%0 Research article
%T Effect of soil preparation method on economic result of Norway spruce regeneration chain
%A Uotila, Karri
%A Rantala, Juho
%A Saksa, Timo
%A Harstela, Pertti
%D 2010
%J Silva Fennica
%V 44
%N 3
%R doi:10.14214/sf.146
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/146
%X Economic result of forest regeneration chains, based either on spot  mounding or on disc trenching and planting of Norway spruce (Picea abies  [L.] Karst.) seedlings, were clarified and compared to each other.  First, effects of soil preparation method on early development of Norway  spruce stands were measured from field experiments. Second, the effects  of soil preparation method on stand level management programs were  modelled. The modelling was based on growth simulation and investment  calculations. The soil preparation methods substantially affected early  development of a stand. The density of the removed trees in early  cleaning was 56% higher on the disc-trenched area compared to the  spot-mounded area. The difference was especially high (120%), close by  (&lt; 25 cm) the remained spruce seedlings. There was also a difference  between the methods in the growth of crop spruces; at biological age of 8  years, the mean height of spruce was 110 cm on the spot-mounded area  and 68 cm on the disc-trenched area. The differences led to divergent  management programs between the areas. The disc-trenched area needed  three young stand management operations whereas two was enough at the  spot-mounded area. Although disc trenching is a less expensive method  than spot mounding, the total management costs were higher in disc  trenching than in spot mounding. Furthermore, incomes from the first  commercial thinning were higher when regeneration based on spot  mounding. At the interest rate of 3%, the investment in spot mounding  had 329 EUR ha<sup>–1</sup> higher net present value than the investment in disc trenching.