Growth Response of Northern Hardwoods to Partial Cutting in Southern Ontario

Abstract

To test the effect of three methods of partial cutting on diameter growth and tree quality, three treatments (a light improvement cut based on individual tree selection, an improvement cut based on group tree selection, and a commercial cut) were applied removing approximately 20% of the stand volume, and a control area chosen. The stands, made up of american beech (Fagus grandiflora Ehrh.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum March.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.), were located near Dorset, Haliburton County, Ontario, in the former University of Toronto Forest.Remeasurement data 10 years after cutting were used for treatment comparison. The commercial cut resulted in the greatest dbh increment. Although growth response was lower in the improvement cuts, most dbh increment occurred on trees of better quality. Dbh increment response was greater after group selection than individual tree selection.