Canadian Forest Service Publications
Effects of biomass removals on site carbon and nutrient retention and jack pine tree growth across a site productivity gradient in upland boreal forests of Ontario. 2014. Hazlett, P.; Morris, D.; Fleming, R.L. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 78:S183-S195
Year: 2014
Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 35382
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Available from the Journal's Web site. †
DOI: 10.2136sssaj2013.08.00372nafsc
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Plain Language Summary
We quantified different biomass removal treatments (tree-length harvest, full-tree harvest, full-tree harvest/forest floor removal) on carbon and nutrient retention and removal for 14 boreal forest sites in Ontario. We also determined the impact of these treatments on jack pine tree growth 10 to 15 years post-harvest. Our goals were to determine the quantities of tree biomass that could be commercially utilized and to identify potential indicators that could be used to predict site sensitivity to different levels of biomass removal. We found carbon and nutrient removals from operational tree-length and full-tree harvesting in boreal forests are often more similar than previously reported. Harvest residue retention following operational full-tree harvesting in our study met levels recommended by several jurisdictions as suitable to sustain soil productivity and biodiversity after biomass harvesting. Nutrient budget-derived metrics and soil carbon and nutrient reserves could be suitable indicators to assess site sensitivity to biomass removals.