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Western Larch The Secrets of Success
Background picture for title slide The Secrets of Success Inland Empire Paper Company Dennis Parent Forest Operations Manager
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Summary Review silvics of larch Review larch silvicultural treatments
My “Secrets” of growing larch
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Silvics of Western Larch
Western Larch: a “deciduous conifer in an evergreen world” Use same background picture
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Silvics of Western Larch
Silvics of North America Use same background picture Available on the Internet: “Silvics of North American Trees”
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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
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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
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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
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Silvics of Western Larch
Fire resistant Wind firm Tolerates root rot Tolerates soils with poor nutrition Wood is hard, strong, and dense.
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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
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Insects & Diseases Mistletoe
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Insects & Diseases Larch casebearer
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Insects & Diseases Needle cast
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Insects & Diseases Bears
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Insects & Diseases Spruce budworm Heart rot
Beetles, a recent phenomenon
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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
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Silvics of Western Larch
Genetics Seed transfer is relatively broad Adaptability intermediate between white pine and ponderosa pine
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Silvics of Western Larch
Larch nutrition Little information High nitrogen use efficiency Effectively translocates nitrogen
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Silvics of Western Larch
Water use Less efficient than other conifers Avoids winter desiccation 2 year old WL losing its needles
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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
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Silvics of Western Larch
Watershed values Little snow interception Higher water yield Higher melt rates from ROS
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Silvics of Western Larch
Aesthetics Color diversity Beautiful landscapes
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Special Problems of Western Larch
Needs adequate site preparation Losses crown quickly if overtopped Susceptible to herbicides Poor seed yields Foresters and loggers!
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Special Strengths of Western Larch
Fire resistant Favored by wildfire
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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
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Special Strengths of Western Larch
Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot
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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
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Special Strengths of Western Larch
Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot Genetic adaptability
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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: percent Higher value species Fastest growth Poor natural seed yields Easy to graft Seed transfer is relatively broad Responds to intensive management
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Special Strengths of Western Larch
Fire resistant Favored by wildfire Resistant to root rot Genetic adaptability Strong wood
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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
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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
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Silvicultural Treatments
Natural Regeneration Good site preparation
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Silvicultural Treatments
Natural Regeneration Predict cone crop
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Silvicultural Treatments
Natural Regeneration Enhance seed production by girdling
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Silvicultural Treatments
Artificial Regeneration Good site preparation = good survival
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Silvicultural Treatments
Artificial Regeneration Plant seedlings as large as you can afford.
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Silvicultural Treatments
Artificial Regeneration Spring vs. fall plant
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Silvicultural Treatments
Vegetation control Do it before planting!
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For this Instead of this
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Silvicultural Treatments
Vegetation control Oust herbicide may work
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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.
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Silvicultural Treatments
Precommercial thinning Watch out for: High costs = poor investment
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Silvicultural Treatments
Density control
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Silvicultural Treatments
Density control Precommercial thin but watch for: High costs = poor investment Trees getting too big Thinning too late => crown loss
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Silvicultural Treatments
Density control PCT conclusions Thin early Thin from below Select spacing carefully
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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.
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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
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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!
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Silvicultural Treatments
Pruning Not necessary and probably a waste of money Natural self-pruning Epicormic branching Dimension lumber; 1-2” knots acceptable
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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
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Harvest Systems Selection – NO!
Shelterwood – less than 40 sq. ft. BA/acre Seed Tree - OK Clearcut - OK
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Harvest Systems Clearcut Minimum opening size: 15-20 acres
Cut hard to regenerate western larch
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Larch – The “Secrets” of Success
Look for seed Adequate site preparation Realize importance of planting Control density Heavy harvest for regeneration
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Larch is Tough 1 Year Old 2 Years Old
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Larch Grows Rapidly Western Larch 3 Years Old 4 Years Old
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Larch is “Queen” Western Larch 6 Years Old 6 Years Old
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Opportunities for Larch
4 Year Old Plantation 13 Year Old Plantation
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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
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