The effects of timing of pre-commercial thinning and stand density on stem form and branch characteristics of Pinus sylvestris

The effects of pre-commercial thinning on tree and branch characteristicswere analysed at two experimental sites in northern Sweden,where pre-thinning of Scots pine stands to 600, 1000 and 1800stems per hectares at heights of 1.5, 3, 5 and 7 m had beencombined in a factorial design. A total of 90 trees were cutand branches were measured in whorls sampled at 1-m intervals,starting with the whorl closest to 0.5 m above ground. Effectsof the treatments on tree and branch characteristics were analysedby a fixed-effect analysis of variance model, which was appliedseparately for each experimental site and whorl height. Diameterat breast height (d.b.h.) and living crown to height ratio decreased,while the height/d.b.h. ratio (stem form) increased with increasingstand density, and generally with increased height at thinning.No treatment effect was found on the number of branches perwhorl or branch angle, but branch diameter (BD) was significantlyinfluenced by both stand density after thinning and height atthinning. BD decreased with increases in stand density and decreasedwith increases in height at pre-commercial thinning. Relativebranch size (RBS), defined as the ratio between the sum of thediameters of branches in a whorl and stem perimeter under barkat the location of that whorl, was significantly influencedonly by stand height at the time of treatment. RBS decreasedby 4–6 per cent in whorls located below the current baseof the living crown with each step increase in stand heightat pre-commercial thinning. The results indicate that the numberof stems after pre-commercial thinning has a greater impacton tree size and shape than timing of pre-commercial thinning.Stand density after thinning also has a greater impact on branchsize, in the sense that it will affect branch size further upthe tree than the timing of pre-commercial thinning. However,by delaying the time for pre-commercial thinning it is possibleto reduce the RBS in the lower part of the stem. This mightbe an important measure to improve timber quality later in therotation period, which cannot be done solely by regulating standdensity.