L A N D M A N A G E M E N T H A N D B O O K 36 Silviculture of Temperate and Boreal Broadleaf-conifer Mixtures 1996 Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Program Silviculture of Temperate and Boreal Broadleaf-conifer Mixtures P.G. Comeau and K.D. Thomas editors Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Program Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Silviculture of temperate and boreal broadleaf-conifer mixtures (Land management handbook ; 36) Summary of papers presented at workshop entitled: Silviculture of temperate and boreal broadleaf- conifer mixtures, held Feb. 28 and Mar. 1, 1995 in Richmond, B.C. C.f. Pref. ISBN 0-7726-2806-8 1. Plant competition – British Columbia – Congresses. 2. Conifers – Habitat – British Columbia – Congresses. 3. Forest ecology – British Columbia – Congresses. I. Comeau, P. G., 1954– II. Thomas, K. D. III. British Columbia. Ministry of Forests. Research Branch. IV. Series. SD397.C7S54 1996 634.9’56 C96-960048-8 Prepared by P.G. Comeau and K.D. Thomas (editors) for B.C. Ministry of ForestsResearch Branch Research Branch Bastion Square Victoria, BC Published by B.C. Ministry of Forests Forestry Division Services Branch Production Resources Broad Street Victoria, BC © ␣ Province of British Columbia Copies of this and other Ministry of Forests titles are available from Crown Publications Inc. Fort Street Victoria, BC LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS Name Address I.R. Cameron B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC P.G. Comeau B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Bastion Square, Victoria, B..C K. Day University of B.C., Alex Fraser Research Forest, South Seventh Avenue, Williams Lake, BC S.C. DeLong B.C. Ministry of Forests, th Ave., Prince␣ George, BC K. Deschamps Canadian Forest Service - Pacific & Yukon Region, RR #. Site , Comp. - Old Cariboo Hwy, Prince George, BC A. Eastham Canadian Forestry Service, Prince George District Office, RR #, Site , Comp. , Prince George, BC R. Hall Woodlands Superintendent, Canadian Chopsticks Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Mile , Industrial Park; P.O. Box , Fort Nelson, BC G.J. Harper B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Victoria, BC D.E. Hibbs Associate Professor, Department of Forest Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR R. Kabzems B.C. Ministry of Forests, Fort St. John, BC M.J. Kelty Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA J.P. Kimmins Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC K. Kyllo Kyllo Bros. Guiding and Outfitting, Box , Hudson’s Hope, BC G.B. MacDonald Mixedwood Silviculture Program, Ontario Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box , Sault Ste. Marie, ON D.A. MacIsaac Canadian Forest Service, Northwest Region, Natural Resources Canada, - Street, Edmonton, Alberta, C. Messier Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie Forestière (GREF), Dép. des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. , Succ. Centre- Ville, Montréal, PQ. K. Mielikäinen Finnish Forest Research Institute, Unioninkatu A, SF- Helsinki, Finland iii List of Contributors Continued Name Address S. Navratil Canadian Forest Service, Northwest Region, Natural Resources Canada, - Street, Edmonton, AB C.E. Prescott Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC M. Prévost Ministère des resources naturelles, Direction de la recherche forestière, , rue Einstein, Sainte- Foy, PQ K.J. Puettmann Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN D. Sachs Forest Science Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR S. Simard Research Silviculturist, Kamloops Forest Region, Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC C. Staley Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC D. Tanner Ministry of Forests, th Avenue, Prince George, BC K.D. Thomas B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Victoria, BC R. van den Driessche B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Station, Glyn Road, Victoria, BC X. Wei Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC L. Zabek Department of Forest Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC iv Silviculture of Temperate and Boreal Broadleaf-conifer Mixtures PREFACE Broadleaved species are a common component agement of mixtures (including appropriate of British Columbia forests. They occur as pure initial densities, espacement, and arrangements stands as well as in mixture with conifer species. as intimate or patchy mixes) and their use. Retaining and managing broadleaves in our for- These proceedings summarize papers pre- ests is desirable for many reasons, including: sented at a workshop entitled: “Silviculture of biodiversity, wildlife habitat, aesthetics, provid- temperate and boreal broadleaf-conifer