Northern forest composition, but not productivity, altered by harvesting methods and prescribed burning

Abstract

Whole-tree harvesting, in which the trunk of the tree and woody residues from the canopy and branches are removed from the site and used to make various products, is a common harvesting practice in the northeastern United States. Concerns have arisen, however, around the long-term impact of removing this material from the forest, especially in clearcuts where all trees are harvested, as doing so could reduce soil nutrient availability and carbon. These concerns are especially relevant for poorly drained, conifer-dominated sites, which tend to be nutrient poor.

One long-term study at the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Maine puts these concerns to the test. This experiment, which started in 1964, compares no harvesting and clearcutting with whole-tree harvesting, stem-only harvesting (in which branches and residues are left on site), and stem-only harvesting with prescribed burning over time in a spruce-fir forest. The 50-year results of this experiment, and data from repeated treatments implemented in 2018, demonstrate that whole-tree harvesting had a smaller impact on forest productivity, both in terms of stand structure and nutrient availability, than expected.

Citation

Kenefic, Laura; Zukswert, Jenna. 2026. Northern forest composition, but not productivity, altered by harvesting methods and prescribed burning. Rooted in Research Issue 60. September 2026. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 2 p.