Increased and stabilized Biomass production over time - The Over yielding Effect
The recent past empirical studies demonstrated biodiversity in tree species can lead to increased and stabilized primary wood production over time in mixed stands. While this studies covered old stands and species of economic interest, the importance of different aspects of biodiversity in juvenile stands is rarely enveloped. The over yielding effect is no general rule, but highly dependent on the kind of mixture.
Commonly known main drivers are similar leaf phenology of trees used in the mixture. I assume that the present case will produce an over yielding effect in mixtures with fast growing and light demanding trees, as well as in mixtures with slow growing and more shade tolerant species.(Tobner, 2016)
This topic is of general interest for any forester, forest related researcher or private landowner as farmers. A main target of forest Sciences is to increase wood production in shorter rotations and stabilize the forest against changing climate and other hostile influences. Mixtures, that cause an over yielding effect are able to perform both ways. If there is any chance to support biodiversity and its positive related effects and boost timber production at the same time, this is the route we should take. A practical example for small diameter trees, which I am focused on, is short rotation system. A farmer, who decided to grow fast growing tree species, would be able to increase the fuel wood production, lower the economic risk by distributing to two or more species and benefit from the positive effects of biodiversity like resilience, soil improvement and environmental protection. Especially for recreational sites it can be important to establish fast growing, well performing tree species to lower the risk of soil lost and accelerate the recreation process.
(Grossmann, 2018)
Commonly known main drivers are similar leaf phenology of trees used in the mixture. I assume that the present case will produce an over yielding effect in mixtures with fast growing and light demanding trees, as well as in mixtures with slow growing and more shade tolerant species.(Tobner, 2016)
This topic is of general interest for any forester, forest related researcher or private landowner as farmers. A main target of forest Sciences is to increase wood production in shorter rotations and stabilize the forest against changing climate and other hostile influences. Mixtures, that cause an over yielding effect are able to perform both ways. If there is any chance to support biodiversity and its positive related effects and boost timber production at the same time, this is the route we should take. A practical example for small diameter trees, which I am focused on, is short rotation system. A farmer, who decided to grow fast growing tree species, would be able to increase the fuel wood production, lower the economic risk by distributing to two or more species and benefit from the positive effects of biodiversity like resilience, soil improvement and environmental protection. Especially for recreational sites it can be important to establish fast growing, well performing tree species to lower the risk of soil lost and accelerate the recreation process.
(Grossmann, 2018)
Ambition
Therefore, this experiment aims to analyze the biomasses of fifteen European and North American broadleaf and six conifer small diameter tree species in mixture and monoculture. Furthermore, the study is interested in good matches for biomass production in juvenile stages. For what mixtures are we able to detect a significant overyielding effect?
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