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Articles by Saija Huuskonen

Category : Climate resilient and sustainable forest management – Research article

article id 23075, category Climate resilient and sustainable forest management – Research article

Lauri Männistö, Jari Miina, Saija Huuskonen. (2024). How to utilize natural regeneration of birch to establish mixed spruce-birch forests in Finland? Silva Fennica vol. 58 no. 3 article id 23075. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.23075

Keywords: Betula pendula; Picea abies; Betula pubescens; mixed model; Chapman-Richards; mixed stands

Highlights: Naturally emerging birch admixture provides a sufficient starting point for mixed forest in young, planted spruce stands; Creating mixed forest is a time sensitive process, as different growth patterns among tree species might cause a situation where one tree species suppresses the other, leading to monoculture or two-storied mixed forest; Birch admixture should be retained during early cleaning.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

Mixed forests are known for their ability to provide a wide range of ecosystem services. Such forests have higher biodiversity compared to monocultures, are resilient against disturbances and may mitigate the effects of climate change. Despite well-known benefits, there is still little information on how these forests should be established and managed. The aim of this study was to describe the early growth dynamics of current boreal young mixed stands of planted Norway spruces (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and naturally regenerated birches (Betula spp.). We collected data from 9 stands planted for spruce 8–14 years ago in Southern and Central Finland. Stem analysis was conducted to 144 spruces and to 144 birches to determine previous growth. We modelled the height and diameter development of individual trees in relation to tree age at stump height using non-linear mixed Chapman-Richards model. There were no significant differences between spruce and seed-origin birch in diameter growth at stump height, but the initial height increments of natural birches were larger than those of planted spruces. However, planted spruces were able to keep up with the height development of birches, if spruces received a head start over naturally regenerated seed-origin birch for two growing seasons. Thus, naturally regenerated birch admixture can be utilized to establish single-storied spruce-birch mixtures, and the admixture should be retained during the early cleaning of planted spruce stands.

Männistö, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0213-1972 E-mail: lauri.mannisto@luke.fi
Miina, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, Yliopistokatu 6 B, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8639-4383 E-mail: jari.miina@luke.fi
Huuskonen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8630-3982 E-mail: saija.huuskonen@luke.fi

Category : Research article

article id 24031, category Research article

Jaakko Repola, Jaana Luoranen, Saija Huuskonen, Mikko Peltoniemi, Päivi Väänänen, Karri Uotila. (2024). Biomass models for young planted Norway spruce and naturally regenerated silver birch, aspen and rowan trees. Silva Fennica vol. 58 no. 5 article id 24031. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.24031

Keywords: deciduous trees; Picea abies; tree biomass; model; multi-response

Highlights: Needle biomass was the greatest tree component of young spruce trees, and its proportion of whole biomass was 40-50%; The proportion of foliage biomass showed a decreasing tendency with tree height for all tree species; The existing models (Repola 2008, 2009) were not suitable for predicting spruce and birch biomass growing in young planted stands allocating too much biomass to roots and too little to crown.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

We developed tree level biomass (dry weight) models for Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] H. Karst.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and aspen (Populus tremula L.) growing in young spruce dominated seedling stands with high mixture of broadleaves. The study material was collected from three planted Norway spruce seedling stands located on mineral soil in southern Finland. Biomass models were estimated by individual tree component (stem, living branches, foliage, stump, and roots with diameter of 2 mm) by using a multi-response approach (seemingly unrelated regression), which estimated the parameters of the sub-models (tree component) simultaneously. Even though the application and generalization of the developed models can be restricted by the limited material, they provide new information of seedling biomass allocation and more reliable biomass predictions for spruce and birch growing in young seedling stand compared with those of the commonly applied biomass models (Repola 2008, 2009) in Finland. Repola’s models (2008, 2009) tended to produce biased predictions for crown and below-ground biomasses of seedlings by allocating too much biomass to roots and too little to needle and branches. In addition, this study provides biomass models for aspen and rowan, which were not previously available.

Repola, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Ounasjoentie 6, FI-96200 Rovaniemi, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7086-0549 E-mail: jaakko.repola@luke.fi
Luoranen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Juntintie 154, FI-77600 Suonenjoki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6970-2030 E-mail: jaana.luoranen@luke.fi
Huuskonen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8630-3982 E-mail: saija.huuskonen@luke.fi
Peltoniemi, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2028-6969 E-mail: mikko.peltoniemi@luke.fi
Väänänen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland E-mail: paivi.vaananen@luke.fi
Uotila, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Juntintie 154, FI-77600 Suonenjoki, Finland E-mail: karri.uotila@luke.fi

article id 23077, category Research article

Timo Domisch, Saija Huuskonen, Juho Matala, Ari Nikula. (2024). Interactive effects of moose browsing and stand composition on the development of mixed species seedling stands. Silva Fennica vol. 58 no. 4 article id 23077. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.23077

