Early Effects of Manipulating Aspen Density on Lodgepole Pine Performance Aspen Sucker Production and Stand Development in the IDFxm Subzone Near Williams Lake B.C.

This technical report evaluates the early effects of manipulating trembling aspen density on the development of lodgepole pine stands within the dry Interior Douglas-fir zone of British Columbia. By establishing an experiment near Meldrum Creek, researchers analyzed how different levels of aspen retention impacted conifer growth, vigor, and survival over a four-year period. The study found that while thinning immediately altered the stand structure and reduced aspen basal area, it did not yet yield significant improvements in pine performance, likely due to the young age of the trees and slow growth rates in this climate. Additionally, the report explores the competitive neighbourhood, identifying that aspen within a one-meter radius are the most influential competitors, while also noting that higher aspen retention may help suppress the density of new suckers. This research serves to refine competition thresholds and provide forest managers with biological data to optimize mixedwood management and free-growing guidelines in the region.