Broadform Project
The main objective of the project is to develop treatment protocols for the
early management of broadleaved species, up to and after the time of
first thinning. Investment in any early management operation of
broadleaves has a long payback period. However, such operations are
essential as they lay down good stem form and add greatly to the
future value of the crop.
A key objective of the project is to determine the optimum silvicultural regime to produce the best quality timber. Particular attention must be paid to the first 6 m of stem (the first log) as this is the most economically important log. This is being ascertained through an integrated series of studies on shaping, tending and thinning of broadleaves. The specific objectives are:
- Shaping: to develop shaping methods to control early stem form in the 1 to 3 m range.
- Tending: development of tending practice to favour the best quality stems and the removal of poor quality stems.
- Thinning: to review current thinning prescriptions and assess their effectiveness under Irish conditions and to establish suitable thinning regimes.
Shaping
Provisional shaping protocols have been produced for ash, oak, sycamore and beech.
Tending
Two ash tending trials have been established to investigate the effect of removal of 33%, 50% and no trees during a tending operation.
Available downloads:
-
Shaping young broadleaves for quality timber
(0.5 MB) -
Tending and Thinning Of Broadleaf Forests
(0.6 MB)
-
Silvicultural Guidelines for the Tending and
Thinning of Broadleaves, December 2008
(2.5 MB)
For more information, contact: Ian Short
