Effect of edge stands on the development of young Pinus sylvestris stands in southern Finland

The quantitative effect of pine-dominated edge stands in southern Finland on the density and growth of pine saplings was addressed in the study. The cumulative effect of a mature edge stand on the development of a pine sapling stand with variable cutblock sizes was also estimated. The data were acquired from 10 study sites with a Scots pine sapling stand with a current dominant height of 1-6 m and an adjoining middle-aged to mature edge stand dominated by Scots pine. Tree level models were constructed to describe and simulate the structure and development of the sapling stands. The results indicated that dividing an average regeneration area (2 ha) into smaller cutblock units (1.0-0.5 ha) appreciably increased the edge stand effect. Total stand volume growth was 6% lower on 1 ha cutblocks, and 31% lower on 0.5 ha blocks, than on 2 ha blocks.