Multi-Species PlantationsEstablishment and Management

Timothy CollinsRegeneration ForesterSierra Pacific Industries – Tahoe District

Forest Vegetation Management Conference“A Thrifty Forest”January 2010 Redding, CA

Sierra Pacific Industries – Tahoe DistrictLand Base Description

• Elevation: 2500-8000’ (7400’ highest unit recently)

• Soils:– Lower elevations (< 5000’ ) usually have the high productivity red soils

• Pile & Rip– Upper elevations (> 5000’ ) have the low bulk density volcanic soils

• Pile only; compaction is often a good thing (soil moisture and gophers)

• Seed zones: – 525 (West side of Crest, Foresthill, Grass Valley, Downieville) – most of the units– 523 (East side of Crest, Hwy 70 corridor, Quincy)– 772 (East side of Crest, Sierraville/Truckee/Tahoe) – very few units

• Regeneration units: 1200 plus

• Mgmt Species: PP, DF, IC, SP, WF, RF, JP, WWP, GS

• Other Species Present: Lodge Pole, Mountain Hemlock, Knobcone Pine

Why Complicate Life with Multi-Species Plantations?(Complexity-Multi-Species Vs. Simplicity-Monoculture)

• Economics• Insects & Disease• Plant Back Representative Historic Species Composition For the Site

BOE Log Values 1977-2009Tractor/Zone 7/Mid Grade

0100200300400500600700800900

1000

1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007

Year

$/M

IC $/MDF $/MO $/MPP $/MSP $/MTF $/M

Log Values By Species

Economics• Raw Material & Product Diversity = Market Flexibility & Adaptability

– Can we expect to predict markets 20-30 years from now?– Increased species diversity = increased Mgmt options– How many in this room predicted the rise of IC in the markets?– What are we not planting today that will have value in the future?

• Unidentified Unique Wood Properties• What about Western Redcedar on the Northcoast?

• Species Composition By Growth/Productivity and Market Value– Plant the species with the greatest growth and value for the site– Moderated by the need for future product diversity, pest concerns, and site conditions

• Incense Cedar log values Vs Hexazinone (Velpar) use– Velpar is a great product with proven success, particularly with PP/JP and DF– IC and Hex are generally not compatible in the same location at the same time– SP has the same problem with Hex but less market value currently

IC Survival & Growth

Planted: May 2, 2008Photo: August 28, 2009

16 monthsElevation: 4700’

Cal Forest / Styro-8

IC Survival & GrowthBurn Pile Influence

Planted: April 23, 2008Photo: August 28, 2009

16 monthsElevation: 4700’

Cal Forest / Styro-8

IC Survival & GrowthPlanted: April 4,2007 Photo: August 28,2009

28 Months @ Elevation 4500’Cal Forest / Styro-8 (trees with the 15” tops)

IC Survival & GrowthSame Unit

28 Months / Cal Forest / Styro-8

Insects & Disease• Monocultures create contiguous high density single species habitat• Predisposes the crop/investment to increased pest populations, activity or damage

– No tip moth damage on “West Side” for Tahoe District (sometimes you get lucky)– Mgmt activities to maintain high vigor will reduce susceptibility to some pests– Pest treatments in monocultures may be avoided in mixed crops = $ saved

• The “Usual Suspects” across NorCal by Species:– PP: MPB / WPB / Ips / tip moth / needle miner / WGRust / gouty pitch midge / Dwf Mistletoe / shoot borer– DF (drought conditions): Flathead borers and Douglas-fir engraver beetle– SP: White Pine Blister Rust / MPB / WPB– IC (drought conditions): Cedar Bark Beetles / Cedar Rust / Annosus root rot / true mistletoe– JP: JPB / Ips / tip moth / needle sheath miner / WGRust / gouty pitch midge / Dwf Mistletoe / shoot borer– WF / RF: Fir engraver beetle / Dwf Mistletoe / Cytospora canker / wood boring beetles / Annosus root rot– WWP: White Pine Blister Rust, not much else is known about WWP

Danny Cluck: USFS Entomologist (Susanville, CA)

