Western Larch The Secrets of Success Inland Empire Paper Company Dennis Parent Forest Operations Manager

Summary 1.Review silvics of larch 2.Review larch silvicultural treatments 3.My “Secrets” of growing larch

Silvics of Western Larch   Western Larch: a “deciduous conifer in an evergreen world”

Silvics of Western Larch   Silvics of North America 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

Comparative Shade Tolerance of Northwestern Conifers Species Shade Tolerance Ponderosa Pine10 Western Larch9 Lodgepole Pine8 Douglas-fir7 Western White Pine6 Engelmann Spruce5 Grand Fir4 Subalpine Fir3 Western Redcedar2 Western Hemlock1

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. NameSpeciesImportance Dwarf MistletoeArceuthobium laricis1 Larch CasebearerColeophora laricella2 Needle CastHypodermella laricis3 BearsUrsus americanus4 Spruce BudwormChoristoneura occidentalis5 Root & butt rotPhaeolus schweinitzii6 Laminated Root RotPhellinus weirii7 Flatheaded fir borerMelanophila drummondi8

Insects & Diseases Mistletoe

Larch casebearer

Insects & Diseases Needle cast

Insects & Diseases Bears

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

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 SpeciesRank Western Larch1 Ponderosa Pine2 Douglas-fir3 Western White Pine4 Lodgepole Pine5 Grand Fir6 Western Redcedar7 Western Hemlock8 Engelmann Spruce9

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 Larch32 Ponderosa Pine24 Lodgepole Pine23 Western White Pine23 Subalpine Fir22 Western Hemlock22 Engelmann Spruce22 Western Redcedar24 Douglas-fir11 Grand Fir11

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

Potential for Genetic Improvement of Inland Species SpeciesRank Western White Pine1 Western Larch2 Ponderosa Pine3 Lodgepole Pine4 Douglas-fir5 Genetic Characteristics of Western Larch 1. Highest potential gain in volume through genetic improvement: percent 2. Higher value species 3. Fastest growth 4. Poor natural seed yields 5. Easy to graft 6. Seed transfer is relatively broad 7. 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 SpeciesSpecific Gravity Western Larch0.48 Douglas-fir0.46 Western Hemlock0.42 Ponderosa Pine0.38 Lodgepole Pine0.38 Western White Pine0.36 Grand Fir0.35 Engelmann Spruce0.33 Subalpine Fir0.31 Western Redcedar0.30

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 thisInstead of this

Silvicultural Treatments   Vegetation control   Oust herbicide may work

Silvicultural Treatments   Density control   Principles of thinning 1. 1.Concentrate growth on fewer stems 2. 2.Decrease total stand growth 3. 3.Increase merchantable stand yield 4. 4.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 1. 1.Growing large diameter trees 2. 2.Structural and vegetation diversity 3. 3.Aesthetics 4. 4.Earlier income generation 5. 5.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: 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 Old2 Years Old

Larch Grows Rapidly 3 Years Old Western Larch 4 Years Old

Larch is “Queen” 6 Years Old Western Larch

Opportunities for Larch 4 Year Old Plantation13 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