Assessing the resprouting vigour of an Italian coppice stand after alternative felling methods

Coppice management is attracting renewed interest because it ideally fulfils many of the demands placed on modern forestry, including wood production, soil protection, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Furthermore, coppice with standards represents a two-in-one approach that, similar to agroforestry, aims to run two silvicultural systems (coppice and high forest) on one and the same place. For the regeneration, coppice largely relies on the spontaneous resprouting of the remaining stumps. This sophisticated system aims to derive maximum use of synergetic natural forces. For that reason, it is efficient but work intensive at the same time, especially at the time of harvesting the multi-stem coppice layer with small dimensioned trees. Hence, to make the system more profitable, mechanization is required. This study endeavoured to clarify if fully mechanized procedures might replace the traditional motor manual variant. Two alternatives were tested: an excavator mounted disc saw and an excavator mounted hydraulic shear. The target parameter was the resprouting vigour of the stumps after cutting, observed over seven years in a typical central Italian coppice with standards. The test coppice was composed by oak, maple and ash. The study found no differences between the treatment alternatives, especially when accounting for the effects of microtopography and tree species. Although under the threshold for significance, the disc saw entailed a higher mortality rate, which was compensated by enhanced shoot dimensions.