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SEPTEMBER 1979 VOL. 1
"FIR REPORT" is a quarterly publication containing information of interest to individuals concerned with forest
It is mailed free on
management in southwest Oregon.
Requests should be sent to: FIR REPORT, 1301
request.
Maple Grove Drive, Medford, Oregon 97501.
FIR REPORT communicates recent technological advances
and adaptive research pertinent to southwest Oregon,
and alerts area natural resource specialists of upcoming
Comments and suggestions concerning
educational events.
the content of "FIR REPORT" are welcome and should be
sent to the Maple Grove address.
The Southwest Oregon Forestry Intensified Research Program (FIR) is an Oregon State University School of
Forestry program designed to assist region foresters
and other specialists in solving complex biological
and management problems unique to southwest Oregon.
FIR specialists organize, coordinate, and conduct educational programs and adaptive research projects specifically tailored to meet regional needs.
Established in October, 1978, the FIR project is a
cooperative effort between Oregon State University,
the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service,
0 & C Counties, and southwest Oregon timber industries.
It represents a determined effort by the southwest
Oregon forestry community and county governments to
find practical solutions to important forest management
problems.
N0.3
i
inside .. .
RESPROUTING OF MANUALLY CUT BRUSH...
Manually cut brush and hardwood trees on three different
p. 2
sites in Josephine County are rapidly recovering.
SITE PREPARATION WORKSHOP...
A site preparation workshop designed to meet the needs
of southwest Oregon foresters will be held in Medford.
p.
3
INTENSIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT...
The Butte Falls District of the Rogue River National
p.3
Forest has a unique management system.
LOW VOLUME ROADS...
FIR summarizes a recent international conference on low
volume roads held at Iowa State University. p. 4
CONE COLLECTION...
Some helpful points in determining cone maturity.
p.
5
For the FIR Staff
CLONAL SELECTION...
A new approach to forest regeneration.
p.
6
FOREST SOILS...
Review of a new book regarding the soils of the
p. 7
Douglas -fir region.
Stephen D. Hobbs
Reforestation Specialist
Agriculture, Home Economics, 4 -H Youth, Forestry, Community Development, and Marine Advisory Programs.
Oregon State University, United States Department of Agriculture, and Oregon Counties Cooperating.
O eon
University
MIS
.SERVICE
EXTENSION SERVICE
Corvallis, Oregon 97331
FOR
ceanothus. Snowbrush ceanothus dominated the site at
Clark Creek (T33S- R5W-26) while serviceberry and green
manzanita were the dominant brush species at the Bear
Wallow study site (T39S- RGW-26).
SPECilALOSTS
Steve Hobbs, REFORESTATION
Dave McNabb, WATERSHED
Ken Wearstler, SILVICULTURE
After three growing seasons brush and hardwood
species had recovered to 52 percent of the green crown
closure and 52 percent of the pre- treatment height on
the Butte Creek study area. At the Clark Creek study
site crown closure was 65 percent and height growth 51
percent. Brush and hardwood species had recovered 69
percent of their original crown cover and 41 percent of
the height at Bear Wallow.
During the first autumn
following treatment, species of ceanothus were heavily
browsed by deer, but in the following spring, planted
conifer seedlings were heavily damaged. Released conifer seedlings were heavily damaged.
Released conifer
saplings showed substantial growth increases as a result
of brush removal. On the other hand, suppressed seedlings of grand fir and incense cedar suffered considerable damage as a result of the sudden release. White
manzanita and hairy manzanita did not resprout, but
green and pinemat manzanitas did, although their initial
resprout growth was slow. Golden chinkapin resprouted
vigorously, as did deerbrush ceanothus. The latter was
particularly difficult to control because of the long,
prostrate lower branches with adventitious roots.
FIR
1301 Maple Grove Drive
Medford OR 97501
(503) 776-7371
current
research
Art concludes that based on the information he has
evaluated, the hand clearing of brush and hardwood species with chain saws is not an effective site preparation method because of the rapid recovery rates exhibited by the species examined.
