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ARMY TM 5-631

NAVY NAVFACM0-100.2

AIR FORCE AFM 126-3

TECHNICAL MANUAL

NATURAL RESOURCES

FORESTMANAGEMENT

D E P A R T M E N T S OF T HEARMY, THE NAVY, AND

THE

AIR FORCE

FORCEDECEMBER 1981

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Figure 2-2. Paint marking tree

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F i g u r e 2-3. Young Sou th er n Yel l ow P i n e s t a ndbefor et h i n n i n g .

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F i gu r e 4 -3 . Youn g Sou th e r n Ye l l ow P i n e st a n d a f t e r t h i n n i n g .4-3.2.1.3.Mechanical thinning. Any thinning that

selects the trees to be removed according to somesimple, objective criterion, e.g.,a minimum spacingof stems gauged by a stick of predetermined length(stick thinning). In planted stands, alternate trees inalternate rows or every second, third or fourth rowof trees may be removed.

4-3.2.1.4. Selection thinning. Remove dominantswhich show wolf-tree tendencies and overtoppedtrees which have a merchantable value. Do notremove choice clean, slender-stemmed trees thatretain sufficient crown to continue into the

dominant class (fig. 4-3).4-3.2.1.5. Basal area thinning. Basal area is anexpression of area in square feet of breast-high crosssection for individual trees or for unit forest area(acre, hectare, etc.)Sound judgment and experienceare the best marking guides. Keep the trees ofgoodquality in the dominant position and utilize thegrowing space to its full potential. Maintain. basalarea as recommended for the species. Timbermarkers may not readily visualize the basal areathey are leaving and must check from time to timeby use of the angle gauge or other device for

determining the basal area.

4-3.2.2. Improvement cutting. I mprovemen

cutting is made in a stand older than the saplinstage, usually to start improvement of wild standsbeing placed under management. It involves thremoval of only those unwanted trees which are ofsufficient size to provide the material for merchantable products. Types of trees removed inaddition to undesired species include: diseasedtrees, those mechanically injured, unthrifty treeslikely to die before the next cutting cycle, insecinfested trees, and those of poor form (forkedcrooked). Improvement cuttings and thmnings in acompartment are usually concurrent operations.

4-3.2.3. Salvage cuttings. These cuttings removedead or injured trees to utilize them before theybecome worthless. Salvage timber promptlyfollowing storm blowdowns, ice damage, severefires, or attacks of insects or diseases. If extensivareas are damaged, keep as seed trees those deemedmost likley to live. It is often difficult to judgewhether or not fire damaged trees will die, but in theSouth particularly, make the decision immediatelyafter the fire.

4-3.3. Harvest cuttings. This is a general term forthe removal of financially or physically mature trees

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F i g u r e 4-4. Long lea f p in eseed t r ees.

4-3.3.3.2 Seedc u t t i n g . Make onlyone seed cuttingto provide reproduction and remove 25 to 50 percentof the remaining stand. This cutting is made just

after the seeds mature in a good seed year. Loggingserves to work the seeds into the humus and mineralsoil. Remove smaller trees, those of relatively lowvigor, and those of very large size which woulddestroy too much reporduction if allowed to remainuntil the removal cutting.*

4-3.3.3.3 R em o v a l c u t t i n g . This involves theremaining old trees in one or several operations, thelast of which is the final cutting which may not bemade for many years.No te : Pure shelterwood does not provide the

most ecnoomical processes of forest management.

4-8

As the situation requires, combine the various steps

each time a scheduled cutting cycle is marked.

4-3.3.4. Selec t ion . This m et ho d c al ls f or t he

removal, annually or periodically, of the trees whichhave reached rotation age. The theoretical selectionforest is all-aged with proportions of each age classfrom 1 year old to rotation age. Actually, thiscondition seldom exists, but practical application ofthis type of cutting may be modified to fit local

conditions. For best results, harvest cutting,thinning, and improvement cutting are combined inone operation.cutting cycle.sufficient sizeeach species.

Each area is cut over once everyThe openings made should be ofto meet the reproduction needs of

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walnuts, should be planted at a depth equal to thewidth of the seed being planted.

4-3.6.6. P er f o r m a n c e r a t es. As a basis forcalculating labor and equipment requirements forplanting, estimate 300-500 trees per man-day inholes in clay soils and on rough or rocky steepterrain, 800-1000 trees per man-day on sandy soilsand level land, using hand labor. Machineplanting

with tractor-drawn planting machine of medium toheavy-duty size will average1500-2000 trees permachine-hour. Use of small crawler tractorsequipped with a "V" pusher (fig. 4-5) will materiallyassist in maintaining an adequate performance rateand insure better planting results. The use of "V"pusher should be specified in all contracts wheremachine planting will be done on other than openabandoned fields where no prior preparation, otherthan burning of grass is required.

4-3. 7. T r ee Cl a ssi f i c a t i o n .

