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Forestry Advance Access originally published online on September 7, 2007
Forestry 2007 80(4):481-488; doi:10.1093/forestry/cpm035
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© Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2007. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

The effect of roots and litter of Calamagrostis canadensis on root sucker regeneration of Populus tremuloides

Simon M. Landhäusser*, Tara L. Mulak and Victor J. Lieffers

Department of Renewable Resources, Centre for Enhanced Forest Management, 4-42 Earth Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H1

* Corresponding author. E-mail: simon.landhausser{at}ualberta.ca


  Abstract

Marsh reed grass (Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv.) is a common, highly competitive grass native to the boreal mixedwood forest. This grass increases in abundance after clear-cut logging but little is known about its effects on trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) sucker regeneration. The effects of Calamagrostis sod and its litter on aspen regeneration were studied in two separate greenhouse studies. Calamagrostis sod did not affect the initiation of suckers, but resulted in 30 per cent fewer suckers emerging above the soil that were smaller and had 40 per cent less leaf area. Calamagrostis litter had little effect on the initiation and number of emerged suckers; however, it delayed emergence by 10 days. The physical barrier by roots and litter of Calamagrostis reduced or delayed the expansion of suckers and therefore prolonged their dependence on root reserves. By the time the suckers reached the surface, they had to compete for light with Calamagrostis shoots that had emerged a week earlier. This, coupled with low soil temperatures associated with Calamagrostis in other experiments, will significantly reduce the number and growth of suckers. Any reduction and delay in sucker emergence will decrease aspen regeneration and productivity since the growing season in the boreal forest region is short.

Received 7 February 2007.
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