Natural regeneration of white and red fir. . . influence of several factors
| Authors: | Donald T. Gordon |
| Year: | 1970 |
| Type: | Research Paper |
| Station: | Pacific Southwest Research Station |
| Source: | Res. Pap. PSW-RP-58. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest & Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 32 p |
Abstract
In a group of studies at Swain Mountain Experimental Forest in northeastern California, seedling survival and mortality were analyzed within the general framework of seed production and dispersal, germination, seedbed condition, soil surface temperature, insolation, soil moisture, and vegetative competition. Factors found to favor seedling establishment were abundance of sound seed, mineral soil seedbed, and probably some shade in the first year. Chief obstacles to seedling survival and growth included strong insolation, deep litter, insects, competing low vegetation, and time between good seed years. The most practical approach to securing natural regeneration appears to be keeping abundant seed trees close to a prepared mineral soil seedbed.