Water Tupelo in the Atchafalaya Basin Does Not Benefit from Thinning

Harvey E. Kennedy

doi:10.2737/SO-RN-298

Treesearch

Water Tupelo in the Atchafalaya Basin Does Not Benefit from Thinning

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Harvey E. Kennedy

Year:

1983

Type:

Research Note

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/SO-RN-298

Source:

Res. Note SO-298. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 3 p.

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Download (PDF 190 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/1782.pdf

Abstract

Water tupelo occurs on about 4 million acres in the South and Southeast. Its wood is exceptionally clear and defect-free and is used primarily for veneer and box lumber. Most stands are dense, stagnated, and appear to need thinning or some other type stand improvement work. But in a typical stand in the Atchafalaya Basin residual trees showed no significant growth response to thinning. Reasons could be age of stand, small live crown ratio, and yearly defoliation by the forest tent caterpillar. Greatest benefit from thinning is probably salvage of trees that would otherwise be lost through mortality.

Keywords

Nyssa aquatica, wetlands, flooding, growth, volume

Citation

Kennedy, Harvey E., Jr. 1983. Water Tupelo in the Atchafalaya Basin Does Not Benefit from Thinning. Res. Note SO-298. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 3 p.