Growth response of young Scots pines to artificial shoot breaking simulating moose damage

Abstract

The main stem of young Pinus sylvestris was cut off halfway along the current leading shoot and the two previous years' leading shoots. As examined 10 yr afterwards, removing the current leading shoot and the second shoot did not essentially affect the height and diameter growth of the trees. Removal down to the third shoot reduced the height as well as diameter growth. Average loss in growth was equivalent to less than one year's growth. When the stem was cut off at the second or third shoot, stem crookedness and the presence of knots resulted in stem defects. Removing injured trees as pulpwood and pruning the remaining parts of cut stems improves the quality of pine stand with Alces alces damage. -from Authors