Management Options for Lodgepole Pine

in Southern Interior British Columbia

How do we manage lodgepole pine in BC?

It depends on where you are!!!!!

Major Forested Interior ZonesSBPS – light blueIDF – OrangeSBS – light purpleICH – yellowMS – brownESSF – Dark purple

Biogeoclimatic Zones of British Columbia

Wash IdahoMontana

Zone 50 year site index (ft)

Mean annual ppt (in)

Mean annual temp (F)

SBPS 49.2 – 59.0 13.2 – 22.8 33 – 37

IDF 39.4 – 72.2 11.8 – 29.5 35 – 49

SBS 59.0 – 78.7 17.3 – 35.4 35 – 41

ICH 59.0 – 78.7 19.7 – 47.2 36 – 48

ESSF 39.4 – 78.7 15.7 – 86.6 28 – 36

Characteristics of Biogeoclimatic Zones

Management Challenges

• IDF and SBPS have growing season moisture deficits and frosts but have less vegetation competition

• SBS and ICH are warmer and wetter with higher growing sites but vegetation competition is a concern

• ESSF is cold, usually wet, and can have serious vegetation problems combined with snow press

• Beetle is everywhere!

Regeneration Methods

• Drier zones (IDF and SBPS) natural regeneration is often used although some sites are planted

• Wetter areas (SBS, ICH, and ESSF) usually promptly planted to mitigate vegetation competition

• Most sites are clearcut but some research using group selection has been quite successful.

Silviculture Treatments

• Site preparation

• Brushing

• Density Management

• Fertilization

• Alternatives to Clearcutting

Site Preparation

• Commonly microsite planting has been used operationally

• Site preparation is used on some sites to both ensure survival and enhance early growth. Successful treatments by ecological grouping are:– Dry (IDF SPBS) linear trenching (Ripper Tooth, Disc trenching,

etc) – Moist sites (SBS ICH) site preparation treatments have had

minimal effect with some improvement from vegetation removal (Leno, V-Plow, Disc trenching, etc)

– Cold and wet (ESSF) – vegetation control and mounding (excavator, Disc trenching)

IDF Site Preparation

Pl Height: 16 years

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SBS IDF

Hei

ght

(cm

)

CHSLenoDTRTRPVP

**

*

**

SBS Site Preparation

V-Plow

Ripper Tooth

Leno

ESSF Site Preparation

Pl Height (ESSF)

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5th yr 10th yr

Hei

ght

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CCWHHWMMWBBW

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020406080

100120140160180200

5th yr 10th yr

Hei

ght (

cm)

CCWHHWMMWBBW

Spruce Height (ESSF)

*

**

12 year old pine 12 year old spruce

ESSF

Brushing

• Try to avoid by using site preparation and/or quick planting of fast growing species i.e. pine

• Limited use of herbicides due to poor public acceptance and problems in avoiding streams

• Manual methods more common (occasional use of sheep which is tricky with pine)

• Removal of broadleaves from lodgepole pine stands is an ongoing discussion.

To Brush or not to Brush?

~ 12 year old standIn the SBS

~15 year old stand In the IDF

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0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9>10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

>10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9>10

He

igh

t (cm

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12-13 17-18 2 2 -2 3 ye a rs

(

22-23

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Tall aspen density classes (x 1000 stems/ha)

He

igh

t (cm

)

13-17 15-19 20-24

SBS

IDF

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13-17 years 15-19 years 20-24 years

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Gro

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leve

l dia

met

er (

cm)

12-13 years 17-18 years 22-23 years

SBS

IDF

Comeau et al 2005

Changes in Light Intensity by Ecological Zone

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Relative Density

DIF

N1

.5

BWBS SBS SBPS IDF

BWBS SBS SBPS IDF

IDF 10 yrsplanted

SBPS 12 yrsSBS 18 yrs

Density Management

• Very little done in the last five years due to Mountain Pine Beetle activity

• Operational targets were usually 648 to 1012 stems per acre.

• Recently the maximum density allowed has increased to 10,121 stems per acre

Fertilization

• Most pine are N and S deficient and many are also deficient in B

• A common operational blend is urea and ammonium sulphate (35-0-0-10S), which delivered ~200 kg N/ha and 58 kg S/ha and if B is needed 1.5-3 kg B/ha is added.

• No fertilization has occurred over the last five years due to the beetle

35% 48% 50%

39% 63%63%

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Stand density (st/ha)

Vol

ume

incr

emen

t (cm

3/tr

ee x

10-3

)

NF F

66%66%

38%53%52%

34%

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Stand density (st/ha)S

tand

vol

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incr

emen

t (m3

/ha)

NF F

1-5 years

6-10 years

1-5 years

6-10 years

Optimal fertilization trial

From: Brockley R.P 2005600 sph = 243 st/ac1100 sph = 445 st/ac1600 sph = 648 st/ac

Fertilized vs Unfertilized Stand

Increased diameter growth but not height growth

From: Brockley R.P 2005

Height Repression

Height growth response on 36 year old unspaced pine

Pre-fertilization

3 years after fertilization

Pre-fertilization 3 years after fertilization

Fertilizing 70 year old pine

Alternatives to Clearcutting

• Group Selection methods have been attempted in various ecosystems

• Some examples are Quesnel Highland (ESSF), Date Creek (ICH), Satah Mountain (SBPS)

8 Year old pine

At this elevation pine is alive in only the largest openings.

High elevationESSF

13 year old pine

Beetle Attack!!!!!

Summary

• Site preparation: dry – reduce moisture stress, moist – reduce vegetation competition, high - warmth

• Brushing: consider vigour of the competing vegetation

• Density management: higher densities for more stand volume??

• Fertilization: increases in diameter versus increases in height

• Alternatives to Clearcutting: optimal gap size will vary depending on where you are!