Abstract
Climate change is predicted to alter global rainfall patterns, increasing the risk of drought damage in European temperate coniferous forests. While drought stress can cause loss of growth in trees, and more rarely in very severe droughts result in mortality, it is the increasing risk of stem cracks that will have a major impact on sawlog value. This review briefly examines the origin of drought cracks in coniferous species and considers management options to increase potential resilience of forest stands to drought-related damage. Available studies suggest that sites with very free-draining soils or restricted rooting depth limit moisture availability exacerbating hydraulic stress and the risk of physical damage. A moderate thinning intensity on a relatively short cycle appears to increase resilience to drought stress due to the combination of fewer trees competing for moisture and a reduction in interception of precipitation by the canopy. Using species that are potentially more tolerant to drought damage is discussed along with the role of species mixtures both to increase drought resilience and to provide an ‘insurance’ should one species succumb to drought.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 19-25 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Scottish Forestry |
| Volume | 75 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 1 Sept 2021 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2021 |
