Crown release increases growth of crop trees

Neil I. Lamson; H. Clay Smith; Arlyn W. Perkey; Samuel M. Brock; Samuel M. Brock

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-635

Treesearch

Crown release increases growth of crop trees

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Neil I. Lamson, H. Clay Smith, Arlyn W. Perkey, Samuel M. Brock, Samuel M. Brock

Year:

1990

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-635

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-635. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.

Download (PDF 2.19 MB)

Download (PDF 2.19 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/21827.pdf

Abstract

Two Appalachian hardwood stands in north-central West Virginia were thinned. The principal species were red oak, yellow-poplar, and chestnut oak. For both stands the site index for northern red oak averaged 75 feet. An areawide thinning using "basal-area control" was applied to a 54-yearold stand while specific crop trees were selected and released in a 12-yearold stand. Individual-tree &year growth of codominant trees and crop trees were related to number of sides of the crown that was free-to-grow. Codominant trees and crop trees grew about 25 percent more in d.b.h. than similar trees released on one or two sides of the crown. For best diameter-growth response, a tree should be released on at least three and preferably four sides of the crown.

Keywords

thinnings, crop trees, Appalachian hardwood, diameter growth

Citation

Lamson, Neil I.; Smith, H. Clay; Perkey, Arlyn W.; Brock, Samuel M. 1990. Crown release increases growth of crop trees. Res. Pap. NE-635. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.