Western Larch Western Larch The Secrets of Success The Secrets of Success Inland Empire Paper Company Dennis Parent Forest Operations Manager
Jan 15, 2016
Western LarchWestern LarchThe Secrets of SuccessThe Secrets of Success
Inland Empire Paper CompanyDennis ParentForest Operations Manager
SummarySummary
1.1. Review silvics of larchReview silvics of larch
2.2. Review larch silvicultural treatmentsReview larch silvicultural treatments
3.3. My “Secrets” of growing larchMy “Secrets” of growing larch
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch
Western Larch: a “deciduous conifer in an evergreen world”
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Silvics of North America
Available on the Internet: “Silvics of North American Trees”
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch
10 species total Three species in U.S.
Western larch (Larix occidentalis)
Subalpine larch (Larix lyallii)
Eastern larch (Larix laricina)
The tallest and the largest of the world’s larches A seral species
Comparative Shade Tolerance Comparative Shade Tolerance of Northwestern Conifersof Northwestern Conifers
SpeciesSpecies Shade ToleranceShade Tolerance
Ponderosa Pine 10
Western Larch 9
Lodgepole Pine 8
Douglas-fir 7
Western White Pine 6
Engelmann Spruce 5
Grand Fir 4
Subalpine Fir 3
Western Redcedar 2
Western Hemlock 1
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Growth
Fastest growing species in Inland Northwest
Diameter growth very sensitive to stand density
Develops into even-aged stands
Height growth both predetermined and free
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Fire resistant
Wind firm
Tolerates root rot
Tolerates soils with poor nutrition
Wood is hard, strong, and dense..
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch
Insects, Diseases, Etc.Insects, Diseases, Etc.
