The probability of root disease on the Lolo National Forest, Montana

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Root disease killed trees in 33% of 579 stands on the Lolo National Forest, Montana. Of all the commercial forest land, 123 255 ha, or 18.8%, was diseased; 1.2% was in nonstocked patches. The statistical method CART (classification and regression trees) was used to construct a decision tree to place stands into one of four classes, based on the probability that the stands contained trees that were killed by root disease. High probabilities of root disease were found for stands in the western hemlock and grand fir habitat type series (0.59) and in other habitat types on moderate slopes with southerly aspects (0.48). Low probabilities of disease were found on non-hemlock and non grand fir types on northerly aspects (0.15) and southerly aspects that were on either flat or very rugged terrain (0.17). Both Phellinusweirii (Murr.) Gilb. and Armillaria sp., probably A. ostoyae (Romagna) Herick, were frequently associated with mortality in hemlock, grand fir, and cedar habitat type series. Only A. ostoyae was common on Douglas-fir and subalpine fir habitat type series, however. Selective harvest and fire control in these two classes may contribute to the extensive root disease mortality found in Lolo National Forest at present.