el%+ United States 

epartment of 

w 4 Agriculture 

@D 

Stand Development and Yields o 

Forest Service Appalachian Hardwood Stands 

Northeastern Forest 

Experiment Station Managed with Single-Tree 

Research Paper NE-655 

I 

Selection for at Least 30 Years 

Neil I. Lamson 

H. Clay Smith 
Abstract 

Appalachian hardwood stands in West Virginia were managed for 30 or more 

years using single-tree selection regeneration practices. Stand yield data suggest 

that current stand growth will provide economical harvest cuts for several future 

cutting cycles. This case study indicates that single-tree selection has potential 

for landowners who want to maintain continuous overstory cover and are willing 

to accept the gradual species shift to more shade-tolerant species. 

The Authors 

NEIL I. LAMSON is a silviculturist with the Northeastern Area, State and Private 

Forestry, at Durham, New Hampshire. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in 

silviculture and forest soils from the State University of New York, College of 

Environmental Science and Forestry, at Syracuse. Formerly he conducted 

hardwood research at the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station's Forestry 

Sciences Laboratory at Durham, New Hampshire, and the Timber and Watershed 

Laboratory at Parsons, West Virginia. 

H. CLAY SMITH is Project Leader of research on the growth and culture of 

central Appalachian hardwoods at the Northeastern Station's Timber and 

Watershed Laboratory at Parsons, West Virginia. He received degrees from 

West Virginia University and Purdue University, and has been engaged in 

timber management research with the USDA Forest Service since 1962. 

Manuscript received for publication 25 April 1991 

Northeastern Forest Experiment Station 

5 Radnor Corporate Center 

100 Matsonford Road, Suite 200 

P.O. Box 6775 

Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087 

September 1991 
Background 

Single-tree selection is an uneven-age regeneration cutting 

practice in which stand regulation is achieved by maintaining 

a specific number of trees in each diameter class. 

Continuous overstory tree cover is retained and periodically 

individual trees are removed throughout all merchantable 

diameter classes. Regeneration, primarily tolerant tree 

slpecies, is established after each cut and residual-tree 

development (stand structure) is expected throughout a 

range of diameter classes. 

A.n ideal tree diameter distribution in uneven-aged stands 

usually takes the form of a reverse J-shaped curve when 

number of trees is plotted over d.b.h. (age) classes. A 

practical means of attaining such a distribution is through 

the use of a "q" factor (the ratio of number of trees in a 

d.b.h. class to the number in the next smaller class). In 

addition to the q factor, residual basal area and largest 

diameter tree to grow must be determined in order to 

mark stands for periodic harvests using single-tree selection 

cutting. 

Although guidelines are available on managing, stands 

using single-tree selection (Smith and Lamson 1982; Leak 

and Gottsacker 1985; Nyland 1987; Smith and Miller 

1987), little information is available on yields of stands 

managed with the selection cutting practice. In this 

publication, we describe the yield of six stands that have 

been managed for 30 years or more using single-tree 

selection. Although this is a case study, it does provide 

growth information on the potential for using an uneven-age 

management in eastern hardwood forests. However, these 

growth data are from second-growth stands that were 

established using even-age practices. Thus, the yields 

were from a species mixture that included a significant 

number of intolerant species. In these stands we expect 

intolerant species to become increasingly rare unless 

some catastrophic event occurs. 

Figure 1 .--Stand managed with single-tree selection for at least 30 years-excellent growing site. 
The Study and Methods 

During the period 1952-58, six compartments were 

established as single-tree selection areas on the Fernow 

Experimental Forest, in north-central West Virginia near 

Parsons (Fig. 1). Precipitation averages 58 inches annually 

and the growing season is 120 to 140 frost-free days. 

Compartment size ranges from 11 to 78 acres. Two 

compartments each were established on northern red oak 

site index (SI) 60, 70, and 80 areas. At the time of study 

establishment, stands were primarily 50- to 55-year-old 

second-growth hardwoods and contained some large trees 

left from earlier logging between 1905 and 1910. Also, 

scattered saplings and poletimber trees were present that 

replaced American chestnut trees that died during the 

1930's. After more than 30 years of management, principal 

overstory species were: SI 80 areas - black cherry, red 

oak, yellow-poplar, sugar maple; SI 70 areas - red oak, 

black cherry, sugar maple, basswood; SI 60 areas - red 

oak, chestnut oak, red maple. 

