Thinning cherry-maple stands in West Virginia: 5-year results

Neil I. Lamson; H. Clay Smith; H. Clay Smith

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-615

Treesearch

Thinning cherry-maple stands in West Virginia: 5-year results

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Neil I. Lamson, H. Clay Smith, H. Clay Smith

Year:

1988

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-615

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-615. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p.

Download (PDF 1.48 MB)

Download (PDF 1.48 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/21800.pdf

Abstract

In northern West Virginia, 60-year-old cherry-maple stands were thinned to 75,60, and 45 percent relative stand density. Analysis of 5-year growth data showed that basal-area growth was not reduced by thinning. Cubic-foot and board-foot volume growth decreased slightly. Individual-tree growth of all trees, dominant/codominant trees, and the 50 largest diameter trees per acre was significantly increased by thinning. Dominantkodominant trees in the 45 percent plots grew about 0.42 inch more in 5 years than those in the control plots. Optimum stand density probably is less than 60 percent relative stand density.

Keywords

thinning, diameter increment, volume increment, Allegheny hardwoods

Citation

Lamson, Neil I.; Smith, H. Clay. 1988. Thinning cherry-maple stands in West Virginia: 5-year results. Res. Pap. NE-615. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p.