Community Forest Species Trial (Aldewood 1999)

notPlanned

The experiment was based on poor quality site for tree establishment at Aldewood Non-native species were selected for their potential to establish a woodland cover and produce timber on difficult and degraded sites. The native species Q. robur was included for comparison. One- to two-year-old bare root plants were used, except for P. nigra which was cell grown. Stock was sourced from reputable supplies or grown from seed at Headley Research Nursery, UK (51.133° N, 1.85° W). Trees were planted at 1.8 × 1.8 m spacing, and each 14.4 × 14.4 m plot contained 64 trees, with assessments carried out on all trees. There were three replicates of each of the 17 species, laid out as three randomized blocks, giving 51 plots in total. Acer campestre L. (field maple) was planted around any plot edges not abutting other treatments. Acer campestre was also used to replace any dead trees in all the species plots, to maintain conditions of even competition. Herbicides were used to keep a 1m2 area weed-free around each tree from April to August for each of the 5 years the experiment was maintained. Height (to the nearest 0.1 cm), stem diameter (to the nearest 0.1 mm) at 5 cm above ground level and survival were assessed after planting and at the end of each growing season. The site is described as: Planting date: 1993 March Elevation (metre above sea level): 13 DAMS: 13 1 WHC: 2 Continentality: 10 Annual average rainfall(mm): 600 Annual average growing degree days (>5°C): 1850 Annual average soil moisture deficit (mm): 237 Ecological site classification: Slightly dry, poor Topography: Level Underlying geological formation: Pleistocene, Red Crag Soil: 551g Newport 4 deep well-drained sandy soil with flints Previous land use and vegetation: Scots pine, clear felled 1992; vegetation bracken, bramble and gorse Protection: Rabbit and roe deer fence, vole guards where necessary. Initial site preparation: De-stumped and windrowed by March 1993