BOGFOR RESEARCH PROGRAMME Florence Renou, Project Manager and E.P. Farrell, Project Leader Forest...
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Transcript of BOGFOR RESEARCH PROGRAMME Florence Renou, Project Manager and E.P. Farrell, Project Leader Forest...
BOGFOR RESEARCH PROGRAMMEFlorence Renou, Project Manager and E.P. Farrell, Project Leader
Forest Ecosystem Research Group, University College Dublin
CUTAWAY
PEATLAND FORESTS
PROPERTIES OF PEAT
FOREST MANAGEMENT
SPECIES & SILVICULTURE
AMELIORATION OF PEAT AS PLANTING MEDIUM
Heterogeneity across short distances causing variations in stands and growth
Varying peat type, origin and depth
Relation of moisture status, aeration, water table and bulk density to root and tree growth
Nutrient status of peat and microbiological activity
Adapted planting season - cold storage
Planting stocks - bareroot or containers
Weeding - mechanised flail and rotowiper
Management of naturally regenerating birch
Crop tending - foliar monitoring
Alteration of moisture status and physical properties by drainage system and cultivation: deep ploughing, ripping, discing and mounding
Alteration of nutrient status by split fertilisation, adequate rates and methods, compatible with environmental constraints
Effect of pioneer species and early vegetation cover: lower water table, alter runoff, improve nutrient interaction and microbial activity
Species and provenance suitability: 11 conifers and 9 broadleaves on 200ha of experimental trials; clones and provenance also tested
Good growth with Norway spruce and Corsican pine
Alder and birch for shelter, site improvement and biodiversity. Also as nurse crop for Sitka spruce (sensitive to late spring frost)
Oak and larch on drier and sheltered sites
Health and disease: Pine Shoot Moth on Lodgepole pine and Scots pine
Acknowledgement:
BACKGROUND
Peat harvesting has been carried industrially since the 1950s and gave birth to the ‘cutaway bogs’. Industrial cutaway peatlands cover over 100,000ha and Bord na Móna plans to rehabilitate 50,000ha for forestry. The reclamation of this
land for forestry is a unique project in terms of both its scale and the difficulties it presents. In the past, there have been conflicting results often due to the unknown climatic and edaphic conditions present and different site types being
considered. BOGFOR was initiated in 1998 to investigate the wood production potential of industrially milled cutaway peatlands and aims to develop management tools and practices necessary to successfully establish new forests.
FUTURE RESEARCH
This poster summarises how the many aspects of cutaway peatland forestry are inter-related and require a multi-pronged research approach in order to develop sound silvicultural practices for this type of land. While the project
has yielded useful results to date, long-term monitoring and additional studies will be required to maximise the benefit from this research. It is only sensible to put sufficient effort into basic as well as applied research to maintain
the ability to produce answers for future political and economical circumstances which cannot be predicted.
Sitka spruce under feral birch
Pedunculate oak after 5 growing seasons under feral birch
Naturally regenerated birch
Pine shoot moth in Scots pine
Norway spruce seedling stocks
Drains showing mineral soil underlying shallow peat
Flail mower and quad used for weeding new plantations
Deep ploughing and levelling