Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) spacing trials

SHORTFOR Meeting Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Wednesday 14th December 2016

Ignacio Sevillano1, Ian Short1, Niall Farrelly 2 Forestry Development Department, Teagasc, Ashtown, Dublin 15 Forestry Development Department, Teagasc, Athenry, Co. Galway

[email protected] Outline

• Objectives • SHORTFOR trials to date • Brownswood trial • Mountain West trial • Recording • Preliminary results from Brownswood trial • Conclusions Objectives

Predicted shortfall of Ireland’s renewable Climate Pests and timber for biomass targets to increase change diseases

SHORTFOR Explore the potential of SRF in Ireland

Work Investigate the impact of spacing/density on species Package 2 growth and performance Short Rotation Forestry (SRF)

• Single stemmed trees of fast-growing species • Reduced rotation length (< 20 years) • Niche between short rotation coppice and conventional forestry Spacing/Planting density • Effects on

 Individual tree growth

 Stand productivity

 Management costs • Dense spacing/high planting density

 Early capture of the site: maximum productivity earlier

 Reduction in juvenile wood: higher wood density

 Earlier weed suppression

 Decrease in individual tree growth rate

 Increase in planting and harvesting costs

 Possible increase in tree health risks Spacing/Planting density

Maximise biomass production

Minimise the costs Shorten the time of management Optimum spacing/planting density to grow trees of and utilisation desired size SHORTFOR trials to date

Kinsealy Mountain West (polytunnel trial) (field trial)

Johnstown Castle (field trial)

Brownswood (field trial) Brownswood trial • Location: Portlaw forest (Co. Waterford) • Year established: 2015 • Coillte reforestation site • Soil: acid brown earth/brown podzolics (acid deep well drained mineral) • Altitude: 140m ASL • Coast distance: 25km • Annual rainfall: 1037mm • Mean temperature: 10.6⁰C Brownswood trial design

Planting density Growing area per tree Replications Species Spacing (m) (trees/ha) (m2) Sitka spruce Oregon 10000 1x1 1 3 (Picea sitchensis) 5000 1x2 2 3 Grand fir 2500 2x2 4 3 (Abies grandis) Shining gum 5000 1x2 2 3 (Eucalyptus nitens) 2500 2x2 4 3 Italian alder 1333 2.5x3 7.5 3 (Alnus cordata) Mountain West trial • Location: Mountain West forest (Co. Galway) • Year established: 2016 • Coillte reforestation site • Soil: grey brown podzolics/brown earth (basic deep well drained mineral) • Altitude: 23m ASL • Coast distance: 13km • Annual rainfall: 1313mm • Mean temperature: 9.7⁰C Mountain West trial design

Planting density Growing area per tree Replications Species Spacing (m) (trees/ha) (m2) Sitka spruce Oregon 10000 1x1 1 3 (Picea sitchensis) 5000 1x2 2 3 Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 2500 2x2 4 3 Shining gum (Eucalyptus nitens) 5000 1x2 2 3

Swamp peppermint (Eucalyptus rodwayi) 2500 2x2 4 3

Italian alder 1333 2.5x3 7.5 3 (Alnus cordata) Recording • Survival • Height • Stem diameter at 3 cm above ground • Tree damage

 Shoot/branch death

 Multiple leaders

 Animal damage

 Physical damage Preliminary results from Brownswood trial

*Long roots *Problem in one plot (20%) ) %

( 100 n o

s 80 a 1x1m e s

g 60

n 1x2m i w o

r 40

g 2x2m t s

1 20 l 2.5x3m a v i v

r 0

u Grand fir Sitka spruce Shining gum Italian alder S Preliminary results from Brownswood trial

50 g n i

w 40 o r ) g t m s

c 30 1

( 1x1 m h n t o

w 1x2 m s 20 o a r e g

s 2x2 m t

h 10 g

i 2.5x3 m e H 0 Shining gum Italian alder Sitka spruce Grand fir

Greater Lower increment increment Conclusions

• 3 SHORTFOR spacing trials established

• Brownswood-1st growing season

 Good survival rates except for grand fir

 Greater height increment: Eucalyptus nitens and Alnus cordata

• Continuous monitoring of SRF trials

 Silvicultural practices (spacing and rotation) that optimise returns Thank you