Wild pear tree and wild service tree pure and mixed plantations for high-quality timber production

DELARD, C.; DEL RÍO, R.; LOEWE-MUÑOZ, V.; BALZARINI, M.

Congreso; XXV IUFRO World Congress; 2019

Wild service (Sorbus torminalis) and wild pear (Pyrus pyraster) are sporadic species with highly priced timber for noble uses (cabinet-making, musical instruments). However, adequate management is necessary to obtain valuable logs. Pure and mixed plantations of both species were compared to explore the benefits of species associations on productivity and timber quality. Growth, straightness and survival were measured during 12 years. Besides both monocultures, five mixtures were tested: T1: Pyrus pyraster + Sorbus torminalis; T2: mixture incorporating one arboreal N-fixing companion (T1+ Italian alder (Alnus cordata)); and three associations including shrub nurse species (T3: T1+ hazelnut (Corylus avellana), T4: T1+dwarf elderberry (Sambucus ebulus) (and T5: T1+black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)). Wild pear in T2 presented the highest height (10.7 m), with statistical differences from the monoculture (7.2 m). The monoculture presented 47% of straight trees, whereas the association including Sambucus ebulus showed a higher proportion of straight trees (57%). Wild pear survival was high in all associations (~80%), except for T1 (60%). Wild service also presented the highest height (8.9 m) in T2, with significant differences from the monoculture (5.8 m); the same effect was recorded for DBH (10.0 vs 6.5 cm). The monoculture presented 38% of straight trees, and T1 50%. The highest wild service tree survival occurred in T2 (67%), being 58% in monoculture. Both species are suitable for being planted for quality timber production, with higher growth in associations including Italian alder than in monoculture. Some companion species favored wild pear and wild service tree growth, vigor and survival.