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Sprouting of Populus tremula L. in spruce regeneration areas following alternative treatments

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Abstract

We investigated the efficiency of three different methods to restrict sprouting in European aspen (Populus tremula L.) in regeneration areas of spruce in Finland. The methods compared were (1) traditional method (cutting at 10–15 cm height) (2) cutting at 1 m height, and (3) fungus treatment (cutting at 10–15 cm height, and mycelium of a white-rot fungus, Chondrostereum purpureum [Pers. Ex Fr.] Pouzar was applied to freshly cut stumps). The results indicated that the fungus treatment can restrict the emergence and growth of stump sprouts better than other methods, whereas cutting at 1 m seemed to yield the lowest numbers of root suckers. However, differences between the treatments were not significantly different (P values were > 0.05). For future experimentation, we suggest that the cutting of higher stumps to control the number of root suckers should be combined with application of C. purpureum to restrict the emergence and growth of stump sprouts. We also suggest developing more efficient C. purpureum isolates to control European aspen stump sprouting.

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Acknowledgments

We thank private forest owners in the municipality of Sipoo, the city of Helsinki, and Finnish Forest Research Institute for letting us to use their forests for the study. Asko Harju, Olavi Palosaari, Markku Rantala, and Erkki Piiroinen from the Finnish Forest Research Institute cut the saplings in the forest sites. Risto Heikkilä gave valuable information concerning moose and its effects on aspen saplings, Jere Eronen, Nea Kuusinen, Hannu Rantanen, and Juhani Mäkinen helped in the field, Juha Heikkinen gave statistical advice, and Sisko Salminen modified the figures. The study was funded by the Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 18, 01301, Vantaa, Finland

    Leena Hamberg, Minna Malmivaara-Lämsä, Irja Löfström, Henna Vartiamäki, Sauli Valkonen & Jarkko Hantula

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  1. Leena Hamberg
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  2. Minna Malmivaara-Lämsä
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  3. Irja Löfström
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  4. Henna Vartiamäki
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  5. Sauli Valkonen
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  6. Jarkko Hantula
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leena Hamberg.

Additional information

Communicated by C. Ammer.

This article originates from the final conference of the Cost action E47 “European Network for Forest Vegetation Management: Towards Environmental Sustainability” in Vejle, Denmark, 4–7 May 2009.

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Hamberg, L., Malmivaara-Lämsä, M., Löfström, I. et al. Sprouting of Populus tremula L. in spruce regeneration areas following alternative treatments. Eur J Forest Res 130, 99–106 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0372-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0372-5

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