Basal Area Growth of Sugar Maple in Relation to Acid Deposition, Stand Health, and Soil Nutrients

2002 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1676-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Duchesne ◽  
Rock Ouimet ◽  
Daniel Houle
2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 898-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Bédard ◽  
Zoran Majcen

Eight experimental blocks were established in the southern part of Québec to determine the growth response of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) dominated stands after single tree selection cutting. Each block contained eight control plots (no cut) and eight cut plots. The intensity of removal varied between 21% and 32% and residual basal area was between 18.2 and 21 m2/ha. Ten year net annual basal area growth rates in cut plots (0.35 ± 0.04 m2/ha) were significantly higher (p = 0.0022) than in control plots (0.14 ± 0.06 m2/ha). The treatment particularly favoured diameter growth of stems between 10 and 30 cm in dbh, whose crowns were released by removing neighbouring trees. These results show that if the same net growth rate is maintained in the next decade most of the cut plots will reach their pre-cut basal area in about 20 years after cutting. Key words: northern hardwoods, selection cutting, uneven aged silviculture, basal area growth, diameter growth


1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Stanturf ◽  
E. L. Stone Jr. ◽  
R. C. McKittrick

Nitrogen fertilization rate trials (0–672 kg/ha) were established in seven second-growth mixed deciduous forest stands in southern New York, on well to somewhat poorly drained soils typical of better hardwood sites, with no history of fire or cultivation. Basal-area growth over 20 years was determined from increment cores of dominant and codominant trees. Significant growth response occurred only for black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.). Nitrogen additions of 168–336 kg/ha increased growth 21% over 5–10 years. Ten-year basal-area growth response of sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) and white ash (Fraxinusamericana L.) was less than in other fertilization studies. The lack of response is attributed to favorable nitrogen status of the soils, resulting from lack of disturbance over at least the last four decades and, possibly, atmospheric input of nitrogen.


1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Wilmot ◽  
David S. Ellsworth ◽  
Melvin T. Tyree

We compared growth with soil and foliar elemental composition in seven stands of sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) in northern Vermont characterized by high or low incidence of crown dieback over the period 1989–1992. In stands with low-quality crown conditions, such as elevated crown dieback, long-term basal area growth rates were approximately half of those in stands with higher crown quality. Average annual basal area growth was 17.5 cm2 for dominant trees in these stands during the period 1953–1992 compared with 32.3 cm2 for trees in higher quality stands. The occurrence of elevated crown dieback was apparently unrelated to stand characteristics such as stand age, basal area, stem density, elevation, or aspect among the stands sampled. Stands with elevated crown dieback were found on soils characterized by low pH ( <4.0), low base cation pools (particularly Ca and Mg), and higher Al in soil surface horizons than higher quality stands. Over 4 years, sugar maple stands with elevated crown dieback exhibited significantly lower (P < 0.01) foliar Ca concentrations and somewhat lower foliar N and Mg than higher quality stands, while soil and foliar K were similar in both dieback classes. Among survey plots sampled in 1989, soil pH and Ca were strongly correlated with foliar Ca and K (P < 0.001). Soil pH, soil Ca, and foliar Ca were also strongly correlated with the level of crown dieback among plots and stands (P < 0.0001). Our results indicate that podzolic soils in northern Vermont may present marginal conditions for sugar maple growth in terms of soil pH and soil Ca availability, but that P and K pools appear to be sufficient for growth. While a lack of historical data prevents identification of long-term trends in nutrient availability in these soils, factors promoting losses of base cations from acidic, base-cation-poor Podzols may also exacerbate foliar nutrient deficiencies and thus affect the crown condition of sugarbushes in northern Vermont.


1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 207-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas M. Stone ◽  
Stephen G. Shetron ◽  
James Peryam

Five hundred individual, sawlog-size crop trees in a selectively managed northern hardwood stand were fertilized with 2.61 kg (5.75 lbs) of N-P-K fertilizer per tree in June 1970. The stand is predominantly sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) growing on a deep silt loam soil of good site quality. Three- and six-year diameter at breast height (dbh) and basal area growth were analyzed by treatment and diameter class. Fertilization did not increase dbh or basal area growth during either measurement period. Mean annual dbh growth of both fertilized and control trees was 0.41 cm (0.16 in.); trees in all diameter classes grew at essentially the same rate. Nearly half of the study trees grew 2.54 cm (1.0 in.) or more during the 6-year period, and fertilization did not change this proportion. Natural supplies of nutrients in good hardwood soils appear adequate for rapid growth of these species. Periodic cuttings maintain superior growth rates and contributes to efficient nutrient cycling. Fertilization is not recommended on sites like this because growth responses are not likely to justify costs.


1988 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-222
Author(s):  
Arlyn W. Perkey ◽  
Kenneth L. Carvell

1973 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Moore ◽  
Carl A. Budelsky ◽  
Richard C. Schlesinger

A new competition index, modified Area Potentially Available (APA), was tested in a complex unevenaged stand composed of 19 different hardwood species. APA considers tree size, spatial distribution, and distance relationships in quantifying intertree competition and exhibits a strong correlation with individual tree basal area growth. The most important characteristic of APA is its potential for evaluating silvicultural practices.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 409
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Marin ◽  
Vlad C. Strimbu ◽  
Ioan V. Abrudan ◽  
Bogdan M. Strimbu

In many countries, National Forest Inventory (NFI) data is used to assess the variability of forest growth across the country. The identification of areas with similar growths provides the foundation for development of regional models. The objective of the present study is to identify areas with similar diameter and basal area growth using increment cores acquired by the NFI for the three main Romanian species: Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and Sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). We used 6536 increment cores with ages less than 100 years, a total of 427,635 rings. The country was divided in 21 non-overlapping ecoregions based on geomorphology, soil, geology and spatial contiguousness. Mixed models and multivariate analyses were used to assess the differences in annual dimeter at breast height and basal area growth among ecoregions. Irrespective of the species, the mixed models analysis revealed significant differences in growth between the ecoregions. However, some ecoregions were similar in terms of growth and could be aggregated. Multivariate analysis reinforced the difference between ecoregions and showed no temporal grouping for spruce and beech. Sessile oak growth was separated not only by ecoregions, but also by time, with some ecoregions being more prone to draught. Our study showed that countries of median size, such as Romania, could exhibit significant spatial differences in forest growth. Therefore, countrywide growth models incorporate too much variability to be considered operationally feasible. Furthermore, it is difficult to justify the current growth and yield models as a legal binding planning tool.


2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M. Huebschmann ◽  
Lawrence R. Gering ◽  
Thomas B. Lynch ◽  
Onesphore Bitoki ◽  
Paul A. Murphy

Abstract A system of equations modeling the growth and development of uneven-aged shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) stands is described. The prediction system consists of two main components: (1) a distance-independent, individual-tree simulator containing equations that forecast ingrowth, basal-area growth, probability of survival, total and merchantable heights, and total and merchantable volumes and weights of shortleaf pine trees; and (2) stand-level equations that predict hardwood ingrowth, basal-area growth, and mortality. These equations were combined into a computer simulation program that forecasts future states of uneven-aged shortleaf pine stands. Based on comparisons of observed and predicted stand conditions in shortleaf pine permanent forest inventory plots and examination of the growth patterns of hypothetical stands, the simulator makes acceptable forecasts of stand attributes. South. J. Appl. For. 24(2):112-120.


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