Applied Research

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Applied Research Forest Management

• Dan Miller
• Silviculture Manager
• Potlatch Corporation
• Lewiston, Idaho

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Research Types

• Basic research
• Applied research
• (Research application)

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Basic Research

• Discovers new things makes the bricks
• Often lab coat stuff
• Rewards
• Fame
• Fortune
• Promotions

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Applied Research(Calibration Research)

• Based on basic research findings builds with
  the bricks
• Woods work, dirt under the fingernails
• Rewards
• None of the above
• Frost bite
• Get to see the application

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Research Application

• Extension forestry
• Using applied research findings to improve
  management decisions
• Not really considered real researchers
• Rewards
• Knowing you helped someone make better decisions
• (They get the reward for making the decision)

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Research DataWhat do we look for?

• Does a treatment work?
• How well does it work?
• When should I use it (thresholds)?

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Vegetation Control
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Vegetation Control
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Hardpan Soils

• Problem High GF mortality
• Know What species to manage
• Need What density (threshold)?
• By species?
• By rooting depth?

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How do we get data?

• Brain picking find out who knows and ask
• Buy it
• Consultants
• Fund research

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Funding Research

• Find researcher with expertise
• Expensive Benefits of coop projects
• Share cost
• More can buy more
• Control objectives get what we want (we hope)

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How does Potlatch use applied research
information?

• Applied Research
• Management
  Guidelines
• Research Application

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Fertilizer Guidelines

• IFTNC early data preliminary N response
• Potlatch early guidelines
• N only
• Apply to healthy stands
• High of DF

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Management Need

• Fertilize more acres make more
• Research data needed
• Expand to other species
• Include more sites

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IFTNC

• Increased plot installation more species, more
  sites
• North Idaho Nutrition Guidelines by Rock Type
• Fertilizer prescriptions by rock types
• Based on mineralogy and research data
• Tied to geology maps

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IFTNC - Potlatch Interaction

• PC sent IFTNC a list of our rock types
• IFTNC grouped our rock types into categories
  based on mineralogy
• IFTNC developed fertilizer prescriptions based on
  mineralogy and expected response
• About 50 of PC land fell into the dont
  fertilize category.

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Fertilizer Screening Tests

• Potlatch contracted with IFTNC to test several
  fertilizer mixes on several species on the dont
  fertilize rock types.
• Preliminary results NKSB blend produced
  preliminary growth response.
• Potlatch uses preliminary data to expand
  fertilizer program.

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Preliminary Data Issues

• Researchers point of view
• Seeking The answer
• Statistical and professional certainty
• Research must pass peer review
• Results should hold up in the real world

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Preliminary Data Issues

• Forest managers point of view
• Make decisions daily based on imperfect knowledge
  coin flip
• Cant wait until we know everything to do
  anything
• Forest management moves on daily Do nothing
  is a management decision with implications as
  serious as Do something.

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Preliminary Data Risks

• To the Researcher
• Additional data can result in a vastly different
  answer than the preliminary data indicated.
• Armillaria and potassium research
• Blister rust control
• If the answer changes your credibility may take a
  hit

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Preliminary Data Risks To the
Forest Manager

• Desirable
• Things work as planned
• Projects are started sooner and make more
• Undesirable
• Poor or negative response - Square death
• Unhappy boss, etc.
• Waste lots of

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The Solution

• Risk analysis
• How confident am I in the data?
• What am I risking if it is wrong?
• Is it worth the risk?
• Managers realize imperfect data make for
  imperfect decisions results
• Imperfect decisions may be better than decisions
  made without the data.

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Preliminary DataThe Solution

• Risk analysis
• How confident am I in the data?
• What am I risking if it is wrong?
• Is it worth the risk?
• Managers realize imperfect data make for
  imperfect decisions results
• Imperfect decisions may be better than decisions
  made without the data.
• The sun comes up and life goes on in the woods
  and do nothing is indeed a management decision
  with

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The Result

• The sun comes up and life goes on in the woods.
• And Do nothing is indeed a management decision
  with results every bit as serious as Do
  something.

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