intensive hardwood management

Intensive Hardwood Plantation Intensive Hardwood Plantation ManagementManagement

Randall J. RousseauRandall J. RousseauMississippi State UniversityMississippi State University

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Hardwood Mgmt. is not Pine Mgmt.!!!

a. No single species can be planted over a large geographic area across a number of environments

b. A limited number of hardwood species fit well into a typical plantation scenario

c. Genetic material and herbicides are limited in hardwoods therefore increasing the cost of plantation culture

Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

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Important Factors:

Fast Growth Species well suited to Plantation Mgmt.

Species must be matched correctly to Soil/Site Conditions

Seedling quality, proper establishment and care is needed to achieve maximum growth rates

a. In terms of growing in even-aged stands at similar growth patterns


Baker-Broadfoot Site Evaluation for Hardwoods

Based on Four Factors:a. Soil Physical Propertiesb. Moisture Availabilityc. Soil Aerationd. Nutrient Availability

Stock Types:

Bare-root Seedlings

Containerized Seedlings

a. Dormant and in-leaf

QUALITY!!


Nuttall Oak Seedlings

1-0 Bare-root Stock

B A

First-Order Lateral Root

Numerous buds for increased leaf area

Excellent Root Collar Diameter

Tap Root length and diameter are excellent

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Important Factors:

More desirable sawtimber species, such as oaks, can be grown in pure stands but will demand longer rotation length with an increased awareness of genetics and competition effects

While work has been going on for some time it has been spotty and typically inconsistent through time.

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Important Factors:

Today, the production of 2nd-Generation Biofuels using woody material has generated renewed interest intensive hardwood plantation culture

Utilization will be different (whole tree vs stem wood) but so are the type of sites where these plantations are expected to being grown

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Short-Rotation Woody Crops

Although there were other groups in the Northeast that were looking at Hardwood Plantations, the USFS Stoneville Group was the first in the South

This work primarily revolved around the production of eastern cottonwood and included silviculture, genetics, biometrics, pathology, and entomology

This was the forerunner to the Short-Rotation Woody Crops instituted by DOE which faded due to a lack of an outlet - except for segments of the pulp and paper industry

1.

2.

3.


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As a result, only a limited number of organizations such as Westvaco, IP, Champion, Boise-Cascade, James River, and Union Camp continued research and development of this system.

4.

5. In the mid-1990s, a renewed interest was undertaken by the pulp and paper industry in short-rotation plantations as there appeared to be a shortfall of hardwoods.

a. Uplands and Fertigated Sites were evaluated

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Because of costs and the changing face of the industry the majority of these programs went by the wayside

6.

7. Recently increased oil prices, climate change data leading to GHG reduction – Focus on renewable energy

In the South - Biomass is the Key and definitely Woody Biomass will play a major role



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Currently -

Resurgence of SRWC research with a variety of species USDA/DOE grants focus on supply to emerging bioenergy/biofuels industry (KiOR, ZeaChem, and Gevo)

Build on traditional tree improvement with newly developing genomic tools (increasing selection efficiency)

Genetic modification to develop genotypes designed to meet the needs of increased growth and reduced costs


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Advantages:

1. Growth rates2. Ease of cloning3. Short rotations4. Coppice ability5. Variation in DR6. Planting stock7. Improved genetics

Disadvantages:

1. High fertility sites needed2. Lack of herbicides3. High cost of establishment 4. Disease susceptibility5. Poor drought tolerance6. Lack of adaptability7. Planting stock – aspen8. Lack of a long-term BP

Hardwoods - Short-Rotation Woody Crops


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Current US Locations and Species

Northeast: Growing primarily willows (shrub willow), this is being used for generation of power however biofuels tests are underway. Production rates – 12 gt/ac/yr

Mid-West: Growing primarily hybrid poplars with many of these being DxN hybrids, primarily being grown for pulp and paper production

Pacific Northwest: Growing primarily hybrid poplars with many of these being DxT and DxM hybrids, originally for pulp and paper production, then sawtimber, and now biofuels

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Hardwood Species for the South

I. Eastern Cottonwood

a. Improved clones that possess rapid growth, disease resistance, good rooting ability, & excellent storage ability

b. Availability of a fairly large population for breedingc. Strong coppice production

Positives:

a. Lack wide adaptability to exhibit rapid growth across a variety of sites

b. Establishment costc. Production rates at very high stocking levels

Negatives:

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Hardwood Species for the SouthII. Sycamore

a. Improved seed from a variety of seed orchards that exhibit rapid growth and high survival rates

b. Higher wood density and lower moisture contentc. Availability of a fairly large population for breedingd. Strong coppice production

Positives:

a. Susceptible to diseases that greatly increases mortality (but can be solved through genetics)

b. Establishment costc. Production rates at very high stocking levels

Negatives:

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Hardwood Species for the SouthIII. Sweetgum

a. Improved seed from a variety of seed orchardsb. Oust can be used during establishment to control

herbaceous competition – lowers establishment costsc. Clones have been developedd. Adaptable to a number of sites

Positives:

a. Growth rates considerably slower than cottonwood and sycamore

b. Lower yields in tons/ac

Negatives:

