scholarly journals Response of ponderosa pine plantations to competing vegetation control in Northern California, USA: a meta-analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Zhang ◽  
R. F. Powers ◽  
W. W. Oliver ◽  
D. H. Young
1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. McDonald ◽  
Gary O. Fiddler ◽  
Jay H. Kitzmiller

Abstract Three classes of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seedlings (nursery-run, wind-pollinated, control-pollinated) were evaluated for stem height and diameter at the USDA Forest Service's Placerville Nursery and the Georgetown Ranger District in northern California. Pines in all three classes were grown with competing vegetation or maintained in a free-to-grow condition. Control-pollinated seedlings were statistically taller (P < 0.05) than nursery-run counterparts when outplanted, and after 1 and 2 growing seasons in the field with and without competition. They also had significantly larger diameters when outplanted and after 2 growing seasons in the field when free to grow. Wind-pollinated seedlings grew taller than nursery-run seedlings when free to grow. A large amount of competing vegetation [bearclover (Chamaebatia foliolosa)—29,490 plants per acre; herbaceous vegetation—11,500; hardwood sprouts—233; and whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) seedlings—100] ensure that future pine development will be tested rigorously. West. J. Appl. For. 9(2):00-00.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 997
Author(s):  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Jianwei Zhang ◽  
Kim Mattson ◽  
Kaelyn Finley

Forest stands can be considered as dynamic carbon pools throughout their developmental stages. Silvicultural thinning and initial planting densities for reforestation not only manipulate the structure or composition of vegetation, but also disturb forest floor and soils, which, in turn, influences the dynamics of carbon pools. Understanding these carbon pools both spatially and temporally can provide useful information for land managers to achieve their management goals. Here, we estimated five major carbon pools in experimental ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) plots that were planted to three levels of spacing and where competing vegetation was either controlled (VC) or not controlled (NVC). The objectives were to determine how an early competing vegetation control influences the long-term carbon dynamics and how stand density affects the maximum carbon (C) sequestration for these plantations. We found that planting density did not affect total ecosystem C at either sampling age 28 or 54. Because of competing vegetation ingrowth, the NVC (85 ± 14 Mg ha−1) accumulated greater C than the VC (61 ± 6 Mg ha−1) at age 28. By age 54, the differences between treatments narrow with the NVC (114 ± 11 Mg ha−1) and the VC (106 ± 11 Mg ha−1) as the pines continue to grow relatively faster in the VC when compared to NVC and C of ingrowth vegetation decreased in NVC, presumably due to shading by the overstory pines. The detritus was not significantly different among treatments in either years, although the mean forest floor and soil C was slightly greater in NVC. While NVC appears to sequester more C early on, the differences from the VC were rather subtle. Clearly, as the stands continue to grow, the C of the larger pines of the VC may overtake the total C of the NVC. We conclude that, to manage forests for carbon, we must pay more attention to promoting growth of overstory trees by controlling competing vegetation early, which will provide more opportunities for foresters to create resilient forests to disturbances and store C longer in a changing climate.


1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
William W. Oliver

Abstract Growth and stand development of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) were monitored for 20 years after planting at five different square spacings (6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 ft) in the presence or absence of competing shrubs on the westside Sierra Nevada. Mean tree size was positively correlated and stand values negatively correlated with spacing in the absence of competing shrubs. Trees growing with competing shrubs attained 76% of the diameter, 80% of the height, and 58% of the cubic volume of trees free of shrub competition when all spacings were combined. This study suggests that the major effect of shrub competition in ponderosa pine plantations on good sites is to lengthen the rotation. West. J. Appl. For. 5(3):79-82, July 1990.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document