Abstract
Competition between planted seedlings and vegetation is a critical constraint affecting the survival and growth of seedlings at the initial stages of forestation. Quantitatively assessing the impact of competitive vegetation on the growth of planted seedling is vital for reduction of weeding cost. This study compared the survival and growth of potentially fast-growing hybrid larch F1 seedling (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) with Japanese larch (L. kaempferi) at three competitive levels, which were 0–50%, 50–75% and 75–100% of the seedling surface covered by vegetation after planting. When more than three-quarters of the seedling surface was covered by vegetation, the survival rate of Japanese larch dropped substantially. In contrast, hybrid larch F1 sustained a high survival of 95% despite the high covering. Annual height growth significantly decreased with increasing coverage for both species. In addition, the height growth of hybrid larch F1 was significantly higher than that of Japanese larch, whereas the difference became insignificant when more than three-quarters of the surface was covered. If the requirement for weeding is whether three-quarters of the seedling surface is covered or not with vegetation, it was determined that hybrid larch F1 did not require weeding if the seedling height attained about 170 cm in the previous fall; whereas Japanese larch needed about 200 cm. The findings imply that weeding is needed to unlock the hybrid larch F1’s high growth potential, and that weeding can be accomplished more than a year earlier than with Japanese larch.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Agathokleous E, Vanderstock A, Kita K, Koike T (2017) Stem and crown growth of Japanese larch and its hybrid F1 grown in two soils and exposed to two free-air O3 regimes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:6634–6647. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8401-2
Amare T (2016) Review on impact of climate change on weed and their management. Am J Biol Environ Stat 2:21–27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbes.20160203.12
Balandier P, Collet C, Miller JH, Reynolds PE, Zedaker SM (2006) Designing forest vegetation management strategies based on the mechanisms and dynamics of crop tree competition by neighbouring vegetation. Forestry 79:3–27. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpi056
Bates D, Maechler M, Bolker B, Walker S (2015) Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. J Stat Softw 76:1–48. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01
Biring BS, Comeau PG, Fielder P (2003) Long-term effects of vegetation control treatments for release of Engelmann spruce from a mixed-shrub community in Southern British Columbia. Ann For Sci 60:681–690. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2003062
Carter KK, Selin LO (1987) Larch plantation management in the northeast. North J Appl For 4:18–20. https://doi.org/10.1093/njaf/4.1.18
Christensen RHB (2019) ordinal—Regression models for ordinal data
Cuesta B, Villar-Salvador P, Puértolas J, Jacobs DF, Rey Benayas JM (2010) Why do large, nitrogen rich seedlings better resist stressful transplanting conditions? A physiological analysis in two functionally contrasting Mediterranean forest species. For Ecol Manag 260:71–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.04.002
Dinger EJ, Rose R (2009) Integration of soil moisture, xylem water potential, and fall–spring herbicide treatments to achieve the maximum growth response in newly planted Douglas-fir seedlings. Can J For Res 39:1401–1414. https://doi.org/10.1139/x09-050
Dubeau D, LeBel LG, Imbeau D, Auger I (2012) Impacts of vegetation abundance and terrain obstacles on brushcutter performance during regeneration release. North J Appl For 29:173–181. https://doi.org/10.5849/njaf.11-025
Dumas N, Dassot M, Pitaud J, Piat J, Arnaudet L, Richter C, Collet C (2021) Four-year-performance of oak and pine seedlings following mechanical site preparation with lightweight excavators. Silva Fenn 55:10409. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10409
Elliott KJ, White AS (1987) Competitive effects of various grasses and forbs on Ponderosa pine-seedlings. For Sci 33:356–366
Ferm A, Hytonen J, Lilja S, Jylha P (1994) Effects of weed-control on the early growth of Betula-pendula seedlings established on an agricultural field. Scand J For Res 9:347–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/02827589409382851
Fox J, Weisberg S (2019) An R companion to applied regression, 3rd edn. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks
