Soil disturbance and early vegetation response to varying intensity of energy wood harvest.

•Tree stump removal after clear-felling increased the open mineral soil cover.•Removing all stumps had no additional effects compared to 95% stump removal.•Stump removal had little impact on vegetation compared to other methods.•Effects of stump removal on soil and vegetation showed high site-dependency.•Betula spp. benefited from energy wood harvesting indicating need for tending.