the Atlantic Coast to Alberta. This study evaluates performance at 11 or 15 years from seed in 29 locations divided into 8 regional clusters of 2 to 10 experiments each. Analytical methods include correlations of height and survival with geographic and climatic variables, analyses of variance, and polynomial regressions followed by contour plotting. Best height was obtained in the Great Lakes States and in other temperate regions, and best survival in Newfoundland and some temperate regions with long growing seasons. Correlations between height and survival were positive and significant only in 10 locations, 8 of which were located in temperate regions. In many locations in boreal regions, correlations with latitude or climatic variables at the place of seed origin and height have opposite signs of correlations with survival, indicating difficulties when simultaneously selecting for good height and high survival in cold climates. Contour plots from the regressions demonstrate a similar trend by showing good pattern overlap of height and survival primarily in mild coastal (Newfoundland) or temperate continental climates (southern Quebec and Ontario, Great Lakes States). There is evidence that provenance differences are still developing and changes in rank are taking place, and therefore additional assessments are required in the future.

Container Volume Affects Survival and Growth of White Spruce, Black Spruce, and Jack Pine Seedlings: A Literature Review

Abstract This paper is the first general review of the affects of container volume on the survival and growth of containerized white spruce, black spruce, and jack pine seedlings. The review shows that the literature on this topic is fragmentary and inconsistent. Seedling growth in the greenhouse production phase has been more completely quantified than subsequent establishment and growth after out-planting in the field. In the greenhouse production phase, seedling growth increased from 72 to 360% when the container volume was tripled in size. After outplanting in the field, seedling growth trends were more variable. Seedling height growth increased from 34 to 84% when container volume was tripled in size. Seedling survival was more difficult to assess because of limited data. Only white spruce showed a 10% increase in survival with an increase in container volume. The indications from this literature review suggest that nursery managers and practicing foresters should become more aware of the limitations imposed on seedling survival and growth due to container volume. To maintain optional survival and growth for white spruce, black spruce and jack pine, the container volume should range from 90 to 120 cm3. North. J. Appl. For. 5:185-189, Sept. 1988.

Survival and Growth of Planted Black Spruce, Alder, Aspen and Willow After Fire on Black Spruce/Feather Moss Sites in Interior Alaska

Seedlings of black spruce, aspen, green alder, and grayleaf willow planted on black spruce/feather moss sites in the boreal forest in interior Alaska survived and grew relatively well over a 6-year period after prescribed burning. Survival of black spruce was significantly greater than that of the broad-leaved species, but height growth was significantly less. Development of feltleaf willow and balsam poplar from unrooted cuttings was poor. Severity of burn appeared to have an important effect on height growth of all species but not on seedling survival. Key words: Planting, Picea, Alnus, Populus, Salix, microsite.

Effect of litter layer on natural regeneration of companion tree species in the Korean pine forest

As an integrated part of the research on ‘The Structure and Dynamics of the Korean Pine Forest’ in the Lesser Khingan Mountain (Xiao Xingan Ling), 325 plots were set, treated, sown and periodically observed from 1963 to 1965 to study the effect of removing the litter layer and/or living ground cover on seed germination and seedling survival of aspen, birch, spruce, larch and linden. An inverse relation was found between litter layer and seed germination and seedling survival in all species except linden. Some birch seeds were inhibited from germinating but remained alive for 2–3 years. The adaptability of seeds to germinated and survive on a litter layer was correlated to seed size. The relation between adaptability of seeds to germinate and survive on litter layer and seedling tolerance to shade is discussed.

Effects of soil fumigation and inoculation with pure culture of Hebeloma cylindrosporum on survival, growth and ectomycorrhizal development of Norway spruce and douglas fir seedlings

AbstractIn a bare‐root nursery we have determined the incidence of soil fumigation and mycorrhizal inoculation on survival growth and ectomycorrhizal development of Norway spruce and Douglas fir seedlings. Three experimental designes were installed in 1978, 1981 and 1982.Soil fumigation eliminated or reduced Rbizoctonia solani, Pytbium sp. and probably Fusarium oxysporum propagules. Fumigation improved Norway spruce seedlings performance, particularly in the second year. Douglas fir seedlings seemed less sensitive to soil‐borne pathogens tha Norway spruce seedlings.Two years after inoculation, Hebeloma cylindrosporum increased Norway spruce growth by 40% and Douglas fir growth by 30 % in comparison with seedlings grown in fumigated soil and mycorrhizal with the naturally occurring fungus Thelephora terrestris.Both, fumigation and artificial inoculation increased Norway spruce seedling growth by 110 % and Douglas fir seedling growth by 50 %.