He suggests, however,
that manual brush cutting may be an effective method of
releasing sapling sized conifers.
PRECOMMERCIAL THINNING
The Josephine County Forestry Department (JCFD)
and the Forestry Intensified Research Program are cooperating in a pilot study of precommercial thinning.
During 1974 -76, the JCFD conducted a number of pre
precommercial operations.
One -acre blocks were left untreated in most of the projects. The objective of the
pilot study is to determine if a quantitative evaluation of these precommercial thinning projects is
possible.
S.H.
DISCIÑG FOR SITE PREPARATION AND RECLAMATION
A major problem is the diversity of stand conditions and structure within and between projects
in
terms of age, size, conifer species, brush
species,
broad -leaf tree species, and site characteristics
(soil, slope, aspect, etc.).
Because of this diversity,
traditional fixed -plot sampling and data analysis are
not possible.
An attempt is being made to develop ,a
data sampling and analysis procedure capable of
evaluating treatment response under these diverse
conditions.
Essentially, individual -tree plots will serve as the
basic measurement unit.
Regression analyses will be
used to evaluate growth response as a function
of size
or age.
Progress of the pilot study will be reported
in a future issue of the FIR Report.
Discing was tried on the Prospect Ranger District,
Rogue River National Forest, this spring as a method of
site preparation and ameliorating compacted soil.
George Badura, soil scientist, and Floyd Peterson, district silviculturist, initiated the project to prepare
a progeny test site and destroy elk sedge
on another
planting site.
A tandem Rome disc with 42 -inch diameter coulters
was used during the trial.
Soil was disturbed to a
depth of approximately 14 inches.
The soil was very
loose after disking, and litter and slash were incorporated in the soil; however, after overwintering the soil
will be in very good condition for planting.
K.W.
The disc was moderately successful in breaking up
elk sedge. The wide spacing of the large coulters
turned over larger pieces of sedge which have the
potential to reroot and grow.
However, many acceptable
planting spots were prepared in the sedge.
RESPROUTING OF MANUALLY CUT BRUSH
Art Bernstein, a forester with the Josephine
County Department of Forestry, has been
exploring the
response of various brush and hardwood species
to manual
cutting with a chain saw and subsequent conifer
release.
The initial results of the study were
published in 1978
in the Journal of Forestry
76(8):474-475.
The cost per acre was not determined, although the
trial costs were high.
Actual operating costs could be
lowered with time. Operational efficiency depends on
how well the tractor, disc and operator technique is
suited to the job site.
Operation technique is very
important because few tractor operators have ever used
a disc.
Large discs are not easy to transport and are
most efficiently used on large land units or on
adjacent units where they do not have to be transported
by
truck.
Brush and hardwood tree species were cut on
three
sites representing different brush
communities commonly
found in Josephine County. On the Butte
Creek site
(7345- R7W -10) the dominant brush species
was deerbrush
is
Floyd observed that the disc used was most effective on small shrubs and previously chopped brush.
Serrated
Larger brush would require a larger disc.
coulters would also aid the disc in cutting the brush
rather than rolling over it.
SITE PREPARATION WORKSHOP
Sponsored
Red Lion Motor Inn, Medford.
by the Southwest Oregon Forestry Intensified Research
The workshop will focus on chemical,
(FIR) Program.
November 14 -15.
and prescribed burning methods of site
preparation as well as environment modification and
CONTACT: Steve Hobbs
the economics of site preparation.
or Ken Wearstler, FIR; 1301 Maple Grove Drive; Medford,
mechanical,
The erosion hazard from discing would be least on
gently sloping terrain with soils of silt loam texture
The high infiltration rate and unevenness of
or fiber.
the disced surface ought to reduce the hazards of overland flow, although the incorporation of the litter and
A horizon with underlying horizons may make the surface
susceptible to crusting and decrease its infiltration
Many of our claypan soils may also be subject to
rate.
erosion. The increased permeability of the disced material will allow water to move more rapidly over the
surface of the claypan and concentrate in interfluvial
depressions where the soil may be eroded away.