Fujimoto T, Akutsu H, Nei M, Kita K, Kuromaru M, Oda K (2006) Genetic variation in wood stiffness and strength properties of hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi). J For Res 11:343–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-006-0221-z
Fukumoto K, Ota T, Mizoue N, Yoshida S, Teraoka Y, Kajisa T (2020) The effect of weeding frequency and schedule on weeding operation time: a simulation study on a sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation in Japan. J For Res 31:2129–2135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-01017-5
Gonzalez-Benecke CA, Dinger EJ (2018) Use of water stress integral to evaluate relationships between soil moisture, plant water stress and stand productivity in young Douglas-fir trees. New For 49:775–789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-018-9657-1
Groninger JW, Baer SG, Babassana D-A, Allen DH (2004) Planted green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) and herbaceous vegetation responses to initial competition control during the first 3 years of afforestation. For Ecol Manag 189:161–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2003.07.039
Grossnickle SC (2012) Why seedlings survive: influence of plant attributes. New For 43:711–738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-012-9336-6
Grossnickle SC, El-Kassaby YA (2016) Bareroot versus container stocktypes: a performance comparison. New For 47:1–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-015-9476-6
Grossnickle SC, MacDonald JE (2018) Why seedlings grow: influence of plant attributes. New For 49:1–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-017-9606-4
Gutierrez Garzon AR, Bettinger P, Siry J, Abrams J, Cieszewski C, Boston K, Mei B, Zengin H, Yeşil A (2020) A comparative analysis of five forest certification programs. Forests 11:863. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11080863
Han Q, Harayama H, Uemura A, Ito E, Utsugi H, Kitao M, Maruyama Y (2020) High biomass productivity of short-rotation willow plantation in boreal Hokkaido achieved by mulching and cutback. Forests 11:505. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050505
Harayama H, Tobita H, Kitao M, Kon H, Ishizuka W, Kuromaru M, Kita K (2021) Enhanced summer planting survival of Japanese larch container-grown seedlings. Forests 12:1115. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12081115
Harayama H, Tsuyama I, Kuramoto S, Uemura A, Kitao M, Han Q, Yamada T, Sasaki S (2018) Effects of weed competition on the survival and initial growth of planted seedlings of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi). J Jpn For Soc 100:158–164 (in Japanese with English summary). https://doi.org/10.4005/jjfs.100.158
Hothorn T, Bretz F, Westfall P (2008) Simultaneous inference in general parametric models. Biom J 50:346–363. https://doi.org/10.1002/bimj.200810425
Hytönen J, Jylhä P (2005) Effects of competing vegetation and post-planting weed control on the mortality, growth and vole damages to Betula pendula planted on former agricultural land. Silva Fenn 39:365–380. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.374
Hytönen J, Jylhä P (2010) Long-term response of weed control intensity on Scots pine survival, growth and nutrition on former arable land. Eur J For Res 130:91–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0371-6
Iida S (2004) Indirect negative influence of dwarf bamboo on survival of Quercus acorn by hoarding behavior of wood mice. For Ecol Manag 202:257–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.07.022
Isebrands JG, Hunt CM (1975) Growth and wood properties of rapid-grown Japanese larch. Wood Fiber Sci 2:119–128
Jacobs DF, Ross-Davis AL, Davis AS (2004) Establishment success of conservation tree plantations in relation to silvicultural practices in Indiana, USA. New For 28:23–36. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NEFO.0000031329.70631.d0
Jobidon R, Roy V, Cyr G (2003) Net effect of competing vegetation on selected environmental conditions and performance of four spruce seedling stock sizes after eight years in Québec (Canada). Ann For Sci 60:691–699. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2003063
Johnson DM, Smith WK (2005) Refugial forests of the southern Appalachians: photosynthesis and survival in current-year Abies fraseri seedlings. Tree Physiol 25:1379–1387. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/25.11.1379
Kashima J, Uemura T (2010) Analysis of accidents related to brush-cutter use. J Jap For Eng Soc 25:77–84 (in Japanese with English summary). https://doi.org/10.18945/jjfes.KJ00006397015
