landowner tree selection for forest improvement peter j. smallidge cornell university state...
Post on 29-Jan-2016
218 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Landowner Tree Selection for Forest Improvement
Peter J. SmallidgeCornell University
State Extension Forester
www.ForestConnect.info
2” in 10 years
What I Hope You Learn Today
Specifically:– How your objectives
relate to tree selection
– Factors to consider when selecting trees to cut and leave
– Strategies to remove unwanted trees
Overall: how to grow healthy trees that make you feel good about your forest.
Why Grow Healthy Trees
Accomplish goals soonerand with greater control
• Timber production
• Wildlife habitat
• Wildlife foods
• Aesthetics
• Water quality
The outputs related to health require adequate tree growth. Sunlight typically limits tree growth. Cutting releases desired (uncut) trees from competition for sunlight.
What makes for healthy trees?
One example of good growth following thinningSugar maple: 2” radial increment, 4” diameter, 10 years
Crown closure in a spruce
plantation.
Does an action support your objective?
How to Pick Winners and Losers
You’re making an investment of time, money, and sunlight. Pick your investments carefully.
Pick Winners and Losers Based On….
• Owner objectives for favored species (soils)
• Healthy crowns
• Crown class
• Species mix for soil
• Vigor and defect
• Spacing
The tree crown is the production factory.Don’t invest in a weak factory.
Favor forCrop Trees
Avoid asCrop Trees
From Nyland, 1996. p. 355
Know your soil type and the tree species that grow well on those soils. Favor trees suited for the soil. You can’t squeeze blood from turnip.
http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/http://www.gmushrooms.com/Greenwood/Guide.htm
Sandy loam, good organic matter. Sugar maple, red oak, beech, white pine.
Sand, low organic matter, very well drained. White pine, red pine.
Maple borer
Fusarium Nectria
Eutypella
Reduce defective trees. They have slower growth, provide inoculum, and are more likely to break during a storm.
Weak Crotch
Try to adjust spacing for equitable distance among retained trees. Not always possible.
Safe operations depend on your skill level and available equipment. Most people aren’t as good as they think they are.
A garden approach to forest management.
Crop Tree Managementhttp://na.fs.fed.us/stewardship
Thin around the crowns of the most desired trees.
1 2
34
FTG = Free to Grow = 0
What makes a good crop tree?
1 2
34
FTG = 4 = Optimum Growth
1 2
34
FTG = 3 = OK for Adjacent Crop Trees
High Intensity Crop Tree Release
Low Intensity Crop Tree Release
What to Expect from Correct Thinning – general trends
Positive effects• Best growth response with
– High site quality
– Trees 50 to 85 years
– Healthy residual trees
• 30 to 50% growth (cords, board feet, etc.) increase• Improved quality of stems• Reduced mortality • Improved live crown ratio (start with young trees)• Diameter response in 2 to 5 years, varies by species• Diameter doesn’t predict response potential (Leak)• Response depends on intensity of cut
What to Expect from Correct Thinning – general trends
Cautions• Increase in epicormics by 30% (Marquis
1969), but little effect on butt log quality (Smith et al 1994)
• No effect on height growth
• No effect on release of low canopy trees
Directional Felling
• …”you decide the direction a tree falls.”
• Game of Logging for Landowners
• Don’t “chase the tree”
• Directional Felling Advantages
– Reduce hung trees
– Safely and quickly release hung trees
– Position log for extraction
– Reduce risk of personal injury
– Increased productivity
Should you girdle ?
Flame Weeding (research)-Will kill trees- Is USDA organic approved- Some logistical advantages- Economics are unknown
Herbicide Treatments for Thinning
• Cut-stump treatment [Misc. publications at www.ForestConnect.info ]
• Basal bark treatment
• Foliar treatment
• http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/UH174.pdf
– google psu uh174, #2 on list
Leave the losers to avoid damage to residual trees
So, should you thin?
• You should thin if– Closed canopy and
irregular crowns– Dead lower
branches– No understory– Disease and defect– Slow radial growth
• You should not thin if– Shallow roots and
thin soils– You see daylight
Contact a NYS DEC forester for a FREE visit to evaluate stocking (number of trees per acre). Flag trees and have a DEC forester discuss your selection with you. DEC foresters will mark an acre to illustrate correct tree selection, or, will assess your marking with constructive ideas.
For More Information
• www.ForestConnect.info
• NYS DEC, public service forester http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4972.html
• Consulting or industrial forester http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5230.html
• Master Forest Owner volunteer (CCE) www.CornellMFO.info
• http://na.fs.fed.us/stewardship (crop tree management)
top related