Conifers' Responses to Stock Types After 11 and 12 Years in Northern Idaho

When planning the future composition of a forest stand, the target plant concept is a useful guideline for selecting an appropriate stock type. However, there is conflicting data as to whether using a larger stock type affects long-term growth. To test whether stock type affects the long-term growth of three conifer species native to the Pacific Northwest, seedlings of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca), western larch (Larix occidentalis), and western white pine (Pinus monticola) were grown in five of six container types (313B, 315B, 415B, 415C, 415D, 615A) and planted in 2007 and 2008 at two sites in northern Idaho. Authors measured morphological traits (heights and root-collar diameters) and calculated stem volumes and survival rates through 11 and 12 years. Some species and site combinations showed no difference among stock types while the largest container stock type (615A) had significantly greater growth for all three species. These results suggest that stock type selection may not affect long-term survival and growth in some species, while other species do respond positively to being grown in the 615A stock type. Based upon these results, when determining which stock types to use for a reforestation project in northern Idaho, the target plant concept should be followed and species and site conditions should be considered.

Download this file:

Download this file

Details

Author(s): Hsin-Wu Hsu, Andrew S. Nelson

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 68, Number 1 (2025)

Volume: 68

Number: 1