Regeneration after Strip Cutting and Block Clearcutting in Northern Hardwoods

Abstract

Abstract Regeneration was studied during the first 10 years after clearcutting on two sites in the northern hardwood forest of New Hampshire. One site was a 12-ha block clearcut; the other was a 36-ha progressive strip cut harvested in three phases using 25-m wide strips which approximated one tree height. Permanent plots on each site were measured at intervals of 1 to 4 years. Changes in the density and biomass of the major commercial species and their primary noncommercial competitors are presented. At 10 years after clearcutting, yellow birch was the most common tree on the block clearcut; sugar maple was most numerous on the strip cut. Pin cherry dominated the biomass on the block clearcut and the strips first cut (1970), but yellow birch and sugar maple biomass was greater on the strips cut later (1972 and 1974). North. J. Appl. For. 7:65-68, June 1990.