Pinus resinosa product potential following initial spacing and subsequent thinning

2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Penner ◽  
C. Robinson ◽  
D. Burgess

A trial was initiated in 1953 to investigate the effect of initial tree spacing on red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) volume production. Approximately three decades later, in 1982, thinning treatments were added to compare the effects of thinning and initial spacing on volume production. After 45 growing seasons from planting, total volume production (cut + standing volume) mainly was independent of initial spacing and thinning intensity except at the widest (4.3 m +) spacing treatments. Both initial spacing and thinning affected quadratic mean diameter, standing volume and basal area. Knot size was affected by initial spacing with trees at an initial spacing of 3.0 m or wider having a significant number of stems failing to meet utility pole standards due to excessive, large knots. At the time of sampling, 1998, the higher initial densities (1.2 and 1.5 m-spacing) were undergoing significant mortality and falling behind the lower initial spacings in terms of total volume production. In addition, trees at the narrowest spacing were more prone to snow and ice damage. Thinning reduced the time required to meet sawlog and utility pole specifications. The initial spacings ranging from 1.8 to 2.4 m resulted in good growth with high utility pole potential and little mortality. Lower initial spacings required thinning to prevent mortality and maintain good diameter growth. Key words: red pine, density management, volume production, product mixtures

Author(s):  
Nelson Thiffault ◽  
Michael K. Hoepting ◽  
Jeff Fera ◽  
Jean-Martin Lussier ◽  
Guy R. Larocque

We report on a 60-year-old Pinus resinosa spacing trial experiment located in Ontario (Canada) that included the combinations between six initial spacings (from 1.2–3.0 m) and the presence/absence of a commercial thinning (CT) regime, and their impacts on quadratic mean diameter (QMD) and stand volume yield. The CT regime, initiated at age 30, targeted a residual basal area (BA) of 38 m2 ha-1 after each of four entries. Without thinning, as initial spacing increased, QMD increased; gross and net volume production peaked in the 2.1–2.4 m spacings. With thinning, similar trends with spacing were evident for QMD, although piece sizes were larger and differences between spacing were lower. The immediate increase of average tree size caused by tree selection explained most of the differences in QMD between thinned and unthinned plots. Thinning to a common target BA resulted in similar standing volume across spacings. Cumulative gross yield was similar between spacings <2.1 m for both unthinned/thinned stands and decreased for thinned plots for wider spacings. Greater net volume production in thinned stands with the narrower spacings confirmed that mortality was captured. Lower gross and net production for wider spacings suggested that thinning resulted in under-utilized growing space.


1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Stiell

Fifteen-year results are presented for a thinning experiment made in 13-year-old red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), designed to compare growth of trees in 4-tree clumps with that of uniformly spaced trees, in both cases growing at 890 stems/ha. By the end of the period, average crown size, form class and height were about the same for both stands, but growth by trees in clumps had been less for dbh and for basal area and total volume per hectare. Clumped trees had a significant tendency to lean away from each other. It was concluded that control of inter-tree spacing at planting or thinning is justified to the extent that clumps of more than three adjacent trees be avoided.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 482-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanna Sutton ◽  
Richard J Staniforth ◽  
Jacques Tardif

Red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) has been described as a poor seed producer at its distribution range limit; however, few studies have verified this claim or have examined the factors influencing the reproduction of the species. In 2000, data were collected from 60 trees growing in Manitoba at the extreme northwest limit of the natural distribution range for this species. Cones per tree were counted and samples weighed and measured. Likewise, seeds per cone were counted, measured, weighed, and tested for germination. Correlation and regression analyses compared measured characteristics among cones, among individual trees, and among portions of tree crowns (north, west, south, and east portions). Cone abundance among individual trees was significantly and positively correlated with stem diameter and with basal area increment from 1 to 4 years preceding cone maturation. Cone size and fresh mass and seed abundance, mass, and germination were not significantly correlated with individual trees or crown portions; however, seed number per cone and seed size were found to be significantly and positively correlated with cone size. Germination success in red pine increased with seed mass to a certain threshold value, beyond which more than 80% of the seeds germinated no matter what their mass. Our data for 2000 and field observations for 1999 and 2001 showed that red pine at its northwest limit of distribution range produced numerous cones and viable seeds.Key words: red pine, Pinus resinosa, distribution limit, seeds, germination, cones.


1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. S. Alemdag ◽  
W. M. Stiell

Data and wood samples were collected from 155 trees in 16 high-survival, unthinned plantations of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) near Chalk River, Ontario, aged 27 to 54 years, with initial spacings of from 1.52 × 1.52 m to 4.27 × 4.27 m. Following standard weighing and drying procedures, ovendry mass values of the whole tree and or their individual components were calculated, and regressions developed to relate mass values to stem dimensions of diameter breast height (d) and total height (h), and to determine what effects the initial spacing and stand age had on those relations. Single-tree equations based simply on d and h gave satisfactory mass estimates only for the whole tree and for the component stem bark. For other components the addition of spacing and age showed successive improvements in the estimates over those provided by d2h alone.


