| Title: |
Strip Selection Cuttings
in Mountainous Appalachian Hardwoods
|
| Objective: |
To explore the feasibility of using the strip-selection cutting
method in central Appalachian mixed hardwoods and to include
aspects of yield, growth, stand development, aesthetics, cultural
practices, road location, and logging control. |
| Year Established: |
1976 |
| Year Completed: |
expected to continue |
| Site Description: |
Location on Fernow Experimental Forest is adjacent to Fishtrough
Hollow bordered by the lower Fishtrough Rd. and upper Hickman
Rd. 56.5 acres total.
Area is referenced to WV State Plane coordinate system.
Oak site index is 77.
50% to 60% slope with hidden limestone rock ledges.
Calvin Series of soils. |
| Statistical Design: |
2 treatments (types of strip cuttings: vertical and parallel)
replicated twice on each of 2 oak sites - site index of 60 and
80. (total of 8 areas).
Ideal number of acres to cut for each cutting period is 7.1
acres. |
| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
100% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
Each strip cutting is 2.5 chains (165') wide. The amount of
area cut depend upon size of compartment, cutting cycle, and
length of rotation. Blue boundary lines were painted on the
ground and iron rods were placed on the 4 corners of each plot
to permanently establish all strip plots.
SCHEDULE:
Year Cut:
1974
1984
1994
2004
2014
2024
2034
2044
|
Number of Acres Cut:
6.7
7.3
7.1
6.7
7.2
6.8
7.0
7.7
Total Acres Cut: 56.5
|
|
| Sampling Methods: |
1974: on the reproduction plots: stems 1' to 0.99" d.b.h.
were tallied on the 0.001-acre plots and stems 1.0" to 4.99"
d.b.h. were tallied on the 0.01-acre plots.
Density was recorded using a relascope-40 factor at each reproduction
plot center. Site indexes were determined using the Trimble-Weitzman
Operating Procedures without measuring soil depth.
Additional effort was needed to remove grapevines from all plots. |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
Reproduction and growing stock inventories are made periodically.
Cultural practices include cutting all stems above 1.0" d.b.h.
in some strips and in others, removing only sawlogs above 11.0"
d.b.h. Periodic thinnings are completed throughout the compartments.
Crop-tree selections are made at 10 to 15 years or when the
stems are at least 25 ' tall.
Cruise data were collected and summarized 1974 to evaluate the
residual and original stands.
Independent:
Strip orientation - vertical and parallel to contour, site
quality, silivicultural practices, comparisons to other management
systems, cutting period.
Dependent:
Stocking and quantity of reproduction, stand growth and yield
(board foot volume to 8" top, cubic foot volume to 4" top,
basal area growth, diameter growth), log quality, costs and
returns.
|
| QA/QC Practices: |
Data are visually compared to previously collected data. Accuracy
assessments are completed after each data-collection period.
Permanent employee continually supervises temporary employees. |
| Data Storage: |
Raw: stand structure and grade, species, d.b.h., and number
of stems available on DG.
Species, d.b.h., and number of stems are in hardcopy.
Data are downloaded to PCs for analyses. |
| Global Change Research Applications: |
Studies of Ecosystem Processes |
| Data Availability: |
1996 |
| Publications and Reports: |
Establishment report 4110-NE-1103-59: June 1975. Clay Smith.
Working plan: May 1974. Clay Smith and G.W. Wendel.
The above are office reports of U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Parsons,
WV. |
| Contact: |
Thomas Schuler, USDA Forest
Service, P.O. Box 404, Parsons WV 26287. (304) 478-2000
ext. 110. |
| Cooperation: |
Monongahela National Forest |
