Production of High-Quality Timber Products Through Forest Management Wayne K. Clatterbuck Forest Management & Silviculture UT Extension, Knoxville
Forest Management Cycle Forest Establishment Intermediate Operations Harvest Protection
Establishment Protection
Hardwood Timber Products Value Mgmt Low High Low High Chip Wood Pallet Wood Low Grade Lumber High Grade Lumber Veneer
Value of Logs by Grade ($ per thousand board feet) Delivered Price to the Mill (Spring 2014) Species Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Black walnut 850 600 380 Red oak 650 530 400 White oak 700 500 370 Yellow-poplar 330 250 200 Misc. Hdwd 240 200 160
Value of Lumber by Grade ($ per 1000 board feet (green) 1 inch thick) Wholesale price (Spring 2014) Species FAS #1 Common #2 Common Black walnut 2300 1200 690 Red oak 1350 930 700 White oak 1300 840 675 Yellow-poplar 810 510 395 Misc. Hdwd 400 320 230
Value Added with Processing Stumpage = price paid to landowner Delivered = price paid at the mill that includes stumpage and logging costs Mill Price (wholesale) = Delivered and milling costs Retail ---- Mill Price and transportation/handling to buyer
Producing High-Value Hardwoods Characteristics of High Value Hardwoods How to Grow Trees with These Characteristics
Characteristics of a High- Value Hardwood Straight Free of Defects and Knots Solid Large Proper Species
How Do We Grow Trees With These Characteristics? Straight Dense Young Forest Free of Defects Dense Young Forest Solid Reduce Injuries Large Rapid Growth - Control Forest Density Proper Species Control Light at Forest Floor
Question: How Do We Grow High Value Hardwoods? Answer: By Controlling Density and Light
Density Controls Stem Quality Straightness Cleanness Diameter
Light Controls Species Composition
High Density Creates Straight Clean Stems, But Leads to Small Tops which Reduces Diameter Growth ***Density must be regulated or reduced after initial stem development to provide for good growth***
High-Valued Hardwood Stems Develop Best When: Young trees are grown at high densities Trees are thinned after butt log development to obtain good consistent diameter growth
Volume Thinning Carrying Capacity c u t c u t 2 nd Thin c u t 3 rd Thin 1 st Thin Fewer Trees/Acre Larger Trees Time
Stems per Acre 6 inches 200-340 trees 8 inches 140-240 trees 10 inches 90-150 trees 12 inches 70-115 trees 14 inches 50-90 trees 18 inches 35-60 trees 20 inches 30 to 50 trees
Controlling Light Each Species of Tree has Specific Requirements for Light Shade Tolerant: species which can live in canopy shade Shade Intolerant: species needing considerable sunlight
Examples of Shade Tolerance Tolerants Intolerants beech, maple, dogwood, hornbeam, hickories, some elms most oaks, cherry, walnut, ash, sweetgum, pines, yellow-poplar, locust, cottonwood
Canopies Intact Canopies Low Levels of Light, if perpetuated will yield an increase in shade tolerant species Open Canopies High Levels of Light, if canopies are opened will increase shade intolerant species
% Sunlight Small Opening Size Large Selection Shelterwood Seed Tree Clearcut Shade Tolerant Shade Intolerant
To Produce High Value Hardwoods We Must Insure 1. Adequate Regeneration Densities 2. Regulate Density at Proper Time 3. Provide Adequate Light
Natural Regeneration Mechanisms Seed in Place Sprouts (seedling, stump, & root) Advance Regeneration (Seedling in Place)
Artificial Regeneration (Planting) Light Requirements Spacing (Growth Rate and Form) Predicted Future Products (Markets)
Competition Control Adequacy of Site Preparation Herbicides Mechanical Prescribed Fire
Summary What Species to Regenerate??? Natural or Planting Light Requirements Density and Spacing Competition Control
Some Take Home Thoughts 1. Low-quality trees take just as long to grow as high-quality trees. 2. Stand density must be controlled at proper time to set bole merchantability, build larger crowns, and to increase diameter growth.
Some Take Home Thoughts 3. Management of sunlight is needed to regenerate desirable species. Most of our valuable species do not tolerate shade. 4. Must think about regenerating the stand before the final harvest to secure more valuable species for the next stand.
Some Take Home Thoughts 5. Management of young trees is crucial so that they will develop into quality trees. The opposite is not necessarily true. Most large trees will increase in diameter, but not in quality. 6. Many missed opportunities when trees are not managed both in growth and value (rate of return).