Overstory and Understory Dynamics in a Ponderosa Pine Plantation Vary with Stand Density in the Sierra Nevada: 40-Year Results

• DOI: 10.5849/forsci.10-033
• Publication Date: 2013-02-12T15:17:57Z
• Authors: Jianwei Zhang; William W. Oliver; Martin W. Ritchie; Donald L. Neal
• Keywords: Understory; Basal area; Thinning

We periodically measured overstory ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) growth and understory cover abundance in a long-term study on the west slope of Sierra Nevada, California, USA. The was established 1969 20-year-old plantation, thinned to basal areas 9, 16, 23, 30, 37 m2 ha−1 rethinned three times. objective determine effect stand density regimes productivity, vegetation, aboveground carbon storage, mortality caused mainly by Dendroctonus infestations. Results showed that without mortality, area volume increments were not affected thinning plantation 16 from ha−1. With actively attacking trees, could be 9 sacrificing increment, because level increased with index. intensity did affect vegetation but trees graminoids. Intensively managed plantations sequester store same amount as less intensively plantations. However, fire is major component pine-dominant ecosystem, larger diameter would more resilient wildfire than small or vegetation.