Journal article
Growth responses to thinning and pruning in eucalyptus globulus, eucalyptus nitens, and eucalyptus grandis plantations in southeastern Australia
DI Forrester, TG Baker
Canadian Journal of Forest Research | Published : 2012
DOI: 10.1139/X11-146
Abstract
Growth responses to pruning or thinning are well documented but their interactions are not, even though they are sometimes performed simultaneously. Growth responses to thinning and pruning were examined in nine plantation silvicultural experiments at five sites in southeastern mainland Australia. The species studied were Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Eucalyptus nitens (Deane and Maiden) Maiden, and Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden. Thinning from about 1100-1300 trees·ha-1 to about 300 or 500 trees·ha-1 at either age 3-4 years or 7-10 years increased the volume of sawlog crop trees in all species. Multiple lift pruning to 6.5 m height on the sawlog crop trees that retained at least 70% of th..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The studies presented and analysed here were variously supported by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, Forest and Wood Products Australia, and the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry. Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Limited, Peart family, Goulburn Valley Region Water Authority, and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment provided sites, silvicultural assistance, and some data. Numerous individuals contributed to trial design, establishment, maintenance, and measurement, including R. Appleton, R. Borshmann, J. Costenaro, M. Duncan, S. Elms, P. Kneale, M. Lutze, M. McCormick, D. Stackpole, R. Stokes, and G. Wall. Thank you also to R. Forrester for statistical advice and two anonymous reviewers who provided useful comments that improved the manuscript.