Plant Back Representative Historic Species Composition For the Site

• Some sites have had species composition shift due to mgmt/harvest practices• Natural Regen is not consistent with respect to composition, distribution, and

genetics– Active mgmt has been far more successful than chance– Alternative planting methodology:

• Plant IC/SP in the burn piles = low % representation• Use IC/SP as interplant species = inconsistent Comp & Dist and low #’s

• Some Public/Agency Relations Value: Wildlife Issues & DFG?• Conscious decision to promote the best long-term mgmt practice for the land base

– A balance of Economics & Forest Health

Cones to Seedlings

• Cone Collection• Sowing Orders & Nurseries• Planting

Cone Collection• Every 500’ elevation band for 523 and 525 seed zone

– 2500’ to 7500’

• Orchards: PP and DF up to 4500’ in 525 only• General Collection: PP / DF / IC / WF / RF / JP• Tahoe District has never missed a quality crop

• SP: Blister Rust Program (53 Resistant Trees found)– First candidates collected 1991– First planting of BRR seed 1997-98 season– Collect from Resistant Parent Trees only– Two years for candidate selection screening results– 18% Success rate for resistant tree testing

• WWP: Blister Rust Program as well– First candidates collected 2008– Results in 2011 – three years for results

• Seed Bank:– Multi-species strategy results in a rather large seed bank– Seed bank represents over 30 years of collection effort– Still have seed lot holes to fill and some to refill

Sowing Orders

• Four Species per elevation band per seed zone is the norm– 25% for each species

• 5000’ & 5500’ have a 5 species mix (DF / WF transition zone)– 20% each PP / SP / IC / DF / WF– or 25% each PP / SP / IC and 25% DF/WF combined– Based on site quality & cold air drainage

• 40% Fall plant - 60% Spring plant– 2 Nurseries: One Nursery gets the Fall trees and other gets the Spring trees– 12 to 16 tree lots per seed zone per Nursery per Fall or Spring

• Jackie, Mitzi, and Steve, thank you for putting up with my sowing orders and the great trees

Species Planted By Elevation Band

• 2500’ through 4500’ - PP / SP / DF / IC

• 5000’ & 5500’ - PP / SP / DF / IC / WF

• 6000’ - PP or JP / SP / IC / WF

• 6500’ - JP / SP or WWP / WF / RF

• 7000’ & 7500’ - JP / WWP / WF / RF

Planting Crew(s)

• Spray crew and Chainsaw crew do the planting

• Crews were already planting 3 species mix

• Not a big deal getting them up to 4 and 5 species mixes

• Each planter carries 12-15 bundles each bag-up– Small adjustments with every bag up

Vegetation Management &Multi-Species Plantations

(The Basic Toolbox)• Common Application Methods in CA Forest Mgmt

– Foliar: Broadcast Or Directed– Soil: Broadcast Or Directed– Hack & Squirt– Basal

• Products Commonly Used for Forest Vegetation Mgmt in CA– Soil Active: Hexazinone (Velpar), Atrazine (Aatrex), Sulfolmeturon (Oust)– Foliar: Glyphosate (RoundUp), Imazapyr (Chopper), 2,4-D, Triclopyr (Element), and

Clopyralid (Transline)– Hack & Squirt (Amine formulations): Imazapyr (Arsenal AC), Triclopyr (Element 3A),

Glyphosate (RoundUp), 2,4-D (Weedar 64)– Basal: Imazapyr (Chopper), Triclopyr (Element 4)

Evolution of Tank Mixes –Tahoe District has tried just about everything

• Tank Mixes 1980’s and 90’s– Glyphosate– 2,4-D– Triclopyr– Glyphosate + 2,4-D– Glyphosate + Triclopyr– Triclopyr + 2,4-D– Hexazinone (last used 1998)– Atrazine

• Tank Mixes 2000-2002– Imazapyr (Arsenal AC): Hack & Squirt becomes primary hardwood treatment– Imazapyr (Chopper): limited to trial units– Glyphosate (a little hotter mix)– Atrazine + Clopyralid– Triclopyr + 2,4-D (low use)– 2,4-D (still a steady staple)

