Applying a Crop-Tree Release in Small-Sawtimber White Oak Stands

摘要

Small-sawtimber white oak crop trees in Kentucky were released by a crown-touching technique. In two cutting treatments, 20 and 34 crop trees were released per acre at a total cost of $35 and $42, respectively. Both treatments yielded commerical volumes of cut material. Total mean merchantable volume (less than 5.0 inches d.b.h.) in cut trees was 693 cubic feet/acre, with approximately 2,400 board feet/acre in sawtimber (> or = 11.0 inches d.b.h.). On the basis of early crop-tree stem response, the released trees are growing 0.16 inch/year compared with 0.13 inch/year for the unreleased trees.