Low-Cost Technique for Increasing Pine Volume Production in Mixed Pine-Hardwood Stands

摘要

Overtopping hardwoods were cut in 1939 at three levels of intensity to release natural pine seedlings that had become established in a mixed pine-hardwood stand. Pines and hardwoods were periodically harvested between 1939 and 1965 by using selection cutting of individual trees. After 47 years, the two most intensive release treatments had produced more cubic-foot pine volumes and had higher benefit/cost ratios than the least intensive treatment. There were no differences among treatments in hardwood production. Modest investments for pine release offer private nonindustrial landowners a low-cost technique for managing properties containing mixed pine-hardwood stands.