| dc.description.abstract | The objectives of this study were 1) to provide information on
the above ground biomass production of young jack pine (Pinus banksiana
Lamb.) stands, and 2) to evaluate the influence of crown foliage stand
density, and age on the net current annual wood production of young jack
pine trees and stands.
Two naturally regenerated jack pine stands, 17- and 32-years old,
were selected for study near Thunder Bay, Ontario, in each stand, one
sample plot was established at each of three density levels. Each sample
plot consisted of 15 live jack pine trees. In all, 90 trees were
felled in September 1978 and analyzed to determine the above ground
distribution of biomass by foliage, cone, stem wood, stem bark, live
branch wood, live branch bark, and dead branch (wood plus bark) components. Total current annual wood production was determined by adding the periodic annual increment of the stem for the last three years to the mean annual increment of the live branches. Stand density was determined by computing number of stems per hectare, relative spacing, and basal area.
Stem wood, stem bark, foliage and dead branch biomass increased with
density in both stands. Live branch wood, live branch bark, and cone
biomass were not affected by stand density and age. Total current
annual Wood production was closely related to the foliage dry weight
supported by individual trees; stand density and age seemed to have no
influence on this relationship. Total current annual wood production
per hectare was linearly related to foliage dry weight and stand density.
It was concluded that within the range of densities sampled, the two jack pine stands do not give any indication of being over-crowded. Results
suggest that jack pine stands, grown for maximum fibre production, should
be grown as dense as possible, at least within the range of densities
sampled. | |
