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Stem dimensional fluctuation in Jeffrey pine from variation in water storage as influenced by thinning and prescribed fire

Fluctuations dimensionnelles chez Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf. et variations dans le stockage d’eau influencées par l’éclaircie et le feu prescrit

Annals of Forest Science volume 65, page 201 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Forest thinning utilizing cut-to-length and whole-tree harvesting systems with subsequent underburning were assessed for their impacts on water storage in the extensible tissues of dominant and codominant trees in an uneven-aged Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) stand on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada. Prior to the onset of the third growing season following thinning and the second season after burning, manual band dendrometers were installed at breast height on the selected trees and readings of diurnal fluctuation in stem circumference, an indication of bole water status, were taken monthly for one year. Diameter and relative diameter fluctuation were calculated from the circumference measurements. Overall, thinning had a positive influence on stem water recharge capacity, with the most pronounced effects evident in the latter part of the growing season. During this period, bole contraction in thinned stand portions was 49 to 55% greater than in the unthinned control, suggesting that both a greater volume of stored water was available for transpiration and was transpired in trees of the former treatment. There was no clear evidence that harvesting method affected stem water storage and influences of underburning were also absent entirely. Seasonal effects on diurnal changes in stem diameter were prominent, as the extent to which boles contracted generally increased over the course of the growing season, whereas fluctuations were at a minimum during the colder months. The magnitude of stem dimensional flux was found to be negatively correlated with initial tree DBH in one instance, while negative relationships between the former and live crown length as well as percentage were also revealed, albeit infrequently. Changes in bole size were positively correlated with residual basal area in some cases. These results suggest that improvement in water relations can be realized from density management in a dry site forest type with no apparent compromise of this benefit by broadcast underburning.

Résumé

Les éclaircies en forêt utilisant les systèmes de débit à la scie et de récolte de l’ensemble de l’arbre avec ultérieurement un brûlage par le bas ont été évaluées pour leurs impacts sur le stockage en eau dans les tissus extensibles des arbres dominants et codominants dans un peuplement inéquienne de Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf sur le versant est de la Sierra Nevada. Avant le début de la troisième année de croissance suivant l’éclaircie et la deuxième saison après le feu, des dendromètres manuels à bande ont été installés à hauteur de poitrine sur des arbres sélectionnés et la lecture des fluctuations journalières de la circonférence des arbres, une indication sur le statut hydrique du tronc, étaient faite mensuellement pendant une année. Le diamètre et les fluctuations de diamètre ont été calculés à partir des mesures de circonférence. En général, l’éclaircie a une influence positive sur la capacité de recharge en eau du tronc, avec les effets évidents les plus prononcés dans la dernière partie de la saison de croissance. Pendant cette période, la contraction du tronc dans les parties éclaircies des peuplements était de 49 à 55 % plus grande que le témoin non éclairci, suggérant qu’à la fois un plus grand volume d’eau stocké était disponible pour la transpiration et était transpiré par les arbres du premier traitement. Il n’y a pas une preuve claire que la méthode de récolte affecte le stockage d’eau dans le tronc et l’influence du brûlage était aussi totalement absente. Les effets saisonniers sur les changements diurnes du diamètre du tronc étaient proéminents, alors que l’importance des troncs contractés s’est accrue généralement dans le courant de la saison de croissance tandis que les fluctuations ont été au minimum pendant les mois froids de l’année. Dans un cas, l’ampleur de la dimension du flux a été trouvée corrélée négativement avec le diamètre initial, à hauteur de poitrine, de l’arbre, tandis qu’une relation négative entre ce dernier et la longueur de la couronne vivante comme en pourcentage a été aussi révélée, bien que peu fréquemment. Dans quelques cas, les changements dans la taille du tronc ont été positivement corrélés avec la surface terrière résiduelle. Ces résultats suggèrent qu’une amélioration des relations hydriques peut être réalisée par une gestion de la densité des peuplements dans les forêts de zones sèche sans apparemment compromettre ce bénéfice par un brûlage par surface.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, 1000 Valley Road, 89512, Reno, NV, USA

    Robert M. Fecko, Roger F. Walker, Wesley B. Frederick, Watkins W. Miller & Dale W. Johnson

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  1. Robert M. Fecko
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  2. Roger F. Walker
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  3. Wesley B. Frederick
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  4. Watkins W. Miller
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Correspondence to Roger F. Walker.

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Fecko, R.M., Walker, R.F., Frederick, W.B. et al. Stem dimensional fluctuation in Jeffrey pine from variation in water storage as influenced by thinning and prescribed fire. Ann. For. Sci. 65, 201 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007084

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Annals of Forest Science

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