Forest Management Practices as Related to and Influenced by Forest Soil Differences in Western Washington

Abstract

AbstractIn developing correlations between soil and site quality for Douglas fir, observations were made on other forest management factors which appeared to be related to the soil. Presence or absence of windfall was noted on each plot. Nearby cutover areas of the same soil were checked for abundance of regeneration and for encroachment of hardwoods. On soils with cemented or compacted subsoils, checks were made for occurrence of natural seedlings and for their proximity to old stumps as an indication of micro‐site differences in seedling receptivity. In addition to site quality, susceptibility or resistance to wind‐throw, susceptibility to hardwood brush encroachment, abundance of conifer regeneration, seasonal use limitations and other management factors are strongly influenced by the soil profile properties.Management should be varied to capitalize on the good or desirable factors and to eliminate or minimize the undesirable ones. Forest growth patterns are described for widely different soils, and specific forest management recommendations are given to illustrate the tailoring of management to fit individual soils.