| Title: |
Financial Rate of Return
Cut Areas of the Fernow Experimental Forest
|
| Objective: |
To determine the effects of financial rate of return cuttings
on: a) yield and growth of hardwood stands in terms of board
feet, cubic feet, and basal area values, b) species composition,
c) hardwood stand quality. |
| Year Established: |
1971 |
| Year Completed: |
expected to continue |
| Site Description: |
6 Locations of the Fernow Experimental Forest.
Oak site index is 70 for all areas. |
| Statistical Design: |
A total of 6 areas were established; 2 study areas for each
of 3%, 4%, and 6% rates of return. All areas were established
on sites with an oak site index of 70. Data will be compared
on a tabular and graphic basis; no statistical analysis is expected. |
| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
100% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
9/1971-9/1977: applied financial maturity cutting practice
to 6 compartments.
6/1975-9/1975: permanent inventory plots established in each
compartment.
4/1985: all trees 5.0"+ d.b.h. on inventory plots were permanently
tagged using Fernow Wire and Tag System.
Financial maturity cutting practice applied to 6 compartments
are maintained on a 10-year cutting cycle.
|
| Sampling Methods: |
Standard growth plot procedures were used to permanently identify
each tree at least 5.0" d.b.h. Guidelines for applying the cutting
treatments were established by Trimble et al. 1974.
[Trimble, George R. Jr., Joseph J. Mendel, and Richard A. Kennell.
1974. A Procedure for Selection Marking in Hardwoods Combining
Silvicultural Considerations of Economic Guidelines. USDA, FS
Research Paper NE 292, 13 pages.] |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
Every 5 years after cut: all plots are remeasured, as in 1985,
beginning in 1986-1987 dormant season. The cutting cycle is
10 years and every other remeasurement will coincide with the
scheduled cutting date.
Independent: effect of the financial rate of return cuts.
Dependent: stand growth, species composition, stand quality.
|
| 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: |
partially 1994 |
| Publications and Reports: |
Work plan: August 1975. Clay Smith.
Establishment report: March 1976. Clay Smith.
Progress report and Establishment of permanent growth Plots:
Feb. 1987. Neil Lamson.
The above are office reports of U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Parsons,
WV.
Miller, G.W.; Smith, H.C. 1993. A practical alternative to
single-tree selection? Northern Journal of Applied Forestry.
10(1):32-38.
|
| Contact: |
Thomas Schuler, USDA Forest
Service, P.O. Box 404, Parsons WV 26287. (304) 478-2000
ext. 110. |
| Cooperation: |
none |
