Objectives:

In a known mistletoe infected seed tree stand:

• Test the effectiveness of removal of the mistletoe from larch seed trees by using various pruning techniques;
• To monitor the effect of various levels of pruning and the effect these methods have on the seed trees in terms of post treatment growth;
• To determine if treatment will reduce the risk of infecting the understorey, thus facilitating free growing requirements;
• To test the efficacy of pruning seed trees on the reduction of mistletoe in the understorey.

Experimental Design:

Layout:

The treatment block is approximately 10 ha., and is subdivided into thirty one 50 m x 50m treatment plots. Square 1000 m²  measurement plots are containing within the treatments plots. Plot corners are staked with rebar. Seed trees are numbered and tagged with plastic tags.

Treatments:

Treatments were randomly assigned to treatments plots

• Remove between 80 and 90% of the living crown (10 plots)
• Remove only the visible signs of mistletoe from the crown (11 plots)
• Control, remove nothing (10 plots)

History:

• 1996 - layout and prune
• Assess regeneration and seed trees every five years for 35 years.

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:
none