almost equal amounts under different silvicultural treat- 

 ments in the Douglas-fir/white spirea h.t., though occur- 

 rence in clearcuts was slightly higher than occurrences 

 under other treatments. However, in the grand fir/blue 

 huckleberry h.t., more than half of the Douglas-fir seed- 

 lings were found in clearcuts. In grand fir/mountain 

 maple, more seedlings were found under shelterwoods. In 

 northwestern Montana, Douglas-fir seed dispersed up to 

 264 ft (80 m) (Boe 1953). Boyd (1969) found that most 

 seedlings occurred in clearcuts in northern Idaho though 

 slightly fewer were found in shelterwood cuts, while Day 

 and Duffy (1963), working in Canada, recommend shelter- 

 wood cutting. 



Scarification treatments favored Douglas-fir seedlings in 

 both grand fir habitat types. However, broadcast burning 

 was most beneficial in the Douglas-fir/white spirea h.t. 

 Moderately efficient seedbeds were moss mats in Douglas- 

 fir/white spirea and grand fir/mountain maple h.t., residual 

 duff in grand fir/mountain maple h.t., and rotten wood in 

 grand fir/blue huckleberry h.t. Roe (1952) found most 

 seedlings on mineral soil, but Day and Duffy (1963) re- 

 ported that moss mats and decayed wood were better 

 seedbeds than mineral soil. In the Douglas-fir/white spirea 

 h.t., white spirea, ceanothus {Ceanothus velutinus), slash, 

 and bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) were moderately effi- 

 cient cover. Blue huckleberry, mountain maple, and pachis- 

 tima (Pachistima myrsinites) were moderately efficient in 

 grand fir/mountain maple h.t., and thimbleberry and 

 pachistima were very efficient in grand fir/blue huckle- 

 berry h.t. Most seedlings were found under heavy canopy 

 cover. On other areas, seedlings were found more com- 

 monly under light or moderate cover (Roe 1952) or no 

 cover (Day and Duffy 1963). 



Engelmann Spruce and Grand Fir— Both Engelmann 

 spruce and grand fir occurred only in the grand fir habitat 

 types. Engelmann spruce seedlings were predominate 

 under seed-tree cuts in grand fir/mountain maple h.t. and 

 under shelterwoods in grand fir/blue huckleberry h.t. 

 Squillace (1954), working in Montana, suggested that 

 openings of 1,188 ft (362 m) to 1,320 ft (402 m) are max- 

 imum size for obtaining good Engelmann spruce regenera- 

 tion. However, Alexander (1969) in Colorado reported that 

 most seed fell within 198 ft (60 m) of the seed source even 

 though seed was dispersed as far as 396 ft (121 m) during 

 years of moderate seed production. Ronco (1973) found 

 that most seed fell within 99 ft (30 m). Alexander and 

 others (1986) recommended that clearcut openings should 

 be no larger than 450 ft (137 m). Roe (1952) states that 

 clearcutting should only be used on north or east aspects 

 when Engelmann spruce seedlings are desired; shelter- 

 wood cuts should be used on south or west aspects. Boyd 

 (1969) found that more seedlings occurred in clearcuts in 

 northern Idaho than in seed-tree cuts or shelterwood cuts. 



All seedlings were found on sites with scarification, 

 predominately light scarification. Roe (1952), Boyd and 

 Deitschman (1969), Smith (1954), and Fiedler and others 

 (1985) all reported that most Engelmann spruce seedlings 

 occurred on scarified sites with exposed mineral soil. 

 Day (1964) and Day and Duffy (1963) found that moss and 

 decayed wood were better seedbeds than was mineral soil. 

 In central Idaho, moss mats were very efficient seedbeds 



in all three habitat types. Most seedlings occurred under 

 heavy shade in grand fir/mountain maple h.t., and under 

 light shade in grand fir/blue huckleberry h.t. Thimble- 

 berry, Sitka alder, and mountain ash (Sorbus scopulina) 

 were very efficient covers in grand fir/mountain maple h.t. 

 Thimbleberry, Engelmann spruce, and Scouler willow 

 (Salix scouleriana) were very efficient or moderately effi- 

 cient in grand fir/blue huckleberry h.t. 



Most grand fir seedlings were found under shelterwoods 

 in grand fir/mountain maple h.t. and in clearcuts in grand 

 fir/blue huckleberry h.t. Boyd (1969) in northern Idaho 

 found more grand fir seedlings in seed-tree cutting units 

 than in clearcuts or shelterwood cuts. Seedling occurrence 

 was highest on scarified sites in both habitat types. Resi- 

 dual duff was a very efficient seedbed in grand fir/moun- 

 tain maple h.t., and rotten wood was very efficient in 

 grand fir/blue huckleberry h.t. More seedlings occurred in 

 moderate or heavy shade. Mountain maple and russet- 

 buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) were very efficient 

 covers in grand fir/mountain maple h.t., and thimbleberry 

 was very efficient in grand fir/blue huckleberry h.t. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



Following are recommendations for the observed species 

 in the Douglas-fir/white spirea, grand fir/mountain maple, 

 and grand fir/blue huckleberry habitat types in central 

 Idaho. 



Douglas-Fir/White Spirea Habitat Type 



Lodgepole Pine— Because lodgepole pine is mostly non- 

 serotinous in central Idaho (Steele and others 1981) care 

 must be taken to maintain the species' residual overstory. 

 Small clearcuts, seed-tree cuts, and shelterwood cuts can 

 be used. All sites should be lightly scarified. Complete 

 removal of competing vegetation is not necessary because 

 lodgepole pine can establish in moderate shade. 



Ponderosa Pine— Ponderosa pine is a heavy-seeded 

 species (Minore 1979), so seed-tree cuts and shelterwoods 

 are effective. Light scarification is desired, but seedlings 

 will establish on heavily scarified sites under bitterbrush 

 and big sagebrush. Seedlings will also establish in moder- 

 ate shade under ceanothus, which often occurs after 

 broadcast burning. 



Douglas-fir— Any silvicultural treatment can be used to 

 establish Douglas-fir seedlings. However, clearcuts should 

 be kept small to ensure adequate seed dispersal from the 

 surrounding stand. Broadcast burning or scarification can 

 both be effective. On scarified sites, scattered slash can be 

 used to protect seedlings. 



Grand Fir/Mountain Maple Habitat Type 



Lodgepole Pine— The recommendations for lodgepole 

 pine in grand fir/mountain maple h.t. are the same as 

 those for lodgepole pine in the Douglas-fir/white spirea h.t. 



Western Larch— Lightly scarified seed-tree cuts are 

 useful to regenerate western larch. Seedlings will establish 

 well under moderate shade of blue huckleberry, currant, 

 and Utah honeysuckle. 



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