APPLYING SELECTION SYSTEM SILVICULTURE

Transcription

1 APPLYING SELECTION SYSTEM SILVICULTURE Ralph D. Nyland Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NY October 2010 All rights reserved Use of all or parts of this permission prohibited without express consent of Ralph D. Nyland Background reading: Chapter 10-12, in Nyland, R.D Silviculture: Concepts and Applications. Waveland Press. Long Grove, IL. 2ed. Sources cited: Hansen, G.D., and R.D. Nyland Effects of diameter distribution on the growth of simulated uneven-aged sugar maple stands. Can. J. For. Res. 17(1):1-8. Leak, W.B., D.S. Solomon, and S.M. Filip A silvicultural guide for northern hardwoods the Northeast. US For. Serv. Res. Pap. NE-143. Nyland, R.D., C.C. Larson, and H.L. Shirley Forestry and Its Career Opportunities. McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY. 4ed. Nyland., R.D., L.M. Alban, and R.L. Nissen, Jr Greed and sustention: Silviculture or not. Pp , in Nurturing the Northeastern Forest. Proc. Joint Meet. New Engl. Soc. Am. For. and Me.Wildl. Soc., March 3-5, Portland. Me. Me. Agric. and For. Expt. Stn., Misc. Rpt Soc. Am.For. Publ. No Smith, D.M The Practice of Silviculture. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NY. 8ed. 1

2 SELECTION SYSTEM lets review its characteristics SELECTION SYSTEM Concurrent After Nyland et al

3 A SELECTION SYSTEM STAND tree diameter and height reflect the age interspersed in a planned pattern 3

4 regulating spacing managing the light enhancing the age class interspersion With this... (The Arbogast guide)... representing this 4

5 And balanced across space After D.M. Smith 1986 Meaning equal area per age class Represented by this The Arbogast guide 5

6 Stability through time... through six cycles using the Arbogast residual structure 6

7 uniformly distributed at the proper density implemented like this 7

8 Not cut After selection cutting nominal changes in stand and environmental conditions after the cut 8

9 Increasing degree of overstory removal Some environmental factors Full shade From Smith 1986 Full sunlight with limited increase of light near the ground years later 9

10 ... with mostly shade-tolerant species Distribution of post-felling openings in a single-tree selection stand cut to 75 ft 2 /ac But note this... with the 2 nd entry... not by design 10

11 Unplanned felling damage flattening small trees even so, single-tree selection system 11

12 ... now consider grouped arrangements Nyland

13 Nyland 2002 with uniformly distributed residual trees at the proper density between the former mature groups with tending between the group openings 13

14 Regeneration plus tending... done concurrently Group openings increasing the chances for less shade-tolerant species if the right size and shape 14

15 10% of area in groups But can you keep track of the groups over multiple entries to a stand? tending in between With 20% of area in groups After Roach 1964 difficult to balance the age classes Nyland

16 Nyland 2002 single trees and patches for regeneration single trees for tending 16

17 one patch... creating a bright area near the ground 17

18 suitable for the less shade-tolerant species... and their sustained development 18

19 We have choices... The common goal... 19

20 Optimum for 10-year cutting cycle knowing that a balanced stand gives structural stability At an appropriate density matched with the cutting interval... (The cutting cycle) Max gross annual BA growth with this ft 2 /ac at the mid-point of the CC Leak et al

21 Maximizing sawtimber yields. with a range of strategies Hansen and Nyland 1987 Some alternate structures 21

22 all balanced And high VSD with foliage illuminated at all levels 22

23 ... and the high degree of vertical structural diversity Foliage at multiple levels... lets us maintain good growth on trees of all ages given interspersed age classes in balance 23

24 So look at a selection system FOREST... All have high VSD... but little difference from stand to stand Transect through six stands across a forest With little difference from one stand to another 24

25 fairly homogeneous from one stand to another Consider one awkward situation a dense beech understory 25

26 with cutting it only gets worse As a rule-of-thumb.. do site preparation in stands where small beech (or some other interfering plant) dominate at least 30% of the stand area dominate means have tallest-of-plot status on regeneration plots 26

27 Herbicide application will control the problem after treatment 27

28 an alternative for < 400/ac or this 28

29 or done mechanically In this case with heavy cutting to reduce the beech of all ages 29

30 resulting in high light and favorable regeneration eventually a dense sub-canopy forms 30

31 Pre-cut Post cut After 25 years Dense Note subcanopy abundant ingrowth Nyland et al Cuyler Hill H-1 with 25-year cutting cycle Now consider another possible problem 31

32 LOOK AT DAMAGE DURING LOGGING Injuries lead to discoloration and often worse 32

33 WATCH THIS Look... 33

34 discoloration from the injury Even decay 34

35 A cylinder of discolored wood... throughout the tree Damage by felling 35

36 ... broken off Lost 36

37 bent over removed from the structure 37

38 this, too... broken branches 38

39 felling damage Decay often forms in ones 3 at the base 39

40 Injuries like this one often leading to decay 40

41 here, too sometimes tops lost as well 41

42 due to felling damage leading to discoloration and decay 42

43 Even so, crowns often redevelop on the trees... leading to a forked top 43

44 Occasionally bark abrasion from felling trees... Now consider skidding damage 44

45 Most injures occur close to a trail... Watch this log move... 45

46 moving closer BANG! 46

47 the result Over the long run... 47

48 Good skid trail layout essential as well Watch this turn... 48

49 Bang! Most skidding injuries occur within 10 feet of a skid trail... 49

50 with this consequence discoloration and decay 50

51 Yet still adding value in sometimes unrecognized ways Nissen affecting future volume, value, and use 51

52 the result of an injury over time with stand history seen in the condition of the logs 52

53 After Nissen 2010 pursuing the process of silviculture 53