mix- ing nurse crops for conifers, improving nutrient tures” which was held in Richmond B.C. Febru- supplies, ameliorating or reducing risk of forest ary and March , . The purpose of this health problems, diversifying forest end prod- workshop was to review current knowledge of ucts, and potentially increasing yield. However, the silviculture of temperate and boreal problems can be encountered when the broadleaf-conifer mixtures and the conse- broadleaf species has a more rapid initial quences of growing mixed stands. Nineteen pa- growth rate than the conifers. Critical questions pers were presented during the workshop and exist about the feasability of growing species twelve posters displayed. Total attendance was mixtures and their consequences, and the man- approximately . vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The success of this workshop was due to the Boateng, Alan Vyse, Pasi Puttonen, Chris contributions made by numerous individuals. Thompson, and Dave Coates. Our appreciation Dwight Yochim and Shirley Sato of the Univer- is also extended to the following for assistance sity of British Columbia Forestry Continuing with the review of manuscripts: Catherine Studies program were instrumental in arranging Bealle-Statland, Lorne Bedford, Jacob Boateng, the facilities, advertising, and administering of Dave Coates, Dave Coopersmith, Paul Courtin, this workshop. Speakers willingly agreed to George Harper, Richard Kabzems, Christian make presentations and to provide manuscripts Messier, Cindy Prescott, Pasi Puttonen, Paul for publication in this proceedings. Their co- Sanborn, Mel Scott, and Alan Vyse. We are operation facilitated the organization of the grateful to Susan Bannerman for assistance in workshop and the preparation of these proceed- the editing of this proceedings and to Paul ings. Several individuals helped to prepare for Nystedt and David Izard for their assistance the event or assisted during the workshop. I with this publication. would like to acknowledge: George Harper, Financial support for this workshop and for Balvinder Biring, Marilyn Blache, and Cheryl publication of these proceedings has been pro- Pehl, and the session moderators: Jacob vided by Forest Renewal BC. viii LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Name Address Graham L. Allison Pine Grass Silviculture Ltd., PO Box , Mile Ranch, BC Jim Annunziello B.C. Ministry of Forests, Kootenay Lake Forest District, RR #, Site , Comp. , Highway A, Nelson, BC Bev Atkins Forestry Assistant, Alex Fraser Research Forest - U.B.C., South th Avenue, Williams Lake, BC Rob N. Baron Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd., Box , Savona, BC Catherine Bealle Statland B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Forest Productivity & Decision Support, - Douglas Street, Victoria, BC Andy Becker Rustad Bros. & Co. Ltd., Pacific Street, Prince George, BC Lorne Bedford B.C. Ministry of Forests, Silviculture Practices Branch, Bastion Square, Victoria, BC Daniel T. Biggs Renewable Tenures Forester, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Mackenzie Forest District, Bag , Mackenzie, BC Norm Bilodeau B.C. Ministry of Forests, Kispiox District, Box , Hazelton, BC Dr. Jacob Boateng B.C. Ministry of Forests, Silviculture Practices Branch, Bastion Square, Victoria, BC Keith R. Boyes B.C. Ministry of Forests, Vernon Forest District, th Avenue, Vernon, BC Kevin R. Brown B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Station, Glyn Road, Victoria, BC Robert (Robin) Brown B.C. Ministry of Forests, Silviculture Branch, Bastion Square, Victoria, BC Phil Burton U.B.C. Faculty of Forestry, - Main Mall, Vancouver, BC Ian R. Cameron B.C. Ministry of Forests, Kamloops Forest Region, Columbia Street, Kamloops, BC Dan Carter Integrated Silviculture Services, PO Box ( Foley Cres), Prince George, BC A. Paul Chalifour B.C. Ministry of Forests, Duncan Forest District, Hawkes Place, Duncan, BC Dave Cheyne Canadian Forest Service - TDU, nd Street, Edmonton, AB ix List of Participants Continued Name Address Dave Coates B.C. Ministry of Forests, Prince Rupert Forest Region, Bag , Alfred Avenue, Smithers, BC Merle D. Collinge B.C. Ministry of Forests, Kamloops Forest District, Dalhousie Drive, Kamloops, BC Timothy S. Conlin B.C. Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, Glyn Road, Research Station, Victoria, BC Dave Coopersmith B.C. Ministry of Forests, Prince George Forest Region, - th Ave., Prince George, BC Paul J. Courtin B.C. Ministry of Forests, Vancouver Forest Region, Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC John Steven DeGraag Inland Timber Management Ltd., - nd Avenue North, Williams Lake, BC Brian A. DeGusseme Greater Vancouver Regional District, Kingsway, Burnaby, BC Kerry C. Deschamps Canadian