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Hardwood Species for the SouthIV. Willows

a. Excellent rooting aspects – resulting in high survival ratesb. Performs well on poorly drained soils – marginal ag sitesc. Strong coppice productiond. Planting stock is clonal from unrooted cuttings

Positives:

a. Very little to no genetic information – no improved clones available

b. No information on yields in the Southc. Establishment costs probably similar to cottonwood

Negatives:

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Hardwood Species for the SouthV. Hybrid Aspen

a. Performs well on upland sitesb. Very little disease or insect problemsc. Root sprouts effectively

Positives:

a. Not well tested throughout the Southb. Very little genetic informationc. Must be established using seedlings

Negatives:

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Hardwood Species for the SouthVI. Eucalyptus

a. Rapid growth rates and good wood densityb. Performs well on upland soilsc. Coppices well and clones are easily developedd. Strong coppice production

Positives:

a. Susceptible to cold throughout the winterb. Establishment costc. Public relations

Negatives:

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Hardwood Species for the SouthVII. Oak Spp.

a. More desirable sawtimber speciesb. Valuable wildlife speciesc. Herbaceous competition can be controlled by herbicides

Positives:

a. Slow to developb. Oak on oak competition may not be suited to the

production of quality sawtimberc. Very little improved genetics

Negatives:

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Information on inheritance of specific traits such as stem form, disease resistance, growth, wood density and genetic gain per unit of time - allowing clones to be moved as soon as possible from testing to operational plantations


Example - Cottonwood

Dicamba 2,4-D + Roundup

Genetics along with Silviculture and Physiology must be combined to realize maximum gains

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Breeding:1.Done in a greenhouse

2.Four months to maturation

3.Approx. 30 seed/capsule


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Progeny tests

Clones

Clonal ScreeningTrials

Three-Stage Testing

Progeny tests and clonal screening trials are established on a single site that have specific requirements

Biotechnology

Operational release

CP Seed

Breeding Population

Standard CloneTests


(S) (S)

(S)

(S)

(S)

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Gains through Time

12-yr Rotation8 gt/ac/yr



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Can we continue to increase growth rates and yields?

Newly developed clones have been found but must be incorporated into the overall program

Question:

Answer:

10” DBH Clone at Age 5


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Breeding:

Also plays an important role in developing hybrids that result in increased adaptability, growth, and disease resistance

For Biomass production both upland and bottomland sites will have to be productive and breeding of hybrids may be the most viable alternative

1. Hybrid poplars have been shown to do well on non-alluvial and more upland sites in other geographic areas outside of the South and they have been the first option for upland sites in the South

2. Unfortunately, disease has been the greatest stumbling block to the use of hybrid poplars in the South


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DM

12 ft

9/1/2010

9 ft

D

3737Hybrid Aspen on an Upland Site in Western Kentucky

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Genomics and Biotechnology:

This is the future, but it must be combined with traditional breeding systems and newly developing silvicultural tools to fully succeed

Genomics is another tool that will enhance our ability to become much more efficient at breeding and selecting the correct genotypes as it ties directly to the genome

1. In 2006, the Populus genome was sequenced

2. Using genomic techniques will make it possible to select and breed for specific genes or gene combinations


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Genomics and Biotechnology:

1. Genetic modification has been achieved in many plants as well as forest species including – Populus and Eucalyptus

Genetic Modification

2. Traits such as herbicide resistance and cold tolerance have been shown to be effective but deregulation and a clear understanding of the risks have been the primary stumbling blocks

Risk would be the movement of the engineered gene to a natural population and reducing the fitness of the natural population


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1. Simple introduction such as “HR” provides insight into substantial savings – especially for hardwoods

a. This single characteristic could play a significant role in determining economic feasibility of dedicated short rotation crops


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Genetic ModificationHerbicide Resistance (HR) in eastern cottonwood

Capable of significantly reducing cost of plantation establishment

Would greatly aid in the development of dedicated bioenergy plantations as these would be more than likely on very close spacing

Risks would be greatly reduced as these bioenergy plantations would be harvested at a very early age (i.e. 2 to 5 yrs)


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Exotic Species ArborGen has been evaluating the introduction of a

cold-hardy gene in a tropical Eucalyptus hybrid

These tests have been scattered around the Southeast and have held promise

Like any other genetic entity tests must be completed to determine what line would be the best suited genotype

This material is aimed at the bioenergy market


ArborGen ConfidentialArborGen Confidential

Freeze Tolerance Achieved in Multiple Field Freeze Tolerance Achieved in Multiple Field TrialsTrials

Results from first winter Results from first winter in South Carolinain South Carolina

Results from second Results from second winter in Alabamawinter in Alabama

Field results indicate freezing tolerance to ~16°F (- 8° to - 9°C)

ControlLead Lines + Control

Lead Line

Needs extensive testing for a number of reasons


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Aspen Eucalyptus

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Summary:

Intensive hardwood plantation culture should be incorporated wherever economics are positive

Production of woody biomass in the South is key to the production of renewable energy and biofuels

Genomic tools and genetic modification could result in unprecedented gains and significantly reduced costs


intensive hardwood management

Technology

hardwood plantations

typical plantation scenario

shortrotation plantations

fast growth species

species northeast

rapid growth

woody material

woody biomass