Thinning Stagnated Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pine Stands in Northeastern California: 30- Year Effects UM"d Sial •• Do",,,,,,",,.) of A~oculrur.. P.olI l" $QU'Ow." Fe, .... nd R.,,~. E.p.,lmon, $,,,10,, PO. Bo. 2.5 Bo"'·~·1 Robert J . Lllieholm Dennis E. Teeguarden Donald T. Gordon C.I,'",,,,, 9470' eor," R•• No," PSW 407 .N ..., 1Q$~ I,"",,,,", Roo.n I • r .."",,",,, ...., Don~o T. 1'>1~ De.,,,, E., Go< · r....""... ".,"",,& __ d"", ••...1 IIfJ"! p; .. ",,,,<I> .. _,..,.,."" <:.Iif... .., ]I).)""JJ«" R.. B,,.,l<y, CA. Pmr" Ron,. ill",,,,,,,"' ~"",rsW . OO7 , S"""~"l ~" S"""". F..." " .. Sav=, U.S, Dop>nm""" ~. ri<vJ"n" 6 p R""""" "",.J Ie "",,,,,,,m,,,;.1 ""'""" .. ",." lh' ..,"'d ,.,.,.""'. (/,,"", ""od""", Oou,L ,d... . ·, ) ond J,rr"'1pLDC (f )Iff".,. .... B.!f.) ."",d ... """he""", Cobf...., '"I'd ..... ""'1-1''''''1 c;,,,, ~ .. Do"", ,,<r,~" ~ .." .r.., "'.uHn •. "~"I' .""..u "'"""'" " "",," )"" .. IJOk.)..,j .. ,.." lro~'th of <=> "" tho ",,"",~ ~Io< '.., 167 "",,,,,, • ..t 6l P<""'" I """'. '"'P«""'y, U". "'" 01 til< ",,,,,,,,,,. ~OI. Du"". Lho r,,,j 12_y... on",U"""'"' 'I' .",.at 0.' ........ ,"" I'.".u, 01 ~"" '" .... ",,,,noJ pi'" w" <J 1"""'" on<! JI 1"'''"' I"""'. "', pe<" . . I,. <1> .. "''' 01 'roJ> on ..... ""th .. n«I ",.,. 0.., .... 30-, ...... ,,"''''''' .. d b.h • nO ."1"' ....... , of ""', ... th< ", .... dpI« n, ~\ ,",'«"' md 39 ,","""' ""p«",·dy. ",." '"'P pi"', ........ ., ••• ''''1'''''''' r<'""". ""- '«u "",m 1"""". .n"',,. 'm" on .... ""'' 'moO li.-. ,m.." ,.... 01 , ... , on "'" ~ plot ,." 3\ <",,<on, ..... ,,, "an <hot 01 '"'P on ..... ... <lnn ,=. a_ .", ,""" MC<U"'y ..... ''''f' ''''' ' ~" kno> on both pi"'" .·,th ., .," ",",GO""" ",,, ''''!' '"". on "" ",",""""d pIoc '" ,1o~'1y doll, ....... "". ' )." ',,,I,,,",,.!I ,.. ,"" '''..... ion. Aw-.h ",i, ,wdy . '" h"" .. J.o 0<>< " " '...,,' rlot ..... ... "\~ "'''''''y """"." tIw. '''I'''''''. old, .. pi"I·"'<O ".nJ, <0" ~"'<"<l y "'pmd to ..,,," '"' '"" ..... ~ h.iJ/!' ,,'" th¥n"., ,"""k, R"""•• T",." "' ........ ' .. ~"'. '''' '''''''', pm_ <Ie",.. p'M. !tIfrey p;... T h. interior ponderosa pone fore'llype (SAF '237) (overs rO<l&hly 35 mil· lOon ""re, of the Modoc; Plale,u in ncrth· easlern CahforrlLa.' Trre &rowtil " ')'1',. cally slo'" due W poo< :roil< ,nd low prec'pital ,on ..... , th 'lands 0( ponde ros.a I u.r po,, dcro,n OoLlg1. ex Laws.) ~nd Jeffrey pme fr./'fIr.,-; Grev. ond Balf,) commonly ,(ag nallng in don.." pau:h)' th,c~el' of up 10 17.000 tree, pcr acre (TPA) (42.000 tree, per hectaro IITHlJ. Despit. slow Ire. growth. tho economic ,'ahlCof the region:os • SOUfce of fOfcst pfOdocts i5 ,",pected to increase since much Gf the arca will proba· hi)' remain asa trco-gro"·,"g.liv.'