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Density, ages, and growth rates in old-growth and young-growth forests in coastal Oregon

Canadian Journal of Forest Research
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1139/x97-015

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Abstract

We studied the ages and diameter growth rates of trees in former Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.)Franco) old-growth stands on 10 sites and compared them with young-growth stands (50-70 years old, regenerated after timber harvest) in the Coast Range of western Oregon. The diameters and diameter growth rates for the first 100 years of trees in the old-growth stands were significantly greater than those in the young-growth stands. Growth rates in the old stands were comparable with those from long-term studies of young stands in which density is about 100-120 trees/ha; often young-growth stand density is well over 500 trees/ha. Ages of large trees in the old stands ranged from 100 to 420 years; ages in young stands varied by only about 5 to 10 years. Apparently, regeneration of old-growth stands on these sites occurred over a prolonged period, and trees grew at low density with little self-thinning; in contrast, after timber harvest, young stands may develop with high density of trees with similar ages and considerable self-thinning. The results suggest that thinning may be needed in dense young stands where the management objective is to speed development of old-growth characteristics.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Density, ages, and growth rates in old-growth and young-growth forests in coastal Oregon
Series title Canadian Journal of Forest Research
DOI 10.1139/x97-015
Volume 27
Issue 5
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher NRC Research Press
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 11 p.
First page 638
Last page 648
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