Western LarchWestern LarchThe Secrets of SuccessThe Secrets of Success

Inland Empire Paper CompanyDennis ParentForest Operations Manager

SummarySummary

1.1. Review silvics of larchReview silvics of larch

2.2. Review larch silvicultural treatmentsReview larch silvicultural treatments

3.3. My “Secrets” of growing larchMy “Secrets” of growing larch

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch

Western Larch: a “deciduous conifer in an evergreen world”

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Silvics of North America

Available on the Internet: “Silvics of North American Trees”

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch

10 species total Three species in U.S.

Western larch (Larix occidentalis)

Subalpine larch (Larix lyallii)

Eastern larch (Larix laricina)

The tallest and the largest of the world’s larches A seral species

Comparative Shade Tolerance Comparative Shade Tolerance of Northwestern Conifersof Northwestern Conifers

SpeciesSpecies Shade ToleranceShade Tolerance

Ponderosa Pine 10

Western Larch 9

Lodgepole Pine 8

Douglas-fir 7

Western White Pine 6

Engelmann Spruce 5

Grand Fir 4

Subalpine Fir 3

Western Redcedar 2

Western Hemlock 1

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Growth

Fastest growing species in Inland Northwest

Diameter growth very sensitive to stand density

Develops into even-aged stands

Height growth both predetermined and free

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Fire resistant

Wind firm

Tolerates root rot

Tolerates soils with poor nutrition

Wood is hard, strong, and dense..

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch

Insects, Diseases, Etc.Insects, Diseases, Etc.

NameName SpeciesSpecies ImportanceImportance

Dwarf Mistletoe Arceuthobium laricis 1

Larch Casebearer Coleophora laricella 2

Needle Cast Hypodermella laricis 3

Bears Ursus americanus 4

Spruce Budworm Choristoneura occidentalis 5

Root & butt rot Phaeolus schweinitzii 6

Laminated Root Rot Phellinus weirii 7

Flatheaded fir borer Melanophila drummondi 8

Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases

MistletoeMistletoe

Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases

Larch casebearerLarch casebearer

Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases

Needle castNeedle cast

Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases

BearsBears

Insects & DiseasesInsects & Diseases

Spruce budwormSpruce budworm

Heart rotHeart rot

Beetles, a recent phenomenonBeetles, a recent phenomenon

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Cones & seedCones & seed

Flowers very early

One of the best seed producers in northwest Montana

One of the worst seed producers in northern Idaho

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch

Genetics

Seed transfer is relatively broad

Adaptability intermediate between white pine and ponderosa pine

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch

Larch nutrition

Little information

High nitrogen use efficiency

Effectively translocates nitrogen

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Water use

Less efficient than other conifers

Avoids winter desiccation

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Carbon fixation

Efficient crown architecture

Small, short branches

Photosynthetic rate similar on a leaf area basis

Photosynthetic rate greater on leaf weight basis

Result: Larch fixes the same amount of carbon as other conifers

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch Watershed values

Little snow interception

Higher water yield

Higher melt rates from ROS

Silvics of Western LarchSilvics of Western Larch

Aesthetics Color diversity Beautiful landscapes

Special Problems of Special Problems of Western LarchWestern Larch

1. Needs adequate site preparation

2. Losses crown quickly if overtopped

3. Susceptible to herbicides

4. Poor seed yields

5. Foresters and loggers!

Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch

1. Fire resistant

2. Favored by wildfire

Fire Resistance of Inland SpeciesFire Resistance of Inland Species

SpeciesSpecies RankRank

Western Larch 1

Ponderosa Pine 2

Douglas-fir 3

Western White Pine 4

Lodgepole Pine 5

Grand Fir 6

Western Redcedar 7

Western Hemlock 8

Engelmann Spruce 9

Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch

1. Fire resistant

2. Favored by wildfire

3. Resistant to root rot

Relative Susceptibility of Inland Northwest Relative Susceptibility of Inland Northwest Conifers to Root DiseaseConifers to Root Disease

SpeciesArmillaria

SusceptibilityLaminated

Susceptibility

Western Larch 3 2

Ponderosa Pine 2 4

Lodgepole Pine 2 3

Western White Pine 2 3

Subalpine Fir 2 2

Western Hemlock 2 2

Engelmann Spruce 2 2

Western Redcedar 2 4

Douglas-fir 1 1

Grand Fir 1 1

Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch

1. Fire resistant

2. Favored by wildfire

3. Resistant to root rot

4. Genetic adaptability

Potential for Genetic Improvement Potential for Genetic Improvement of Inland Speciesof Inland Species

