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Abstract
The quantitative effect of pine-dominated edge stands in southern Finland on the density and growth of pine saplings was addressed in the study. The cumulative effect of a mature edge stand on the development of a pine sapling stand with variable cutblock sizes was also estimated. The data were acquired from 10 study sites with a Scots pine sapling stand with a current dominant height of 1–6 m and an adjoining middle-aged to mature edge stand dominated by Scots pine. Tree level models were constructed to describe and simulate the structure and development of the sapling stands. The results indicated that dividing an average regeneration area (2 ha) into smaller cutblock units (1.0–0.5 ha) appreciably increased the edge stand effect. Total stand volume growth was 6% lower on 1 ha cutblocks, and 31% lower on 0.5 ha blocks, than on 2 ha blocks.
Acknowledgements
This study was conducted at the Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) Vantaa Research Unit. We are grateful to the Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation for substantial financial support. The eight southernmost forest centres, Metsähallitus, Metla Research Forests and the Forest Department of UPM provided the study stands. We are grateful to these institutions for support, resources and funding. We would also like to thank Pentti Niemistö and Timo Saksa for reading and commenting on the manuscript, and to John Derome for checking and improving our English.