Estimation of crown competition factor for hybrid walnut (Juglans x intermedia) Mj209xRa planted forests in Spain

Jesus Fernandez-Moya; Ignacio Urbán-Martínez

doi:10.12899/asr-1931

Authors

Jesus Fernandez-Moya Bosques Naturales SA Avda de la Vega 1 Alcobendas (Madrid) , Alcobendas (Madrid) 28100 Spain
Ignacio Urbán-Martínez Bosques Naturales SA Avda de la Vega 1 Alcobendas (Madrid) , Alcobendas (Madrid) 28100 Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12899/asr-1931

Keywords:

crown diameter, crown competition factor, Juglans, planted forests, thinning, walnut.

Abstract

Many walnut (Juglans spp.) planted forests oriented for timber production have been established during the last decades. These plantations usually have a relatively low initial density (250-400 trees ha^-1) and 1 or 2 thinnings are needed for valuable timber production (75-150 trees ha^-1 for final harvesting). Hence, forest managers need to design when to perform the thinnings and how to do it. Analyzing the trees crown area is a very helpful and easy-to-use tool to evaluate the competence between trees and design the thinnings. The present study proposes two statistical models to estimate Crown Diameter (CD) and Crown Competence Factor (CCF) as a function of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) for hybrid walnut (Juglans x intermedia) Mj209xRa planted forests, within a DBH range between 5 cm (min) and 33 cm (max). CD and DBH were measured in 702 trees at the Bosques Naturales SA walnut planted forests in Cuenca, Girona and A Coruña (Spain). The CCF model is a tool to evaluate the Crown Competition Factor as a function of measured DBH in a plantation, and, accordingly, decide if a thinning should be done or not yet and design it.

References

Aletà N. 2004 - Current Research in Spain on Walnut for Wood Production. In: Proceedings of the 6th Walnut Council research symposium Michler et al. (Eds.), Black walnut in a new century. Lafayette; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 188 p.

Bechtold W.A. 2003 - Crown-Diameter Prediction Models for 87 Species of Stand-Grown in the Eastern United States. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 27 (4): 269-278.

Cisneros O., Montero G., Aletà N. 2008 - Selvicultura de Juglans regia L. In: “Compendio de Selvicultura Aplicada en España” (Eds. Serrada R, Montero G, Reque JA). INIA-Fundación Conde del Valle de Salazar, Madrid.

Clark F.B. 1967 - Pole-Sized Black Walnut Respond Quickly to Crown Release. Journal of Forestry 65 (6): 406–408.

Clark J., Hemery G. 2010 - Walnut hybrids in the UK: fast growing quality hardwoods. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 104: 43-46.

Coello J., Becquey J., Gonin P., Ortisset J.P., Desombre V., Baiges T., Piqué M. 2013 - Guía de ecología y selvicultura de especies productoras de madera de calidad. Generalidad de Cataluña - Centro de la Propiedad Forestal.

Fernández-Moya J., Urbán-Martínez I., Pelleri F., Castro G., Bergante S., Giorcelli A., Gennaro M., Licea-Moreno R.J., Santacruz Pérez D., Gutiérrez-Tejón E., Homar-Sánchez C., Bidini C., Chiarabaglio P.M., Manetti M.C., Plutino M., Sansone D. 2019 - Silvicultural guide to managing walnut plantations for timber production. ISBN 978-84-09-12163-2.76 p.

Frattegiani M., Mercurio R. 1991 - Il fattore di competizione delle chiome (CCF) nella gestione delle piantagioni da legno di noce comune (Juglans regia L.). Monti e Boschi 5: 59-61.

Hemery G.E. 2000 - Juglans regia L.: genetic variation and provenance performance. PhD Thesis. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford.

Hemery G.E., Savill P., Pryor S.N. 2005 - Applications of the crown diameter-stem diameter relationship for different species of broadleaved trees. Forest Ecology and Management 215 (1–3): 285–294.

Kerr G., Haufe J. 2011 - Thinning Practice: A Silvicultural Guide. UK Forestry Commission. [www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Silviculture_Thinning_Guide_v1_Jan2011.pdf/$file/Silviculture_Thinning_Guide_v1_Jan2011.pdf]

Krajicek J.E., Brinkman K.A., Gingrich S.F. 1961 - Crown Competition – A measure of Density. Forest Science 7 (1): 35-42.

Marchino L., Ravagni S. 2007 - Effetti del diradamento in impianti puri di noce: prime osservazioni. Sherwood - Foreste e alberi oggi 139: 40-41.

Mercurio R., Minotta G. 2000 - Arboricoltura de legno. Ed. CLUEB. Bologna, Italy. 203 p.

Mohni C., Pelleri F., Hemery G.E. 2009 - The modern silviculture of Juglans regia L.: A literature review. Die Bodenkultur 60 (3): 21-34.

Montero G., Cisneros O. 2006 - Informe sobre el desarrollo del proyecto AGL2003-09347-C02-01, “Selvicultura de plantaciones de frondosas autóctonas productoras de madera de calidad en Castilla y León”. Private working document.

R Core Team 2018 - R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria. [www.R-project.org]

Schlesinger R.C. 1988 (a) - First Thinning. In: Burde EL (ed) Walnut Notes. USDA, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station.

Schlesinger R.C. 1988 (b) - Second Thinning. In: Burde EL (ed) Walnut Notes. USDA, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station.

USDA 1981 - Quick reference for thinning black walnut. USDA Forest Service, Minnesota

Victory E.R., Woeste K.E., Rhodes O.E. 2004 - History of Black Walnut Genetics Research in North America. In: Proceedings of the 6th Walnut Council Research Symposium “Black Walnut in a New Century”.

West P.W. 2006 - Growing Plantation Forests. Springer, Germany.