Forest regeneration along clearcut edges and in forest gaps

Swedish interest in alternative forestry methods is growing. Conversion from the even-aged monocultures of today to uneven-aged structure needed for continuous-cover forestry to succeed. But it is hampered by poor seedling growth and survival near overstory trees. This is old silvicultural knowledge, but the actual ecophysiological mechanism remains unknown. This must be remedied to enable alternative management systems.

This project is using a combination of field experimentas and stable isotope methods to  identify the mechanism underlying the regeneration problem. We hypothesize that the critical factor is belowground competition for nutrients - specifically growth limiting nitrogen. To test this, new root exclusion experiments have been established along edges of clearcuts and forest gaps.

The project monitors the growth and nitrogen uptake of pine and spruce seedlings planted at different distances from a forest edge. This work is part of the doctoral thesis project of Alexina Brännlund at the department of forest ecology and management.