Crop-tree release increases growth of 12-year-old yellow-poplar and black cherry

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

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-622

Treesearch

Crop-tree release increases growth of 12-year-old yellow-poplar and black cherry

Informally Refereed

Authors:

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

Year:

1989

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-622

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-622. Broomall, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p.

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Download (PDF 1.62 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/21813.pdf

Abstract

Precommercial thinning was done in a 12-year-old Appalachian hardwood sapling stand in West Virginia. Two crop-tree release techniques were used--crown touching and crown touching plus 5 feet. Results indicated that both treatments significantly increased 5-year d.b.h. growth for released yellow-poplar and black cherry crop trees. Although there was a major increase in d.b.h. growth, caution is suggested when using the crown-touching plus 5 feet treatment as butt-log quality response was not conclusive. Releasing crop trees with the crown-touching approach seems appropriate in sapling stands when applied to desirable stems on better sites

Keywords

Appalachian hardwoods, saplings, crown touching, yellow-poplar, black cherry

Citation

Lamson, Neil I.; Smith, H. Clay. 1989. Crop-tree release increases growth of 12-year-old yellow-poplar and black cherry. Res. Pap. NE-622. Broomall, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 7 p.