Norway Pine Shelterwood with Diplodia (MN DNR)

Stand Information

Norway pine shelterwood with Diplodia present in overstory.

State or Province:

Minnesota

Nearest city or town:

Big Falls

Describe the location:

Big Falls District, Littlefork Forestry Area, Pine Island State Forest

Landowner:

State - Acquired

Cover-type:

Pine

MN ECS Native Plant Community System:

Fire Dependent

Forest Health Threats:

Other forest health threats

Estimated year of stand origin:

1999

Additional information about stand origin:

Multi-aged stand

Site Index:

feet

for species:

Norway Pine

Silviculture System:

Shelterwood

Brief silvicultural objective:

Maintain a multi-aged stand and natural mixed pine regeneration to provide within stand structure that is lacking along this public land dominated sand ridge.

Soils:

B78B—Graycalm-Grettum complex, 1 to 8 percent slopes. From the USDA soil survey: The Graycalm series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils formed in sandy glaciofluvial deposits on moraines, kames, stream terraces, outwash plains, and glacial drainage channels. Slope ranges from 0 to 70 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 760 mm (30 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 6.7 degrees C (44 degrees F). The Grettum series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in sandy outwash or sandy lacustrine deposits with lamellae. These soils are on lake plains and outwash plains. Permeability is rapid in the sandy deposits and rapid or moderately rapid in the lamellae. Slopes range from 0 to 30 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 30 inches. Mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

Stand area:

30 acres

Treatment area:

30 acres

Overview

This stand was managed for multiple age and natural mixed pine regeneration to provide within stand structure that is lacking along this public land domininated sand ridge.

Silviculture Objective(s)

Increase white pine component and allow Norway pine and jack pine to naturally regenerate to 600 crop trees per acre that are free-to-grow.

Pre-treatment stand description and condition

Stand establishment and management history:

Stand was shown to be clearcut in 1940 aerial photos. Cover before planting in 1956 was open/old burn. Stand was initially planted in 1956 for $46.70/acre with 35,000 jack pine (averaging 1,167/ac) and 15,000 Norway pine (averaging 500/ac). In 1966, there were 1,800 trees/acre at 4' to 9' tall.

Silviculture Prescription

The goal of this prescription is a mixed age, mixed species pine stand with an increased white pine component. Pine regeneration totaling 500-600 per acre, with 75% stocking of crop trees free to grow would signify a successfully regenerated stand.

What actually happened during the treatment

1995 timber harvest in north 14 acres of stand. Jack pine harvested, Norway pine thinned to 80 sqft/acre, cut trees were marked with paint. Harvested trees included Norway pine 70% bolts, 5 cd/acre, jack pine 25% bolts, 17 cd/acre and aspen 1 cd/acre.

1998 timber harvest in west 10 acres of stand. Norway pine was thinned to "approximately 40% crown cover". Norway pine averaged 6.4 cd/acre, 10" dbh, 5-6 sticks. That 10 acre part of the stand then had an herbicide application on August 16, 1999. Chemicals sprayed included: Accord 3 qt/acre, Oust 1/2 oz/acre, Entry II as surfactant. This treatment was contracted out and a skidder was used to broadcast spray the herbicide. In May 12 & 13, 2000, 8,900 white pine seedlings at 7x7 spacing were hand planted by a local contractor. In May 10-20, 2002, a local contractor interplanted 600 white pine trees per acre, since stocking was only found to be 400 trees per acre the previous summer.

In winter 2000, an untreated but adjacent 12 acre part of the stand to the south had a timber sale. Norway pine was reserved at 30-50 sqft/acre. Norway pine harvested averaged 11" dbh, 6 sticks, was 55 years old, and 35% bolts. This 12 acre part of the stand had a contracted herbicide application with broadcast skidder of Accord Concentrate 2.25 qt/acre with the surfactant Activate Plus. This was completed on 8/20/01. White pine seedlings were hand planted at 6x7 spacing, approximately 1000 trees per acre by local contractor, May 10-20, 2002.

White pine seedlings were bud capped after planting, but I was unable to find records of which years.

2011 timber harvest - harvest marked Norway pine.

Post-treatment assessment

Diplodia has become a serious problem in this stand, to the point that the stand will require additional treatments in the future to obtain adequate stocking.

November 2015 regeneration survey (1/100th acre plots)

white pine 69% stocking, 300 trees/acre, heavily browsed, majority with poor form
Norway pine 77% stocked, 800 trees/acre, 95% have obvious Diplodia infection
jack pine 31% stocking, 425 trees/acre, majority also have obvious Diplodia infection
white spruce 15% stocking, 150 trees/acre
balsam fir, aspen and burr oak present in stand

Costs and economic considerations

I was only able to locate a few cost records.

Herbicide 2001- 12 acres at $106/acre.

Spring 2002 planting - 10 acres interplant, 12 acres plant - planting cost $1425.82; tree cost $3024.

Summary / lessons learned / additional thoughts

This stand does not represent common management practices on DNR Forestry lands. Foresters attempted to use a combination of artificial and natural regeneration techniques to create a mixed age, mixed species pine stand. Mixed age, mixed species stands and natural regeneration are considered valuable for providing wildlife habitat and ecological services. Diverse, multi-aged pine stands are also rare in this area. Unfortunately, the forest health concerns of Diplodia tip blight and deer browse were too challenging to overcome and this stand will need additional treatments in the future.

Supplemental content ("appendices")