!O<~. and wildlife·producing region wilh li lli. I"" of land to hOn\"~'lCS and ,oc,,,,tiOf1~1 dovoipp. rm of Initial (hinning in 1957, lhe subjec(stands w.re S~ )'.ar,old Mda""rag~d I.ss than 2.0 ,nches (5.1 cm) in diaJn¢ler al br-easlllCight (d,b.h.). M F.THons Study A ... n.e Blocks Mounl.)m Expenmental Forest i , locale<! on the . ast slope of the wuthemmos( tip oflheCascado Range in U5Sen County. California. Annual precip,(ation averages 10 to 20 inches(25 \(l51 ~m). m<m of which fall< BS snow during the "'inler months. 1lIeSOilsofthe>tudyarea areslOny .nd sltaIlo ..... WIth f'eq""nl rock ""lerops. men!. Black. Mountain is l)'pical of th. inlerior Prev,ou_, studies hav~ demonStrllod!he pon<lerola pine forest type. Found at ele,·a· range of growth response, from polo - 'il~d Lion. of 4.500 to 7.000 foet (1.372 10 2.134 stands p fOcomm ere .. ny lh I nrtt<J 10 d, fferenl m) on Call forrua .s no"""astcrn pi~leau. Ole denSOl,tS, .., bu' ,he c ffec ~ of th' nn," g 01 do r, forest lype ,s cil3.racteriLed by v.n.bl~ saphng-si,ed. s.lagns,cd "alum! 'tand, hav~ mi'''''''' or ponderosa and Jeffrey nm been prevlOusly in,'estigaled in north· incense·c~dar (CaiaccdrUJ dccurrcns em CalifornIa. The Lhmning respoIls.. of (TOfT.) Amin) and California whit" n. ,,,ch Stands i, of in,ereSt sin~c procommer· (11m,s CO"CQWr (Gord_ and Glend.) Lindl. eill thmning com t)-piclily increase BS e. Hil<lebr,).· Site indox on tho '(udy ..... .",rage '!and d,,,,,,e ,ef ,ncrease!, Further· forponde= and Jeffrey pine i$ 72 foel (22 moro. lhe ",sl"""" to relo:osing older. nag- rn) (b3seage 100 y....). n"cd standS(ommOf1ly found in the inlerior rro«dur. ~rosa pine fOO-CSL Lypc IS ,mportant in defining lhe range of Ifealm"nl opponuniStudy plots ..... '" establis.hed in 1957 .. tICS a,'rulable 10 forcs! managers. part of a larger Study BSscssin g the COSt. and Thi' nolo repons !he .<sults of a ,mall· production m"" of pre<ommorcial thin<cale ox!">,,,,,,cn, on lhe BIMks M""n..,m ning.' Thoarea thinned in the originals",dy "'penmen..,1 F()(eSlto evalu~ le the growlh covered 519 acrel (110 h:J) . Because of response of 'tagnaled. sapiLng-.;,ed pon· funding lim'tallon •. only two plots .... re M"~ 'TId Jeffrey pine 10 !,"ecommereial e,uoblis.hed to "'"aluau> the effec~' of ihi •• lhlnning in nonhern California. Al th~ time ningon ,ubSCqocnl tree growth. "sa ""ult. p""'. A B FI"",o 2_ Thonoood plot, Ii.. ! ............. 