%0 Research article
%T Frost heaving of Picea abies seedlings as influenced by soil preparation, planting technique, and location along gap-shelterwood gradients
%A Chantal, Michelle de
%A Rita, Hannu
%A Bergsten, Urban
%A Löfvenius, Mikaell Ottosson
%A Grip, Harald
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 1
%R doi:10.14214/sf.214
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/214
%X The effects of soil preparation, planting technique and location along  gap-shelterwood gradients (position and orientation) on frost heaving  damage to seedlings were studied in Vindeln Experimental Forests,  northern Sweden. The forest was harvested in a grid pattern in winter  2004–2005, forming gaps and shelterwood areas of 30 x 40 m each.  Gap-shelterwood gradients were delimited in four orientations and  subdivided into five positions: 7 m and 15 m into the gap and  shelterwood, and at the gap edge. At each position, three replicates of  three soil preparations were made: exposed E and B horizons and HuMinMix  (milled vegetation and humus layers mixed with surface mineral soil).  In early October 2005, one-year-old containerized Picea abies (L.)  Karst. seedlings were planted using four techniques: normal and deep  planting, and mobile and fixed experimental containers. After one  winter, frost heaving damage was highest for seedlings on B horizon  combined with the mobile container (51 ± 6%) and normal planting  (43±6%). Normal- or deep-planted seedlings in HuMinMix had the least  damage (5–6.6 ± 2.5%). Compared to normal planting, deep planting  reduced frost heaving damage only on B horizon. When considering the  orientation, seedlings in the experimental containers had more or  similar frost heaving damage than normal- or deep-planted seedlings.  Along the eastern gradient, seedlings incurred more frost heaving damage  in the center of the gap than under the canopy.