Barnes Creek lodgepole pine espacement trial (EP 770.55)

On this page:

• Introduction
• Objectives
• Treatments
• Status
• Publications

Introduction

Lodgepole pine frequently regenerates to high densities following wildfire. These high density pine stands have resulted in characteristically slower than expected stand development where diameter, height and self-thinning trajectories have often been considered “stagnant” or “repressed” failing to meet timber management objectives. In 1984 the Barnes Creek pine espacement trial was established to emulate high density, fire-origin lodgepole pine stands to address questions of pine repression. Repeated measurements at the Barnes Creek site have resulted in a multiyear dataset spanning 34 years of growth. This dataset has been a valuable asset in the ongoing assessment and modelling of pine repression in B.C.

Objectives

A key objective of the Barnes Creek trial was originally stated as “describe temporal changes in growth and form parameters… that bracket the growth stagnation point” (Carlson and Johnstone 1985). 

Treatments

This trial was established in 1984 on the Barnes Creek Reserve near Vernon, B.C. The trial consists of four, systematically laid-out blocks each containing one 100-tree, square plot of the seven stand densities tested in this trial: 2,500, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 40,000, 80,000, and 160,000. Plot sizes varied with density from 0.0005 to 0.0324ha and there were no treatment buffers. In the spring of 1984, a 10x10 grid was established on each plot, and a 1+0 PSB 313 seedling was planted at each grid intersection.  

Status 

Active

Publications

• Harper, G.J., K. Astridge, and L. de Montigny. 2018. Effects of high plantation densities on the growth and yield of lodgepole pine – 34-year results at Barnes Creek (EP 770.55). Prov. B.C., Victoria, B.C. Tech. Rep. 115.