Seedling Spacing in the Nursery in Relation to Growth, Yield, and Performance of Stock

In three experiments coastal and interior varieties of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn.) were grown at a range of spacings, within drills 15 cm apart, at four nurseries in coastal British Columbia. In a fourth experiment the frequency distribution of seed spacings achieved with three types of precision seeders was examined.A 1 cm increase in spacing increased seedling dry weight by 0.5–1.5 g and root collar diameter by 0.2–0.25 mm. up to a spacing of about 8–10 cm. Above this spacing response was less. Height of two-year old (2-0) seedlings was increased little, or even decreased by wider spacing. Height:diameter ratios decreased sharply and shoot:root dry weight ratios decreased or remained unchanged with wider spacing. The number of needle primorida in 2-0 Douglas-fir buds increased up to a spacing of 2 cm. The number of first and second order branches was also increased in 2-0 seedlings of this species by wider spacing. Needle dry weight and area measurements suggested Douglas-fir from wider spacing had more sun type needles than those from closer spacing, which had more shade type needles. Only small increases in root growth capacity (RGC) were associated with wider spacing. None of the precision seeders tested achieved anything like perfect precision of seed placement. With irregularity added by 10–20% non-viable seed and winter mortality, truly precision spaced stands of 2-0 seedlings could not be achieved under existing conditions. Increased spacing of 2–5 cm between seedlings, depending on species and nursery, was justified by yield of acceptable seedlings when culling standard was increased to a root collar diameter of about 6 mm.Three years after planting, survival of white spruce was increased 11% by wider spacing in the nursery, and the corresponding value for Sitka spruce two years after planting was 13%. Seedlings of both species from wider spacings maintained a height and diameter advantage over those from close spacing.

Relationship between spacing and nitrogen fertilization of seedlings in the nursery, seedling size, and outplanting performance

Nursery sowings of coastal and interior varieties of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong) Carr), and lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.) were thinned to different spacings 5 weeks after germination. Spacings in the drills, which were 15 cm apart, were 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 cm, with the nursery sowing rate (about 0.6-cm spacing) as control. Spacings were applied factorially with three levels of N fertilizer: 60, 140, and 235 kg N ha−1. Two-year-old seedlings were planted out at Campbell River (coastal Douglas-fir) and Port Alice (Sitka spruce), both on Vancouver Island, and at Lyne Creek (interior Douglas-fir) in the Cariboo region and at Fulton Lake (lodgepole pine) in the Prince Rupert region of British Columbia. Wider spacing and greater N supply increased 2-0 seedling dry weight, root-collar diameter, and shoot height and also affected distribution of dry matter between needles, stems, and roots. Wider spacing increased survival of outplanted interior Douglas-fir by 12%. Survival of coastal Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce species was high and only increased 4 to 7% due to wide spacing after one season, but after three seasons wide spacing increased survival 17 – 19%. Compared with control, 12-cm spacing increased first-season shoot growth 53% for coastal Douglas-fir, 82% for interior Douglas-fir, and 71% for Sitka spruce. Second-season shoot growth of lodgepole pine was increased 92% by the widest spacing. Much of the improved growth was explained in terms of increased seedling size. At the highest level of N supply, increasing spacing to 4 cm did not greatly reduce yield of seedlings with root-collar diameters greater than 3 mm, except for interior Douglas-fir. Thus moderate increase in spacing improved quality without materially reducing yield of seedlings per unit area of nursery. Nursery fertilization at 235 kg N ha−1 increased new-shoot growth one season after planting by 36–58% compared with the 60 kg N ha−1 level. After three seasons the effect of higher N supply was reduced to 0–42%. High N level increased survival of coastal Douglas-fir and Sitka spruce slightly, but decreased survival of interior Douglas-fir.

