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Project Title: Impacts of Stumping Operations on Soil Properties and   Long-term Forest Productivity
Project Number: PFC-P18003B
District: Arrow Boundary Forest District
Location: Phoenix
Lat. 49 05'N - Long. 118 37'W		 PFC- P66402-2 is on the same site
Principal Researcher: Ed Wass
Natural Resources Canada
Canadian Forestry Service
Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1M5		 Phone: (250) 363-0635
e-mail:
ewass@pfc.forestry.ca

Objectives:
To characterize soil disturbance resulting from stump extraction and to determine whether the various categories and depths of disturbance had any effects on the growth of planted trees.

Experimental Design:

Layout:

  • Three plots (20 x 20 m) were established in each of four treatments.
  • A total of 200 seedlings each of Douglas-fir and western larch were planted on six disturbance categories as well as undisturbed ground for a grand total of 2800 trees.

Treatments:

  • Harvesting only; disturbance category Undisturbed.
  • Stumped, piled and raked (Raked); disturbance categories Rake and Track.
  • Stumped and piled, deep rutting (Non-raked (deep)); disturbance categories Scalp and Track.
  • Stumped and piled, shallow rutting (Non-raked (shallow)); disturbance categories Scalp and Track.

History:

  • 1980 - Harvested and stumped.
  • 1981 - Surface soil conditions and vegetative cover assessed. Soil characteristics measured (Bulk density, particle size, chemistry, penetrability).
  • 1982 - Tree plantations established.
  • 1982-2001 - Annual seedling assessments for first five years, then in years 8, 10, 15, and 20.
  • 1982-1986 -Annual vegetation assessment for first five years.
  • 1986 - Plant moisture stress and tree foliage sampling.
  • 1997 - Tree foliage and soil sampling.
  • 1999 - additional foliage sampling
  • 2001 - 20-year measurements

Status: Active.

Reports and Publications:

Smith, R.B. and E.F. Wass, 1984. Preliminary assessment of impacts of two stumping operations on site productivity, Interior British Columbia. Pages 247-251 in New forests for a changing world. Proc. 1983 Soc. Amer. For. Natl. Conven., Oct. 16-20, Portland, Oregon.

Smith, R.B., and E.F. Wass, 1991. Impacts of two stumping operations on site productivity in British Columbia. Forestry Canada. Pac. For. Cent. Victoria, B.C. Inf. Rep. BC-X-327. 43 p.

Wass. E.F. and J.P. Senyk, 1999. Tree growth for 15 years following stumping in the interior of British Columbia. Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre. Tech. Transfer Note 13.