Five-Year Thinning Response of an Overgrown Douglas-Fir Christmas Tree Plantation
Authors: S. Hummel1; R. Hummel2
Source: Western Journal of Applied Forestry, Volume 19, Number 3, July 2004 , pp. 171-174(4)
Publisher: Society of American Foresters
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Abstract:
A 15-year-old Douglas-fir Christmas tree plantation in western Oregon was thinned in 1996 according to regional sawtimber conversion guidelines. The plantation comprised two strata, distinguished by initial planting density (Area 1 = 5 × 5 ft and Area 2 = 10 × 10 ft). Unthinned control plots were established in both Area 1 and Area 2 at the time of the thinning treatment. Five years later, the quadratic mean diameter (QMD) in Area 1 (thinned) was 6.4 in. versus 5.2 in. in Area 1 (unthinned), while in Area 2 (thinned) the QMD was 11.4 in. compared to 9.3 in. in Area 2 (unthinned). Over the same period, the volume/ac in Area 1 (thinned) (1,080 ft3/ac) was nearly twice that of Area 1 (unthinned) (576 ft3/ac). In contrast, the volume/ac in Area 2 (thinned) (2,318 ft3/acre) was almost half that of Area 2 (unthinned) (4,264 ft3/ac). These results suggest that while thinning was timely for Area 1, the thinning treatment could have been delayed for Area 2. By plantation age 30, the treated units in Area 1 and Area 2 have estimated yields of 9.6 and 11.6 thousand bd ft (mbf), respectively, with no additional thinning. Given 2002 average prices for #3 sawmill grade logs, gross return at age 30 would range between $5,000 and $6,000/ac. West. J. Appl. For. 19(3):171–174.Keywords: Quadratic mean diameter; volume per acre; log grades; western Oregon; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management
Document Type: Regular article
Affiliations: 1: Pacific Northwest Research Station USDA Forest Service P.O. Box 3890 Portland OR 97208 Phone: (503) 808-2084;, Fax: (503) 808-2033, Email: shummel@fs.fed.us 2: Stevens Family Resources LLC 5041 S.W. Illinois Portland OR 97221
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