SOME MOR HUMUS, REGENERATION AND NUTRITION PROBLEMS AND PRACTICES IN NORTH SWEDEN

The forests of North Sweden and Canada's Boreal Forest are very similar in climate, composition and soils. This paper summarizes briefly some of the current ideas and findings relating to mor humus and soils in North Sweden, how they are used as a basis for silvicultural practice and what are some of their implications for Canadian forest practice. Emphasis has been placed on the problems of releasing organic nitrogen reserves in inactive mor humus layers of old spruce and pine forests. The reasons behind this and the problems associated with the use of clear-cutting, controlled burning, scarification and fertilization are outlined.Since similar responses and problems can be expected in Canada, it is concluded that in using these techniques in the solution of mor humus and associated regeneration problems, careful note should be taken of management experience in North Sweden.