Objectives:

• to document the effectiveness of two formulations of Chondrostereum purpureum for controlling Sitka alder in a wet alder complex,
• to determine if creating patches in alder for regeneration of Engelmann spruce lends itself to the silvicultural management of cutblocks occupied by sitka alder thickets, and
• to examine the spatial influence of Sitka alder on light and on growth of Engelmann spruce after they have been planted in the tretament plots.

Experimental Design:

The study is a completely randomized design with four treatments, replicated five times.

Treatments:

There are four treatments:

1. cut only (CP)
2. cutting repeated every second year (RC)
3. cutting followed by application of  C. purpureum paste formulation to the cut stumps (OCP)
4. cutting followed by application of  C. purpureum peat formulation to the cut stumps (NCP)

A fifth treatment using Release® herbicide was considered prior to establishment. 

Layout:

• Twenty 10 x 10 m plots are individually located through the study area.
• Treatments are randomly applied to plots that are surrounded by a 5 m buffer.
• Plots and buffers are planted with Engelmann spruce on a 2 x 2 m spacing.
• Alder clumps are individually tagged.
• All planted seedlings are individually tagged.

History:

• 1999 - preliminary plot layout
• 2000 - final plot layout
• 2000 - brushing and planting in mid-June to mid-July
• 2000 - seedling tagging and measurements, light measurements in September
• 2001 - First year seedling and vegetation assessments

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:

Conlin, T., 2002. An Evaluation of Two Chondrostereum purpureum Carrier Formulations Used for the Control of Sitka Alder in a 41-year-old Not Satisfactorily Restocked Stand (ESSFwc1), Kootenay Forest District, Nelson Forest Region. BC Min. of For., Research Branch, Extension Note 61.