Northern Research Station

Title: Crown release increases growth of crop trees

Author: Lamson, Neil I.; Smith, H. Clay; Perkey, Arlyn W.; Brock, Samuel M.

Date: 1990

Source: Res. Pap. NE-635. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p.

Station ID: RP-NE-635

Description: Two Appalachian hardwood stands in north-central West Virginia were thinned. The principal species were red oak, yellow-poplar, and chestnut oak. For both stands the site index for northern red oak averaged 75 feet. An areawide thinning using "basal-area control" was applied to a 54-yearold stand while specific crop trees were selected and released in a 12-yearold stand. Individual-tree &year growth of codominant trees and crop trees were related to number of sides of the crown that was free-to-grow. Codominant trees and crop trees grew about 25 percent more in d.b.h. than similar trees released on one or two sides of the crown. For best diameter-growth response, a tree should be released on at least three and preferably four sides of the crown.

Keywords: thinnings; crop trees; Appalachian hardwood; diameter growth

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Citation

Lamson, Neil I.; Smith, H. Clay; Perkey, Arlyn W.; Brock, Samuel M.  1990.  Crown release increases growth of crop trees.   Res. Pap. NE-635. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8 p..