Precommercial crop-tree release increases diameter growth of Appalachian hardwood saplings

H. Clay Smith; Neil I. Lamson

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-534

Treesearch

Precommercial crop-tree release increases diameter growth of Appalachian hardwood saplings

Informally Refereed

Authors:

H. Clay Smith, Neil I. Lamson

Year:

1983

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-534

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-534. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiement Station. 7p.

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Download (PDF 1.73 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/15085.pdf

Abstract

Codominant seedling-origin crop trees 25 to 39 feet tall in even-aged, precommercial-size hardwood stands were released in West Virginia. Trees were located on two sites: good oak site index 75 and fair oak site 63. Species studied were black cherry, sweet birch, and yellow-poplar. Three-year results indicated that the trees generally responded to release; the 3-year dbh growth of released trees was 0.2 to 0.4 inch greater than that of unreleased trees. Height growth did not increase.

Keywords

Release, crop trees, Appalachian hardwoods, dbh response

Citation

Smith, H. Clay; Lamson, Neil I. 1983. Precommercial crop-tree release increases diameter growth of Appalachian hardwood saplings. Res. Pap. NE-534. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiement Station. 7p.