OR 97501.
Phone:
(503)776 -7371.
LUMBER DRYING
December 3 -7 and 10 -14. Forest Research Laboratory,
The course will provide kiln
Oregon State University.
operators, yard foremen and supervisors with basic information and up -to -date techniques on lumber drying.
Conference Assistant, School of Forestry;
CONTACT:
Phone:
Oregon State University; Corvallis, OR 97331.
(503)754 -3709.
Discs are an effective site preparation tool and
are the most effective tool for ameliorating compacted
soil within 10 to 18 inches of the surface, depending
The Rogue River National
on the size of the coulters.
Forest is evaluating what the most efficient size of
disc is for their needs.
MASS WASTING & SOIL COMPACTION IN MANAGED FOREST LANDS
D.M.
Salishan Lodge, Gleneden Beach. Course
December 11 -13.
emphasize methods of reducing impacts of timber
harvesting and road building on soil compaction and
Conference Assistant,
CONTACT:
slope stability.
School of Forestry; Oregon State University; Corvallis,
(503)754 3709.
Phone:
OR 97331.
will
ontinuing
education
SOIL COMPACTION:
SOUTHWEST OREGON
The FIR staff will conduct a two day program on
REFORESTATION WORKSHOP
compaction and harvesting options in Medford,
March, 1980. This program is not to be confused with
the program Forestry Extension is conducting on the
Their program will cover
coast December 11 -13, 1979.
mass wasting as well as soil compaction.
October 16 -18. Withycomb Auditorium, Oregon State
University.
Primary emphasis will be on writing prescriptions and evaluating approaches for different sites,
with secondary emphasis in the area of planting.
CONTACT: Conference Assistant, School of Forestry;
Phone:
Oregon State University; Corvallis, OR 97331.
The FIR program will be directed toward southwest
The workshop will be aimed at inOregon conditions.
dustrial, state and federal foresters and staff who are
making resource decisions. Half of the program will
emphasize harvesting systems which can be used to minimize soil compaction.
soil
(503)754 -3709.
An advisory team of agency and industrial foresters
will be formed in October to insure that the program is
comprehensive and addresses the critical issues.
NUCLEAR SOIL GAUGE CERTIFICATION
Campbell Pacific Nuclear Corporation,
October 24.
Portland area. Certification of users of nuclear soil
Campbell Pacific Nuclear Corporation.
CONTACT:
gauges.
Phone:
of
(415)687 -6472.
linterest
ASSESSING PULP CHIP QUALITY
Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon
October 25 -26.
Of interest to foresters, loggers and
State University,
anyone involved in chip procurement who is not directly
connected with a pulp mill, the course aims to furnish
the basic principles of pulping and papermaking, and how
Conference
CONTACT:
these relate to chip quality.
Assistant, School of Forestry; Oregon State University;
Corvallis, OR 97331. Phone: (503)754 -3709.
THE BUTTE FALLS DISTRICT
-
MANAGEMENT SUCCESS
The Butte Falls District of the Rogue River
National Forest is recognized as being well -organized,
The District
well- managed, efficient, and successful.
harvests 38 million board feet of timber annually from
a base of approximately 80,000 acres of commercial
3
.
forest land.
The District planted 1,100,000 seedlings
over 2,950 acres in 1978 -79 with approximately 90 percent planting success.
Current plans are to eliminate
the regeneration backlog of 1,700 acres over the
next 3
years.
Key ingredients in the management system are
ORGANIZATION, INVENTORY, and PLANTING.
Key elements
in the execution of the system are
AWARENESS, MONITORING, and ACCOUNTABILITY.
The District is managed by Jack Schlotter.
Jack
operates with a unique ORGANIZATION.
He has developed
a management board comprised of himself and
seven other
individuals.
Each of the seven individuals have equal
authority and responsibility.
