NR 326 Lecture 8 Release and Pre-commercial

Intermediate TreatmentsAny treatment or tending designed to enhance growth, quality, vigor, and composition of the stand after establishment or regeneration and prior to final harvest S

Intermediate Treatments

Any treatment or tending designed to enhance growth,

quality, vigor, and composition of the stand after

establishment or regeneration and prior to final harvest

(SAF, 2008)

Intermediate treatments begin after regeneration is

established and are carried out as prescribed throughout

the life of a forest stand These treatments make up the

“tending” portion of an overall silvicultural system

(WFMG, 2011)

1

WFMG : Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines

Intermediate Treatments

Primary goals include improvement of stand composition,

structure, growth, quality, health, and the production of

Intermediate Treatment Effects

Intermediate Treatment

Integrated Resource Management Considerations

High intensity treatments in stands

lacking vigor and strength can cause

stress and short-term predisposition to

health problems

Invasive plants can be encouraged

after intermediate treatments so they

should be controlled and/or eliminated

Logging damage can cause negative effects on soil

Pre-commercial thinning

7

Pre-commercial thinning is an expensive practice

Trees cut in a pre-commercial thinning have no commercial value, so the felled trees are not removed for utilization

The decision to apply pre-commercial thinning often difficult for many landowners because of the initial costs involved with implementing this treatment

The earlier you decide on pre-commercial thinning, the more options are available for you to select from (NRCS-Technical Forestry Note TX-FS-12-6)

Thin or Wait

9 http://calhoun.ifas.ufl.edu/newsletters/2014/01/25/

when-should-i-thin-my-pine-trees/

When is a stand ready for a Pre-commercial Thinning?

Young hardwood stands are ready for a pre-commercial thinning once they have reached the "free-to-grow" stage (when they are no longer competing with grasses and other non-woody ground vegetation)

 Stands should be thinned when leave trees are about 3 to 5

m tall and 10 to 15 years old

Forested areas that have been recently cutover and have none or few merchantable trees remaining can strongly benefit

Pre-commercial thinning

11

A small rolling drum chopper used to conduct a pre-commercial

thinning Source: David J Moorhead, University of Georgia,

Bugwood.org

Pre-commercial thinning

Silvicultural benefits of Pre-commercial

thinning

13

 Pre-commercial thinning increases diameter growth of residual trees and increases in tree diameter correlates to increases in tree volume

Pre-commercial thinning prevents the stand from stagnating, which could eventually lead to excessive tree mortality

Pre-commercial thinning allows for desirable herbaceous vegetation (NTFPs) to grow as more sunlight light reaches the forest floor

Pre-commercial thinning enhances forest health and provides many wildlife habitat benefits

Treatment during the seedlings stage to eliminate or

suppress mainly herbaceous plants that overtop or

interfere with desirable young

15

Cleaning

A release cutting to free young individuals of the

desired species from competition with distinctly older,

overtopping undesirable vegetation

17

Removal of undesired trees

Removal of undesired trees is used to reduce competition for resources for the desired tree species The target species of tree

Pruning is applied to improve timber

quality and value It is the removal,

close to the branch collar or flush with

the stem, of side branches and

multiple leaders from a standing tree

 Felling

 Mechanical

 Girdle