Predicting Ponderosa Pine Plantation Yields Using Unmanaged Stand Data

Author: Tesch Steven D.   Zuuring Hans R.   Faurot James L.  

Publisher: Society of American Foresters

ISSN: 0015-749X

Source: Forest Science, Vol.29, Iss.3, 1983-09, pp. : 503-514

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Abstract

A method has been developed to predict the yield of intensively managed forest plantations when no managed stand data exists. Using individual tree data obtained from unmanaged stands, prediction equations were developed for ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) plantations in the Blackfoot River drainage in western Montana. Volume yields were predicted for plantations up to 80 years old, ranging in initial spacing from 2 X 2 m to 5 X 5 m, as a function of age, initial density, and site index. The initial spacing of individual dominant trees in unmanaged stands was estimated as a function of the trees' past radial growth rates and diameters, and the location of the trees' nearest neighbors. Because of the sigmoidly shaped pattern of plotted data points, nonlinear regression techniques were used to predict mean tree dbh and volume, and current density, each as a function of age, initial density, and site index. For both models, predicted values increase substantially as initial spacing increases from 2 m to 3 m, with smaller increases as initial spacing further increases from 3 m to 5 m. Yield is inversely related to initial spacing for all site indexes. Forest Sci. 29:503-514.