NameName SpeciesSpecies ImportanceImportance
Dwarf Mistletoe Arceuthobium laricis 1
Larch Casebearer Coleophora laricella 2
Needle Cast Hypodermella laricis 3
Bears Ursus americanus 4
Spruce Budworm Choristoneura occidentalis 5
Root & butt rot Phaeolus schweinitzii 6
Laminated Root Rot Phellinus weirii 7
Flatheaded fir borer Melanophila drummondi 8
Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases
MistletoeMistletoe
Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases
Larch casebearerLarch casebearer
Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases
Needle castNeedle cast
Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases
BearsBears
Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases
Spruce budwormSpruce budworm
Heart rotHeart rot
Beetles, a recent phenomenonBeetles, a recent phenomenon
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Cones & seedCones & seed
Flowers very early
One of the best seed producers in northwest Montana
One of the worst seed producers in northern Idaho
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch
Genetics
Seed transfer is relatively broad
Adaptability intermediate between white pine and ponderosa pine
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch
Larch nutrition
Little information
High nitrogen use efficiency
Effectively translocates nitrogen
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Water use
Less efficient than other conifers
Avoids winter desiccation
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Carbon fixation
Efficient crown architecture
Small, short branches
Photosynthetic rate similar on a leaf area basis
Photosynthetic rate greater on leaf weight basis
Result: Larch fixes the same amount of carbon as other conifers
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Watershed values
Little snow interception
Higher water yield
Higher melt rates from ROS
Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch
Aesthetics Color diversity Beautiful landscapes
Special Problems of Special Problems of Western LarchWestern Larch
1. Needs adequate site preparation
2. Losses crown quickly if overtopped
3. Susceptible to herbicides
4. Poor seed yields
5. Foresters and loggers!
Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch
1. Fire resistant
2. Favored by wildfire
Fire Resistance of Inland SpeciesFire Resistance of Inland Species
SpeciesSpecies RankRank
Western Larch 1
Ponderosa Pine 2
Douglas-fir 3
Western White Pine 4
Lodgepole Pine 5
Grand Fir 6
Western Redcedar 7
Western Hemlock 8
Engelmann Spruce 9
Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch
1. Fire resistant
2. Favored by wildfire
3. Resistant to root rot
Relative Susceptibility of Inland Northwest Relative Susceptibility of Inland Northwest Conifers to Root DiseaseConifers to Root Disease
SpeciesArmillaria
SusceptibilityLaminated
Susceptibility
Western Larch 3 2
Ponderosa Pine 2 4
Lodgepole Pine 2 3
Western White Pine 2 3
Subalpine Fir 2 2
Western Hemlock 2 2
Engelmann Spruce 2 2
Western Redcedar 2 4
Douglas-fir 1 1
Grand Fir 1 1
Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch
1. Fire resistant
2. Favored by wildfire
3. Resistant to root rot
4. Genetic adaptability
Potential for Genetic Improvement Potential for Genetic Improvement of Inland Speciesof Inland Species
Species Rank
Western White Pine 1
Western Larch 2
Ponderosa Pine 3
Lodgepole Pine 4
Douglas-fir 5
Genetic Characteristics of Western Larch
1. Highest potential gain in volume through genetic improvement: 20-40 percent
2. Higher value species
3. Fastest growth
4. Poor natural seed yields
5. Easy to graft
6. Seed transfer is relatively broad
7. Responds to intensive management
Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch
1. Fire resistant
2. Favored by wildfire
3. Resistant to root rot
4. Genetic adaptability
5. Strong wood
Specific Gravity of Inland Northwest WoodsSpecific Gravity of Inland Northwest Woods
Species Specific Gravity
Western Larch 0.48
Douglas-fir 0.46
Western Hemlock 0.42
Ponderosa Pine 0.38
Lodgepole Pine 0.38
Western White Pine 0.36
Grand Fir 0.35
Engelmann Spruce 0.33
Subalpine Fir 0.31
Western Redcedar 0.30
Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch
1. Fire resistant
2. Favored by wildfire
3. Resistant to root rot
4. Genetic adaptability
5. Strong wood
6. Fast juvenile growth
7. Wind firm
8. Resists snow and ice loading
9. Good long-lived snag species
10. Arabinogalactan
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Natural Regeneration1. Good site preparation
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Natural Regeneration
2. Predict cone crop
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Natural Regeneration3. Enhance seed production by girdling
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Artificial Regeneration1. Good site preparation = good survival
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration
2. Plant seedlings as large as you can afford.
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration
3. Spring vs. fall plant
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Vegetation control Do it before planting!
For this Instead of this
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Vegetation control
Oust herbicide may work
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Density control
Principles of thinning1. Concentrate growth on fewer stems
2. Decrease total stand growth
3. Increase merchantable stand yield
4. Total stand cubic foot yields are not increased.
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Precommercial thinning
Watch out for:
1. High costs = poor investment
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Density control
Thinning Costs Compounded
$-
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
0 10 20 30 40
Year
Co
st/A
cre
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Density control Precommercial thin but watch for:
1. High costs = poor investment
2. Trees getting too big
3. Thinning too late => crown loss
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Density control PCT conclusions
1. Thin early
2. Thin from below
3. Select spacing carefully
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Density control Commercial thinning – some problems
1. Opens up stand to brush competition
2. Stand growth loss
3. Larger trees are not worth more money today.
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Density control Other objectives for commercial thinning
1. Growing large diameter trees
2. Structural and vegetation diversity
3. Aesthetics
4. Earlier income generation
5. Perpetuate culmination of MAI
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Density control Affect of thinning on wood strength
Not ring width, but summerwood/springwood ratio
Thinning can increase summerwood/springwood ratio
Thinning does not decrease wood strength
Young, managed larch has similar wood density levels as those found in natural stands.
This is not true for other western conifers!
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Pruning Not necessary and probably a waste of money
1. Natural self-pruning
2. Epicormic branching
3. Dimension lumber; 1-2” knots acceptable
Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments
Nutrition & fertilization Little information available
Castille, 1983: Two-year growth Filip and Oester, 2002: Ten-year growth Graham, 1986: Effect on cone and seed
production IFTNC: Field trials on Boise Cascade lands No firm conclusions for larch
Harvest SystemsHarvest Systems
Selection – NO! Shelterwood – less than 40 sq. ft. BA/acre Seed Tree - OK Clearcut - OK
Harvest SystemsHarvest Systems
Clearcut Minimum opening
size: 15-20 acres Cut hard to
regenerate western larch
LarchLarch – – The “Secrets” of Success The “Secrets” of Success
LLook for seedook for seed
AAdequate site preparation dequate site preparation
RRealize importance of plantingealize importance of planting
CControl densityontrol density
HHeavy harvest for regenerationeavy harvest for regeneration
Larch is ToughLarch is Tough
1 Year Old 2 Years Old
Larch Grows RapidlyLarch Grows Rapidly
3 Years Old
Western Larch
4 Years Old
Larch is “Queen”Larch is “Queen”
6 Years Old 6 Years Old
Western Larch
Opportunities for LarchOpportunities for Larch
4 Year Old Plantation 13 Year Old Plantation
Thank YouThank You
Acknowledgements:
Carl Fiedler – Univ. of Montana
Joel Fields – Wilbur-Ellis
Kennon McClintock – Forest Capital
Terri Jain -- RMRS
Russ Graham – RMRS
Russ Hudson – retired forester
Terry Shaw – IFTNC