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Stand development following partial cutting of a complex stand in the Interior Cedar-Hemlock zone of British Columbia (EP 370).

Introduction

In 1957, a field study was established to determine the growth and yield impacts of different partial cutting regimes in a 60- to 70-year-old complex, mixed-species stand within the Columbia-Shuswap variant of the Moist Warm Interior Cedar-Hemlock biogeoclimatic subzone (ICHmw2). The study site is located on TFL 23, northwest of Nakusp.

Objectives

To determine the effects of different partial cutting regimes on the growth and development of a complex, mixed-species stand.

Treatments

The study consists of five replicate blocks of three partial cutting treatments plus an untreated control. The partial cutting treatments were as follows:

  • Improvement cut: thinning clumps, release of high-value trees,and removal of low-value trees. This treatment removed approximately 23% of the basal area.
  • Diameter-limit cut: removal of trees above a certain diameter class, such that the basal area removed was approximately equal to the basal area removed in the improvement cut.
  • Salvage cut: removal of all hardwoods, plus all western larch and white pine (a few Lw and Pw were retained as a seed source). This treatment removed approximately 39% of the basal area.

Growth data were collected from 0.101-ha square sub-plots within each of the 20 treatment plots at approximately 5-year intervals between 1957 and 1997. The installation is currently being re-measured on a 10-year cycle.

Publications

Johnstone, W.D. 2002. Growth and development following partial cutting of a complex stand in the interior cedar-hemlock zone of British Columbia: 40-year results. B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria. Research Report 22.

Thompson, C.F. 1977. Partial cutting in a mixed wet-belt type. B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria. Research Note 78.

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Last Modified: 2007 APR 20.  Ministry contact: Frank van Thienen
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