Heterobasidion annosum root rot in Picea abies: Modelling economic outcomes of stump treatment in Scandinavian coniferous forests

Abstract

The economic outcomes of stump treatment against spore infections of the root rot pathogen Heterobasiodion annosum s. l. were analysed based on simulations in four stands typical of Swedish forestry and forest management: (A) Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stand on former agricultural soil (SI = 32), (B) Norway spruce stand (SI = 26) on forest land; (C) Mixed stand of Norway spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (SI = 24) with only H. parviporum present, i.e. no infection of Scots pine and no possibility of interspecies spread of disease between hosts; and (D) same as C, but H. annosum s. str. (Fr.) Bref and H. parviporum Niemelä & Korhonen present, i.e. interspecies spread of disease possible. Models for disease development, growth and yield and cross-cutting were used in the simulations. The simulated decay frequency in Norway spruce trees ranged between 2 and 90%. Stump treatment at the previous final felling and in all thinning operations was profitable at interest rates 1 and 3% in stands A, B and D, but not in stand C. In stand C, no stump treatment at all or treatment in thinnings only gave the highest net future value. Implications for stump treatment in practical forestry are discussed.

Keywords:

• Biological control
• chemical control
• cut-to-length
• forest management
• forest planning
• Norway spruce
• pest management

The Heureka programme at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Norrskog's Research Foundation and Skogforsk's framework programme provided financial support for this work. Professor Björn Elfving, SLU, provided growth and yield functions. Professor Timo Pukkala, University of Joensuu, implemented the new growth and yield functions in Rotstand, and offered valuable help in modelling discussions. Torbjörn Brunberg, Skogforsk, helped in assessing logging costs. Leif Orth, Södra, provided the apt-files needed for the TimAn simulations. The help of all these people and organizations is gratefully acknowledged.