Kita K, Fujimoto T, Uchiyama K, Kuromaru M, Akutsu H (2009) Estimated amount of carbon accumulation of hybrid larch in three 31-year-old progeny test plantations. J Wood Sci 55:425–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-009-1064-y
Kita K, Kon H, Ishizuka W, Kuromaru M (2017a) The growth until 5 years old of the hybrid larch progeny “Clean Larch” in 4 planting test sites in Hokkaido. Boreal For Res 65:47–50 (in Japanese)
Kita K, Uchiyama K, Ichimura Y, Moriguchi Y, Tsumura Y, Kuromaru M (2017b) Verification of a phenotypic discrimination method for hybrid larch seedlings using DNA markers. J For Res 19:461–468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-014-0438-1
Kitao M, Harayama H, Yazaki K, Tobita H, Agathokleous E, Furuya N, Hashimoto T (2022) Photosynthetic and growth responses in a pioneer tree (Japanese white birch) and competitive perennial weeds (Eupatorium sp.) grown under different regimes with limited water supply to waterlogging. Front Plant Sci 13:835068. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.835068
Koike T (2009) A trial of revegetation practices with larch species under changing environment. Landsc Ecol Eng 5:97–98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-009-0075-6
Koike T, Mao Q, Inada N, Kawaguchi K, Hoshika Y, Kita K, Watanabe M (2012) Growth and photosynthetic responses of cuttings of a hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. Japonica x L. Kaempferi) to elevated ozone and/or carbon dioxide. Asian J Atmospheric Environ 6:104–110. https://doi.org/10.5572/ajae.2012.6.2.104
Kurinobu S (2005) Forest tree breeding for Japanese larch. Eur J For Res 8:127–134
Lamhamedi MS, Bernier PY, Hébert C, Jobidon R (1998) Physiological and growth responses of three sizes of containerized Picea mariana seedlings outplanted with and without vegetation control. For Ecol Manag 110:13–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-1127(98)00267-9
Löf M, Dey DC, Navarro RM, Jacobs DF (2012) Mechanical site preparation for forest restoration. New For 43:825–848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-012-9332-x
Masaki T, Oguro M, Yamashita N, Otani T, Utsugi H (2017) Reforestation following harvesting of conifer plantations in Japan: current issues from silvicultural and ecological perspectives. Reforesta 3:125–141. https://doi.org/10.21750/REFOR.3.11.35
Nagamitsu T, Nagasaka K, Yoshimaru H, Tsumura Y (2013) Provenance tests for survival and growth of 50-year-old Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) trees related to climatic conditions in central Japan. Tree Genet Genomes 10:87–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-013-0666-0
Nakagawa M, Kanno M, Yasaka M (2017) A weeding-duration model for Larix kaempferi plantations in Hokkaido, northern Japan. J For Res 16:319–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-010-0228-3
Nakai Y, Kitamura K, Suzuki S, Abe S (2016) Year-long carbon dioxide exchange above a broadleaf deciduous forest in Sapporo, Northern Japan. Tellus B Chem Phys Meteorol 55:305–312. https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v55i2.16755
Naskrent B, Grzywiński W, Łukowski A, Polowy K (2020) Influence of cutting attachment on noise level emitted by brush cutter during tending of young forests. Croat J For Eng 41:129–135. https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2020.657
Noguchi M, Yoshida T (2005) Factors influencing the distribution of two co-occurring dwarf bamboo species (Sasa kurilensis and S. senanensis) in a conifer-broadleaved mixed stand in northern Hokkaido. Ecol Res 20:25–30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-004-0009-6
Pâques LE, Foffová E, Heinze B, Lelu-Walter M-A, Liesebach M, Philippe G (2013) Larches (Larix sp.). Forest Tree Breeding in Europe, pp 13–122
Pinto J, McNassar B, Kildisheva O, Davis A (2018) Stocktype and vegetative competition influences on Pseudotsuga menziesii and Larix occidentalis seedling establishment. Forests. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9050228
Qu L, Wang Y, Masyagina O, Kitaoka S, Fujita S, Kita K, Prokushkin A, Koike T (2022) Larch: a promising deciduous conifer as an eco-environmental resource. In: Gonçalves AC, Fonseca TF (eds) Conifers - recent advances. IntechOpen, London, pp 1–37
R Core Team (2020) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria
Ramantswana M, Guerra SPS, Ersson BT (2020) Advances in the mechanization of regenerating plantation forests: a review. Curr For Rep 6:143–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-020-00114-7
