I. Desaine

The European Union Nature Restoration Law requires increasing trends for soil organic carbon stock (SOC stock) in the mineral soil at a depth of 0 to 30 cm and in the litter layer (O horizon) in forest ecosystems until satisfactory level is reached, thus assessing and monitoring this indicator remains challenging at the national scale. This report...

The study examined a free-growing (initial stand density 400 trees ha–1), 50-year-old grafted clonal Norway spruce plantation in Eastern Latvia to assess the genetic control and variability of growth traits and wood density. The latter was used as a proxy for structural timber strength. Results showed moderately high heritability in growth traits a...

This study analyses spectral separability of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees several months after induction of mechanical damage (a simulated wind damage), and one year after the damage – at the beginning of vegetation season and then following a period of drought. Experiment includes sample group of trees (Bent trees) over three plot...

The increasing extreme weather and climate events have a significant impact on the resistance and resilience of Norway spruce trees. The responses and adaptation of individual trees to certain factors can be assessed through the tree breeding programmes. Tree breeding programmes combined with multispectral unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) platforms...

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance...

Use of whole tree biomass becomes increasingly more important due to rising demand for renewable energy and materials to replace fossil resources. Therefore, assessment of influence of this approach on hemiboreal forest ecosystem is essential. The aim of our study was to assess the long-term influence of full biomass removal (FBR) on the ground veg...

Continuous cover forestry (CCF) aims to emulate small natural disturbances and take advantage of natural regeneration. To implement these management practices successfully, knowledge of advance regeneration under the canopy in different conditions is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of stand inventory parameters...

In Europe, numerous Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) provenance trials have been established and evaluated at a juvenile age. Still, information about the adaptation potential and long-term fitness of transferred seedlots in the Baltic Sea region is lacking. The aim of the study was to evaluate the adaptation capacity of provenances and assess...

Coupling growth with periods of favourable weather conditions minimizes risks of frost damage and maximizes annual height increment. The phenology of the formation of height increment is therefore a trait related to the adaptability of trees to annual weather fluctuations. Strong genetic control of the timing of the onset and cessation of shoot elo...

The long-term (50 years) effect of whole-tree harvesting (stump harvesting) on ground vegetation in experimental drained Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands was studied. We used a chronosequence approach to assess the long-term impact of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) on stands’ ground vegetation. WTH stands were compared with four control...

Spruce bud scale (Physokermes piceae (Schrnk.)) has gained attention due to recent outbreaks in the eastern Baltic Sea region—Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. In the spring of 2010, it spread rapidly across Latvia, affecting large areas of Norway spruce stands. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the effects of landscape heterogeneity on th...

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is one of the most important commercial tree species, for which wider spacing are being advocated to reduce management costs and improve radial growth. Nevertheless, little is known about tree and stand parameters at the larger age in stands of extremely low density. The aim of our study was to assess growth...