Regeneration of white spruce under aspen canopies: seeding, planting, and site preparation

Published source details Stewart J.D., Landhäusser S., Stadt K.J. & Lieffers V.J. (2000) Regeneration of white spruce under aspen canopies: seeding, planting, and site preparation. Western Journal of Applied Forestry, 15, 177-182.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use soil scarification or ploughing to enhance germination Action Link

Use soil scarification or ploughing to enhance germination

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1993-1996 in temperate coniferous forest in Alberta, Canada (Stewart et al. 2000) found that mechanically scratching the land (scarification) increased the density of white spruce Picea glauca seedlings under trembling aspen Populus tremuloides canopies. The density of white spruce under natural regeneration (scarification: 11-16; control: 0 seedlings/ha) and under artificial seeding (scarification: 14-17; control: 0) was higher in scarification plots than controls. Four treatment strips (50 × 6 m): control (undisturbed) and three scarification treatments: light (upper litter layer removed), heavy (humus and litter-layer removed) and heavy with ridge (heavy scarification plus second pass to create a ridge of soil) were established in 1993 in each of three blocks within each of six sites. All sites were dominated by aspen trees. Data were collected in August 1996 in three natural regeneration (not seeded) plots (50 × 100 cm) and three artificially –seeded (100 white spruce seeds in May 1994) plots (50 × 50 cm) in each treatment strip.