A Thinning Rule for Slash Pine Plantations on a Medium Site

Abstract

Target, after-thinning, residual densities that produce near maximum periodic growth of slash pine plantations are determined for medium sites with an average height at age 25 of 63 feet. This was done by fitting net 5-year growth (in pounds of dry wood per acre) to the corresponding values of Stahelin's percent stocking obtained from unthinned stands covering a wide range of densities. This approach is based on the assumption that the growth of the thinned stands will quickly recover to that of an unthinned stand of the same percent stocking. The stand ages at which thinnings should be made were also established. This age is defined as the point where the annual accretion of what would be the yield from a first thinning begins to decrease.

Citation

Lloyd, F. Thomas; Jones, Earl P. Jr. 1981. A thinning rule for slash pine plantations on a medium site. In: Proceedings of the First Biennial South Silvicultural Research Conference; 1981; Atlanta, GA: USDA-Forest Service General Technical Report S0-34. 131-136.