Six of the individuals
represent functional groups similar to traditional
Forest Service organizations:
business management;
fire and fuel management; presale; recreation, and
range and wildlife management; reforestation; and
resource administration.
The seventh group, resource
planning, is unique and is the coordination arm of the
management board.
The coordinating function of the resource
planning
group is the key to the success of the District's
organization.
Al Wolfson has overall responsibility for
the group. The group coordinates all of the
budgeting,
target -setting, planning, and contracting of the six
functional groups. The resource planning group reduces
overlap and inefficiencies created by different functional groups operating independently. Two or more
jobs
are often achieved for the price of one.
The Butte Falls District is building a
comprehensive and detailed INVENTORY.
The District is conducting
an intensive on- the-ground survey of its lands, and
is
about 50 percent complete.
The total forest resource
is being surveyed (soils, plants,
animals, etc.).
A
philosophy upon which the District operates is that the
efficiency of managing a resource is directly related
to
knowledge of the resource.
The District has developed a detailed 10
-year plan.
Under the PLANNING process, each resource in
a management unit is evaluated on a number of
different management alternatives.
Opportunities are identified.
Benefits and costs that are derived for
managing each
resource, separately and in combination, are
analyzed
and evaluated.
An advantage of this planning process
is
its flexibility.
Plans are constantly modified as more
information becomes available or circumstances
change
(i.e. delays due to unfavorable
weather). Since a number of options have already been evaluated,
an alternative course of action can be employed with
minimal consequences.
The timber management portion of the
District's 10year plan was reviewed with private
industry. The
District presented specific information on the
material
to be harvested, how it will be harvested,
and why the
timber plan was essential to meet the
objectives of intensive forest management.
Private industry found this
both favorable and desirable.
It provided them with an
opportunity to take part in the planning process.
It
also gives them an opportunity to make
equipment, per sonnel, and facilities plans. A similar
process was
used to discuss grazing plans with local
cattle organizations.
This kind of planning has led to
stability
within the District organization, economic
stability
within the area, and bolstered public
confidence.
The successful execution of the Butte Falls District's management system and plans has been achieved
through an aggressive program of informing people of
management goals and their specific job responsibilities.
AWARENESS is accomplished through a close working relationship between. District staff, contractors, and
operators.
Awareness is developed through training
sessions or personal discussions among everyone involved, including planting crew members and logging
operators.
The District is continually MONITORING its management activities to identify problems as they occur.
Early detection of a problem often leads to a quick remedy rather than prolonging or compounding the situation.
The monitoring of management activities also serves as
one means of achieving awareness.
The overall success of the Butte Falls District is
probably attributed to ACCOUNTABILITY.
District personnel are held accountable for their actions and decisions.
People literally have to "sign -off" on interdisciplinary input, completed jobs, and decisions.
Jack Schlotter feels that name -signing is one form of
accountability that leads to personal motivation and
reward for a quality job.
K. W.
SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LOW VOLUME ROADS
The Second International Confernece on Low Volume
Roads (Iowa State University, August 20 -23) was attended by approximately 400 engineers and associated professionals- representing 28 countries. Fifteen percent
of the participants were from the Forest Service or
Bureau of Land Management.
Five of the 41 papers presented were by Forest Service authors.
Low volume roads are a loosely defined network of
roads which most countries classify as secondary or in
"other" categories.
Approximately 92 percent of the
world's roads are low volume with a large portion having
either a minimum surface treatment or chip seals or
carrying low volumes of traffic. Low volume roads include nearly all the forest roads constructed in the
United States.
A major concern of the participants was the
relationship between the direct costs of maintaining roads
once constructed and the indirect costs of
increased
tire, fuel and vehicle repair costs from operating on
poorly maintained roads. The U.S. has not been too
concerned about these tradeoffs since the costs of
operating on poorly maintained roads are poorly quantified user costs. However, they are of considerable
concern to developing countries. Increased road user
costs represents a drain to their economies since
more
money has to be spent on the importation of fuel,
tires,
parts and technology to operate vehicles.
