Stem-quality changes on young, mixed upland hardwoods after crop-tree release

David L. Sonderman; David L. Sonderman

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-597

Treesearch

Stem-quality changes on young, mixed upland hardwoods after crop-tree release

Informally Refereed

Authors:

David L. Sonderman, David L. Sonderman

Year:

1987

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-597

Source:

RP-NE 597. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p.

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Download (PDF 1.08 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/21771.pdf

Abstract

Relative change of several types of stem defects was studied over an 8-year period to determine the effects of crop-tree thinning on the development of tree quality. Special interest was given to changes in relative quality associated with defect indicators of crop trees compared to trees in unthinned plots. The relative quality classes of the crop trees went from "poor" to "medium" for red maple and "poor" to "good" for aspen. The oaks stayed in the poor classification and yellow-poplar remained unchanged in the medium classification. Results showed a decrease in the number of epicormic branches on the crop trees, and an increase in the size of live limbs.

Keywords

stand density, thinning, stem quality

Citation

Sonderman, David L. 1987. Stem-quality changes on young, mixed upland hardwoods after crop-tree release. RP-NE 597. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p.