Since establishment, the six compartments have been 

managed using residual number of trees guidelines (Smith 

and Lamson 1982). These guidelines include a q value 

of 1.3, largest diameter tree to grow (LDT) of 20, 26, 

and 32 inches, and residual basal area (RBA) of 50, 65, 

and 80 ft2 per acre in trees 5.0 inches d.b.h. and larger 

for SI 60, 70, and 80, respectively (Table 1). The SI 70 

and SI 80 areas are managed on a 10-year cutting cycle, 

while the SI 60 areas are on a 15-year cutting cycle. 

Three of the compartments have been cut three times 

and three have been cut four times, with periodic harvests 

averaging 3,000 to 4,000 board feet per acre. Immediately 

before each cut, a 100-percent inventory was conducted 

of trees with more than 5.0 inches d.b.h. These inventories, 

by 2-inch d.b.h. classes, were used to determine the 

mark cut. Marking was accomplished using cut-ratios by 

diameter class (Smith and Lamson 1982). The 

compartments were managed for sawlog products only, 

so no trees less than 11.0 inches d.b.h. (12-inch d.b.h. 

I class) were marked for cutting. Logging was done by a 

3- or 4-man crew using a crawler tractor and/or rubber-tired 

skidder. 

The stands, essentially even-aged at the time the study 

was initiated, had a surplus (more than the established 

goal) of 12- and 14-inch d.b.h. trees and a deficit (less 

than the established goal) or trees more than 18 inches 

d.b.h. It was not possible to initially cut all the surplus 

trees because this would have reduced the stand below 

the desired RBA and influenced periodic sustained yield 

goals. In the beginning, highest priority was given to 

removing poor-quality and high-risk trees. In later markings, 

after most of the poor-quality and high-risk trees had 

been removed, potential butt-log tree grade and spacing 

among residual trees were the primary criteria used to 

select trees for removal. 

To monitor individual tree growth, four or five growth 

plots were established in each compartment from 1981 to 

1983. All trees 1.0 inch d.b.h. and larger were permanently 

identified on these 0.5-acre growth plots. Observation on 

the identified trees included d.b.h., crown class, and other 

stem characteristics. All trees on the growth plots were 

remeasured at &year intervals. 

Results 

Stand Structure 

Table 1 shows initial and current stand data for trees 

more than 5.0 inches d.b.h. for each of the three site-index 

classes. When number of stems is plotted over d.b.h. 

(tree size, not age), these stands exhibited the typical 

uneven-age reverse J-shaped curve even though the 

stands were more or less even-aged. Most natural 

hardwood stands have more smaller than larger stems 

due to different growth rates in mixed species stands. 

After 30 or more years of stand management (stems 12 

inches d.b.h. and larger), there are still surplus pole and 

sawtimber trees in nearly all d.b.h. classes. Stand structure 

residual tree goals (Table 1) for sawtimber-size trees 

(11.0 inches d.b.h. and larger) range from 28 to 36 trees 

per acre for all areas. The SI 80 areas are nearest to 

the stand structure goal for 12- to 18-inch d.b.h. trees, 

though these areas still have deficits (less than the 

established goal) for trees more than 26 inches d.b.h. 

For the SI 70 areas, there are surplus trees in the 12- 

to 22-inch d.b.h. classes, while the SI 60 areas have a 

large number of surplus trees in the 12- to 26-inch d.b.h. 

classes. Both the SI 60 and SI 70 areas still have a few 

trees in d.b.h. classes above the largest diameter tree 

(LDT) goal, even though the stands have been cut three 

or four times. Most of these large trees, residuals from 

the early logging, will be removed in the next scheduled 

cut (Table 1). 

Changes in species composition and number of poles 

and sawtimber trees before treatment and in the current 

residual stand were compared (Table 2). Important changes 

in species composition can be seen in the pole-size trees. 

