Restoration of aspen-dominated ecosystems in the lake states

A reserve tree method (RTM) of harvesting was installed in six 70- to 75-ye ar-old aspen-dominated stands to determine if retaining 10 to 15 dominant a spen per acre would decrease sucker density to facilitate restoration of a conifer component. A reserve shelterwood cut was applied to three additiona l stands to evaluate performance of white pine planted under 50% crown cove r. After the first full growing season following harvest, 96% of the RTM ha rvested areas were stocked; sucker density averaged 27,000 (27 k) per acre versus 38.2 k per acre on a clearcut control, 47 % greater. Basal diameter of dominant suckers averaged 0.45 inch, 28% greater than the control, and m ean height was 60 inches, 33% greater. The control site had 3.1 k stems per acre of associated commercial species versus 5.8 k on the RTM sites, an 87 % difference. Four of the nine stands have been planted; first-year surviva l ranged from 75% to near 100%. The RTM shows promise for reducing sucker d ensity, increasing their early growth, maintaining species diversity, and p roviding abundant regeneration of commercial species on a high proportion o f the areas harvested. Early results indicate that both the RTM and shelter wood methods can facilitate restoring a component of native conifer species in these ecosystems.