Developing
countries also need information on road user costs to
justify a strong road maintenance program relative to
the expansion of their road system.
Five papers from a
large scale study conducted in Brazil addressed the
maintenance versus operating costs question, as well
as
several papers from other countries.
The five papers presented which included
Forest
Service authors were:
Implementing a pavement management system in the Forest Service by B. F.
McCullough,
Adrian Pelzner (WO), and F. L. Roberts; Open graded
emulsion mixes for use as road surfaces by R.
G. Nicks
and D. R. Hatch (OSU), John Steward and Ronald
Williamson (R -6); A durable reflective -sign system for
low- volume roads by Tom Nettleton (Missoula Equip. Dev.
Cen.); Low -water crossings by G. T. Coghlam and Neil
Davis (Mark Twain); and Forest Service Experience with
in -place reduction of oversized rocks in unsurfaced
roads by Martin C. Everitt and Ernest L. Hoffman (San
Dimas
Equip.
Dev.
Cen.).
Driving Speed Vs. Design Speed
Another article of particular interest to forest
engineers in the design of major arterial roads is a
paper by John McLean, Australian Road Research Board,
titled "An alternative to the design speed concept for
low speed alignment design."
Australian researchers
have identified a maximum uniform driving speed relative
to design speed to reflect the relationships between
driver speed behavior and alignment design.
Below
speeds of 90 km /hr (56 mph) driver speeds were found to
vary along the route and were consistently in excess of
the design speed.
They then developed an alternative
approach for the alighment design of two -lain rural
roads where topographic or financial difficulties kept
design speeds below 90 km/hr.
Some of the factors they
considered were predicted speed on curve, side friction
factor, horizontal alighment standards, sight distance
considerations and designing for driver expectancies.
Inherent within this concept was that above all else,
the driver expected consistancy in alignment standard
for the type of terrain through which he was travelling.
Thus, a well designed road would not have abrupt changes
in speeds of more than 10 km /hr or more than 15 km /hr
for isolated curves.
Proceedings of the conferences are available as
Transportation Research Record 702 from the Transportation Research Board, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20418 (the cost if $18.00 plus 10 percent for handling and postage).
The
the seed cavity length are considered mature.
specific gravity of cones, seed weight, cone color and
seed color are not related to maturity.
Ponderosa pine seed cones can generally be collected from mid -August to mid- October depending upon local
conditions. Seed is mature when cone specific gravity
Within this range ponderosa
is between 0.84 and 0.86.
pine cones just float in SAE30 motor oil. It is important that specific gravity be estimated within one -half
hour of harvest.
The collection period for grand fir is very short,
occurring primarily in September. Since true fir cones
disintegrate when the seed ripens, it is important to
Cones should
collect the cones just before maturity.
be collected only when their specific gravity is less
(Cone collection times and maturity indices
than 0.90.
are those presented by Denis Lavender in "Regenerating
Exten1978.
Oregon's Forests" by Brian Cleary et al.
sion Service, OSU, 287 p.)
Collected cones are easily kept in burlap bags and
should be stored in dry, cool, shaded places with free
Fags should never be
air circulation around each bag.
stacked directly on top of one another or stored in
closed buildings where there is no free air movement.
Foresters actively engaged in seed collection, processing and storage should consult "Regenerating Oregon's
Forests" chapter 5 and Appendix B. Additional information is also contained in. "Collecting Forest Seed Cones
in the Pacific Northwest" by Bernard Douglass.
1969.
USFS Div. of State and Private Forestry,' Portland, OR.
'
15 p.
S.H.
D.M.
STAND MANAGEMENT PROBLEM ANALYSIS WORKSHOPS
CONE COLLECTION
Today's heavy reliance on artificial regeneration
necessitates the harvest of seed through cone collection.
Seed collection from parent trees is one of the first of
many critical steps in the reforestation process and
should not be taken lightly.
The selection of parent
trees as seed sources should be done carefully to ensure
that the trees have good form and are healthy.