Evolution of Tank Mixes (continued)

• Tank Mixes 2003-2005– Glyphosate (a little hotter mix still)– Imazapyr (Arsenal AC): Hack & Squirt– Imazapyr (Chopper): still limited to trial units– 2,4-D (still a steady staple)– Hexazinone: one last try with Velpar 2005

• Tank Mixes 2006-2009– Glyphosate (smokin’ hot mixes)– Imazapyr (Arsenal AC gives way to Chopper 2007 and H&S declines rapidly) – 2,4-D (usage declined rapidly due to hot Glyphosate mixes)

• Resurrected Tank Mixes– 10% Glyphosate for black oak (Summer 2006)– Triclopyr + 2,4-D + MSO for older plantations with tanoak / chinquapin / greenleaf manzanita

(Fall 2008)

• The Foliar Game is a lot of Trial & Error searching for the “Silver Bullet”

Hex on the Tahoe District

• Pronone, Velpar L / DF: Aerial, tractor, backpack• Site prep, Pre-emergence, Broadcast Release, & Spotgun• All applications applied in Upper and Lower Elevations• Modest acreages each year applied

Why Didn’t Hex Persist as an Establishment Application?

• Conscious decision to include SP in plantations– Sporadic planting in late 1970s and early 1980s– Consistent planting by 1988

• Soils:– High organic matter– Constantly changing type and texture

• Brush species Vs Hex control– Many species not controlled well by Hex– Grass/forbs/herb complex is not the predominate % of vegetation ground cover

• Some of everything is typical– “Some of everything” typically comes in the second growing season

• Cable broadcast units are the most common exception

Hex Control Vs Tahoe District Brush Species

Low Elevation

High Elevation

Brush Species Pre Post Hardwoods Pre PostBuckbrush good good Tanoak poor poorSquawcarpet good poor Live Oak poor poorWhiteleaf manz good poor Black Oak poor poorGrass / Forb / Herb good poor Big Leaf Maple poor poorPoison-Oak poor poor Dogwood poor poorRose poor poor Madrone poor poorYerba Santa poor good Hazelnut poor poorRubus spp poor poorBearclover poor poor Conifer Relative ToleranceWhitethorn good poor PP / JP High HighMullein good poor DF Mod ModDeerbrush good poor WF / RF Mod ModThistle/Prickly lettuce poor poor SP / WWP Low LowBrooms spp. poor poor IC Low LowBracken fern poor poorCherry poor poorWillow poor poorRibes spp good modSnowbrush good modGreenleaf manz good poorPinemat manz good poorCoffeeberry poor poorSilktassel poor poorChinquapin poor poorHuckleberry oak poor poorLobbs nama poor poorLupine poor poor

Broad ElevationRange

Decision Making:Alternatives & Cost Analysis

• Product Prices

• Cost Analysis of Potential Operational Tank Mixes

• Alternative Tank Mixes: often there is more than one solution

• Tank Mix Trials

Herbicide Prices 1986-2008

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

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2006

2008

$/G

al

GlyphosateTriclopyr 4Triclopyr 3AImazapyrImazapyr AC2,4-DHexazinone L Atrazine LClopyralid

Cost Analysis of Potential Operational Tank Mixes“Comparison Calculator”

Acres TankMix

Gal TankMix Gal/Ac

Chem $/Ac Tank Mix % 1 $/Gal % 2 $/Gal % 3 $/Gal % Adj

Adj $/Gal

1 Gals

2 Gals

3 Gals

Adj Gals

100 1000 10 3% Chopper + 10% MSO 0.03 0 0 0.1 30 0 0 100

100 1000 10 10% Gly + 0.5% Dyne-Amic 0.1 0 0 0.005 100 0 0 5

500 7500 15 4% Gly + 0.5% Dyne-Amic 0.04 0 0 0.005 300 0 0 37.5

150 2250 15 6% Gly + 2% Dyne-Amic 0.06 0 0 0.02 135 0 0 45

200 4000 20 2.66% 2,4-D (LV6) 0.0267 0 0 0 106.7 0 0 0

50 500 10 2% Gar 4 + 1% D (LV6) + 5% MSO 0.02 0.01 0 0.05 10 5 0 25

50 500 10 3% Gar 4 + 1% D (LV6) + 5% MSO 0.03 0.01 0 0.05 15 5 0 25

1 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

•Blue cells: enter variables

•Yellow cells: returns costs and volumes

•Design Calculator to handle your most complex tank mix

Alternative Tank Mixes

Tank Mix Comparison For Predominantly Black Oak

1998

1999

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2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Year

