Abstract
In the 1960s a series of levels-of-growing-stock studies was established in young, even-aged stands throughout the range of ponderosa pine in the western United States. Using a common study plan, installations were begun in the Black Hills of South Dakota, eastern and central Oregon, the Coconino Plateau of Arizona and the west slope of the Sierra Nevada in California. Innovative features for the time were tests of a wide range of stand densities from open-grown to densities high enough to jeopardize stand health, and to periodic rethinning of the plots back to the stand density level originally assigned. Perhaps the major reason for the longevity of this west-wide study was the foresight of the original planners in testing a range of stand densities far beyond those practiced at the time. Establishment of this range provided a demonstration of the long-term stand development of even-aged ponderosa pine applicable to many current management objectives.
Parent Publication
Citation
Oliver, William W. 2005. The west-wide ponderosa pine levels-of-growing-stock study at age 40. In: Ritchie, Martin W.; Maguire, Douglas A.; Youngblood, Andrew, tech. coordinators. Proceedings of the Symposium on Ponderosa Pine: Issues, Trends, and Management, 2004 October 18-21, Klamath Falls, OR. Gen. Tech. Rep PSW-GTR-198. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 71-80