Ramesh K, Matloob A, Aslam F, Florentine SK, Chauhan BS (2017) Weeds in a changing climate: vulnerabilities, consequences, and implications for future weed management. Front Plant Sci 8:95. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00095
Rey Benayas JM, Navarro J, Espigares T, Nicolau JM, Zavala MA (2005) Effects of artificial shading and weed mowing in reforestation of Mediterranean abandoned cropland with contrasting Quercus species. For Ecol Manag 212:302–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.03.032
Richardson B, Vanner A, Ray J, Davenhill N, Coker G (1996) Mechanisms of Pinus radiata growth suppression by some common forest weed species. N Z J For Sci 26:421–437
Roy V, Dubeau D, Auger I (2010) Biological control of intolerant hardwood competition: silvicultural efficacy of Chondrostereum purpureum and worker productivity in conifer plantations. For Ecol Manag 259:1571–1579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.01.033
Schreiner EJ (1970) Mini-rotation forestry. US Northeastern Forest Experiment Station
Smethurst PJ, Nambiar EKS (1989) Role of weeds in the management of nitrogen in a young Pinus radiata plantation. New For 3:203–224. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00028929
Thiffault N, Roy V (2011) Living without herbicides in Québec (Canada): historical context, current strategy, research and challenges in forest vegetation management. Eur J For Res 130:117–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-010-0373-4
Von der Gonna MS (1992) Fundamentals of mechanical site preparation
Wagner RG, Little KM, Richardson B, McNabb K (2006) The role of vegetation management for enhancing productivity of the world’s forests. Forestry 79:57–79. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpi057
Wagner RG, Radosevich SR (1998) Neighborhood approach for quantifying interspecific competition in coastal Oregon forests. Ecol Appl 8:779–794. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1998)008[0779:Nafqic]2.0.Co;2
Wang X, Agathokleous E, Qu L, Fujita S, Watanabe M, Tamai Y, Mao Q, Koyama A, Koike T (2018) Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on ectomycorrhizae community structure in hybrid larch and its parents grown in volcanic ash soil: the role of phosphorous. Sci Total Environ 618:905–915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.283
Willoughby I, Balandier P, Bentsen NS, McCarthy N, Claridge J (2009) Forest vegetation management in Europe: current practice and future requirements. hal-00468013, HAL
Willoughby I, Clay DV, Dixon FL, Morgan GW (2006) The effect of competition from different weed species on the growth of Betula pendula seedlings. Can J For Res 36:1900–1912. https://doi.org/10.1139/x06-075
Wright EF, Canham CD, Coates KD (2000) Effects of suppression and release on sapling growth for 11 tree species of northern, interior British Columbia. Can J For Res 30:1571–1580. https://doi.org/10.1139/x00-089
Wyatt S, Rousseau M-H, Nadeau S, Thiffault N, Guay L (2011) Social concerns, risk and the acceptability of forest vegetation management alternatives: insights for managers. For Chron 87:274–289. https://doi.org/10.5558/tfc2011-014
Yamagawa H, Shigenaga H, Araki MG, Nomiya H (2016) Effects of initial size and surrounding weed trees on height growth of planted Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) trees in Kyushu. Japan J Jpn For Soc 98:241–246 (in Japanese with English summary). https://doi.org/10.4005/jjfs.98.241
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. S. Sasaki, Dr. K. Ozaki, Mr. T. Yamada, Mr. T. Nagasawa, and Ms. H. Yamamoto in Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute for their help in establishing the study site and conducting the field investigation. We also thank Dr. E. Agathokleous for editing of the manuscript.
Funding
This study was supported by the project “Research on development of silviculture system utilizing high performance seedlings and cuttings” funded by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (18064868).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Conceptualization: HH, IT, AU, SK, and HU; Methodology: HH, IT, and SK; Formal analysis and investigation: HH, IT, AU, MK, QH, and SK; Writing—original draft preparation: HH; Writing—review and editing: HH, MK, and QH; Funding acquisition: HU. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Harayama, H., Tsuyama, I., Uemura, A. et al. Growth and survival of hybrid larch F1 (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) and Japanese larch under various intensities of competition. New Forests 54, 945–961 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-022-09952-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-022-09952-8