Pacific Northwest Research Station

Title: Guidelines for precommercial thinning of Douglas-fir.

Author: Reukema, Donald L.

Date: 1975

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-030. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 10 p

Station ID: GTR-PNW-030

Description: Production of merchantable wood in even-aged Douglas-fir stands can be increased substantially by precommercial thinning. Guidelines for, and gains from, precommercial thinning both strongly depend on the size of trees wanted at the first commercial cut; the larger this size, (1) the fewer trees should be left after precommercial thinning, (2) the greater is the maximum age or tree size at which precommercial thinning is practical, and (3) the greater is the gain is usable yield from precommercial thinning. Also, generally, the longer the time required for a stand to reach commercial size without thinning, the greater the gains from precommercial thinning. These and other considerations are discussed, and procedures are recommended.

Keywords: Douglas-fir, precommercial thinning, stand improvement, stocking control, stocking density

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Citation

Reukema, Donald L.  1975.  Guidelines for precommercial thinning of Douglas-fir..   Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-030. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 10 p