Does shelterwood regeneration on natural Scots pine sites under changing environmental conditions represent a viable alternative to traditional clear-cut management?

Abstract In the context of climate change, the crucial question is how silvicultural treatments should be modified, in order to reach favourable conditions for initiating natural regeneration of forest stands. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of clear-cutting, basal area reduction (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) and soil preparation (milling cutter, forestry mulcher, brush rake and control variant without soil preparation) on the regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the conditions of natural pine sites (Northern Bohemia). Seedling numbers, heights and crown widths were recorded on transects representing all combinations of stand densities treatments and soil preparations variants three years after the silvicultural operations. Seed traps were installed to determine the numbers of seeds from 2016 to 2018. Soil water potential (Delmhorst Instrument Company) and soil temperature (sensor Pt1000 A–class sensors, EMS Brno) were measured. All variants of soil preparation had higher numbers of seedlings compared to control variant. When comparing stand densities, total numbers of seedlings were the highest in stand density 0.4 (cutter 32,402 ± 34,208 S.D. ind.ha−1; mulcher 26,832 ± 24,088 S.D. ind.ha−1; rake 24,496 ± 22,913 S.D. ind.ha−1). This stand density was also beneficial with respect to seed numbers, seedling characteristics and soil moisture and temperature characteristics. We conclude that shelterwood regeneration on natural Scots pine sites is promising silvicultural approach and may become an important tool in mitigating negative effects of climate change in the future.