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.

混合杨树种植园正在成为制浆造纸行业增加加拿大西部纤维供应的重要战略。位于阿尔伯塔省东北部的阿尔伯塔-太平洋森林工业公司 (Al-Pac) 自 2000 年以来一直为此目的与私人土地所有者签订延长租赁协议。迄今为止，这些种植园已采用传统的造林方法（例如系统性联合种植）建立，并进行休耕用于控制竞争植被的土壤间隙和间歇性除草剂施用。在这些种植园 18 年的预计寿命中，这些做法会导致巨大的投入成本，进而降低其盈利能力。降低前三年种植园建设和维护成本或减少杂草对树木死亡率和生长影响的运营策略将提高纤维供应和盈利能力。此外，减少休耕或除草剂施用的策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 个实验探讨了与建立和维护杂交杨种植园的替代管理策略相关的一系列问题。这些实验 1) 量化了杂草组成和丰度对建植期（1-3 年）期间杂草生长和存活的影响，包括地上和地下发生的影响，2) 确定了空间定向杂草控制的相对重要性靠近和远离树干，3) 评估替代种植园建立策略（即初始休耕间隔长度和直接草皮种植），以改善树木性能和环境健康。这些信息将更详细地了解减少混合杨种植园树木存活和生长的基本因素，并最终改进管理策略，增加木纤维供应的数量和可靠性。