4-3.7.1 Hardwoods are native trees that havebroad leaves and, generally shed their leaves prior toeach growing season. Examples: oak, ash, maple,magnolia, elm, hickory, and aspen. The term hasnothing to do with the physical hardness of softnessof the wood.

4-3.7.2. Softwoods are known also as conifers. Alnative species of softwoods have needlelike orscalelike leaves and bear their seed in cones. Withthe exception of two genera, Larix (larch) andTaxodium (baldcypress), softwoods areevergreen.

4-3.7.3. Old growth refers to trees and stands thathave reached or passed maturity. I n addition to age

and size, the principal characteristic is relativelyslow growth due to intense competition for sunlightand moisture.

4-3.7.4. Second-growth trees and stands are thosethat have come up naturally after some drasticinterference (e.g., wholesale cutting, serious fire, orinsect attack) with the previous forest crop.

4-3.7.5 Crown classification is valuable as a gaugeof silvicultural behavior and the current position oftrees in the stand. The following systemdistinguishes the seven classes which are standard

for all Department of Defense military reservationtimber:

4-3.7.5.1. Dominant trees extend above the generallevel of the canopy.

Figure4-5. V-pusher equippedtractor with heavy dutytree planter attached.

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F i g u r e B-2 E xam ini ng aeri al photographs un derster eoscope.

B-3.4. Ph oto I n t e r p r et a t i o n a n d Ma p p i n g . Todelineate the various timber types andclassifications, the delineation lines must be drawnunder a stereoscope. After the types have beendelineated, the desired detail can be transferred toacompartment map by using a vertical sketchmaster.

B-3.5. Suggested System of T ype an d Si ze

Classes. A standardized symbol system for variousclassifications and information about each timbertype is shown in Table B-l. If timber type data is tobe processed by machine methods, the various typesare given individual numbers. A numbering systemor code is contained in the Forest Survey Handbookavailable from the regional offices of the Forest Ser-vice. The photo interpreter may not be able to dif-ferentiate each classification on the aerialphotograph the classification can be completed andcorrected, if necessary, from data obtained duringthe timber cruise. In addition to the timber types

and classification, noncommercialforest land should

also be delineated and transferred to the timber typmap. Forested areas which may requirespecimanagement treatment are: recreational areasnatural or unique areas, threatened and endangerespecies habitats, water bodies and courses, welands, protective strips, and roadside aesthetistrips.

B-4. Sampling.

B-4.1 . Sam p l i n g Desi gn T i mbe rcruising is essentially a samplingprocess. The intensity of samplinis determined by the size of the area being inventoried, the purpose of the inventory, and thdegree of accuracy needed. Another factor that ifluences the degree of sampling is the variabilitythe timber as to condition, size, density, and uniformity of stocking. Since timber is becoming increasingly valuable, the percentage of error of atimber cruise should be kept low. For purposes omanagement planning, a sampling error of10-1percent is allowable. When timber is cruised for th

purpose of a clear-cut timber sale, the results should

B-

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between plots are predetermined by the percent orintensity of the sample.

B-4.2 .1 .1 . F i el d Pr ocedu r e. T h efirst step in thefield is to determine the compass direction of thecruise lines so that the topography will be crossed

by the lines. Running the line parallel to one side othe tract (compartment) is desirable, if possiblDistances between plot centers are located bchaining or pacing. Once a plot center is located, thperimeter must be located by chain measurement the plot radius (fig., B-4).

1.

2

3.

4.

5.

Ca l i pe r s f or di am eter measu r emen t

Compass

RelaskopAbneyl evel

Cl i n om eter w i t h rangef i n d e r

6. P r i sm

7. Ta l l y sheet

8 .9.

10 .11 .

12

1 3 ,

Ta l l y me t er

D i am et er t a p e

I n c r emen t bor er

1 0 X hand kn s f o r ea se i n r e a d i n g g r ow t h r i n g s

I n cr em en t h amm e r

T r e e s c a l e s t i ck

F i g u r e B -4Fo r est r y i n st r um en t s u s ed i n i n v en t o r y a n d h a r v est c a l c u l a t i o n s .

B-4.2.1.2. Da t a -Ga t h e r i n g .

B-4.2.1.1.1. Measure the Diameter at Breast Height(DBH) and tally all trees with a DBH of5-inchesand over; estimate merchantable height; andclassify as to species and utilization (e.g., pulpwood,

sawtimber, poles, piling and peeler logs).B-4.2.1.2.2. Record the cut or leave trees for a

TimberStand Improvement (TSI) cut or a firpartial harvest.

B-4.2.1.2.3. Bore and record sample trees ofdferent sizes (2 to4 per plot) to determine age, rate ogrowth, merchantable and total height, from whic

site classification as well as future growth can ascertained.

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ample tree is measured for height and DBH as wells surveyed to obtain the grade, form class, productass, and even crown class. Such a complete

measurement system is ideal for computer

processing. Porta-Punch cards are best adapted forthis type of computer computation (figures B-8,B-9andB-10.

Figure B-7. Useof prism in variableplotcruising.

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