Effectiveness of repeated manual cutting for release of Engelmann spruce from mixed-shrub communities in the Revelstoke District

Project number: EP 1135.01

District: Selkirk Forest District

Objectives

• To compare the effectiveness of single and repeated manual cutting treatments and a single herbicide (VISION) application for controlling mixed-shrub-herb communities
• To assess the effectiveness of these treatments for releasing established Engelmann spruce seedlings in the Interior Cedar Hemlock zone
• To explore the effects of the different competition regimes created by each of these treatments on the performance of Engelmann spruce seedlings

Treatments

Eight treatments are being compared:

• Manual cutting in spring 1992
• Manual cutting in mid-summer 1992
• Manual cutting in spring repeated annually for three years
• Manual cutting in mid-summer repeated annually for three years
• Manual cutting twice annually for three years starting in 1992
• Manual cutting twice annually for two years starting in 1993
• Foliar application of VISION
• Untreated control

Layout

• Each treatment is replicated three times
• Treatment plots are 30 m by 30 m, containing a 20 m by 20 m assessment plot
• Within each assessment plot, 20 seedlings are tagged for assessment. An additional 60 seedlings are tagged to assess different radii of treatment
• Radii are 0 (control), 0.7 m and 1.26 m
• These seedlings are in an additional 50 m by 50 m plot

History

• 1992 establishment and first manual treatments and first assessment
• 1993 manual treatments and assessments
• 1994 manual treatments and assessments
• 1995 4th year assessment of trees and vegetation
• 1996 5th year assessment of trees and vegetation
• 1998 7th year assessment of trees and vegetation
• 1999 analyse 7th year results, report on 5th year results
• 2001 10th year assessment of trees and vegetation

Publications

Comeau. P.G., B.S. Biring and G.J. Harper. 2000. Effectiveness of repeated manual cutting and glyphosate for release of Engelmann spruce from mixed-shrub herb vegetation. W.J. App. For. Vol 15(3).

Comeau, P. and B. Biring. 2000. Effectiveness of repeated manual cutting of mixed shrub vegetation in an Interior Cedar-Hemlock zone spruce plantation: fifth-year results. In Proceedings, From science to management and back: a science forum for southern interior ecosystems of British Columbia. C. Hollstedt, K. Sutherland, and T. Innes (editors). Southern Interior Forest Extension and Research Partnership, Kamloops, B.C. pp 19-22.

Comeau, P.G., G.J.Harper, and B.S.Biring. 1996. Effectiveness of repeated cutting and vision treatments for controlling mixed shrub vegetation-crop response. Research Report, Expert Committee on Weeds, Western Canada Section Meeting, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 1995, Montreal, Que. p. 489.

Effectiveness of repeated cutting and vision treatments for controlling mixed shrub vegetation. 1996. Research Report, Expert Committee on Weeds, Western Canada Section Meeting, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 1995, Montreal, Que. p. 490.

Testing forest vegetation management options. 1996. In Integrated Forest Vegetation Management: Options and Applications. Proc. 5th B.C. Forest Vegetation Management Workshop, Nov. 29-30, 1993, Richmond, B.C. P.G. Comeau, G.J. Harper, M. Blanche, J.O. Boateng, and L. Gilkeson (editors). FRDA Rep. 251.

Comeau, P.G., G.J.Harper, and C.F.Thompson. 1994. Effectiveness of repeated cutting and vision treatments for controlled mixed shrub vegetation-crop response. Research Report, Expert Committee on Weeds, Western Canada Section Meeting, Dec. 5-8, 1994, Saskatoon, Sask. 2:1010.

Effectiveness of repeated cutting and vision treatments for controlled mixed shrub vegetation. 1994. Research Report, Expert Committee on Weeds, Western Canada Section Meeting, Dec. 5-8, 1994, Saskatoon, Sask. 2:1010.

Comeau, P.G., C.F.Thompson, G.J.Harper, and B.S.Biring. 1994. Effectiveness of repeated manual cutting for release of Engelmann spruce from mixed-shrub communities in the Revelstoke District. Establishment and progress report. B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.

Comeau, P. and C.F.Thompson 1991. Effectiveness of repeated manual cutting for release of Engelmann spruce from mixed-shrub communities in the Revelstoke District. Working Plan EP 1135.01. B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C.

Comments

Results from assessments in the fifth year (to be published) show that repeated cutting treatments can be as effective as a single application of glyphosate. However, costs of three manual treatments are approximately three times those of a ground application of herbicide.