Effect of thinning on growth and potential quality of young white oak crop trees

Martin E. Dale; David L. Sonderman

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-539

Treesearch

Effect of thinning on growth and potential quality of young white oak crop trees

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Martin E. Dale, David L. Sonderman

Year:

1984

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-539

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-539. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiement Station. 12p.

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Abstract

Relative change in several types of stem defects were studied over a 16-year period to determine the effect of thinning intensity on the development of tree quality. We studied quality changes on sample white oak crop trees that were selected from five density levels created in a 1961 thinning. Branch-related and other stem defects on the butt 16-foot section were studied from stereo pairs of photographs taken in 1961 and 1977. The number of live and dead branches greater than 0.3 inch in basal diameter increased on all density plots. Except for extremely heavy thinnings, those below C-level stocking, tree quality was not markedly affected by residual stand density.

Keywords

Silviculture, thinning, bole quality

Citation

Dale, Martin E.; Sonderman, David L. 1984. Effect of thinning on growth and potential quality of young white oak crop trees. Res. Pap. NE-539. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiement Station. 12p.