2008/06/19 by M. J. Schelhaas, Mart‐Jan Schelhaas · 59 citations
Engineering · Environmental Science · #Agricultural engineering #Agroforestry #Beech #Douglas fir #Economics #Engineering #Environmental science #Fagus sylvatica #Forest Biomass Utilization and Management #Forest ecology and management #Forest management #Forestry #Geography #Productivity #Silviculture #Thinning #Tree Root and Stability Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1093/forestry/cpn028
published in Forestry An International Journal of Forest Research 81(3), 399-414 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2008/06/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The aim of this study was to evaluate different silvicultural systems for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in the Netherlands in terms of timber production and wind stability over a full rotation. This was done using the forest genetics, ecology, management and wind model (ForGEM-W), which combines a distant dependent tree growth simulator with a mechanical–empirical wind damage module. Six different silvicultural systems were evaluated: normal yield table management, free thinning from above in a monospecies and a mixed stand (50 per cent mixture of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)), uneven-aged system, no thinning regime with low initial stand density of Douglas-fir with and without admixture of beech. Silvicultural systems leading to low height–diameter (h/d) ratios were most successful in avoiding damage. Low h/d ratios were obtained in the system with low stand density and no thinning and in the uneven-aged system by systematically removing trees with the highest ratios during thinning. In particular, the uneven-aged system combined a high timber production with low risk. The use of Douglas-fir–beech mixtures changed the competition pressure on Douglas-fir, and thus the h/d ratio and the wind risk. Results from this study indicate that the current trend towards more nature-oriented management could lead to lower wind risks and even to an increase in overall productivity.