Western Larch The Secrets of Success Background picture for title slide The Secrets of Success Inland Empire Paper Company Dennis Parent Forest Operations Manager

Summary Review silvics of larch Review larch silvicultural treatments My “Secrets” of growing larch

Silvics of Western Larch Western Larch: a “deciduous conifer in an evergreen world” Use same background picture

Silvics of Western Larch Silvics of North America Use same background picture Available on the Internet: “Silvics of North American Trees”

Silvics of Western Larch 10 species total Three species in U.S. Western larch (Larix occidentalis) Subalpine larch (Larix lyallii) Eastern larch (Larix laricina) The tallest and the largest of the world’s larches A seral species Same background picture

Comparative Shade Tolerance of Northwestern Conifers Species Shade Tolerance Ponderosa Pine 10 Western Larch 9 Lodgepole Pine 8 Douglas-fir 7 Western White Pine 6 Engelmann Spruce 5 Grand Fir 4 Subalpine Fir 3 Western Redcedar 2 Western Hemlock 1

Silvics of Western Larch Growth Fastest growing species in Inland Northwest Diameter growth very sensitive to stand density Develops into even-aged stands Height growth both predetermined and free

Silvics of Western Larch Fire resistant Wind firm Tolerates root rot Tolerates soils with poor nutrition Wood is hard, strong, and dense.

Silvics of Western Larch Insects, Diseases, Etc. Name Species Importance Dwarf Mistletoe Arceuthobium laricis 1 Larch Casebearer Coleophora laricella 2 Needle Cast Hypodermella laricis 3 Bears Ursus americanus 4 Spruce Budworm Choristoneura occidentalis 5 Root & butt rot Phaeolus schweinitzii 6 Laminated Root Rot Phellinus weirii 7 Flatheaded fir borer Melanophila drummondi 8

Insects & Diseases Mistletoe

Insects & Diseases Larch casebearer

Insects & Diseases Needle cast

Insects & Diseases Bears

Insects & Diseases Spruce budworm Heart rot Beetles, a recent phenomenon

Silvics of Western Larch Cones & seed Flowers very early One of the best seed producers in northwest Montana One of the worst seed producers in northern Idaho

Silvics of Western Larch Genetics Seed transfer is relatively broad Adaptability intermediate between white pine and ponderosa pine

Silvics of Western Larch Larch nutrition Little information High nitrogen use efficiency Effectively translocates nitrogen

Silvics of Western Larch Water use Less efficient than other conifers Avoids winter desiccation 2 year old WL losing its needles

Silvics of Western Larch Carbon fixation Efficient crown architecture Small, short branches Photosynthetic rate similar on a leaf area basis Photosynthetic rate greater on leaf weight basis Result: Larch fixes the same amount of carbon as other conifers

Silvics of Western Larch Watershed values Little snow interception Higher water yield Higher melt rates from ROS

Silvics of Western Larch Aesthetics Color diversity Beautiful landscapes

Special Problems of Western Larch Needs adequate site preparation Losses crown quickly if overtopped Susceptible to herbicides Poor seed yields Foresters and loggers!

Special Strengths of Western Larch Fire resistant Favored by wildfire

Fire Resistance of Inland Species Rank Western Larch 1 Ponderosa Pine 2 Douglas-fir 3 Western White Pine 4 Lodgepole Pine 5 Grand Fir 6 Western Redcedar 7 Western Hemlock 8 Engelmann Spruce 9

Special Strengths of Western Larch Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot

Relative Susceptibility of Inland Northwest Conifers to Root Disease Species Armillaria Susceptibility Laminated Susceptibility Western Larch 3 2 Ponderosa Pine 4 Lodgepole Pine Western White Pine Subalpine Fir Western Hemlock Engelmann Spruce Western Redcedar Douglas-fir 1 Grand Fir

Special Strengths of Western Larch Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot Genetic adaptability