Keywords: boreal forest; tree species; Alces alces; ungulates; moose damage; mixed stands; meta-analysis

Highlights: We conducted meta-analyses assessing effect sizes of moose exclusion on seedling density and height, as well as regressions between stand density and deciduous seedling proportion and effect sizes; The more deciduous trees in a seedling stand, the smaller was the fencing effect, but at some point, the conifer seedling growth was impaired by too many deciduous seedlings. At the same time, the protective fencing effect increased with stand density; An appropriate deciduous admixture in conifer-dominated mixed seedling stands seems to improve moose damage tolerance.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The moose (Alces alces L.), a common large herbivore in the boreal region, impairs forest regeneration by browsing on tree seedlings and saplings. Moose prefer deciduous species, but during winter more coniferous seedlings are used. We used meta-analyses, separately for deciduous and coniferous seedlings, for evaluating whether excluding moose browsing affected seedling density and height. In addition, we compared (1) deciduous seedling proportion, (2) stand density, (3) elapsed time from fencing and (4) estimated moose density with moose exclusion effect sizes. Fencing had a positive effect on coniferous seedling height. With more deciduous trees in a seedling stand, the fencing effect for both seedling height and density of coniferous seedlings decreased. On the other hand, the fencing effects increased with denser stands. At some point effect sizes turned to negative, and conifer species varied in their response to browsing. This implies that deciduous seedlings can protect conifers from browsing by moose up to some mixing ratio, but when deciduous seedling densities are too high, their negative effect increases, presumably through increased competition. Our results suggest that a moderate deciduous admixture in conifer-dominated mixed seedling stands can decrease moose damage but also underline the significance of timely silvicultural measures to minimize the negative effects of excessive deciduous seedlings and too dense stands. Due to differences in coniferous and deciduous species, as well as their compositions and amounts in studied experiments, more studies adjusted to local conditions are still needed to give exact measures for silvicultural recommendations.

Domisch, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural Resources, Yliopistokatu 6B, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7026-1087 E-mail: timo.domisch@luke.fi
Huuskonen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural Resources, Latokartanonkaari 9, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland E-mail: saija.huuskonen@luke.fi
Matala, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural Resources, Yliopistokatu 6B, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5867-5057 E-mail: juho.matala@luke.fi
Nikula, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural Resources, Ounasjoentie 6, FI-96200 Rovaniemi, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8372-8440 E-mail: ari.nikula@luke.fi

article id 10414, category Research article

Jouni Siipilehto, Micky Allen, Urban Nilsson, Andreas Brunner, Saija Huuskonen, Soili Haikarainen, Narayanan Subramanian, Clara Antón-Fernández, Emma Holmström, Kjell Andreassen, Jari Hynynen. (2020). Stand-level mortality models for Nordic boreal forests. Silva Fennica vol. 54 no. 5 article id 10414. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10414

Keywords: Norway spruce; Scots pine; simulation; broadleaved species; logistic function; period length; plot size

Highlights: Models were developed for predicting stand-level mortality from a large representative NFI data set; The logistic function was used for modelling the probability of no mortality and the proportion of basal area in surviving trees; The models take into account the variation in prediction period length and in plot size; The models showed good fit with respect to stand density, developmental stage and species structure, and showed satisfying fit in the independent data set of unmanaged spruce stands.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

New mortality models were developed for the purpose of improving long-term growth and yield simulations in Finland, Norway, and Sweden and were based on permanent national forest inventory plots from Sweden and Norway. Mortality was modelled in two steps. The first model predicts the probability of survival, while the second model predicts the proportion of basal area in surviving trees for plots where mortality has occurred. In both models, the logistic function was used. The models incorporate the variation in prediction period length and in plot size. Validation of both models indicated unbiased mortality rates with respect to various stand characteristics such as stand density, average tree diameter, stand age, and the proportion of different tree species, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), and broadleaves. When testing against an independent dataset of unmanaged spruce-dominated stands in Finland, the models provided unbiased prediction with respect to stand age.

