Precommercial Thinning of Water Tupelo Stands on the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta:211 Third-Year Results

摘要

Three 4-year old stands were selected for precommercial thinning. Treatment211u001econsisted of two components: (1) thinning water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica L.) stump 211u001esprouts and dense patches of water tupelo seedlings and (2) cutting all stems of 211u001eCarolina ash (Fraximus carolinia, Mill) and black willow (Salix nigra Marsh.) 211u001e(cleaning). This approah provided a 2 by 2 factorial with two replications in 211u001eeach stand. Thinning increased average diameter growth of water tupelo stump 211u001esprouts, with the greatest increase in one stand that had the highest density of 211u001estumps and apparently the highest productivity; cleaning did not increase diamter 211u001egrowth. Thinning decreased stand basal area growth; cleaning did not affect basal 211u001earea growth. Mortality of water tupelo stump sprouts was negligible. Cleaning may 211u001eincrease the number of water tupelo seedings, although the evidence from this 211u001estudy is not compelling. Precommercial thinning will probably provide a favorable 211u001eresponse in stands with high density of stumps and high productivity.