Branch models for white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in naturally regenerated stands

Sattler, Derek F.; Comeau, Philip G.; Achim, Alexis

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2014.03.051

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…[14]. Results from this study, showing that crown size declines with increasing competition and increases following thinning, are consistent with the findings of other studies [7,9,25] and support Hypothesis 1. However, aspen density at age 26 explained only 18.5% of the variation in spruce live crown ratio and 39.1% of the variation in spruce crown width in the stands at Big River.…”

Section: Models Describing Variation In Crown Characteristics Branchsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…As well as leading to reductions in growth rates [3], increases in intra-and interspecific competition (associated with a decrease in spacing or an increase in density) result in reductions in both branch size [1,[4][5][6][7][8] and branch number [9,10] in the lower portion of a spruce stem, leading to both smaller and fewer knots. Slenderness, crown radius, live crown ratio, and other individual tree characteristics are also influenced by the social status of a tree and by both intra-and inter-specific competition [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies indicate that branch diameter, height to base of live crown, and the number and size of knots are related to crown radius [1,14,18,19], slenderness (ratio of height to DBH) [1,6,9,20], and tree size (DBH and/or height) [2,7,14]. In addition, while the height where maximum branch diameters occur on the stem varies with stand and tree characteristics, it is typically located between 25% and 75% of the height of the tree and occurs near the mid-crown in stands with moderate density [5,7,21,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Aspen and Spruce Density on Size and Number of Lower Branches 20 Years after Thinning of Two Boreal Mixedwood Stands

Comeau

2021

Forests

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This study examined branch diameter, number of whorls, and number of branches in the lower 2 m of the stems of white spruce growing in pure stands and in mixture with a range of densities of trembling aspen. Data were collected from two study sites located north of Big River Saskatchewan, which were regenerated following clearcutting in 1992 and thinned in 1996 to five aspen densities and two spruce densities. Results show significant decreases in spruce diameter at breast height (DBH), height, live crown ratio, maximum branch diameter in the lower 2 m, average branch diameter in the whorl closest to 1 m, and increases in tree slenderness with increases in aspen density. Increasing spruce density reduced the number of live branches and number of live branch whorls in the lower 2 m. Maximum branch diameter in the whorl closest to 1 m was influenced by both aspen and spruce density, with a significant interaction term resulting from effects of intraspecific competition being evident for aspen densities of 1500 stems ha−1 or lower. DBH and slenderness explained more than 49% of the variation in spruce crown width, maximum branch diameter in the lower 2 m, maximum live branch diameter in the whorl closest to 1 m, and average live branch diameter in the whorl closest to 1 m. DBH explained more variation in crown width and branch diameter than slenderness. This study demonstrates that growing spruce in mixture with aspen can lead to reductions in branch size and that early thinning to low aspen densities could lead to increases in size of knots and associated reductions in wood quality, particularly when spruce densities are low.

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Section: Models Describing Variation In Crown Characteristics Branchsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Aspen and Spruce Density on Size and Number of Lower Branches 20 Years after Thinning of Two Boreal Mixedwood Stands

Comeau

2021

Forests

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“…Because of the detrimental effects of knots in lumber, and because white spruce has weak self-pruning mechanism, knot formation has been the subject of several studies (Zhou and Smith, 1991, Tong et al, 2013, Sattler et al, 2014a. By studying mature white spruce in plantation, Zhou and Smith (1991) found that knots contributed, either directly or indirectly, to 73% of the failure in lumber pieces.…”

Section: Knotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

White spruce wood quality for lumber products: priority traits and their enhancement through tree improvement

Hassegawa

Savard

Lenz

et al. 2019

Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research

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White spruce breeding has traditionally focused on genetic improvement for high productivity, targeting mostly stem volume. However, new challenges, such as the effects of climate change on individual trees and ecosystems and the changing nature of forest products markets, require action to address these issues while providing improved stock for seed and seedling production. This work aims to define the relative importance of white spruce wood traits for the lumber industry, with the intent of guiding tree breeding programs. This manuscript examines: (1) wood features that are important for lumber, (2) the genetics of wood traits and their improvement and (3) the level of acceptance of raw material with optimal traits, as obtained from a survey conducted with sawmills. Stem diameter at stump height, wood density, bending strength and stiffness were determined as the most important properties for sawmills. Decay proportion, knot diameter, slope of grain and the proportion of compression wood were also determined as important for sawmills, but to a lesser extent. Breeding efforts aiming to produce lumber should focus on stems with improved growth that are capable of sustaining the production of dense wood in greater proportion.

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“…(Woollons et al 2002), jack pine [Pinus banksiana Lamb] (Beaulieu et al 2011), Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] (Weiskittel et al 2007;Hein et al 2008), Scots pine [Pinus sylvestris L.] (Mäkinen 1996;Mäkelä and Vanninen 2001), white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] (Sattler et al 2014) and Dahurian larch [Larix gmelinii (Rupr. ) Kuzen.]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear mixed-effects branch diameter and length models for natural Dahurian larch (Larix gmelini) forest in northeast China

Dong

Liu

Bettinger

2016

Trees

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Key message We developed the generalized branch diameter and length models using the multi-level nonlinear mixed-effects techniques for the natural Dahurian larch (Larix gmelini) forest in northeast China. Abstract Dahurian larch (Larix gmelini) is the most commercially cultivated timber species in northeastern China due to its ecological prevalence and its superior wood attribute. However, its timber quality was largely driven by the crown architecture, i.e., the number, size and distribution of branches. The majority of branch-level models in the literature are focused on planted forests, which have substantially different crown architecture than that grown in natural mixed forests. Therefore, the goal of this investigation was to develop branch diameter and length models for Dahurian larch that are grown in natural mixed forests. A multi-level nonlinear mixed-effects model technique, including the fixed-effects, random-effects, variance functions and correlation structures, was employed to develop the branch growth models. The results suggested that the cumulative branch diameter and length were both increased with the increases of branch depth into the crown. Diameter at breast height (DBH) had significant positive influences on the branch size; however, tree height (HT) produced negative influences on the branch size, i.e., larger DBH and smaller HT could lead to larger branch size. Model fitting and validation results confirmed that we should avoid developing over-complex models from the perspective of application. As for the branch diameter and length models in our study, addressing the stand and tree level effects as random component were quite reliable and accurate for predicting the branch growth process of Dahurian larch in northeastern China.

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Branch models for white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in naturally regenerated stands

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

Effects of Aspen and Spruce Density on Size and Number of Lower Branches 20 Years after Thinning of Two Boreal Mixedwood Stands

Effects of Aspen and Spruce Density on Size and Number of Lower Branches 20 Years after Thinning of Two Boreal Mixedwood Stands

White spruce wood quality for lumber products: priority traits and their enhancement through tree improvement

Nonlinear mixed-effects branch diameter and length models for natural Dahurian larch (Larix gmelini) forest in northeast China

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