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Forecasting economic gains from intensive plantation management using unrealistic yield over input curves

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Some researchers claim that continuously increasing intensive plantation management will increase profits and reduce the unit cost of wood production while others believe in the law of diminishing returns. We developed four hypothetical production models where yield is a function of silvicultural effort. Models that produced unrealistic results were (1) an exponential curve and (2) a linear curve where the cost of growing a cubic foot of wood was inversely related to the discounted cost of intensive silviculture. Although increasing silvicultural effort will often result in producing more wood, the increase is sometimes not enough to prevent a reduction in net present value of the stand. Harvesting intensively managed stands at ages 14 to 16 years might not prove economical for a private, nonindustrial landowner if the costs of establishment are too high or if no local mills will purchase logs that contain a high percentage of juvenile wood.

Parent Publication

Citation

South, David B.; VanderSchaaf, Curtis L.; Teeter, Larry D. 2006. Forecasting economic gains from intensive plantation management using unrealistic yield over input curves. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-92. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 379-384
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/23422