Species Rank

Western White Pine 1

Western Larch 2

Ponderosa Pine 3

Lodgepole Pine 4

Douglas-fir 5

Genetic Characteristics of Western Larch

1. Highest potential gain in volume through genetic improvement: 20-40 percent

2. Higher value species

3. Fastest growth

4. Poor natural seed yields

5. Easy to graft

6. Seed transfer is relatively broad

7. Responds to intensive management

Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch

1. Fire resistant

2. Favored by wildfire

3. Resistant to root rot

4. Genetic adaptability

5. Strong wood

Specific Gravity of Inland Northwest WoodsSpecific Gravity of Inland Northwest Woods

Species Specific Gravity

Western Larch 0.48

Douglas-fir 0.46

Western Hemlock 0.42

Ponderosa Pine 0.38

Lodgepole Pine 0.38

Western White Pine 0.36

Grand Fir 0.35

Engelmann Spruce 0.33

Subalpine Fir 0.31

Western Redcedar 0.30

Special Strengths of Special Strengths of Western LarchWestern Larch

1. Fire resistant

2. Favored by wildfire

3. Resistant to root rot

4. Genetic adaptability

5. Strong wood

6. Fast juvenile growth

7. Wind firm

8. Resists snow and ice loading

9. Good long-lived snag species

10. Arabinogalactan

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Natural Regeneration1. Good site preparation

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Natural Regeneration

2. Predict cone crop

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Natural Regeneration3. Enhance seed production by girdling

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Artificial Regeneration1. Good site preparation = good survival

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration

2. Plant seedlings as large as you can afford.

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Artificial Regeneration

3. Spring vs. fall plant

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Vegetation control Do it before planting!

For this Instead of this

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Vegetation control

Oust herbicide may work

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Density control

Principles of thinning1. Concentrate growth on fewer stems

2. Decrease total stand growth

3. Increase merchantable stand yield

4. Total stand cubic foot yields are not increased.

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Precommercial thinning

Watch out for:

1. High costs = poor investment

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments Density control

Thinning Costs Compounded

$-

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

0 10 20 30 40

Year

Co

st/A

cre

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Density control Precommercial thin but watch for:

1. High costs = poor investment

2. Trees getting too big

3. Thinning too late => crown loss

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Density control PCT conclusions

1. Thin early

2. Thin from below

3. Select spacing carefully

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Density control Commercial thinning – some problems

1. Opens up stand to brush competition

2. Stand growth loss

3. Larger trees are not worth more money today.

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Density control Other objectives for commercial thinning

1. Growing large diameter trees

2. Structural and vegetation diversity

3. Aesthetics

4. Earlier income generation

5. Perpetuate culmination of MAI

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Density control Affect of thinning on wood strength

Not ring width, but summerwood/springwood ratio

Thinning can increase summerwood/springwood ratio

Thinning does not decrease wood strength

Young, managed larch has similar wood density levels as those found in natural stands.

This is not true for other western conifers!

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Pruning Not necessary and probably a waste of money

1. Natural self-pruning

2. Epicormic branching

3. Dimension lumber; 1-2” knots acceptable

Silvicultural Treatments Silvicultural Treatments

Nutrition & fertilization Little information available

Castille, 1983: Two-year growth Filip and Oester, 2002: Ten-year growth Graham, 1986: Effect on cone and seed

production IFTNC: Field trials on Boise Cascade lands No firm conclusions for larch

Harvest SystemsHarvest Systems

Selection – NO! Shelterwood – less than 40 sq. ft. BA/acre Seed Tree - OK Clearcut - OK

Harvest SystemsHarvest Systems

Clearcut Minimum opening

size: 15-20 acres Cut hard to

regenerate western larch

LarchLarch – – The “Secrets” of Success The “Secrets” of Success

LLook for seedook for seed

AAdequate site preparation dequate site preparation

RRealize importance of plantingealize importance of planting

CControl densityontrol density

HHeavy harvest for regenerationeavy harvest for regeneration

Larch is ToughLarch is Tough

1 Year Old 2 Years Old

Larch Grows RapidlyLarch Grows Rapidly

3 Years Old

Western Larch

4 Years Old

Larch is “Queen”Larch is “Queen”

6 Years Old 6 Years Old

Western Larch

Opportunities for LarchOpportunities for Larch

4 Year Old Plantation 13 Year Old Plantation

Thank YouThank You

Acknowledgements:

Carl Fiedler – Univ. of Montana

Joel Fields – Wilbur-Ellis

Kennon McClintock – Forest Capital

Terri Jain -- RMRS

Russ Graham – RMRS

Russ Hudson – retired forester

Terry Shaw – IFTNC