Crown Release Increases Growth of Crop Trees

摘要

Two Appalachian hardwood stands in north-central West Virginia were thinned. The primary 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-year-old stand, while specific crop trees were selected and released in a 12-year-old stand. Individual-tree 5-year growth of codominant trees was related to the number of sides of the crown that was free-to-grow. Codominant trees and crop trees grew about 25 percent faster 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.