Siipilehto, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, P.O. Box 2, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland E-mail: jouni.siipilehto@luke.fi
Allen, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Division of Forest and Forest Products, NO-1431 Ås, Norway; Larson and McGowin Inc., Mobile, AL 36607, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7824-2849 E-mail: micky.allen@nibio.no
Nilsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7624-4031 E-mail: urban.nilsson@slu.se
Brunner, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, NO-1432 Ås, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1668-9714 E-mail: andreas.brunner@nmbu.no
Huuskonen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, P.O. Box 2, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8630-3982 E-mail: saija.huuskonen@luke.fi
Haikarainen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, P.O. Box 2, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8703-3689 E-mail: soili.haikarainen@luke.fi
Subramanian, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2777-3241 E-mail: narayanan.subramanian@slu.se
Antón-Fernández, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Division of Forest and Forest Products, NO-1431 Ås, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5545-3320 E-mail: clara.anton.fernandez@nibio.no
Holmström, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2025-1942 E-mail: emma.holmstrom@slu.se
Andreassen, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Division of Forest and Forest Products, NO-1431 Ås, Norway https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4272-3744 E-mail: kjellandreassen@gmail.com
Hynynen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural resources, P.O. Box 2, FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland E-mail: jari.hynynen@luke.fi

article id 245, category Research article

Saija Huuskonen, Jari Hynynen, Risto Ojansuu. (2008). Stand characteristics and external quality of young Scots pine stands in Finland. Silva Fennica vol. 42 no. 3 article id 245. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.245

Keywords: Scots pine; growth and yield; precommercial thinning; external stem quality; young stand management

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The effects of silvicultural practices (regeneration method and young stand management) on the stand characteristics of young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris (L.)) stands were studied. Stand density, mean diameter, crown ratio and external quality of young Scots pine stands were analysed on the basis of extensive inventory data. The study material consisted of 181 stands containing inventory growth plots, representing the most common site types for Scots pine and covering all the important wood production areas in Finland. Intensive management practices, i.e. artificial regeneration and precommercial thinning, clearly enhanced mean diameter development of the stand. The overall stand density of the crop trees was relatively low in the material (1925 trees ha–1). In more than one third of the stands, the stem number of crop trees was below 1500 trees ha–1. Stand density was not affected by forest management, but it was slightly higher in Southern than in Northern Finland. The geographical location, in terms of annual effective temperature sum, affected the average slenderness and crown ratio. At a given mean stand diameter, the dominant height of the stand was lower, and the mean crown ratio was higher, in Northern than in Southern Finland. The average external quality of the Scots pine trees was relatively low. The proportion of trees without any observed defects was 54%. The most common external defects were curved stems (23%) and branchiness (9%). Branchiness was more frequent among the largest trees, while curved stems were more common in smaller trees. Defects were the most frequent in planted stands, and in stands growing on fresh sites. The defects were more frequent in Northern Finland than in Southern Finland. The relatively low stand density and poor external quality of the young stands emphasize the importance of stem quality as a tree selection criterion in commercial thinnings of Scots pine stands, if the goal is to produce high quality timber.

Huuskonen, University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Ecology, Helsinki, Finland E-mail: saija.huuskonen@helsinki.fi
Hynynen, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit, Vantaa, Finland E-mail: jh@nn.fi
Ojansuu, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit, Vantaa, Finland E-mail: ro@nn.fi

article id 320, category Research article

Saija Huuskonen, Jari Hynynen. (2006). Timing and intensity of precommercial thinning and their effects on the first commercial thinning in Scots pine stands. Silva Fennica vol. 40 no. 4 article id 320. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.320

Keywords: Pinus sylvestris; Scots pine; growth and yield; precommercial thinning; growth modelling; first commercial thinning; diameter development

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The effects of the timing and intensity of precommercial thinning on the stand diameter development and wood production in Scots pine stands was addressed. A model was developed in order to assess the thinning response of the stand diameter development. The effect of precommercial and first commercial thinning on the stand volume and the thinning removal at first commercial thinning were also modelled. The models were developed to be applicable for forest management planning purposes. The results are based on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trials (13 experiments and 169 plots) located in Southern and Central Finland. Precommercial thinning considerably enhanced the diameter development. Precommercial thinning (at Hdom 3 m to 2000 trees per hectare) increased the mean diameter by 15% at the first commercial thinning stage (Hdom 14 m) compared to the unthinned stand (3000 trees ha–1). Early and intensive precommercial thinning resulted in the strongest response in diameter development. Wide spacing also enhanced the diameter increment. In naturally regenerated stands the diameter development was ca 13% slower than that in seeded stands. The total volume at the time of first commercial thinning was affected by the timing of thinning and the stand structure. The volume of merchantable thinning removal depended on the timing and intensity of precommercial and first commercial thinnings. Delaying the first commercial thinning from 12 meters (Hdom) to 16 meters increased the volume of thinning removal by ca.70%. The early and light precommercial thinning (Hdom 3 m, to density of 3000 trees per hectare) increased the thinning removal by 40% compared to the late and intensive precommercial thinning (at 7 meters to the density of 2000 trees per hectare).

Huuskonen, University of Helsinki, Dept. of Forest Ecology, P.O. Box 27, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland E-mail: sh@nn.fi
Hynynen, The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit, P.O. Box 18, FI-01301 Vantaa, Finland E-mail: jh@nn.fi

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