Minimizing hybrid poplar tree mortality and plantation yield losses due to competition

最大限度地减少竞争造成的杂交杨树死亡率和人工林产量损失

• 批准号: 419293-2011
• 负责人: Bork, Edward
• 金额: $ 1.47万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=551608
• 关键词: Minimizing; hybrid; poplar; tree; mortality

Hybrid poplar plantations are becoming an important strategy for the pulp and paper industry to increase fiber supply in western Canada. Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac) in NE Alberta has been establishing extended lease agreements with private landowners for this purpose since 2000. To date, these plantations have been established using conventional silvicultural practices (e.g. systematic ally planting) with fallowing of soil interspaces and intermittent herbicide applications used to control competing vegetation. Over the 18 year projected life of these plantations, these practices result in significant input costs, in turn reducing their profitability. Operational strategies that reduce the cost of plantation establishment and maintenance during the first 3 years, or that reduce the impact of weeds on tree mortality and growth, will enhance fiber supply and profitability. Moreover, strategies that reduce fallowing or herbicide application may have associated environmental benefits, including reductions in soil erosion, carbon loss, and pesticide use and accumulation. In this research we explore a series of questions related to alternative management strategies to establish and maintain hybrid poplar plantations using 3 experiments. These experiments 1) quantify the impact of weed composition and abundance on hybrid poplar growth and survival during the establishment (1-3 year) period, including that occurring above and below-ground, 2) identify the relative importance of spatially targeted weed control both near and far from the tree bole, and 3) evaluate alternative plantation establishment strategies (i.e. initial fallow interval length and direct sod planting) for improving tree performance and environmental health. This information will provide a more detailed understanding of the fundamental factors reducing tree survival and growth in hybrid poplar plantations, and ultimately lead to improved management strategies that increase the amount and reliability of wood fiber supply.

杂交杨树种植园正在成为加拿大西部纸浆和造纸行业增加纤维供应的重要战略。自2000年以来，位于艾伯塔省东北部的艾伯塔省-太平洋森林工业公司(阿尔伯塔省太平洋森林工业公司)一直在为此目的与私人土地所有者签订延长租赁协议。到目前为止，这些种植园是采用传统的营林做法(例如，系统联合种植)建立的，耕作土壤空隙，间歇使用除草剂来控制竞争的植被。在这些种植园的18年预计寿命中，这些做法导致了巨大的投入成本，进而降低了它们的盈利能力。在头3年内减少种植园建设和维护成本，或减少杂草对树木死亡和生长的影响的经营战略，将增加纤维供应和盈利。此外，减少休耕或除草剂使用的战略可能具有相关的环境效益，包括减少土壤侵蚀、碳损失以及农药的使用和积累。在这项研究中，我们通过3个实验探索了建立和维持杂交杨树人工林的替代经营策略相关的一系列问题。这些试验1)量化杂草组成和丰度对杂交杨建立期间(1-3年)生长和存活的影响，包括地上和地下杂草的生长和存活；2)确定空间定向杂草控制在树干附近和远处的相对重要性；3)评估替代人工林建立策略(即初始休耕间隔长度和直接草皮种植)对改善树木性能和环境健康的影响。这些信息将提供更详细的了解，以降低杂交杨树人工林中树木存活和生长的根本因素，并最终导致改进的管理策略，增加木材纤维供应的数量和可靠性。