Regeneration of Logging Trails in Irregular Black Spruce Stands of Northern Quebec
Gauthier, M.M. 2005. M.Sc. Thesis. Departement des sciences du bois et de la foret, Universite Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC
Abstract
Regeneration in logging trails following irregular shelterwood cutting was assessed in
Quebec's boreal forest. In each of five sites, a regeneration inventory was carried out and
study plots were installed for this evaluation. Two years after harvest, average regeneration
density and stocking in logging trails were 10 780 stems·ha-1 and 77%, respectively.
Regeneration density was negatively affected by increasing slash cover across all study
sites. Seedling establishment was influenced by direct seeding, position within the logging
trail, and substrate type. Environmental conditions were adequate: light availability was
sufficient and severe soil compaction was limited. Direct seeding was not very effective on
these sites, but the planted black spruce stock responded well. Results suggest that
regeneration in logging trails was abundant and well distributed in the first two years after
harvest.