Single,
isolated trees should not be used as they are less likely to have been cross -pollinated and therefore stand a
greater probability of producing fewer seeds per cone
and poorer quality seedlings.
The timing of cone collection has a significant impact on seed performance.
If cones are collected well
before seed maturity, viability will be reduced. On the
other hand, if cones are allowed to over -ripen, much of
the seed crop may be dispersed before the cones can be
picked.
Obviously the ability to identify mature seed
cones is of vital importance.
Douglas -fir cones can be collected from late
August through November depending upon latitude, aspect,
elevation, and seasonal weather patterns. The only
reliable method of determining seed maturity in the
field is to compare embryo length to seed cavity length.
Douglas -fir seeds with embryos at least 90 percent of
will
Three stand management problem analysis workshops
be held this fall.
Medford:
October 26, 1:30 p.m.
Jackson County Extension Office
1301 Maple Grove Drive
Grants Pass:
October 30, 1:30 p.m.
Josephine County Extension Office
215 Ringuette St.
Roseburg:
November 7, 1:30 p.m.
Bureau of Land Management Office
777 NW Garden Valley Blvd.
The specific areas to be addressed in the workshops are:
regeneration systems; stand treatments and prescriptions; and growth and yield information. The objective
of the workshops is to identify and rank research needs,
technical training needs of foresters, and the role of
the Forestry Intensified Research Program in meeting
these needs.
If you would like more information about the
workshops, contact Ken Wearstler.
K. W.
TREE IMPROVEMENT PROBLEM ANALYSIS WORKSHOP
A tree improvement
in Roseburg.
problem analysis workshop will
be held
Roseburg:
November 28, 9:30 a.m.
Bureau of Land Management Office
777 NW Garden Valley Blvd.
The workshop will address the problems of initiating,
implementing, and managing a tree improvement program.
The purpose of the workshop is to identify and rank
research and educational needs, and identify the role
the FIR Program can play in supporting the tree improve-
ment efforts in southwest Oregon.
If you would like more information about the workshop, contact Ken Wearstler.
K.W.
THREE -INCH TREES THINNED WITH HAND CLIPPERS
The U.S. Forest Service Missoula Equipment Development Center (MEDC) recently evaluated the use of hand
recent
lications
For copies of the publications cited, mail your
requests to the appropriate address as indicated
by the number following each summary.
Requests
should be sent to:
1
2
Forest Research Laboratory
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331.
Publications
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range
Experiment Station
clippers for thinning trees and shrubs up to 3 inches
in diameter.
Tested on the Bitterroot National Forest,
they were found to be more productive than chain saws
at an estimated cost per acre of $100 based on 7,000 to
13,000 lodgepole pine stems thinned per acre.
Used with
a special shoulder harness, the clippers weigh 5 pounds,
5 ounces and are 37 inches long.
The hand clippers are
safer and easier to use than chain saws and stems can be
cut much closer to the ground without the risk of damaging the cutting edge.
Additional information concerning the use of the
hand clippers can be obtained from MEDC by writing to:
USFS Missoula Equipment Development Center, Building 1,
Fort Missoula, Missoula, Montana 59801. Be sure to ask
for the May 1979 Equipment Tip:
"Hand Clippers for
Thinning 3- inch -Diameter Shrubs and Trees ".
An additional note:
we have also learned that the
MEDC has found a nut driver to be particularly helpful
in forcing the spiral pins, used to secure vexar tubes,
into the ground.
S.H.
EFFECTS OF FIRE ON SOIL: A STATE -OF- KNOWLEDGE REVIEW,
by C. G. Wells, et. al.
1979.
USDA Forest Service
General Technical Report WO -7. 34 p. A state -ofknowledge report on the effects of fire on soil, including:
soil temperature and heating, chemical properties
and nutrient cycling, soil microflora, soil physical
properties., erosion, and range soils.
The report also
includes a section on knowledge gaps, research needs
and priorities.
3
A NEW FIRE MANAGEMENT POLICY ON FOREST SERVICE LANDS,
A new
1979.
