Effects of residual stand density on growth and volume production in even-aged red maple stands

2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry F Strong ◽  
Gayne G Erdmann

The effects of five residual stand densities (9.2, 13.8, 16.1, 18.4 m2/ha, and an unthinned control (27.2 m2/ha)) on10-year stand and crop tree growth and bole quality were studied in an even-aged red maple stand in Michigan. A secondary treatment of removing the understory trees (5-10 cm DBH) was applied on half the plots. Diameter growth was significantly greater in all cutting treatments than in the control. Ten-year diameter growth in the heaviest cut treatment was nearly three times that of the control. The interaction between understory removal treatments and density treatments was significant for net basal area growth. Ingrowth in the heavier cut treatments accounted for a significant portion of net basal area growth in the plots without understory removal. Mortality was highest in the control and lowest in the heavier cut treatments. Epicormic branching significantly reduced clear bole length of crop trees in the heavier cut treatments, especially when the understory was removed. For these reasons, a more conservative first entry thinning level of about 17-18 m²/ha without controlling the understory is recommended for even-aged red maple stands.

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas M. Stone

A 48-year-old stand of Acersaccharum Marsh. and A. rubrum L. in northeastern Wisconsin, U.S.A., was fertilized with 168 kg/ha (150 lb/acre) of elemental N, P, N + P, or N + P + K in May 1966. Trees were stratified by crown class and initial diameter. Ten-year diameter and basal area growth were evaluated by analysis of covariance with initial plot basal area (IBA) as the covariate and by stepwise multiple regression in hierarchal models. Both diameter and basal area growth were influenced greatly by initial diameter and stand density. IBA accounted for 65% of the variation in diameter growth and 49% of the variation in basal area growth.Fertilization decreased diameter growth and increased mortality of suppressed trees. Pole-sized maples in intermediate and codominant crown positions tended to respond to fertilization with N and N + P but the differences were not statistically significant. Dominant trees grew more than did intermediates or codominants, but fertilization response could not be evaluated. Treatment effects were confounded by widely varied stand and site conditions. Results illustrate conditions likely to be encountered in fertilizing northern hardwoods on an operational scale.


2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 898-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Bédard ◽  
Zoran Majcen

Eight experimental blocks were established in the southern part of Québec to determine the growth response of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) dominated stands after single tree selection cutting. Each block contained eight control plots (no cut) and eight cut plots. The intensity of removal varied between 21% and 32% and residual basal area was between 18.2 and 21 m2/ha. Ten year net annual basal area growth rates in cut plots (0.35 ± 0.04 m2/ha) were significantly higher (p = 0.0022) than in control plots (0.14 ± 0.06 m2/ha). The treatment particularly favoured diameter growth of stems between 10 and 30 cm in dbh, whose crowns were released by removing neighbouring trees. These results show that if the same net growth rate is maintained in the next decade most of the cut plots will reach their pre-cut basal area in about 20 years after cutting. Key words: northern hardwoods, selection cutting, uneven aged silviculture, basal area growth, diameter growth


1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 534-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter T. Sprinz ◽  
Harold E. Burkhart

Empirical and theoretical relationships between tree crown, stem, and stand characteristics for unthinned stands of planted loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) were investigated. Readily measured crown variables representing the amount of photosynthetic area or distance of the translocation process were identified. Various functions of these variables were defined and evaluated with regard to efficacy in predicting stem and stand attributes. Linear models were used to evaluate the contribution of the crown variables in predicting stem and stand characteristics. The stem attributes modeled included basal area, basal area growth, diameter at breast height, and diameter growth, while the stand attributes modeled were basal area, basal area growth, arithmetic mean diameter, and mean diameter growth. Crown diameter and crown projection area were particularly important in contributing to model fit and prediction of individual stem characteristics, while sum of crown projection areas was found especially important in stand level equations. As these crown measures developed over time so did corresponding stem and stand attributes.


1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Cattelino ◽  
Charles A. Becker ◽  
Leslie G. Fuller

Abstract Dendrometer bands are common tools used when accurate measurement of tree-diameter growth or basal-area growth is desired. This common type of dendrometer consists of a metal band placed around the stem of the tree with reading scales scribed on the overlapping portions of the band. Homemade dendrometer bands can be made and installed efficiently and economically. Complete instructions together with a description of materials necessary for the construction and placement of dendrometer bands are presented. Evaluation of dendrometer bands in a field setting is also discussed. North. J. Appl. For. 3:73-75, June 1986.


1991 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Ward

Abstract Thirty pairs of thinned and unthinned plots in roadside fuelwood areas, and 12 plots in each of 2 commercial cordwood thinnings were located in Connecticut oak sawtimber stands. Thinning during 1969-82 reduced stocking on plots an average of 30%. Subsequent stand basal area growth, cubic-foot growth, and board-foot growth were similar among all treatments. There was no decrease in stem quality nor increase in epicormic branching associated with thinning. Thinning mature oak sawtimber stands provides forest managers an opportunity to capture volume of declining trees while increasing growth on residual oak sawtimber. North. J. Appl. For. 8(3):104-107.


1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Hibbs ◽  
William H. Emmingham ◽  
Michael C. Bondi

Abstract Responses of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) to thinning were observed at two sites in the Oregon Coast Range. Five years after thinning in the 20-yr-old stand, mortality was observed only in control plots. Diameter growth of crop trees increased up to 54% with thinning. Trends toward less height growth at wider spacings and increased growth in basal area compared to controls appeared to be developing in thinned plots. Ten years after thinning in the 14-yr-old stand, the problems of flashback seen at year 5 in the chemically thinned plots had largely been overcome. Reduction in height growth in all thinned plots had been overcome. Net basal area growth was up to 60% greater in thinned treatments. Thinning appears effective for 10 to 15 yr in the narrow spacings and 15 to 20 yr in the wide spacings. West. J. Appl. For. 10(1): 17-23.


2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Meadows ◽  
J.C.G. Goelz

Abstract A 21 ac, 28-yr-old water oak (Quercus nigra L.) plantation, on an old-field loessial site in north Louisiana, was subjected to three thinning treatments during the winter of 1987–1988: (1) no thinning, (2) light thinning to 180 dominant and codominant trees/ac, and (3) heavy thinning to 90 dominant and codominant trees/ac. Prior to thinning, the plantation averaged 356 trees/ac and 86 ft2/ac of basal area, with a quadratic mean diameter of 6.7 in. Thinning reduced stand basal areas to 52 and 34 ft2/ac for the light and heavy thinning treatments, respectively. After 5 yr, both thinning treatments increased diameter growth rates of individual residual trees, both when all trees were considered and when the analysis was limited to dominant and codominant trees only. Neither thinning treatment affected either stand-level volume growth or total yield 5 yr after treatment. However, thinning distributed total volume growth among fewer trees, such that, when trees of all crown classes were considered in the analysis, average annual volume growth per tree increased with increasing intensity of thinning. Both basal area growth and volume growth following light thinning appear to be sufficient to promote rapid recovery of the stand to a fully stocked condition in the near future. In contrast, heavy thinning reduced density to a severely understocked condition that will prohibit optimum occupancy of the site for a long period. Among the treatments evaluated in this study, light thinning produced the most desirable combination of individual-tree diameter growth and stand-level basal area growth. South. J. Appl. For. 25(1):31–39.


1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-222
Author(s):  
Arlyn W. Perkey ◽  
Kenneth L. Carvell

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document