Effects of root or shoot exposure before planting on the water relations, growth, and survival of Sitka spruce

Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) seedlings were exposed either by the root or the shoot to drying conditions in a growthroom. Changes in leaf water potential (ψ1) and rate of water loss were determined and measurements were made on the moisture content (MC) of the shoot, woody root, and fine roots.Exposure of the root or shoot reduced the MC of all tissues measured and reduced ψ1. When the root was exposed, water moved from the shoot into the root system, but this water movement did not prevent a substantial reduction in the MC of the root system. The greatest reduction occurred in the fine roots. Exposure of the root caused a faster decrease in fine root MC than exposure of the shoot.Treated seedlings were planted in root observation boxes, and those which had been exposed by the roots to give ψ1 of −20 × 105 Pa were found to be under increased water stress when measured 12 days after planting indicating that water uptake had been impaired. Root exposure also reduced plant survival and the growth of roots and shoots of plants which survived. Although exposure of the shoot to give ψ1 of −20 × 105 Pa resulted in a similar reduction in total plant MC as exposure of the root, the treatment was not damaging in terms of growth or survival after planting. It is concluded that measurement of neither whole plant MC nor ψ1 prior to planting can show whether a plant has been subjected to damaging conditions. Root exposure of plants in different stages of growth indicated increased sensitivity to exposure the farther the plants were removed from dormancy.

Norway Spruce Provenance Experiments in the Maritimes Region of Canada

Results from ten provenance trials of Norway spruce in the Maritimes Region are reviewed. Norway spruce from eastern Poland and from mid-elevations in the Sudeten and Carpathian Mountains of northern Poland can be expected to perform well when planted over a wide range of sites in central and southern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Norway spruce from east of the Baltic Sea, i.e., northeastern Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, western Russia and White Russia is recommended for northern New Brunswick. These same provenances are recommended for use in Great Lakes — St. Lawrence Region of Quebec and Ontario.Survival and growth rate of Norway spruce are compared to that of native spruce species. In general, survival of black and Norway spruce was the same and exceeded that of white and red spruce. Black spruce was taller than Norway which was taller than white and red spruce in most tests. It is suggested that growth of Norway spruce will exceed that of native spruces over rotations of 40-50 years.

Effects of Seedbed Density and Nursery Fertilization on Survival and Growth of White Spruce

The effects of seedbed densities and fertilizer levels on growth in the nursery and on performance after planting of 3-0 white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) were studied in an experiment started in 1965. Seedbeds were thinned at 1-0 to densities of 15 and 30 trees per ft2 (161 and 322 per m2). Fertilizer treatments consisted of 'control' (no further treatment after 1-0), 'normal' (the recommended level for top dressing from soil and plant analyses) and 'double' (twice the recommended amounts).Results five years after outplanting showed much benefit from thinning to 15 trees per ft2 (161 per m2) at both nurseries. Normal fertilizer applications at Midhurst gave small benefit over the controls but the double fertilizer gave increased growth (aggregate height) up to 15%. At Orono the normal fertilizer treatment gave more benefit but doubling it gave only a small additional increase. The need for field test plots to study the effectiveness of the fertilizer program is stressed.

STAND IMPROVEMENT WITH WHITE SPRUCE PLANTED WITH CONCURRENT DYBAR (FENURON) HERBICIDE TREATMENT

Three ½-oz. spot applications of Dybar (pelleted fenuron: 3-phenyl-1, 1-dimethylurea) were given in 1960-61 to competing vegetation around each planted white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in an overmature boreal mixedwood. The herbicide was applied at distances from 1 to 7 feet from the spruce concurrently with planting, in fall, spring and summer. Survival of white spruce, 75 per cent in 1963, was not affected significantly by any of the treatments. A highly significant relationship was found between total live canopy in 1963 (X, not greater than 75%) and height growth of spruce in 1963 (Y):[Formula: see text]Significance of regression was not increased by the inclusion of either initial canopy or height of stock at planting. The study shows that the non-selective Dybar can safely be used at the time of planting to aid the establishment of white spruce, and that subsequent growth of the spruce is largely dependent on the density of total live canopy.