Generally, the maples and beech have made a major 

increase in number of trees during the study period. After 

30 years, these managed areas are not uneven-aged 

stands where tree size indicates age. However, shadetolerant reproduction in the sapling and pole stands is 

well established and developing. Also, stand structure is 

beginning to develop and within the next two to four 

cutting periods, the diameter of sapling, pole, and perhaps 

small sawlog-size stems should reflect tree age. Likewise, 

the number of shade-tolerant trees should increase in the 

sawlog-size class. 

Stand Growth 

Per-acre stand growth for merchantable trees larger than 

5.0 inches d.b.h. of the six compartments is shown in 

Table 3. These data are based on the periodic growth 

before the last cut in each compartment and also include 

ingrowth from saplings to pole stems and from poles to 

sawtimber trees. Residual stand volumes following the 
Table 1.-Initial, current, and desired number of trees per acre for stands 

managed with single-tree selection 

- - - 

D.b.h. SI 60 a SI 70 SlJ30C 

(inches) lnitiald Currente Goal lnitiald Currente Goal Initiald Currente Goal 

.......................................... Number of trees/acre ---- -------- --- --------- --- ----- 

6 76.9 57.1 19.2 63.3 51.8 18.6 41.5 29.6 19.4 

8 45.7 21.3 14.7 38.9 32.1 14.3 33.8 21.2 14.9 

10 21.8 15.7 11.3 27.3 22.3 11.0 27.3 17.2 11.5 

- 

Subtotal 144.4 94.1 45.2 129.5 106.2 43.9 102.6 68.0 45.8 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

24 

26 

28 

30 

32 

34 

Subtotal 

Total 182.2 132.5 72.9 174.5 145.1 76.2 159.1 107.0 81.8 

aq = 1.3; RBA= 50 elacre; LDT= 20 inches d.b.h. 

bq = 1.3; RBA = 65 */acre; LDT = 26 inches d.b.h. 

'q = 1.3; RBA = 80 */acre; LDT= 32 inches d.b.h. 

dAverage of two compartments based on 100-percent inventories. 

eAverage of two compartments based on 100-percent inventories after 30 years. 

next to last cut were subtracted from the inventory 

completed immediately before last cut. Growth periods 

were 10 years on the SI 70 and SI 80 areas and 14 

years on the SI 60 areas. Residual number of stems per 

acre 5.0 inches d.b.h. and larger ranged from 124 to 

174, while residual basal area ranged from 86 to 95 ft2 

per acre. Residual board-feet volume per acre ranged 

from 5,540 on SI 60 areas to 11,763 on SI 80 areas, 

reflecting increased RBA and LDT for the higher quality 

sites. 

Annual average basal area growth ranged from 2.1 to 

2.'7 ft2 per acre. There was no clear trend of increasing 

basal-area growth with increasing site quality. Annual peracre board-foot volume growth showed a similar trend 

with lowest growth on SI 60 areas (329 board feet per 

acre): on SI 70 and SI 80 areas, annual growth averaged 

505 and 476 board feet per acre, respectively. 

Individual Tree Growth 

Data on individual tree growth were obtained on the 0.5-acre 

growth plots. Five-year individual tree growth of all stems 

1.0 inch d.b.h. and larger was essentially the same in all 

areas-0.5 inch d.b.h. (Table 4). This was due to the 

large number of small, overtopped stems in all areas 

which grew 0.1 inch or less during the 5 years. Diameter 

growth of dominantkodominant trees was highest on the 

SI 80 areas, 1.2 inches, and lowest on the SI 60 areas, 

1.0 inch. Five-year diameter growth of the 50 largest 

trees per acre was about equal to the diameter growth of 

the dominantkodominant trees on a given site. 