196~ The _ . "" ... QlOWft U monl ~,*,1 . - "' .... G<O;I ..... Oft . , . """""""'" pioI caution should be cxerdstd ... hen inlUp!'l:linll!he resulu of!he ~UJd)' since lhe lao::k of "'Plication precluded statisucal analysis of lhe dala. 'The Iwa plou ... etC laca\ed in m... ed pondem$l. _Jeff",y pille ""ph nJ s~ willi0111 o~mary cornpcUUOl'l. o...e O.Q4·II:rl: pk>!. (162 m') Wall <hosen ... ran(\am and prt!COIIU1"'flOi.ally tlunned from 1 UXX. TPA (27.181 TPH) 101 dcn!llyof aboul 100TPA (l7JO TPH) (Jil· J). Crop ~ ~rl: seIoxled LO ma>IIwn an "'engespaclna; of7.9 rcci (2.4 m) and ..... '" LIued 10&1I0'0I penodJC rl:~/Il; III 0LlIc0" ~ were felled. On !he IIIIlhUlllCd pIaL: {()'o311:«:) (121 m') c""""8 Il.000 TPA (32.123 lPH).!he eqLIlvaicnI Q( 700 lPA (1,730 lPH) w= $>m,br\y taued: !he IUI\IlnlDC IreC$ wen: Iofl uno;Ul Measured 'KIP uees analyud III lh.s swdy were l(IcaLcd w"l"n "'" bou~ Q( !he llo1ndS 10 lVOId ... y cd~ccff... ~ In July 19S7. lhe d.b.h. ar.J 1(l1:1l belChl of tagged crap IreC$ on the "'"U pIoo were measured. TDcnsurethalfulun: .. ~=. menU """'~ consiSlttl~y located .• 1'Iai1 ",-as dnven in", the base of..,h ....... 11. poon( ooe fOOl (0.3 m) Flgu,ol - Th ....... IlIol. "",~ ..',...."'.......", IN? Tho _ . """. g....-n l\I ~ lillo, tIl"".,O!'!tH. 0<11"" ..., .. ,"""" ~lol 3 abo~ ,round level. LO .. rve as a penn .... nl .. r..UlCe JXlIIII. D.~.h. aro::llLeilh( measuremenu ",ere repdlled in Augosl 1962 (Jig 2). July 1975. alld SepLembcr 1987 (Ji" J). HcIKhllC> the USDA """,,, $0,. ... R.. 1'1... PSW .oQl 19*9 T."'. 1-$""" d...",,,, ~,,,,, <I 81"" .. M."",••• ,"",... _ ,,,,,",,,,, >,,-. /.J7·/0P _., ... "." ... I"'cno,,'n was me:uun::d In 1981 <fI""n ""0, ~ lnu;"1 (hjnntn~ rc'l'O"5C aflC"r S )'~"'5 ... as reponed b~,,' ~f lilt ,~ d~'om';"~ h~ ),1 .... - ( ,-, "-, M_ ~. REl>l ITS D.IL>' GrO"lh ,\llhe lJnl~ of rklt c<w>hsllm~nL '" 1937. I:ogg<.J c "'P l""" on the !hI nned 11\\1 uoth,n· ...,J pi"" l'''r.q;c'tl 2.1 d.b.h. (5.3 tm ) ( :~,",·I ). DUling lbe 10 ycvs folio ..·· 111,0; Ounnin,. d.b,h. tro .. '" 01 UttS on ll>e IhlnneJ plol" ,os9J pcz~cru gre31ct lhatlwl 01 c"'" tr\...,. on <he undunned plol (fir 4) ,,,,'II,,, 11r....• - L~ '''h'''~u<n( m,·."ur~nlCnll"C'Oods (Iub/" 1). ,= 1.0('0.1') Ihe th inned rlOi :tl ((ll') u(O.n) H(O.2t\) / .., ,~ 9J(O.I<) '"' ,.11 (O.~ll 19J(O.2J) "' " ..... o 'Codr~_ "n " " " N ~ LI (IHl) l.t(OJ1) ' I ('lUI) 6J (011) "" '" " 1.0(0.3) 101 (11m Il1(ll·m 20 l< 0 (II.m , " " •" "" "• "' • " " of • ..,,,_ "","" ............... •.. ruIn .... ,.,... '),I .. ",," f""" .. .I><,w",) ~ rn .... 