OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

HSC General Information

Purpose
The Hardwood Silviculture Cooperative conducts high priority silvicultural research on hardwood species and mixed hardwood/softwood stands in the Pacific Northwest, with the goal of providing information that will improve the management of these stands. The land base of the Pacific Northwest includes large areas that currently support or might best support hardwoods or a hardwood component under forest management systems with medium to long rotations. This land base and its use is the Cooperative's focus.

Scope
The activities of the Cooperative are divided into two broad areas: research in existing stands and research in new stands. Red alder is the species of primary, but not exclusive, interest.

Existing stands

  • Density management. This topic includes issues of a) stocking guides and silvicultural strategies, b) growth and yield of managed stands, and c) quality recovery from managed stands.
  • Species mixes. This topic includes issues of a) sites appropriate for mixes, b) management practices including proportion and density management, c) stocking guides, and d) growth and yield as a function of proportion, density and site.

New stands

  • Regeneration methods. While alder regenerates naturally very well, in those instances where intentional regeneration was planned, results have been mixed. Needed are reliable techniques for deliberate regeneration, including issues of natural regeneration and seedling regeneration including stock and genetic type.
  • Alder site identification. How do site characteristics affect alder growth and, similarly, how do site characteristics affect the balance between benefits and detriments to production in mixed stands?
  • Density management. Beginning with the regeneration step, this topic includes issues of a) stocking guides and silvicultural strategies, b) growth and yield of managed stands, and c) quality recovery from managed stands.
  • Species mixes. Beginning with the regeneration step, this topic includes issues of a) sites appropriate for mixes, b) management practices including proportion and density management, c) stocking guides, and d) growth and yield as a function of site, density and proportion