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Thinning Guidelines For Loblolly Pine Plantations in Eastern Texas Based on Alternative Management Criteria

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Separate thinning guidelines were developed for maximizing land expectation value (LEV), present net worth (PNW), and total sawlog yield (TSY) of existing and future loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in eastern Texas. The guidelines were created using data from simulated stands which were thinned one time during their rotation using a combina-tion row (20 percent) and selection thin to achieve a residual stocking target. LEV for future stands which had been thinned indicated optimal rotation ages of 20, 24, 28, and 32 years for site index 85, 75, 65, and 55 feet, respectively. For existing stands at optimal rotation age, PNW increased with both thinning age and site index. However, for future stands at optimal rotation age, LEV reaches maximum values at thinning ages that vary by site index. TSY reached maximum values at residual stocking levels, which increased with increasing site index for both existing and future stands. Marginal analyses indicated that when thinning older stands of poorer site quality, economic criteria (PNW or LEV) increased with higher initial stocking, and total sawlog yield (TSY) decreased with lower initial stocking. Regression tree analysis used thinning age and residual stocking for predicting PNW, LEV, and TSY by initial stand attributes (site index, and initial stand age and stocking). Thinning guidelines were derived from the tree-based models. A four step procedure is provided for applying the guidelines.

Parent Publication

Citation

Stiff, Charles T.; Stansfield, William F. 2004. Thinning Guidelines For Loblolly Pine Plantations in Eastern Texas Based on Alternative Management Criteria. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–71. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 323-329
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6682