'd ",:",:1.", ,n "''',~l ~ro"'h !1Ie l,',11 r"I1,,"'mg 11""'"°1. 'n.locallllJ1.lfl , ,,,,noJ<JlC Ol'l-~ "" Cr'l' lr,x, on Ihe 11"",ltd and UIIlhmllCd rl,a.", "'~~cd 6,3 \ 1(,0 ,ml and 403 ,nclle$ ( 1U.9 _m) d.b.II., ""p<l"'·~ly. In 1987, A .~r.l~~ Jnnu~1 II b.h. ,.0" Ih ",-a, ~tC~"" Qn \he "''''ncd rl'~ dllllng ex" of the Iht« ""at '"' '"' 'w ,~ n;"n'~ •• r L"r, ' k-J ,."nphng ---- T,._' ~",,~!e[ ,., _010_ 1""" .... f_ ...".. ."""'" r~'I>C1n", It> ,ck~ A"tmgc on lhe lhmrl<:<i )'1", iu, ,k,,\LIlc<i ' HK C lhe 1%~·I<)7S rnc",ur~mOnl period (0, Ii \0 0,10 meh/ )\:;ul (OX! "> (),2~ em/Far), !xlI >\ ",as Stoll 4 3 r< "'c nt gr~ ~Icr lhan lh~1 of Ihe unthwn ~<i l'~" tlu,,"~ Ihe \.'1 12.)'car n'e;ts,,,cmont 1""00. Crop !roel on (he unlhlllllOO p~Ol had a ,c!au>cl)' COII,IUllI 3vcr:11l" Illlnual <l.b,h. an",,~1 d.~.h. ~r<>\... h of [(CCI , • g''''''1ir ofO,06 !oO,O!I ,nch PC' l= (0.13 to O.X1 '"V)ff <wc,!he 3().),<~, oo.c"'·aoon , pcrrw I!.·;~h l (;." .. th lh: 3'''r,ll;~ h.,:'i>hl of uucdntIP (fOCI ,0 1951 ...... 8.0 fOCI (2.4 ml on bolh (II(: lll"",,:d >rId unlh>nr'lOO plr)15 frabk I). On boo,/( plOlS. ~'·=,e a.... u;)II>e'gh( VO"'tlI ,..~. 'OlfiJNC o.('f !he )0 )'U1J follu.. Ibonn"". 'II( r~ ... 'n, from Ihc r'f" 1lIC," .. c· p ..:n, I"-"n,>.\1<) lbe.c.:on.l. blu Ih<n doxrtu· 'n)! '" Ihc ~ pcnod (I<lNr 1). o.:..l"lC lh'l I""'I""~I '·Jri:lh,\i,y. Ui."CS on lhe lh,n,,,,d "n, , l' ••• ~ 0811 (, .. lots) [ ,-, ' oc/o,_ , , • pk'i '''''''' ....... (1). a''<r:lg..'<l 35 10 62 pClCtnl n~". ,n ~l)nu31 bc,g.t tf(I" 'lh lh:In en-.p or"", un ,h.,: un,h.nncJ plOI. a,'cr ~IC .\(). )'"" OI»C"'d'lOII 1",.00<1. 1Ie'~hl tfO"'lh of IrCO, ,.\ ,lie ,h,nr'lOO rio!. w~S 39 pcrt~n( 8"'JI..:r (I.m Ilral of crop lr<:Cson (lie ""Ih,n· n,"l l'lt~ !filt· n In 19~7, l.lg:,,,'d lTCO,{)n ,he II1;n",,<I ;lnJ untll,Mcd p~)(5 3>crJ~OO 24 ,0 (n ",I und 1\.l.5 r"" l (5 ,~ 'n) ,n lI<:'Sh(, ,c·'I"CII>~I )· (wl>lt I), 150M liM I":' ,m Y.., 1111 ,. I,.. Itlil _,.,. at ""'" ""'gO( 01 0'01' ' ',,0"l0(I fio .. Figu,. ~ _ " ""'~ Q . _ 00 "',oooO.M .... , tiL'. Crn .. ," RUl io. Morlal,,)" and Sland l)yn3rnics Thitt~ yo..tr$ aft .. ,hll1n,"f!. lhc h,c crown 1'31;0$ of ~"ed crop trees aV1:raged 71 percen, UId S4 percent. respccuv<:ly ,on ~ lIunned In<I unl/liMcd plou. The lve~c liye CAl""" r21000l crop 11'«'1 on me unlhin· ned plol'$ relatively luSh conmlcnns Lhe ageanddenSJ,yQ(Lhe swod. Th:cond,\Jons under which I.hese Lrces sum". no dou~ CQIltribulC 10 Ihe tmdency or sunds 110 SIIj_ ~~ Moruhly on Ihc t1tim'led pl~ has bffiI ligh,; DIlly one ~ died eMf llle JO.yur obst7vauon periocL Oespilll: the hl,h iniual densi,y or lIIoe unlhmned plol. monal"y among crop IIte!''''''' limlle<! 