Cutting a young-growth, mixed-conifer stand to California Forest Practice Act Standards

Abstract

Cutting by the minimum standard of the Rules of California's North Sierra Pine Forest District was evaluated for effects on species composition, seed fall, regeneration, and residual growth at the Challenge Experimental Forest, central California. Cutting removed 74 percent of the stand basal area and 94 percent of the merchantable volume. The heavy cut changed the species composition from primarily ponderosa pine to hardwoods and tolerant conifers. Sound seed was deficient in quantity, although trees in the cut blocks produced more seed than did trees in the control. Regeneration of ponderosa pine was less than that of hardwoods and tolerant conifers. Basal area growth was greater in the cut blocks for all species and diameter classes. About half of this growth in both cut and control was lost in tree mortality. After 5 years, the cut blocks were understocked with mostly slow-growing, currently less valuable species. The minimum standard cutting did not utilize the full potential of the site.

Citation

McDonald, Philip M. 1973. Cutting a young-growth, mixed-conifer stand to California Forest Practice Act Standards. Res. Paper PSW-89. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 16 p