2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 843-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Bradford ◽  
Anthony W. D’Amato ◽  
Brian J. Palik ◽  
Shawn Fraver

Growth dominance is a relatively new, simple, quantitative metric of within-stand individual tree growth patterns, and is defined as positive when larger trees in the stand display proportionally greater growth than smaller trees, and negative when smaller trees display proportionally greater growth than larger trees. We examined long-term silvicultural experiments in red pine ( Pinus resinosa Ait.) to characterize how stand age, thinning treatments (thinned from above, below, or both), and stocking levels (residual basal area) influence stand-level growth dominance through time. In stands thinned from below or from both above and below, growth dominance was not significantly different from zero at any age or stocking level. Growth dominance in stands thinned from above trended from negative at low stocking levels to positive at high stocking levels and was positive in young stands. Growth dominance in unthinned stands was positive and increased with age. These results suggest that growth dominance provides a useful tool for assessing the efficacy of thinning treatments designed to reduce competition between trees and promote high levels of productivity across a population, particularly among crop trees.


1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 480-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Stiell

A plantation of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) produced heavy cone crops in 1970 and 1984. Established at 6.5 × 6.5 m, the stand was 18-years old in 1970 and still open-grown; crowns were closed before 1984. Cone production at the two dates was compared for 28 trees. While total production was similar for 1970 and 1984, distribution within the sample differed. Although 18% of the trees maintained their rank in 1984, some large changes in production ranking took place from one crop to the next. Despite a tendency at both dates for crop size to increase with current dbh, exceptions were evident and the largest trees did not necessarily bear the most cones. Crop size in 1970 was the variable most closely associate with 1984 crop size and was significantly correlated with it independently 1984 dbh. High cone production did not seem to depress tree growth, based on a comparison of 1970-72 basal area increment of more versus less prolific cone bearers. Before a stand has borne its first good cone crop, expectations for highest yields would have to be based on tree size. For subsequent crops, previous production by individuals would be the best guide. The two top cone bearers far surpassed all others in both crop years and would be the first individuals selected for seed trees in a seed production area.


2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2436-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie E Tibbels ◽  
Allen Kurta

We investigated the use of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantations by bats in the Manistee National Forest of Michigan. Using ultrasonic detectors, we compared the activity of bats in the interior of stands of red pine and in openings within the stands, both before and after thinning (mean time after thinning = 7 years). Bat activity was more than 20 times greater in small openings within thinned and unthinned stands than within the stands themselves, and bat activity was associated with greater insect abundance in openings. Thinning lead to a significant change in structural complexity, as shown by a 39% decrease in basal area and a 45% decline in tree density, although these changes did not lead to an increase in use of red pine stands by bats. Red pine plantations, even after thinning, most likely are too structurally complex and have low insect abundance, making them a largely unsuitable habitat for bats.


2001 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 721-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. Parker ◽  
Daniel C. Dey ◽  
Steven G. Newmaster ◽  
Ken A. Elliott ◽  
Eric Boysen

The effects of thinning on growth and survival of white pine (Pinus strobus L.), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), and red oak (Quercus rubra L.), and understory plant diversity were examined in a young red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation. Five years after thinning, seedling diameter, height, and stem volume were positively correlated with thinning intensity and the size of canopy openings. Percent survival did not differ among thinning treatments, but was significantly higher in white ash and white pine than red oak. Understory vegetation included 113 species, with species richness increasing with thinning intensity and proximity to neighbouring plant communities. Thinning to create relatively large canopy openings in combination with underplanting can promote the natural succession of young pine plantations to native forest species. Keywords: direct seeding, plant diversity, natural regeneration, red oak, restoration, white ash, white pine


1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. M. Stiell

Part of a 13-year-old plantation of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) was thinned to leave stems uniformly distributed throughout the stand, and another part was thinned to leave the same number of stems but in equally spaced 4-tree clumps. After 10 years the clumped trees had smaller live crowns (owing to more intense shade on the inside of the clumps), reflected in lower growth in d.b.h. and basal area per hectare, and higher form class. No significant difference between treatments was found in volume per hectare, but it was concluded that 5-tree or larger clumps would result in reduced wood production.


1975 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
S. Popovich

This paper presents an evaluation of site quality based on the relationship between volume per square foot of basal area and age of plantation, for planted red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) in Quebec.A graph for the three site index classes is included with indication for its use. There is a table showing the values of volume per square foot of basal area as a function of average height and average form quotient of a stand, permitting a rapid evaluation of stand volume of a plantation. Finally, several factors affecting growth and yield of red pine plantations for various sites in Quebec are discussed.


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