Management Options for Lodgepole Pine in Southern Interior British Columbia

How do we manage lodgepole pine in BC? It depends on where you are!!!!!

Major Forested Interior Zones SBPS – light blue IDF – Orange SBS – light purple ICH – yellow MS – brown ESSF – Dark purple Biogeoclimatic Zones of British Columbia Wash Idaho Montana

Zone 50 year site index (ft) Mean annual ppt (in) Mean annual temp (F) SBPS 49.2 – – – 37 IDF 39.4 – – – 49 SBS 59.0 – – – 41 ICH 59.0 – – – 48 ESSF 39.4 – – – 36 Characteristics of Biogeoclimatic Zones

Management Challenges IDF and SBPS have growing season moisture deficits and frosts but have less vegetation competition SBS and ICH are warmer and wetter with higher growing sites but vegetation competition is a concern ESSF is cold, usually wet, and can have serious vegetation problems combined with snow press Beetle is everywhere!

Regeneration Methods Drier zones (IDF and SBPS) natural regeneration is often used although some sites are planted Wetter areas (SBS, ICH, and ESSF) usually promptly planted to mitigate vegetation competition Most sites are clearcut but some research using group selection has been quite successful.

Silviculture Treatments Site preparation Brushing Density Management Fertilization Alternatives to Clearcutting

Site Preparation Commonly microsite planting has been used operationally Site preparation is used on some sites to both ensure survival and enhance early growth. Successful treatments by ecological grouping are: –Dry (IDF SPBS) linear trenching (Ripper Tooth, Disc trenching, etc) –Moist sites (SBS ICH) site preparation treatments have had minimal effect with some improvement from vegetation removal (Leno, V-Plow, Disc trenching, etc) –Cold and wet (ESSF) – vegetation control and mounding (excavator, Disc trenching)

IDF Site Preparation

Pl Height: 16 years * * * * *

SBS Site Preparation V-Plow Ripper Tooth Leno

ESSF Site Preparation

Pl Height (ESSF) * ** * * * *

Spruce Height (ESSF) * * *

12 year old pine12 year old spruce ESSF

Brushing Try to avoid by using site preparation and/or quick planting of fast growing species i.e. pine Limited use of herbicides due to poor public acceptance and problems in avoiding streams Manual methods more common (occasional use of sheep which is tricky with pine) Removal of broadleaves from lodgepole pine stands is an ongoing discussion.

To Brush or not to Brush?

~ 12 year old stand In the SBS ~15 year old stand In the IDF

SBS IDF

SBS IDF

Comeau et al 2005 Changes in Light Intensity by Ecological Zone

IDF 10 yrs planted SBPS 12 yrs SBS 18 yrs

Density Management Very little done in the last five years due to Mountain Pine Beetle activity Operational targets were usually 648 to 1012 stems per acre. Recently the maximum density allowed has increased to 10,121 stems per acre

Fertilization Most pine are N and S deficient and many are also deficient in B A common operational blend is urea and ammonium sulphate ( S), which delivered ~200 kg N/ha and 58 kg S/ha and if B is needed kg B/ha is added. No fertilization has occurred over the last five years due to the beetle

1-5 years 6-10 years 1-5 years 6-10 years Optimal fertilization trial From: Brockley R.P sph = 243 st/ac 1100 sph = 445 st/ac 1600 sph = 648 st/ac

Fertilized vs Unfertilized Stand Increased diameter growth but not height growth From: Brockley R.P 2005

Height Repression

Height growth response on 36 year old unspaced pine

Pre-fertilization 3 years after fertilization

Pre-fertilization3 years after fertilization Fertilizing 70 year old pine

Alternatives to Clearcutting Group Selection methods have been attempted in various ecosystems Some examples are Quesnel Highland (ESSF), Date Creek (ICH), Satah Mountain (SBPS)

8 Year old pine

At this elevation pine is alive in only the largest openings. High elevation ESSF 13 year old pine

Beetle Attack!!!!!

Summary Site preparation: dry – reduce moisture stress, moist – reduce vegetation competition, high - warmth Brushing: consider vigour of the competing vegetation Density management: higher densities for more stand volume?? Fertilization: increases in diameter versus increases in height Alternatives to Clearcutting: optimal gap size will vary depending on where you are!