10 only one t=: II>(>r12.lily wonE the ulIl3Ued UUS 011 lbe umhmncd pl~. "'hile II()I meai5llled, was considerably grealer. ConsiSlent increase. in sucuss". uti· rrtlIlClI 0( lhc roe mc:icnl M ""~Uon (CY) of crop Itt. heigh! and d.h.h. on llIe unlh.nned rlol mIl' indicate 11131 the oo,hinned Sla>ld is <10110'1)1 ovcreO<n ing ,he eMended pcnod at stagnalion r'~&le I). In contraSI. in lhe ,I"nned pl()l,lheCY oflr« d.b.h. isd«:rea..jn~ and the CV of tree height h&.l remaHled relauvely constant , The unthlnl\Cd !land wi IIneed to be mOnl t(U(! for a1000ger penod of time, 1Io...'''~r. 10 determl~ whelller changes in crop ltee CV In If«! I>!:,gnllnd d.b.h , 5igl\lll the onset of illCroased tree mortality in the lene, erown claMoe$ In<! grea u=. e rown dI fferentiation among lagged crop tre«. • • , b ... «. Ht'Chl , - , DlSCUSS10,"! AND CONCLUSIONS / " (1m) -, " / r-c - - / ~ • 1Il10 I~ I~ IfIO lIn IJIIO ,.. 1110 Y." FlgV'. s_~"",. • .,. vn~" ploc. "';g"' 0' ~ BlIIn'uU rqmned 110 In hel&ln If'lwth 1(1 signlroanl re:5po1lS1e thlnn",. pole.sizc(I ponderosa pine In the P3cinc Nonl..,al. Similarly, Schubert found no SlinonC&n1 responge ift p:II,e·Slzod por\denl$a pone In IIOfthem Ari>;CtRL' OJi_ rll'Sl rtpOI"1ed the al:lllilY~~ pt/Ie 10 req!OIId 10 thm· ninj tIuou.gh II'ICI'U$ed helghISI'OVo1h.' The '-10 ryOM lag time he obs(fved bel ...... " thinnmg and the onstI of lna-eased hc:lihl JltlWth "'III.ttributed 10 the beliel'wl trees must lim btPld up crown aru in order 10 produce the oddil)()ll31 rood rtql.llJod for man: rapid heighl ifUwth. This siudy, wrule limited 10 • lingle tre.lt. U . . . "" "'.".«1 menl plot, indic~les th31 slagnated, rei.· u. cly old, saplini'I;~d stands c." quickly respOnd 10 release. DunnK II>!: nm S)'ear$ after thinn ing . . .crage annu41 height \J~D" .... " s"",iot Ru, l<_ PSW.<II]1, 1919, growth of trees O<l the Iltinnoo plOl was 62 percenl grea It. Win thaI of l.1Ined crop on tile ""th in ned plOt. Dunn, tile WIle period. avernge aMWlI d.b.b. ~fI)"'lb of uu< <WI !he II"nl'lO(l plol was 167 pen:enl grealC. IlwI lh31 of crop trC>!Son the untbln· = ~.~ '11< ..... 1.~ n.. 1910 C.I{.... .. " .... h,....., to B. ...... J .... ..t, Ii"."') .... 0"''''' l-.o $<tu... 24..t s .... y .... ,kM ,.ioky .. _)91 .~ __ 'Ob_. "" ol~ •• W ~ TIledfecl ofth"lnin, ..-u 11$0 foond 10 be long.l&«ling. o...ng the last measurem""l period (18 to 30 years atll:r mIMIng) .•"". _g.: annual d.b.b. and he'ibt growth 0 ( = on llIc "tlflned pia ..... 