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Catalog
of Long Term Research Conducted by the Northeastern Research Station
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Catalog #59
| Title: |
Silvalqual Study
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| Objective: |
To study the effects of thinning and stand density upon: 1)
total wood production per unit area, 2) growth of residual trees
and stands and 3) quality of trees in the residual stand. |
| Year Established: |
1975 to 1977 |
| Year Completed: |
1988 |
| Site Description: |
Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest near McArthur, OH. Approximately
39 deg. 11.5 min N lat., 82 deg. 24 min. W. long. Elevation
ranges 800' to 900'. Soils are Germano-Gilpin complex with the
depth of 'A' horizon ranging from 0" to 11". Texture is sandy
to silty loam with frequent rock outcrops. Slopes range from
6% to 70%. |
| Statistical Design: |
5 separate substudies were established and each used a slightly
different statistical design. In general the substudies included
15 to 40 0.1- to 0.001-acre measurement plots.
The following is a sample substudy statistical design. 20 0.1-acre
plots all located within the Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest.
A 33'-wide isolation strip, an area treated the same as the
plot, surrounds each treatment boundary. |
| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
100% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
Stands were previously disturbed by cutting practices or fire
prior to 1950s. The experimental treatments varied per substudy.
The following is a sample substudy treatment plan. Plots were
grouped by stocking level into irregularly shaped treatment
blocks. Stocking levels were determined by a tree area ratio
equation. Plot treatments were:
1) 30% stocking - 5 plots
2) 45% stocking - 5 plots
3) 60% stocking - 5 plots
4) 100% stocking (controls) - 5 plots
Camera points for plot photographs were established and photos
taken: 1975. |
| Sampling Methods: |
Data collected are divided into two principal areas: 1) Tree
Growth/Volume (represented by species, d.b.h., crown class,
and total height) and 2) Tree Grade/Quality (represented by
species, d.b.h., total height, crown class, live crown ratio,
height to first fork, actual and potential tree grade, surface
defects by grading section, sweep and percent cull/rot). Understory/Reproduction
was sampled by one substudy. |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
The following variables were measured in each substudy at
different dates. d.b.h. (to the nearest 0.1") for several years,
crown class, total height, height to 1st fork, surface defect
by grading section, live crown ratio, cull and % sweep and rot. |
| QA/QC Practices: |
Field data are verified when entered into computer. Field
crews were trained by experienced field personnel. |
| Data Storage: |
Available data are maintained in an ORACLE database (SASQUATCH)
according to the following categories: study description, stand
density plot data, plot history, plot summaries, ingrowth summaries,
plot treatments, species descriptions, ecological data, size
of opening data. Hardcopy of some tally sheets are maintained
in file cabinets. |
| Global Change Research Applications: |
Studies of Ecosystem Processes
Landscape Scale Studies |
| Data Availability: |
1994 |
| Publications and Reports: |
Establishment report.
The above are office reports of U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Warren,
PA.
Hilt, D.E.; Dale, M.E. 1987. Effects of precommercial thinnings
on diameter growth in young central hardwood stands. In: Proceedings,
6th central hardwood forest conference; 1987 February 24-26;
Knoxville, TN. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee, Department
of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. 179-185.
Dale, M.E.; Sonderman, D.L. 1984. Effect of thinning on growth
and potential quality of young White oak crop trees. Res.
Paper NE-539. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 12
p.
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| Contact: |
Dan Yaussy, USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Road, Delaware,
OH 43015. (740) 368-0093 |
| Cooperation: |
none |
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