Fire Technology 15:43-50.
by J. B. Davis.
Forest Service policy, effective February, 1978, allows
some wildfires to burn under prescribed conditions,
urges multidisciplinary approach to fire control, and
has applications to rural and urban situations.
3
P.O.
Box 3141
Portland, OR 97208
3
Publications
Pacific Southwest Forest and Range
Experiment Station
P.O. Box 245
Berkeley, CA 97401
4
University of California- Berkeley
Division of Agricultural Sciences
Berkeley, CA 94720
5
FIR
-
1301 Maple Grove Drive
Medford, OR 97501
CLONAL SELECTION OF FOREST TREES, by W. J. Libby.
1979.
The article
California Agriculture, May issue: 8 -9.
briefly outlines the evolution of forest regeneration in
California as domestication of forest trees has begun.
It also proposes an approach to forest regeneration and
genetic improvement for the future, referred to as cloning (rooting of cuttings and plantlets from tissue culture). Three mistakes commonly have been made under
artificial regeneration systems of the past and present:
1) planting seedlings from inappropriate populations,
2) choosing poor mothers, and 3) planting the offspring
of incestuous matings (resulting in reductions in growth
due to inbreeding depression).
Obtaining forest tree
seed from managed seed -orchards is an attempt to overcome these mistakes.
However, graft incompatibility,
cone and seed insects, pollen management, and expense
are the practical and economic disadvantages of the
seed orchard approach.
Eight legume culExperiment Station, Portland. 12 p.
tivars were screened for suitability in Douglas -fir forThe legumes were sown on
ests of southwest Oregon.
concurrently fertilized and unfertilized plots within
deer exclosures in three, logged and burned clearcuts.
Percent cover after the first and during the ninth
growing seasons were clearly greater on 2- by 2 -meter
plots sown with alfalfa, crownvetch, and birdsfoot
deervetch (trefoil), than with wetland deervetch, perennial lupine, annual lupine, flatpea, or hairy vetch.
Fertilization influenced first -year cover but not subsequent plant cover or height. N fixation was not
measured; however, all surviving species were nodulated.
Cloning (rooting of cuttings) is presented as a
practical and biologically sound approach to forest
propagation in the future and a means of overcoming the
Most California fruit,
problems of other approaches.
A major
nut, and vine crops are clonally propagated.
problem with early attempts to develop rooted -cutting
programs for forest trees has been the reduction in
rootability of cuttings with the age of donor plants.
Hedging appears to be a technique of arresting the
maturation of cutting donors. Hedging research at the
University of California- Berkeley on 11 California
tree species has produced favorable results (high percentages of rooting). The stage is set for development
of mass -production facilities and operational plantings.
Cloning appears to be a viable approach to forest propagation in the future and the means of maximizing
genetic gain with selection.
2
FALL -LIFTED CONIFERS SUCCESSFULLY SPRING PLANTED IN
SOUTHWEST IDAHO, by F. E. Morby and R. A. Ryker. 1979.
Seedlings of
USDA Tree Planters' Notes 30(3):27 -29.
ponderosa pine, Douglas -fir, lodgepole pine, and
Engelmann spruce were lifted in mid -November and stored
in polyethylene -lined paper bags or open- ended, wooden
Seedlings were held in storage at 28F and 33F
crates.
For comparison, seedlings
until planting in the spring.
of the same seed lots were lifted in March and stored at
There was no significant survi33F until outplanting.
val difference between fall and spring- lifted seedlings
Fall- lifted Douglas -fir seedlings prostored at 33F.
duced twice as much height growth as spring - lifted
stock.
At the Lucky Peak Nursery it is recommended
that fall- lifted seedlings for planting in the spring
be stored in polyethylene -lined paper bags and stored
at 28F to minimize mold growth.
4
CONIFEROUS FORESTS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, by R. H.
Science 204:13801979.
Waring and J. F. Franklin.
The massive, evergreen coniferous forests in the
1386.
