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Catalog
of Long Term Research Conducted by the Northeastern Research Station
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Catalog #66
| Title: |
Group Selection for Uneven-age
Management
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| Objective: |
1) To determine the effect of the size of the group selection
harvesting techniques on: 1) growth and yield, 2) quality, and
3) regeneration in mixed oak-hickory stands.
2) To relate the effect of the size of the group selection
opening to: 1) species composition, quality, growth and yield
within openings, 2) the effect on trees bordering the opening
and 3) stand growth as a whole.
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| Year Established: |
tract 1: 1954 tract 2: 1957 |
| Year Completed: |
expected to continue |
| Site Description: |
Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest near McArthur, OH. Approximately
39 deg. 12 min N lat., 82 deg. 24 min. W. long. The study area
straddles Irish run, a first order stream flowing east to west,
and extends to adjacent ridgetops ranging in elevation from
700' to 900'. The 2 tracts lie between West Rd. and Yellow Jacket
Rd., from ridge to ridge at the end of the roads. Tract 1 is
south of Irish Run while Tract 2 is north of Irish Run. Soils
are Germano-Gilpin complex on southerly aspects and Steinsburg-Gilpin
complex on northerly aspects. Depth of A'horizon ranged from
0" to 4" and 0" to 2" respectively and texture is sandy to silty
loam. Slopes range from 6% to 70%. Site index ranged from 52
to 93. |
| Statistical Design: |
Tract 1 is 20.86 acres divided into 15 sectors. Tract 2 is
19.3 acres divided into 14 sectors. Sectors are 66' wide and
vary in length. Cutting areas were dispersed within each tract
such that only occasionally were there contiguous cutting areas
within or between tracts. Cutting areas were generally between
0.25 and 0.75 acres. |
| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
100% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
All areas cut in 1955 to 1960 were surveyed by sector. Tracts,
sectors, clear-cut and single-tree openings were mapped: 1989.
Openings were complete, site index was computed from felled
trees, skidded areas were graded and seeded, and logging debris
was slashed: 1990.
Treatment on both tracts include periodic small clear-cuts to
completely regenerate the stand, coupled with an initial free
thinning. Subsequent treatments were done by clearcutting a
prescribed portion of each tract at each harvesting cycle. Tract
1 was on a 10-year cycle, tract 2 was on a 5-year cycle, and
tract 3 was on a yearly cutting cycle and had been cut approximately
6 times. Cutting stopped on this study in 1962.
In 1989, tracts 1 and 2 were surveyed in total, by sector and
for all areas cut in 1955 to 1960. About half of the 2 tracts
selected as representative of the area. Plots were cut in 1990,
with attempts to reduce the visual impact of logging, which
was the second of 4 30-year interval cuts in a 120-year cutting
cycle. A free thinning was imposed on tract 1 in addition to
block cutting while tract 2 was block cut only with no thinning
between blocks.
Cutting Cycle for the 2 tracts is as follows:
| Year |
Tract 1
Acres
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Tract 2
Acres
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1960
1990
2020
2050 |
1.92
5.62
5.14
6.2
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3.94
4.55
4.67
4.0
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Tracts, sectors, clear-cut and single-tree openings mapped:
1989.
Site index computed from felled trees: 1989.
Skid trails and landings graded and seeded, logging debris
slashed: 1989.
5 camera sites were installed: 1990
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| Sampling Methods: |
Data collected are divided into two principal areas: 1) Tree
Growth/Volume (represented by species, d.b.h., crown class,
and border tree status) and 2) Tree Grade/Quality (represented
by species, d.b.h., acceptability as growing stock, actual and
potential tree grade, grading section, cull/defect, and border
tree status). All trees >4.6" d.b.h. were tallied by species
and diameter except in those areas cut about 1960 that were
1.5 acres and larger. In those larger areas cut about 1960,
all trees >2.6" d.b.h. Were tallied by species and diameter.
All trees >4.6" d.b.h. Were designated as either acceptable
or unacceptable growing stock. All trees > 11.6" d.b.h. Were
evaluated for actual and potential tree grade, merchantable
height and percent cull. Areas cut about 1960 that were >0.5
acres were surveyed and mapped. Additionally, single tree openings
dating to about 1960 were located, measured for radius in 4
directions and mapped. |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
d.b.h. to nearest 0.1" by species: 1989, 1991. Actual tree
grade: 1989, 1991. Potential tree grade: 1989, 1991. Cull, sweep
and rot %: 1989, 1991. |
| 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: |
none to date |
| Contact: |
Dan Yaussy, USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Road, Delaware,
OH 43015. (740) 368-0093 |
| Cooperation: |
none |
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