Thinning Mixed-Species Stands of Douglas-Fir and Western Hemlock in the Presence of Swiss Needle Cast: Guidelines Based on Relative Basal Area Growth of Individual Trees

Abstract

In coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest, young coniferous plantations typically contain a mixture of planted and natural Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla). Swiss needle cast (SNC) disease inhibits the growth of Douglas-fir to varying degrees in these stands, depending on SNC severity. In addition to the value differential between Douglas-fir and western hemlock, foresters must account for differences in growth potential (tree size, competitive position, site characteristics, disease pressure) when selecting trees for retention during thinning operations. Diameter increment models for Douglas-fir and western hemlock were developed from permanent plot data collected for the SNC growth impact study (GIS), precommercial thinning study (PCT), commercial thinning study (CT), and retrospective commercial thinning study (RCT). Predictor variables represent tree size, competitive position, site characteristics, and SNC severity. SNC severity was indexed by foliage retention, defined as the number of annual needle cohorts held by a tree. Foliage retention was positively correlated with Douglas-fir diameter increment and negatively correlated with western hemlock diameter increment. Charts developed from the diameter growth models provide a field tool for assessing the relative basal area growth of adjacent Douglas-fir and western hemlock of a given initial diameter in a stand of given SNC severity. In a stand with severe SNC (foliage retention 1.5 years) the basal area growth of a 6-in. western hemlock tree will exceed the basal area growth of any Douglas-fir tree up to 7.7 in. in DBH. In a relatively healthy stand (foliage retention 3.0 years) the basal area growth of 6 in. Douglas-fir and western hemlock trees will be approximately equivalent.