Jc. Ruel et M. Huot, INFLUENCE OF THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA-FUMIFERANA (CLEM), ON REGENERATION OF FIR STANDS AFTER CLEARCUTTING, Forestry Chronicle, 69(2), 1993, pp. 163-172
An analysis of over 100 balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.] stands
has shown some effects of spruce budworm defoliation on regeneration a
fter clearcutting. Even though softwood stocking was consistently high
prior to harvesting operations, longer infestation periods or more se
vere defoliation levels led to a decrease in the stocking of softwood
stems above 50 cm height and to the establishment and development of h
ardwood advance growth. Hardwoods were more often in a dominant positi
on in the most severely damaged stands and the budworm effect was stil
l persistent on the regeneration structure even 5 years after logging.
Cutovers with less than 60% stocking were also more frequent in the m
ost severely devastated fir stands. This situation seemed directly rel
ated to the impact of the spruce budworm on balsam fir advance growth.