Frost-Related Problems in the Establishment of Coniferous Forests

Abstract

Cold hardiness has been rarely measured on plants growing on forest sites under different forest management practices. Some researchers measured changes in conifer cold hardiness on detached shoots freezer-tested in the laboratory (Sheppard and Cannell 1985; Sheppard et al. 1989). Others carried portable freezing chambers to forest sites (Strimbeck et al. 1991). In this chapter, we focus on the relationship between forest management practices, the climate, and seedling microclimate characteristics related to the occurrence of frost on forest sites, frost damage to young conifers, and on ways of ameliorating such problems. Indirect frost damage from desiccation and from frost heaving is included here for they are important to forest regeneration. Frost injury to large trees, damage to seedlings from hoar frost, and ice glazing are not discussed.