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Vegetative growth of lingonberries was observed on plants growing in four unsterilized, native-Alaskan substrates: coarsely-ground Lemeta peat, Fairbanks silt loam soil, a mixture of peat and silt loam soil and washed Chena very fine sandy loam soil. Following three growing seasons, plants in the peat treatment showed the greatest increase in vegetative growth as revealed by the number of new stems produced, stem length and dry weight per plant. Leaf size did not differ among substrate treatments. The leaves on plants grown in the peat substrate remained green throughout the entire experiment. The leaves of plants in all other treatments showed varying degrees of chlorosis followed by reddening and necrosis. Differences in concentration of N, P, K, Mn, Fe, Zn and Al in whole-plant tissue samples were recorded. The results indicate lingonberries should be grown in a peat substrate for maximum growth and dry matter accumulation.

Regeneration surveys on nine logged areas in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska indicated low levels of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench.) Voss.) regeneration. In view of the limited field data, Monte Carlo simulation methods were used to estimate the probabilities of obtaining various levels of white spruce stocking by the 1st and 10th years after logging. The simple model developed, combined the irregular seed production of white spruce with a declining seedbed availability to estimate quadrat stocking (4-m2 plots). Results of simulation experiments indicated that the probability of achieving greater than 40% stocking with white spruce by the 10th postharvest year was 0.63. This result was sensitive to initial postharvest seedbed conditions and the frequency of good to excellent seed years and nonspruce revegetation rates. Both the field data and simulation results indicate the prospects of obtaining adequate white spruce restocking after timber harvest by unassisted natural regeneration were poor. However, simulation results also indicate that seedbed management may increase the probabilities of regeneration success significantly.

Fall seed-dispersing species, birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), alder (Alnuscrispa (Ait.) Pursh), and black spruce Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), and summer-seeding species, aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.), balsam poplar (P. balsamifera L.), feltleaf willow (Salixalaxensis (Anderss.) Cov.), Scouler willow (Salixscouleriana Barratt), and Bebb willow (Salixbebbiana Sarg.), were artificially sown on seedbeds created by experimental burning in the upland black spruce/feather moss forest types in interior Alaska. At least 40% of the seeds dispersed in the fall had germinated before dispersal of summer seeds began. Germination occurred on moderately and severely burned seedbeds but not on scorched and lightly burned surfaces. Seedling survival occurred almost exclusively on severely burned surfaces. After 3 years, 82% of the plots containing some severely burned surfaces and sown with seeds from species seeded in the fall were stocked whereas 32% of the plots sown with species seeded in the spring and with the same seedbed condition were stocked.