Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Regeneration with Scots pine often fail to reach set goals in Swedish forestry. As
regeneration often is performed through planting of seedlings, it is of importance to
understand how different factors in planting practices affect the outcome. A study was
conducted, building on a previous study, using an existing study site in Attsjö, southern
Sweden. Scots pine seedlings were planted for the original study, at different weeks in
autumn of 2020 and the spring of 2021. At an on-site follow-up conducted in March 2025
for this study, all seedlings were measured regarding height and diameter. Existing
damage were also noted and severity rated. The analysis of the data collected showed that
the seedlings from all autumn planting times (year 2020) were similar regarding mean
growth, damage levels and survival. The seedlings planted in spring 2021 had grown taller
and wider, were overall less damaged and had lower mortality than the seedlings planted
in autumn. The main factor thought to have caused the differences in results between the
autumn planted seedlings and spring planted seedlings were browsing by deer animals, as
earlier results showed that many of the autumn planted seedlings were browsed already in
their first winter on site. The results indicate that spring planting is to prefer when planting
Scots pine on forest sites with considerable browsing pressure.