Seedfall studies in red spruce

Seedfall from the 1966 cone crop in a 75-year-old red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) stand in central New Brunswick was monitored with traps. The seedfall per hectare over a 12-month period was 54.8 million, weighing 146 kg and averaged 55% soundness. About 76% of the seed fell in the fall. This seed had a higher percentage soundness than that falling later. Fall also contained all the insect-filled seeds collected, but these constituted only 1.5% of the total seedfall. The fall of pollen cones associated with the seed crop weighed 152 kg/ha. The seedfall was higher than that reported for other North American spruce species. Inferences for biomass and litterfall studies, and for natural and artificial regeneration are briefly discussed.