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Catalog
of Long Term Research Conducted by the Northeastern Research Station
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Catalog #58
| Title: |
Crop Tree Versus Area-Wide
Thinning
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| Objective: |
1) To compare the effects of growth and yield of various crop
tree treatments with standard area-wide thinning.
2) To define the optimum number of crop trees per acre to maximize
the value yield of non-crop trees.
3) To determine whether or not regulation of stand density is
important and if so, how to achieve it under the crop-tree approach
to gain maximum growth and yield. |
| Year Established: |
1988 |
| Year Completed: |
2007 |
| Site Description: |
Allegheny National Forest |
| Statistical Design: |
Completely random design.
Block 1 contains 4 0.6-acre measurement plots surrounded by
a 1.4-acre buffer containing the same treatment isolation strip).
Block 2 contains 5 2-acre plots each of which contain a 0.6-acre
measurement plot. Isolation strips were laid between treatment
applications. Each 0.6-acre plot was subdivided and inventoried
by 0.1-acre subplots to facilitate exact control on number of
crop trees/acre.
3 additional blocks (Blocks 3,4 and 5) were established at
Rock Run during 1992. Marked trees had a minimum of 0.5" diameter.
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| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
100% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
Block 1: applied 1988
1. 40 crop trees/acre with all trees whose crowns touch the
crop tree being cut unless that tree was another crop tree.
2. Area-wide thinning with a residual density of 40%.
3. Standard 60% relative density area-wide thinning.
4. Control plot having 40 crop trees/acre.
Block 2: applied 1989
1. Crowns touching cut with 60% crop trees/acre.
2. Crowns touching cut with 40% crop trees/acre.
3. Merchantable cut.
4. Standard thinning.
5. Control plot having 60 crop trees/acre.
Block 3: applied 1992
1. Crowns touching cut with 80 crop trees/acre.
2. Crowns touching cut with 120 crop trees/acre.
3. Crowns touching cut with 160 crop trees/acre.
4. Uncut control.
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| Sampling Methods: |
For comparison, 60 crop trees/acre were selected to be followed
in both the control and the standard area-wide thinning.
Additional variables were measured in accordance with standards
set for the Northeast Model. The sample was modified from the
standard procedure due to the small number and condition of
the sample trees required that were below the QSD. The net result
was that only crop trees were included in the sample and that
more trees than were required were sampled. All crop trees were
evaluated in each plot according to the standards outlined in
the working group guidelines dated Jan. 29, 1990. |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
Independent: species, competitive position, age, and treatment.
Dependent: Individual tree-diameter growth, merchantable sawlog
height, volume growth, value increment, total stand-cubic foot
volume, board foot volume, and value. Quality is assessed as
height to 1st live limb, number of epicormic branches, height
to first fork, and butt log grade.
Block 1: 100% inventory: 1988. d.b.h.: 1989. Post-logging
inventory: 1990. Measured sample trees: 1990, 1993, 1994.
Block 2: 100% initial overstory inventory: 1988. Post logging
inventory: 1989. Measured sample trees: 1989, 1993, 1994.
Blocks 3, 4 and 5: 1993 d.b.h., total height, base of crown
height, height to 1st live branch, number of live and dead
branches on 1st log, number of epicormics on 1st log, crown
length and width, and tree coordinates.
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| QA/QC Practices: |
Data were field checked and data-entry into computer was 100%
cross checked with field sheets. |
| Data Storage: |
Raw data by plot reside on DG and tally sheets are kept with
written instructions and detailed maps to each stand. Annually,
the raw data are transformed using the REGEN1 program in DG
Info. System. Summarized data by plot and by stand reside in
a DG-based program that can output to ASCII text files. |
| Global Change Research Applications: |
Studies of Ecosystem Processes |
| Data Availability: |
unknown |
| Publications and Reports: |
Study plan. 1990. David Marquis.
Establishment report for Block 2. 1991. James Redding.
Establishment report for Block 1. 1992. James Redding.
Establishment report for Blocks 3, 4 and 5. 1994. James Redding
and Chris Nowak.
The above are office reports of U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Warren,
PA.
Nowak, C.A. 1995. Individual tree- versus stand-level approaches
to thinning: is it a choice of one or the other or a combination
of both? In: Gottschalk, K.W.; Fosbroke, S.L.C., eds. Proceedings,
10th central hardwood conference; 1995 March 5-8; Morgantown,
WV. Gen Tech. Rep. NE-197. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment
Station. 577p.
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| Contact: |
Susan Stout, USDA, Forest Service, P.O.
Box 267, Irvine PA 16329. (814) 563-1040 |
| Cooperation: |
Allegheny National Forest, PA. |
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