Silvicultural potential for pre-comercial treatment in northern forest type

Abstract

It is proposed that pre-commercial thinning of young northern hardwood, oak, white pine and spruce-fir stands be carried out using appropriate stocking guides to regulate stand density. Thinning should be carried out when stands are-between 1" and 2" dbh. Pruning of eastern white pine is recommended, while pruning of spruce and yellow birch seems feasible, markets for the better grades must be present. Application of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilizer does not appear to warrant general use at present. More research is required to determine growth response of the various species on different sites to N, P, K application. Present high cost of nitrogen fertilizers appears to be a major limiting factor to their use.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the symposium on intensive culture of northern forest types

Citation

Hocker, H. W.,Jr. 1977. Silvicultural potential for pre-comercial treatment in northern forest type. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-29. Upper Darby, PA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 135-149