Soil properties, aspen, and white spruce responses 5 years after organic matter removal and compaction treatments

Published source details Kabzems R. & Haeussler S. (2005) Soil properties, aspen, and white spruce responses 5 years after organic matter removal and compaction treatments. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 35, 2045-2055.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Enhance soil compaction Action Link
	Remove woody debris after timber harvest Action Link

Enhance soil compaction

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1995-2000 in boreal forest in British Columbia, Canada (Kabzems & Haeussler 2005) found that soil compaction treatments decreased the height of trembling aspen Populus tremuloides saplings but not their density. Height of dominant aspen saplings was lower in medium and heavy compaction plots (175 and 170 cm respectively) than in control plots (230 cm). Sapling density was similar between treatments (38,000-39,000 stems/ha). The height of at least 12 dominant aspen saplings and total sapling density were monitored in nine control (no deliberate compaction), nine medium compaction (2 cm impression in soil) and nine heavy compaction (5 cm impression in soil) treatment plots (40×70 m). Treatments were applied in 1995, data were collected in 2000.
Remove woody debris after timber harvest

A replicated, randomized study in 1995-2000 in boreal forest in British Columbia, Canada (Kabzems & Haeussler 2005) found that woody debris removal treatments increased tree sapling density and decreased their height. Trembling aspen Populus tremuloides sapling density was higher in plots were all parts of the trees removed (tree removal) (44,000 stems/ha) than in plots were only saleable stems removed (stem removal) (34,000). The saplings dominant height was higher in stem removal and tree removal plots (225 and 245 cm respectively) than in plots were the hole forest floor was removed in addition (complete removal) (120 cm). White spruce Picea glauca total height was higher in stem removal plots (71 cm) than in tree removal and complete removal plots (54 and 42 cm respectively). Trembling aspen density was monitored in nine stem removal, nine tree removal and nine complete removal 40 × 70 m treatment plots. The height of more than 12 aspen saplings and of 200 randomly selected white spruce saplings was measured in each plot. Treatments were applied in 1995, data were collected in 2000.