Prediction Equations 

Regressions were used to predict 10-year d.b.h. growth 

of individual trees for each site-index class. The prediction 

equations and coefficients for each red oak site-index 

classes are of the form: 

y = a + b (X) + c (X)2 

where y = 5-year basal area growth, a = intercept, b,c 

= coefficients, and X = diameter breast height. 
Table 2.-Pole and sawtimber trees per acre before logging compared with 

similar trees in the current residual stand 

Percent Percent 

S~ecies InitialC Currentd change InitialC currentd change 

N. red oak 

Red maple 

Black birch 

Chestnut oak 

Beech 

Sassafras 

Other species 

Total 

------Number of trees ----- ------Number of trees ----- SITE INDEX 60 

- 20 8.4 12.4 + 

+ 65 2.7 5.1 f 

+ 104 1.5 0.6 - - 31 7.3 4.0 - 

+ 42 5.3 1.5 - 

- 82 0.4 0 

- 18 13.0 9.2 - 

- 16 38.7 32.8 - 

N. red oak 

Sugar maple 

Red maple 

Basswood 

Black cherry 

Black birch 

White ash 

Yellow-poplar 

Other species 

Total 

N. red oak 

Sugar maple 

Black cherry 

Yellow-poplar 

Hickory 

Beech 

Red maple 

Black birch 

White ash 

Other species 

Total 

SlTE INDEX 70 

38.4 14.8 - 62 12.8 20.5 + 60 

10.7 35.8 + 235 6.8 3.4 -50 

9.1 12.2 + 34 1.3 1.8 + 39 

16.0 11.8 - 26 4.9 2.2 - 55 

9.8 2.5 - 75 5.1 3.9 - 24 

8.2 5.4 - 34 2.4 0.3 - 88 

4.5 3.1 - 31 0.6 1.6 + 167 

3.3 0.9 - 73 2.8 1.8 - 36 

29.4 22.0 - 25 8.1 1.8 - 78 

129.4 108.5 - 16 44.8 37.3 -17 

SlTE INDEX 80 

16.6 3.1 - 81 8.7 9.7 + 12 

11.7 27.9 + 139 4.9 5.6 + 14 

13.9 1.5 -89 14.5 6.0 - 59 

4.8 1.6 + 67 6.2 4.2 - 32 

3.2 1.5 - 53 1.7 0.9 - 47 

5.1 8.5 + 67 5.9 2.6 - 56 

5.7 7.0 + 23 1.1 2.0 + 82 

10.8 4.9 - 55 1.8 2.0 + 11 

1.5 0.2 - 87 0.8 0.5 - 38 

29.4 10.8 - 64 11 .O 0.5 - 38 

- 

102.7 67.0 - 35 56.6 37.6 - 34 -- - 

a5.0 to 10.9 inches d.b.h. 

b1 1.0 inches d.b.h. and larger. 

'Average of two compartments based on 100-percent inventories. 

d~verage of two compartments based on 100-percent inventories after 30 years. 

Coefficients were derived by least-square fit using actual 

data. 

These equations for a given site were used to compute 

5-year basal-area growth. This 5-year basal-area value 

was converted to &year d.b.h. to develop the 10-year 

diameter growth information in Table 5. For example, 10- 

year d.b.h. growth for a tree 16 inches d.b.h. on an oak 

SI 80 area was calculated as: 

y = - 0.00274 + .00233(16) + .00065(162) 

5-year basal area growth = 0.2009 ff 

Basal area 16.0-inch tree = 1.3963 ff 

5-year tree basal area = 1.3963 f 0.2009 = 

1.5972 ff 

5-year tree d.b.h. = 17.1 

5-year d.b.h. - initial d.b.h. = &year d.b.h. growth 

17.1-16.0 = 1.1 inches 

10-year d.b.h. growth = 2.2 inches (Table 5) 
Table 3.-Per-acre stand growth data for Appalachian hardwood stands managed 

with single-tree selection trees 5.0 inches d.b.h. and largef 

Stand net growth 

Residual inventoryb Periodic inventoryC Periodic Ave. annual 

Board- Board- Board- BoardNo. of Basal foot No. of Basal foot No. of Basal foot Basal foot 

trees area volumed trees area volumed years area volumed area volumed 

fP i=P fiZ ft2 

SlTE INDEX 60 

174 86 5,540 182 116 10,140 14 30 4,600 2.1 329 

SlTE INDEX 70 

156 90 8,336 166 117 13,387 10 27 5,051 2.7 505 

SlTE INDEX 80 

124 95 11,763 126 120 16,525 10 25 4,762 2.5 476 

alnventories and stand growth data include ingrowth but exclude mortality; no trees were 

cut during the measurement intervals. 

bStand data immediately after cut at beginning of last cycle. 

