Management of Birch
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Management of birch - methods to produce high quality birch (Pentti Niemistö) Contents of the presentation •Regeneration - problems and site aspects •Growing of seedling stands and timing of first commercial thinning •Thinning intensity and rotation period •Production of special price birch butt logs METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi ` Betula pendula (silver birch) = Valuable broadleaved tree species Betlua pubescens (downy birch) NOT - Growth rate - Biological age - Stem quality (no differences in wood quality) - Sites and location METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE Mean birch volume/ha (Korhonen 2007) Silver birch-% of totalwww,metla,fi birch volume Birch regeneration and afforestation in Finland 1000 ha/ 20 18 yea 16 r 14 12 Betula pubescens, planted 15 000 ha 10 Betula pendula, direct seeded 14 000 ha 8 6 Betula pendula, planted 225 000 ha 4 ` 2 ` 0 - Natural regeneration1968 of Betula pendula: - About 20 % of total birch regenera 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 tion failed 2000-3000 + 20 % in poorha/year, condition 1986 1988 1990 1992 total 35 000 ha 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS2004 SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Afforestation of abandoned fields in Finland 1000 20 18 Birch, 104 000 ha 16 Total, 250 000 ha 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Planting, a reliable method for birch regeneration: results from practical forestry in Finland 2000-05 (Saksa...2005) 120 Mean height of valid birches: 162 cm 92 cm 111 cm 100 4 9 12 17 13 80 12 13 Failure 28 Poor 60 Tolerable Good 40 78 63 50 20 0 Planted, 3 yr Direct seeded, 4 yr Natural reg. 5 yr METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Weed control - profitable and necessary (Hytönen& Jylhä 2005) Stem volume on the full ploughed field 11 years after silver birch planting, m³/ha 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Control Cover plant, Cover plate, Diklobenil Terbut- Kloritamid Trifolium 50*50 cm hylatsin repens METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Unsuitable site and deficient weed control = fiasco METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE ` photo: E. Oksanen www,metla,fi More problems have existed in birch plantations on abandoned fields (Ferm ... 1993) 100 80 60 Survival, % 40 20 0 024681012 Years after palnting METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Vole, Microtus agrestis photo: H. Henttonen METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Birch saw fly (Cicadella viridis) and Gordonia multispora METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET photo: A. Pouttu FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE photo: A. Lilja www,metla,fi Moose, Alces alces photo: R. Heikkilä METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET photo: A Viherä-Aarnio FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Mean size and quality characters of stems (600 thickest/ha) in planted Betula pedula stands at the age of 30 years 0 102030405060 18.7 Mean diameter of trees, cm 17.7 33 Thickest live branch, mm 31 23 Thickest dead branch, mm 20 31 Tapering of stem (d1.3-d6.0), mm 29 Agricultural land Mean height of trees, m 19.8 19.5 Forest land 8.1 Height of live crow n base, m 7.9 5.0 Height of dead crow n base, m 4.9 23 Stems free of exterior defects, % 37 17 Approximated rejection in the volume of logs, % 12 17 Radius of pith discoloration > 4 cm, % of stems 11 3.9 Mean height of pith discoloration, m 3.2 38 Frequency of knot discoloration in butt log, % of disces 27 (Niemistö....1997) 4 Stems free from infection of Phytobia betulae, % 20 METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE57 Number of Phytobia tunnels at breast height www,metla,fi 40 Hard stem discoloration, common in young planted birches (photo: P. Savilampi) METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Phytobia betulae (photo: J. Lehto, M. Rousi) METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi The aim in pure Silver birch seedling stand : 1500-1600 faultless stems/ha after the risk of moose damages at the height of 6-7 m, homogenous size and spacing. ` How to achieve: - Fertile sites with adequate moisture and air content: gentle slopes, fine sand and silt moraine soils and fine sandy soils - Effective site preparation and weed control before and after planting - Planting with tall seedlings of high quality and good health - Regeneration just after peak periods of vole - Protection against vole and hare, chase away moose and deer METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Thinning of pure silver birch stand METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi photo: E. Oksanen Growing of silver birch seedling stand to first commercial thinning stage ` At density of 1600 stems/ha it is profitable to have first commercial thinning at 14-15 m dominant height: - Live crown > 50 % of tree height - Branches are dead along the length of butt log and self pruning will continue - Adequate stem size and volume/ha of removed trees for profitable thinning operation METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Live crown development and timing of first commercial thinning according to spacing trials Living crown, % of tree height 0 % Initial density, 10 % plants/ha 20 % (living stems/ha at 24 m height) 30 % 40 % 5000 (2700) 2500 (1900) 50 % 1600 (1400) 60 % 1100 (930) 70 % 800 (760) 80 % 600 (500) 400 (370) 90 % 100 % 4 6 8 10121416182022242628Top height, m METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Spacing and stem wood production in Silver birch plantations Influence of initial spacing on the total yield and commercial wood production (>7 cm) of Betula m³/ha pendula at the age of 27 years 250 Total yield 200 150 Commercial wood 100 50 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Initial spacing, trees/ha METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Spacing and quality of Silver birch stems Influence of initial spacing on the thickest branches and the taper of stems of Betula mm pendula at age of 20 y. 70 60 50 Taper (d1.3 - d6.0) 40 30 Diameter of thickest branch 20 10 0 0 1000 2000 3000 4000METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS 5000 Initial spacing, trees/haSKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Pruning is necessary when growing special quality birch timber ` Birch trees should be pruned in two phases: First time at the height of 6-7 m by secateurs up to the pruning height of 2.5 - 3 m (about 600 stems/ha). Second time at the height of 10-11 meters by clippers with long handle to the height of 5-6 meters (400-500 stems/ha) ` Birch trees should be pruned during the growing season in July, or well before the growing season during the late winter or early spring ` Live branches are able to cut up to the branch diameter of 20 mm, but pruning of larger branches or use of a pruning saw will increase the risk of discoloration and rot in the stems METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Birch pruning photo: E. Oksanen METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Heavy thinning of silver birch stand METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET photo: E. Oksanen FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Heavy thinning (35 % of ba.) decreased the volume growth of silver birch stand only 5 % in 15 year-period, and very heavy thinning (50 % of ba.) 14 %. Annual volume growth after first commercial thinning, m³/ha/year 12 10 8 6 1-15 years 1-10 years 4 1-5 years 2 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET Unthinned Thinning, % of basal area FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Heavy thinning: Increase in growth of thickest and valuable birch stems Diameter growth during 10 years after first thinnin, mm/year 10 8 6 4 2 Top diameter (100 thickest/ha) Mean diameter 0 0 20406080100 Unthinned Removed, % of basal area METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi From the viewpoints of growth and practical management, the program of two heavy thinnings seems to be best for high quality silver birch stand, first to the density of 700-800 stems/ha and the second to 350-400 stems/ha photo: E. Oksanen METSÄNTUTKIMUSLAITOS SKOGSFORSKNINGSINSTITUTET FINNISH FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE www,metla,fi Why??? ` Small or tolerable volume growth losses are compensated by increased growth of valuable stems ` After a heavy and profitable first thinning, a careful thinning from above and removal of saw logs are able in the second thinning stage ` Compared to larger number of thinnings, two heavy thinnings increase the volume of saw logs, decrease logging damages and shorten the rotation period ` The program of one thinning is not possible, because of - too small live crowns or