Residual Stocking Not Seriously Reduced by Logging Damage from Thinning of West Virginia Cherry-Maple Stands

摘要

In north-central West Virginia, unmanaged 60-year-old cherry-maple stands were thinned to 75, 60, and 45 percent residual stocking. Cut trees were skidded tree length by a rubber-tired skidder. Logging destroyed or severely bent over 22, 23, and 45 percent of the unmarked stems in th3 75, 60, and 45 percent stocked plots. Because 99 percent of the destroyed and bent trees were less than 5.0 inches dbh, the effect on basal area and residual stocking was slight. Damage reduced the stocking by 5, 8, and 8 percent in the 75, 60, and 45 percent plots. Study results indicate that marking guidelines for trees larger than 5.0 inches dbh do not need to be adjusted to account for logging damage.