'Stand data at end of cutting cycle prior to cut. 

dlnternational 114-inch board-foot volume. 

Table 4.-Average 5-year individual-tree diameter 

growth in stands managed with single-tree selection 

Dominant1 

All codominant 50 largest 

- Item treesa trees treeslacre 

SlTE INDEX 60 

No./acre 566 52 50 

D.b.h. (inches) 4.2 12.1 12.6 

5-year growth (inches) 0.5 1 .O 1 .O 

SlTE INDEX 70 

No./acre 475 57 50 

D.b.h. (inches) 4.8 14.0 14.8 

Growth (inches) 0.5 1.2 1.2 

SlTE INDEX 80 

No./acre 369 49 50 

D.1b.h. (inches) 5.7 17.0 16.9 

- 

Growth (inches) 0.5 1.2 1.2 

a1 .0 inch d.b.h. and larger. 

Table 5.-Average predicted 10-year diameter growth 

by d.b.h. class of individual trees for stands managed 

with single-tree selection 

D.b.h. 

(inches) SI 60 SI 70 SI 80 

------------------------Inches ......................... 

6 1.4 1.3 1 .O 

8 1.6 1.6 1.3 

10 1.7 1.8 1.5 

12 1.9 2.0 1.8 

14 2.0 2.2 2.0 

16 2.2 2.5 2.2 

18 2.3 2.7 2.5 

20 2.5 2.9 2.7 

22 2.6 3.1 2.9 

24 2.7 3.3 3.2 

Ten-year diameter growth ranged from 1.0 inch to 3.3 

inches. The 10-year diameter growth of sawlog-size trees 

ranged from about 2 inches for the 12-inch class to more 

Prediction equations for all three site-index classes than 3 inches for the 24-inch d.b.h. class (limit of data) 

accounted for a significant amount of the variability, on SI 70 and 80 areas. 

coefficients of determinations (R2) ranged from 0.74 to 

Discussion I 

Table 5 shows the estimated 10-year diameter growth of 

individual trees for these stands managed with single-tree Appalachian hardwood stands in West Virginia were 

selection. Diameter growth was lowest on SI 60 areas managed for 30 or more years using the single-tree I 

and about equal on SI 70 and SI 80 areas. selection practice. Stand yield data suggest that current 
stand growth will provide economical harvest cuts for 

several future cutting periods. Based on this information, 

current mature Appalachian stands with northern red oak 

site indexes from 60 to 80 are expected to yield 300 to 

500 board feet per acre per year or 3,000 to 5,000 board 

feet per acre at 10- to 15-year intervals until the shade 

tolerant species begin to dominate the sawlog-size trees. 

Although this is a case history and all data were collected 

in the same general area, similar growth response can 

be expected with similar species composition, sites, and 

management practices. With skid and haul roads previously 

established, the expected volume yield is more than a 

marginal economic harvest. 

When applying single-tree selection, an important objective 

is to attain the desired number of residual trees by d.b.h. 

class as soon as possible while satisfying periodic sustained 

yield objectives. In this study, the decision was made to 

gradually approach the established goals over several 

cutting periods. It is possible to remove all surplus trees 

during the initial cut, but in most instances, the residual 

stand would be cut below the desired RBA because of 

deficits in some diameter classes. This would delay future 

harvests and create large openings in the crown canopy. 

This latter approach will jeopardize an important objective 

of single-tree selection: providing a periodic even flow of 

products while maintaining continuous overstory tree 

cover. 

Individual-tree diameter growth of sawlog-size trees should 

be at least 2 inches in 10 years for Appalachian hardwood 

stands managed with single-tree selection - oak site 

index 60 to 80. Thus, all merchantable trees are expected 

to grow into the next 2-inch diameter class during any 

10-year period. 

