Authors:
Soili Kojola, Timo Penttilä
Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress
Venue:
Stockholm
Keywords:
ditch-network-maintenance, evapotranspiration, peatland-forestry, thinning, water-table
Documentfile:
Kojola, Penttilä 2012: Is Ditch Network Maintenance Invariably Needed After Thinning?
Summary:
Theme VII. Ecology and management on forested peatlands
SUMMARY
Water levels and tree growth were studied in three Scots pine stands that were partly thinned. Ditch network maintenance (DNM) was neglected to test the recent result that a moderately stocked tree stand as such would deal with adequate drainage. Thinnings decrease stand volume and canopy coverage which may jeopardize drainage. Avoiding DNM would, however, bring about considerable environmental benefits. In the first year(s), water levels on thinned plots were slightly higher but this effect levelled off in three years. Increased growth rates and specific foliar mass indicated better tree vitality following thinning and no signs of deterioration were observed.