Stand productivity following whole-tree harvesting in early thinning of Scots pine stands in Sweden

摘要

Swedish energy policy and the introduction of targets concerning the proportion of renewable energy used within Europe have increased the demand for forest biomass that can be used for energy generation. This includes industrial forest residues, residues from logging operations, and whole trees harvested during early thinnings. However, the sustainability of utilizing the nutrient-rich parts of the trees, such as needles and twigs, may be questionable. It is therefore important to assess the impact of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) in thinnings on the growth of the remaining trees in the stand, particularly in boreal forests where growth is normally limited by the availability of nutrients. Here we present data on 22 years of volume growth following WTH practiced in early thinning compared with the alternative, a late precommercial thinning, in which all of the biomass including the stem is left on site, from four Scots pine (Pious sylvestris L) dominated experimental sites in Sweden.