Abstract
Abstract Two rival silvicultural systems for promoting multiaged ponderosa pine stands emerged in the 1930s and 1940s. Maturity selection was developed to move the vast ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) acreage in eastern Oregon and Washington into regulation to limit bark beetle losses. In the Southwest, improvement selection was designed to improve residual growing stock by making stands less susceptible to wind, lightening, and dwarf mistletoe. The primary difference between the systems was the treatment of undesirable smaller trees. Maturity selection tended to ignore them whereas improvement selection removed them. Improvement selection appeared to place a greater emphasis on the future whereas maturity selection focused more on current economic values. The controversy subsided by 1960 because of increased interest in even-aged systems. Although these systems have largely been forgotten, they provide interesting insights to the current trend of increased use of multiaged systems. Both systems involved greater volume removals at longer cutting cycles than current systems.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.