Potential for Genetic Improvement of Inland Species Species Rank Western White Pine 1 Western Larch 2 Ponderosa Pine 3 Lodgepole Pine 4 Douglas-fir 5 Genetic Characteristics of Western Larch Highest potential gain in volume through genetic improvement: 20-40 percent Higher value species Fastest growth Poor natural seed yields Easy to graft Seed transfer is relatively broad Responds to intensive management

Special Strengths of Western Larch Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot Genetic adaptability Strong wood

Specific Gravity of Inland Northwest Woods Species Specific Gravity Western Larch 0.48 Douglas-fir 0.46 Western Hemlock 0.42 Ponderosa Pine 0.38 Lodgepole Pine Western White Pine 0.36 Grand Fir 0.35 Engelmann Spruce 0.33 Subalpine Fir 0.31 Western Redcedar 0.30

Special Strengths of Western Larch Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot Genetic adaptability Strong wood Fast juvenile growth Wind firm Resists snow and ice loading Good long-lived snag species Arabinogalactan

Silvicultural Treatments Natural Regeneration Good site preparation

Silvicultural Treatments Natural Regeneration Predict cone crop

Silvicultural Treatments Natural Regeneration Enhance seed production by girdling

Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration Good site preparation = good survival

Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration Plant seedlings as large as you can afford.

Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration Spring vs. fall plant

Silvicultural Treatments Vegetation control Do it before planting!

For this Instead of this

Silvicultural Treatments Vegetation control Oust herbicide may work

Silvicultural Treatments Density control Principles of thinning Concentrate growth on fewer stems Decrease total stand growth Increase merchantable stand yield Total stand cubic foot yields are not increased.

Silvicultural Treatments Precommercial thinning Watch out for: High costs = poor investment

Silvicultural Treatments Density control

Silvicultural Treatments Density control Precommercial thin but watch for: High costs = poor investment Trees getting too big Thinning too late => crown loss

Silvicultural Treatments Density control PCT conclusions Thin early Thin from below Select spacing carefully

Silvicultural Treatments Density control Commercial thinning – some problems Opens up stand to brush competition Stand growth loss Larger trees are not worth more money today.

Silvicultural Treatments Density control Other objectives for commercial thinning Growing large diameter trees Structural and vegetation diversity Aesthetics Earlier income generation Perpetuate culmination of MAI

Silvicultural Treatments Density control Affect of thinning on wood strength Not ring width, but summerwood/springwood ratio Thinning can increase summerwood/springwood ratio Thinning does not decrease wood strength Young, managed larch has similar wood density levels as those found in natural stands. This is not true for other western conifers!

Silvicultural Treatments Pruning Not necessary and probably a waste of money Natural self-pruning Epicormic branching Dimension lumber; 1-2” knots acceptable

Silvicultural Treatments Nutrition & fertilization Little information available Castille, 1983: Two-year growth Filip and Oester, 2002: Ten-year growth Graham, 1986: Effect on cone and seed production IFTNC: Field trials on Boise Cascade lands No firm conclusions for larch

Harvest Systems Selection – NO! Shelterwood – less than 40 sq. ft. BA/acre Seed Tree - OK Clearcut - OK

Harvest Systems Clearcut Minimum opening size: 15-20 acres Cut hard to regenerate western larch

Larch – The “Secrets” of Success Look for seed Adequate site preparation Realize importance of planting Control density Heavy harvest for regeneration

Larch is Tough 1 Year Old 2 Years Old

Larch Grows Rapidly Western Larch 3 Years Old 4 Years Old

Larch is “Queen” Western Larch 6 Years Old 6 Years Old

Opportunities for Larch 4 Year Old Plantation 13 Year Old Plantation

Thank You Acknowledgements: Carl Fiedler – Univ. of Montana Joel Fields – Wilbur-Ellis Kennon McClintock – Forest Capital Terri Jain -- RMRS Russ Graham – RMRS Russ Hudson – retired forester Terry Shaw – IFTNC