Title:

Long-term effects of stand density and shrub control on ponderosa pine plantation in the Mendocino National Forest

Author(s):

Zhang, Jianwei; Finley, Kaelyn A.; Uzoh, Fabian C.C.

Publication Year:

2024

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Zhang, Jianwei; Finley, Kaelyn A.; Uzoh, Fabian C.C. 2024. Long-term effects of stand density and shrub control on ponderosa pine plantation in the Mendocino National Forest. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2024-0021

Abstract:

This data publication includes tree growth measurements collected on a ponderosa pine plantation on the eastern side of California’s north Coastal range within the Grindstone Ranger District of Mendocino National Forest, Colusa County, California. Measurements include diameter at breast height (DBH at 4.5 feet) and tree condition measured in 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1996, 2005, and 2016. Tree height, height to live crown, and crown width were also measured for approximately 20 percent of the trees on each plot each measurement year except for 2005 when only tree height was the additional measurement. The study was established in 1970 by William W. Oliver, a Research Silviculturist at Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station (currently, Pacific Southwest Research Station) as one of the west-wide levels-of-growing-stock study (LOGS) sites for even-aged ponderosa pine. The original plots were installed on 11-year-old ponderosa pine plantations regenerated following the Trough Fire in August 1959. Fifteen, 0.5-acre plots were randomly assigned with 4 square spacings (7, 8, 10, and 14 feet) and control. Each density plot with 20-foot buffer was replicated three times. The highest density treatment was later similar to the unthinned control plots and, therefore, all analyses in the subsequent publications treated this density as the control (six total control plots). A diagram of the treatment design for this study is also included in this package.

After the 5-year remeasurement it was determined that tree stand density had no influence on tree growth because of the dense shrub understory. Therefore, this study site was taken off the LOGS study list. The field design was altered to investigate the inter-relationships of tree spacing and shrub density on growth of ponderosa pine. Each major plot was subdivided into 3 equal subplots. Shrubs were left undisturbed on one subplot. Shrubs were thinned “from below” leaving the larger shrub crowns separated by a minimum of 1 foot, which yielded that half of shrubs were removed. All shrubs were cut at ground line on the remaining subplot. The non-sprouting forms of Arctostaphalos made retreatment unnecessary, although no further shrub treatment was conducted in the half-shrub removal subplots.

Keywords:

long-term silvicultural research plots; stand density; competing vegetation control; timber production; ponderosa pine; Pinus ponderosa; plantation; biota; environment; Forest & Plant Health; Natural Resource Management & Use; Carbon; Prescribed fire; California; California North Coast range; Mendocino National Forest

Related publications:

• McDonald, Phillip M.; Oliver, William W. 1984. Woody shrubs retard growth of ponderosa pine seedlings and saplings. p. 65-69; In: Proc. 5th Annual Forest Vegetation Management Conference; 1983 November 2-3; Sacramento, CA. Forest Vegetation Management Conference, Redding, CA.
• Oliver, William W. 1984. Brush reduces growth of thinned ponderosa pine in northern California. Research Note. PSW-RP-172. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 7 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/PSW-RP-172
• Powers, Robert F.; Oliver, William W. 1984. Ponderosa pine plantation growth in northern California .. brush competition and response to release. p. 122-125; In: Summaries of the proceedings of the 1984 Western Forestry Conference; 1984 December 3-5; Sacramento, CA. West. Forestry and Conservation Association, Portland, OR.
• More (10 total)

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