Che

m $

/Ac

10%Gly+0.5%D-A3%Chopper+10%MSO

Calculator is good for plotting trends as well

What else is with the BO?

Other hardwood species: Live Oak/Tanoak/Maple?

Or light density of woody perennials?

Tank Mix Trials• Plots• Small acreage units (whole crew)

– Walk with the crew for quality control

• Split crew (Units with light density of target specie(s))– 2 to 4 of crew backpack mix (cheat sheet for ounces)– Walk with the trial mix guys and provide application instructions– If it goes operational, they are already trained

• Trials in progress– Older plantations

• Triclopyr + 2,4-D + MSO for Live Oak & Tanoak• Element 3A + Weedar 64 Hack & Squirt for hardwoods• Hack & Squirt PCT in predominantly PP plantations

– Surfactants• D-A/S-T vs MSO/Hasten: what % tank mix are they equal in efficacy? Cost savings?

– Trials to start• Yerba Santa• Himalaya berry

Trial to Operational Tank Mix• Target: Greenleaf Manzanita (May 2006)• Think Tank: George Severson (Helena Chem Co)• Trial mixes by cost

– #1 5% Glyphosate + 5% MSO– #2 5% Glyphosate + 1% Dyne-Amic– #3 5% Glyphosate + 3% Dyne-Amic– All 3 worked, all 3 took full two years

• Dyne-Amic is 2X $/Gal of Glyphosate• Ran all mixes through the Calculator• 6% Glyphosate + 2% Dyne-Amic (6 & 2) is between #2 and #3 for Cost• Spring 2007: 6 & 2 mix expanded to all High Elevation Species

– Brush densities are too high for Chopper Vs Seedlings (2006 Chinquapin Trial)• “6 & 2” Now the primary mix of the high elevation “tough species”• Hot Gly mixes have risk: easily kill conifers

– Protect trees– Or change timing (early or late season)

Hot Gly Establishment Vs Tahoe Dist Brush Species

4% Gly + 0.5% D-A

Species List

6% Gly + 2% D-A

High Elevation Species Complex

Brush SpeciesMulleinBuckbrushDeerbrushWhitethornSquawcarpetWhiteleaf manzGrass / Forb / HerbBearcloverBracken fernCherryPoison-oakYerba santaThistle/Prickly lettuceRoseRubus sppBrooms spp.WillowRibes sppLobbs namaLupineSnowbrushGreenleaf manzPinemat manzCoffeeberrySilktasselChinquapinHuckleberry oak

Last Chance at Species Composition Change & Vegetation Management

• Combine PCT with Manual Release

• Shift Conifer Composition

• Recruit phenotypically high quality IC & DF naturals aggressively is typical– Cut PP even if they are taller– Will the height difference be significant 20-30 years later?

• Set vegetation back for one last chance at foliar treatment if needed– Glyphosate, 2,4-D, and Triclopyr combinations revisited

PCT - Aggressive IC Recruitment

Multi-Species Recap• The Tahoe District land base supports Multi-Species and the Economics work

– The District members place personal and professional value on Multi-Species plantations– The results are worth extra work and effort

• For everyone else…

• What value does the Land Owner / Land Manager have regarding Multi-Species plantations?

• Is the addition of IC/SP or other species appropriate to the land base?– Survival / Growth / Appropriate Site / Future Market Value / Forest Health

• Cones to Seedlings is a long term commitment– Each species adds a little more work and $$

• Does the Veg Mgmt cost analysis of additional species “pan out”?– Application Methods & Timing / Products needed– When does it become cost prohibitive?