Abstract
Crown closure in hardwood plantations signals the first opportunity to apply density control treatments such as thinning or release. The proper timing of these treatments is a function of stocking levels and is generally scheduled within several years after initial crown closure. Predicting crown closure for a plantation provides practitioners with the ability to plan intermediate treatments and is based upon crown development in a stand. Stem diameter and crown surface area relationships coupled with plantation spacing and age can be used to estimate crown closure. This study provides crown area relationships for 7- to 10-year-old free-to-grow
Quercus rubra,
Q. alba, Liriodendron tulipifera, and
Fraxinus Americana trees that were located in five plantations established over a wide range of site conditions from abandoned farm land to reclaimed surface mine sites in Kentucky. Stem ground line diameter ranged 0.5 to 6 inches and regressions of crown and stem diameters of free-to-grow trees indicated acceptable fit statistics with the majority of the species/site R2 values > 0.80.
Parent Publication
Citation
Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Cecil, Luke. 2010. Thinning guidelines from crown area relationships for young hardwood plantations. In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 389-391.