43 p<l'UtIt aIId 38 p<rt:(r)t 1l1Uler. rupecu",ly. llwt 1.h3I of m. l3:ggod l«lC:$ on the untlllnned pIoI. Grov.1It I'lIlC! on lIIe lIulllltd plOl declIned dunng the last measurement petiOlI. /low. .''''. indlCaung [1'0'' ' " c\o$ull' and i. c"asoci sl3J>d Comp<llliOrt. On tile untlll.· ncd plot. increased van3bih ly In l:I"cd ~e Migbl and d.b b. SU"UI lllal uees Itt ,lo .. 1y d i ff•• ent "wn a crow" cl1S$t$ «Sfllte 8S yean of st.3gnauon. '" ..... " .1 "" 1\I6l ".,..,...,, -,,,,,,,,.,... .. 197~ . __. G_4p, _ _ u~.,,....,... _ " ......... .. , ......., .Il< ...,,_ P!<o"" 9 '''''' ..... OP. PI<>fi< " """ . ... F,..It . - j ~"'I' " ' _ St. /J._.«_,_,... " OR ho;,f"'_ ... ... _ -."-,,s..._ l,; $ D , " -,.,- 1979 ~,., .. W;]b_ W oJI<o ,w._ .. ".i ...., ... _II.......... G F.,.. ... _ ._ _~·I'/Iff'''''' R",. I'apo. PSW·I' I <.:A r...!", !IwIh . ... """", """ R...rc F..por_ $ ..- . 1'00<>0 _ . I:'s' ~ ~ ...... . . - . lOp. °E),,,, F H. oct 1910 F"... , ""',,,,.. 1I<,' '''oy. ~_ «'''' u.... SIot... -'c. --. w ......_.oc . s.....,. or _ _ n.I'lp 'T.._ ....... O.F.; ""'-. rn. _....,'.. ... ,.,..._.oJI.f1..),... _ l ~ :I'l, ~ ",._. _~ ... of F<w<,.,.,. '7(ll~\lO4. <f.........., D.E.; c...so., t:>.T. I~ n..-... ,.,,""., . ' .... h of " ..- ... ,...,w_ ...,; I']fr., ,.". ..,.............. "" mol or """It,)' 6;!(l).I" ~"" .... lounul or .... 1;5. TIlI"1 or ....""". -""_« ....., ..... ,.. ~••• ,~" /, or "-01<)' tllJ(I2~151·16C1 T hl' Aut hors: ____ RO. U T J . ....... _ ._, ... LlU ~ IlOl..'" " " ........ p«II'.,_ _ 1:..of _.<t .~ '" " ""y. Lot •• · no ..""y..,.,..... "",. . .. .... •...~"". ". ~... '·.04...u~.-.k""_ .. .... n.p.- '" -~.,.. .... ~.- "'............. {; .......r or COW....,.. H,tI.<l<y I)I~"I S E. .. ~ Ii...."", ColJ......... s ",.l<y DO' ~L O T. (lO RIJ(l" T U:<;~~ ~IlI:-' or p«II',._ I""...,... .... _01,,, ....""'".•,,1._... ,"" '><11.. s-...." ",",It .... R...I' f.. pe~ s ..u .... R......... Co4l ........ or .., '''', 'oh,"'..-...! ..... '" ..... _ . ..bJ-.... _..,. ................. """*... - . - . . 11> ... .",1 ..,.,. &II . . ......... , _ _ ., ........ "'" n",......... Il••• E.oI"....... _ _ " - " $<no .... 1.;.5 Dcpon.-. ..... Ip 'Ob_. or A' .......... ' 8 . ... ~.I W !~ ........... 4" . .......1 R.............,., 7 1 _ . ." Coiq..- Ro •. P'I"" PSW-a5. BaI<<l<)'. CA PaQ(,. _ ~ ... F<.-at .... It.>&< E' I _ . $0.0. ..-~ o.p."'""" U"". r""", 5< ........ ~ 5 nq,._ or ~I"'v"" I),"""' ......... .. ,or f"""" ...."'1 " " ." ' I<"<Y poIKy..... """'101 "" '"P""od 101"" \0"... .,.. of ~., _ ... ........,._ IX: 2(2)')