Pacific Northwest are unique among temperate forest
The region's forests escaped
regions of the world.
decimation during Pleistocene glaciation; they are not
dominated/by a few broadly distributed and well- adapted
Large
conifers that grow to large size and great age.
trees with evergreen needle- or scale -like leaves have
distinct advantages under the current climatic regime.
Photosynthesis and nutrient uptake and storage are
possible during the relatively warm, wet, fall and
High evaporative demand during the
winter months.
Deciduous
warm, dry summer reduces photosynthesis.
hardwoods are repeatedly at a disadvantage in competing
with conifers in the regional climate. Their photosynthesis is predominantly limited to the growing season
when evaporative demand is high and water is often liMost nutrients needed are also less available
miting.
The large size attained by conifers
at this time.
provides a buffer against environmental stress (especially for nutrients and moisture). The long duration between destructive fires and storms permits conifers to
outgrow hardwoods.
5
FOREST SOILS OF THE DOUGLAS-FIR REGION
An excellent book on forest soils is now available
with the recent publication of Forest Soils of the
The book is an update and expansion
Douglas -fir Region.
by the Northwest Forest Soils Council of their original
manual on forest soils, An Introduction to the Forest
Soils of the Douglas -fir Region of the Pacific Northwest,
It will be of greatest benthat was published in 1957.
efit to foresters of the Pacific Coast region seeking to
update their knowledge of forest soils. All but one of
the authors of its 29 sections are from the Pacific
Coast states or British Columbia.
1
FERTILIZING DOUGLAS -FIR FORESTS, by R. E. Miller and
D. Fight.
1979. USDA Forest Service General TechniPacific Northwest Forest and Range
cal Report PNW -83.
29 p. A two -part report
Experiment Station, Portland.
describing the current practice of nitrogen fertilization and Douglas -fir forests in western Washington and
Oregon and the effects of this fertilization on tree
growth and water quality. The second part discusses
factors that affect costs and revenues from investments
in forest fertilization.
The appended tables, figures,
and work sheet enable the user to prepare a break -even
economic analysis for fertilization projects.
R.
The chapters are written for easy reading with all
Many tables and figterminology self -defining.
ures are used to support the discussion, but they are
The authors have done an
neither extensive or complex.
excellent job of keeping highly technical information
As an alternative, many
from overpowering the reader.
chapters have large reference lists to help the inquiring reader pursue selected topics in greater detail.
soil
The book covers all aspects of forest soils, ingeology, climate, vegetation, soil physical
cluding:
properties, minerals and chemical properties and fertility, organic matter, biology, soil formation, classification and morphology, soil survey, cycling of
elements, forest soil productivity relationships, soil,
vegetation and watershed management, forest chemicals,
engineering aspects, nursery soil management and forest
fertilization practices. Two chapters particularly
noteworthy are geology and forest soil productivity re
2
LONG -TERM GROWTH OF EIGHT LEGUMES INTRODUCED AT THREE
FOREST LOCATIONS IN SOUTHWEST OREGON, by R. E. Miller
aiTR. Zalunado. 1979. USDA Forest Service Research
Paper PNW -255.
Pacific Northwest Forest and Range
7
lationships.
The latter chapter is by E. C.
Steinbrenner, Weyerhaeuser Company. The geology chapter
contains 13 sections describing the geological provinces
west of the Cascade Mountains from northern California
to southern British Columbia.
The chapter on forest soil productivity relationships presents the results of a Weyerhaeuser study using
387 plots in pure Douglas -fir or western hemlock stands
in western Oregon and Washington.
Plots in Oregon were
located as far south as Coos Ray.
Equations are given
for predicting site index from soil and site parameters
Graphs demonstrate how changes in these parameters can
affect site productivity.
Several new books on forest soils have been published in recent years. However, this is the only book
written with the practicing forester in mind.
The book
is specific to the Pacific Northwest and is available
for $12.50 (Cooperative Extension Service, Washington
State University, Pullman, WA 99164).
D.
M.
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