A common objection to single-tree selection is that marking 

is difficult compared to thinning even-aged stands. Basic 

data required before marking stands using single-tree 

selection is a stand table by 2-inch d.b.h. classes. Similar 

data are required for thinning stands. The selection cut is 

determined by using residual number of trees guidelines 

(Smith and Lamson 1982). With some training, foresters 

can mark stands in a single pass using single-tree selection. 

Foresters who can thin hardwood stands using stocking 

guides can apply the single-tree selection practice. 

Another objection to single-tree selection has been potential 

damage to residual trees. In this study of stands managed 

with single-tree selection, most of the trees damaged 

during logging were saplings. Few sawlog trees were 

damaged (Lamson and others 1985). After each harvest, 

all stands contained a surplus of undamaged, high-quality 

saplings and poles. 

Managing current second-growth, even-aged hardwood 

stands in the central Appalachians using single-tree 

selection results in a change of species composition. 

Stands will eventually be dominated by shade-tolerant 

species. We expect the periodic growth to be reduced by 

this change in species composition. Total board-foot volume 

for an 8.0-inch top d.i.b. sugar maple is about 10 percent 

less than that of intolerant species such as black cherry 

or yellow-poplar. In mixed hardwood stands, intolerants 

usually account for about half of the stand volume, and 

this percent volume continues to decline with each periodic 

cut using single-tree selection. Therefore, it seems likely 

that converting mixed Appalachian hardwood stands to 

tolerant species would reduce periodic growth by at least 

10 percent. 

This case study indicates that single-tree selection has 

potential in the Appalachians. It is useful for landowners 

who want to maintain continuous overstory cover and are 

willing to accept the gradual species shift to the more 

shade-tolerant species. Experience has shown that marking 

stands using single-tree selection is not difficult; in most 

cases it can be accomplished in one pass through the 

stand. Foresters who use stocking guides to thin stands 

can use also single-tree selection residual-tree guidelines 

as a regeneration practice. 

Literature Cited 

Lamson, Neil I; Smith, H. Clay; Miller, Gary W. 1985. 

Logging damage using an individual-tree selection 

practice in Appalachian hardwood stands. Northern 

Journal of Applied Forestry. 2: 1 17-1 20. 

Leak, William B.; Gottsacker, James H. 1985. New 

approaches to uneven-age management in New 

England. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 

2: 28-31. 

Nyland, Ralph D. 1987. Selection system and its 

application to uneven-aged northern hardwoods. In: 

Managing northern hardwoods, proceedings of a 

silvicultural symposium; 1986 June 23-25; Syracuse, 

NY. Fac. of For. Misc. Pub. No. 13 (ESF 87-002), 

SAF Publ. No. 87-03. Syracuse, NY: State University 

of New York, College of Environmental Science and 

Forestry: 49-80. 

Smith, H. Clay; Lamson, Neil 1. 1982. Number of residual 

trees: guide for selection cutting. Gen. Tech. Rep. 

NE-80. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 

33 p. 

Smith, H. Clay; Miller, Gary W. 1987. Economic 

considerations of uneven-age hardwood 

management. In: Economics of eastern hardwood 

management. Penn State forest resources issues 

conference; 1986 March 9-1 1 ; University Park, PA. 

University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University: 

97-1 10. 
Lamson, Neil I; Smith, H. Clay 1991. Yields of Appalachian hardwood 

stands managed with single-tree selection for at least 30 years. 

Res. Pap. NE-655. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p. 

Appalachian hardwood stands in West Virginia were managed for 30 or 

more years using single-tree selection regeneration practices. Stand yield 

data suggest that current stand growth will provide economical harvest 

cuts for several future cutting cycles. This case study indicates that the 

single-tree selection practice has potential for landowners who want to 

maintain continuous overstory cover and are willing to accept the gradual 

species shift to the more shade-tolerant species. 

I ODC 221.4 161.4:176.1 

Keywords: Tree regeneration; growth; yields; shade-tolerant species 

I 

i 

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