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.
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. Read More
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