Effect of Early Thinning Treatments on Above-Ground Growth, Biomass Production, Leaf Area Index and Leaf Growth Efficiency in a Hybrid Aspen Coppice Stand

Hepner, Heiki; Lutter, Reimo; Tullus, Arvo; Kanal, Arno; Tullus, Tea; Tullus, Hardi

doi:10.1007/s12155-020-10111-0

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Methods 2-4 are aimed to manage hybrid aspen by a longer rotation cycle (25-years) with multiple thinning operations to produce primarily aspen logs and pulpwood; meanwhile, method 1 aims to manage hybrid aspen with very short repeated coppice cycles (5-years) to produce only energy wood [18][19][20]. The more detailed description of the thinning trial and early growth results are presented by Hepner et al [19].…”

Section: Forest Management Strategies For Hybrid Aspen Coppice Standsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the "energy wood coppicing" management scenario, we calculated the aboveground biomass volume by multiplying the measured oven-dried biomasses [19] with an average density of hybrid aspen stems (wood + bark) of 0.35 t m −3 [33]. To obtain the chopped wood volume, we applied the default conversion coefficient of 2.78.…”

Section: Growths and Assortment Volumes In Case Of Different Management Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the relationship between growth trait and its increment, the yielded curves for hybrid aspen coppice stands with any given density can be predicted. As the input data, the initial stand density (N, trees ha −1 ), the initial stand basal area and the average height measured after 5-years since the stand establishment [19] were used to model the further development for subsequent years by using Equations ( 3) and ( 4). The quadratic mean stem diameter at breast height (D) was estimated for each year according to Equation ( 7):…”

Section: Growths and Assortment Volumes In Case Of Different Management Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, second-generation hybrid aspen coppice stands have received more attention because of the advantage of being more environmentally friendly compared to being intensively fertilised willow coppice systems [17]. For example, unfertilised short-rotation hybrid aspen coppice forests can be very productive in Northern Europe and provide mean annual increments of 6-12 t DM ha −1 year −1 during the early stages [10,18,19]. In addition to short-rotation coppice cycles (5-years) for bioenergy purposes, second-generation hybrid aspen offers management flexibility where longer-rotation cycles (25-years) can be applied for a combined production of logs, pulpwood and energy wood [9,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such flexibility means that different management regimes can be chosen for hybrid aspen [18,20], where intensive early thinnings (more costly) can provide more valuable wood assortments after a longer period compared to low-value biomass production in short cycles. The early thinning in a dense hybrid aspen coppice stand can be applied as systematic corridor thinning [20] or single-tree selection [19,21]. Systematic corridor thinning (synonym: strip thinning; in a broader sense: geometric thinning) has been proposed as a cost-efficient method for young and dense stands to optimise early management cost [22,23] and provide additional biomass for energy [20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Value of Hybrid Aspen Coppice Investment under Different Discount Rate, Price and Management Scenarios: A Case Study of Estonia

Hepner

Lukason

Lutter

et al. 2021

Forests

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Hybrid aspen is one of the most promising tree species for short-rotation forestry in Northern Europe. After the clearcutting of hybrid aspen plantation, the next generation arises from root and stump sprouts. The economic feasibility of different management strategies of hybrid aspen coppice stands has not yet been comprehensively evaluated in Northern Europe. We compared the land expectation values (LEVs) of hybrid aspen coppice stands managed according to four scenarios: three early thinning methods (corridor, cross-corridor and single-tree) followed by conventional management and intensive bioenergy production (repeated harvests in 5-year rotations) over a 25-year period in hemiboreal Estonia. We considered the historic price volatility of aspen wood assortments under various discount rates (1–20%). We found that the 25-year rotation with different early thinning methods was more profitable than short bioenergy cycles in the case of low discount rates (<5%). The LEV of short coppice cycles for only bioenergy production became more profitable in comparison with those by thinning methods, when higher discount rates (>10%) were applied. Hybrid aspen coppice stands can be managed profitably, but more risks are taken when the management strategy focuses only on bioenergy production.

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Section: Forest Management Strategies For Hybrid Aspen Coppice Standsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Growths and Assortment Volumes In Case Of Different Management Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Growths and Assortment Volumes In Case Of Different Management Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Value of Hybrid Aspen Coppice Investment under Different Discount Rate, Price and Management Scenarios: A Case Study of Estonia

Hepner

Lukason

Lutter

et al. 2021

Forests

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Short-term effects of pre-commercial thinning on carbon cycling in fertile birch (Betula sp.) stands in hemiboreal Estonia

Aosaar,

Buht,

Erik

et al. 2023

Eur J Forest Res

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Biomass Production of the Poplar Clone OP42 During the Second Rotation Plantation–The Effects of Four Thinning Treatments

Svystun,

Böhlenius

2024

Bioenerg. Res.

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Poplar (Populus species and their hybrids) plantations can produce large amounts of biomass on agricultural land during the first rotation. However, there is limited knowledge regarding plantation re-establishment through re-sprouting (second rotation) after harvest, stand management options for such plantations, and biomass production during rotation length up to 20 years. In this study, we analysed biomass production responses to thinning treatments in an 18-year-old second rotation poplar plantation in Southern Sweden. The first rotation plantation was established with clone OP42 (Populus maximowiczii A. Henry × P. trichocarpa Torr. and Gray). The thinning experiment was conducted seven years after the first rotation harvest, comprising four treatments: unthinned – 6000 stems ha−1, light thinning – 3000 stems ha−1, medium thinning – 1100 stems ha−1, and heavy thinning – 550 stems ha−1. Eleven years after thinning, standing volume/biomass reached 484 m3 ha−1 (162 Mg DM ha−1) in the unthinned and medium thinning plots, 443 m3 ha−1 (148 Mg DM ha−1) in lightly and 338 m3 ha−1 (113 Mg DM ha−1) in heavily thinned plots. The mean annual increment was not different among the unthinned, light, and medium thinnings, 26 m3 ha−1 yr−1 (9 Mg DM ha−1 yr−1). The total production, including living, dead and removed trees, was highest following the medium thinning, 695 m3 ha−1 (233 Mg DM ha−1). Gradual self-thinning in the unthinned and lightly thinned plots was increased by a drought period. Overall, this study suggests that the second rotation of poplar plantations has high biomass production and provides an alternative to planting after harvest.

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Effect of Early Thinning Treatments on Above-Ground Growth, Biomass Production, Leaf Area Index and Leaf Growth Efficiency in a Hybrid Aspen Coppice Stand

Cited by 10 publications

References 45 publications

The Value of Hybrid Aspen Coppice Investment under Different Discount Rate, Price and Management Scenarios: A Case Study of Estonia

The Value of Hybrid Aspen Coppice Investment under Different Discount Rate, Price and Management Scenarios: A Case Study of Estonia

Short-term effects of pre-commercial thinning on carbon cycling in fertile birch (Betula sp.) stands in hemiboreal Estonia

Biomass Production of the Poplar Clone OP42 During the Second Rotation Plantation–The Effects of Four Thinning Treatments

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