Objectives:

• To demonstrate and compare a clearcut silvicultural system with a shelterwood silvicultural system with two levels of basal area retention.
• To compare the success of conventional harvesting with pushover harvesting in ameliorating the effects of Tomentosus root disease on seedling survival and growth and residual tree performance.
• To evaluate the establishment and performance of natural and artificial regeneration associated with shelterwood and clearcut silvicultural systems.
• To investigate the effects of the above silvicultural systems on the seedling microenvironment, understory vegetation development, residual overstory growth, coarse woody debris, and soil properties.

Experimental Design:

Treatments/Layout

• A total of 16 one hectare blocks have been established.
• Eight treatments were laid out in a completely randomized block design. The treatments are:

1. Clearcut - conventional logging
2. Clearcut - pushover logging
3. Shelterwood 1 (light retention - approx. 15 m² basal area) conventional logging
4. Shelterwood 1 (light retention - approx. 15 m² basal area) - pushover logging
5. Shelterwood 2 (heavy retention - approx. 30 m² basal area) - conventional logging
6. Shelterwood 2 (heavy retention - approx. 30 m² basal area) - pushover logging
7. Unharvested control (conventional logging)
8. Unharvested control (pushover logging)

• Each of the above treatments are replicated twice.
• Assessments will include:
  • Vegetation
  • Regeneration
  • Woody debris
  • Seedling Physiology
  • Stand structure
  • Microclimate
  • Growth and yield
  • Armillaria
  • Harvesting damage to residuals (Eric Allen - CFS)

History:

• 1993 - Project Establishment and baseline assessments
• 1994 - Harvesting and post harvest assessments
• 1995-1997 - Microclimatic monitoring
• 1995 - Plant
• 1995 - First growing season post-treatment assessments, Established as demonstration area
• 1996 - Second growing season post-treatment assessments
• 1997 - Third growing season post-treatment assessments, Fish-eye photography
• 1999 - 5th year measures of regeneration and growth and yield
• 1999 - 5th year coarse woody debris measures.

Status: Active

Reports and Publications:

Establishment report for 1993 preharvest assessments, in-house report, B.C. Min. For., Nelson, B.C.

Delong, D. 1995. Shelterwoods in Root Disease Infected Stands; Preliminary Results - EP 1186. Research Summary 023, Nelson For. Reg.

Comeau, P. and K. Thomas. 1998. Evaluation of understory light conditions using fisheye photography at Ice Road (EP1186). B.C. MOF, Research Branch, Victoria. 20pp Draft report

Quesnel, H, and M. Curran. 1999. Shelterwood harvesting in root disease infected stands in southeastern British Columbia: post-harvest soil disturbance - EP 1186. Extension Note 043, Nelson Forest Region.

Prescott, C., L. Blevins and C. Staley. 1999. Rates of litter decomposition in the silvicultural systems trials at Mount 7 and Ice Road- progress report. Department of Forest Sciences. UBC.

DeLong, D. 1999. Using partial cutting systems in root disease infected stands in the ICH zone: EP1186 progress to March 1999- 3 year results. B.C.MOF, Nelson Forest Region. Nelson B.C.

DeLong, D. P. Comeau and C. Prescott. 2000. Shelterwood harvesting in root disease infected tands in southeastern British Columbia: Three-year results-EP 1186. Extension Note 051, Nelson Forest Region.

Prescott, C.E., L.L. Blevins and C.L. Staley. 2000. Effects of clear-cutting on decomposition rates of litter and forest floor in forests of British Columbia. C.J.F.R. 30(11).

Quesnel, H.J. and M.P. Curan. 2000. Shelterwood harvesting in root-disease infected stands - post-harvest soil disturbance and compaction. Forest Ecology and Management, 133:89-113