The boreal forest is considered to be a low productivity forest due to its cold climate and poorly drained soils promoting paludification. These factors create conditions favouring accumulation of undecomposed organic matter, which causes declining growth rates of forest stands, ultimately converting mature stands into peatlands. Under these conditions, careful logging is conducted during winter, which minimizes soil disturbance in northwestern Quebec boreal forest. This results in water table rise, increased light availability and paludification. Our main objective was to evaluate the short-term effect of partial harvesting as an alternative method to careful logging in winter to mitigate water table rise on black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) stands. We quantified tree stem diameter variation and daily variation in water table depth in mature spruce stands before and after partial harvest (basal area reduction of 40%) and girdling (same basal area reduction with delayed mortality) during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Water table variation prior to and following silvicultural treatments did not differ one year after treatment. Daily stem diameter variation in black spruce did not differ between treatments and control. Furthermore, temperature exerted a positive effect on variation in water table and on stem diameter. These results suggest that partial harvest could be more effective than clearcutting to mitigate negative effects of a high water table while limiting paludification.

中文翻译：

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黑云杉林分部分收获：对地下水位和茎直径变化的短期影响

北方森林由于其寒冷的气候和排水不良的土壤而被推崇为低生产力森林。这些因素创造了有利于未分解有机物积累的条件，这导致森林林分增长率下降，最终将成熟林分转变为泥炭地。在这种情况下，冬季要进行仔细的伐木，以最大程度地减少魁北克西北部寒带森林的土壤扰动。这导致地下水位上升，光利用率增加和光彩化。我们的主要目的是评估部分收获的短期效果，作为冬季仔细伐木以缓解黑云杉（Picea mariana）地下水位升高的替代方法 [Mill。] BSP）站立。我们量化了2016年和2017年生长季节部分收获（基面积减少40％）和环剥（基面积减少相同，死亡率降低）前后的成熟云杉林的树干直径变化和地下水位每日变化。造林处理前后的地下水位变化在处理后一年没有差异。黑云杉的每日茎直径变化在处理和对照之间没有差异。此外，温度对地下水位和茎杆直径的变化有积极作用。这些结果表明，部分采伐可能比完全砍伐更有效，以减轻高地下水位带来的负面影响，同时限制污染。