Effects of stump harvesting on soil C and N stocks and vegetation 8-13 years after clear-cutting

• Basal area measurements on remaining stumps suggested that about 75% of the stumps had been removed from the stump-harvested stands, which is a typical stump harvesting rate in Finland. The amount of remaining stumps and root biomass was significantly lower in stump-harvested stands than in stands where stumps had been retained, whereas differences between mounding and stump harvesting were not significant for the other types of CWD. Stump harvesting had no significant effect on the cover of field layer species, total moss cover or vegetation composition. Total stem density was almost twice as high in stump-harvested stands as in stands where stumps were not harvested, due to significantly higher stem density of Betula pendula Roth., whereas no effect was observed on the basal area of the other tree species. No significant treatment effect on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks or on degree of soil disturbance was detected, but the higher density of Betula indicates higher exposure of mineral soil during the years following stump removal. In conclusion, stump harvesting seems to promote natural establishment of Betula seedlings, but does not change tree productivity. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Ämnesord

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Markvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Soil Science (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Skogsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Forest Science (hsv//eng)

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