Wisconsin Woodlands: Forestry Terms R-08-97-2M-100
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G3018 Wisconsin Woodlands Forestry terms Jeff Martin ike any other profession, forestry Basal area has many special terms and a. Of a tree: the cross-sectional area (in abbreviations. Woodland owners square feet) of the trunk at breast 1 and others who enjoy being in the height (4 Ú2 feet above the ground). woods hear many terms which For example, the basal area of a tree may be unfamiliar at first. But as 14 inches in diameter at breast you hear and use these terms, their height is approximately 1 square Lmeanings will also become familiar. foot. Basal area of a single tree = .005454 x (DBH2) This publication provides an overview of forestry terms commonly used in b. Of an acre of forest: the sum of basal forestry and woodland issues. areas of the individual trees on the acre. For example, a well-stocked Acid soils northern hardwood stand might Common where high precipitation contain 80 to 100 square feet of basal washes certain chemicals out of the area per acre. soil. Acid soils are also associated with certain tree species, mostly Blowdown conifers, because of the chemicals See windfall. released from the decomposing tree Board foot parts. Acid soils have soil pH values A unit for measuring wood volumes below 7.0. Soils are considered equaling 144 cubic inches, com- strongly acid when the pH value is monly used to measure and express below 6.0. the amount of wood in a tree, Acre sawlog, veneer log or individual A land area of 43,560 square feet piece of lumber. For example, a (approximately 209' by 209'). piece of wood 1 foot x 1 foot x 1 inch or one measuring 1 foot x 3 inches x Afforestation 4 inches both contain 1 board foot. Establishing a forest on an originally treeless area, such as a prairie. Bole The main tree trunk. Allowable cut The volume of wood that can be cut Bolt during a given period without A short log or a squared timber cut exceeding the forestÕs net growth. from a log up to 8 feet in length. Artificial reproductionor Breast height or artificial regeneration See DBH. See reproduction. Canopy Aspect The layer of tree crowns in a forest. The compass direction towards Cleaning which a slope faces. Removing some trees in a very young stand to favor the remaining young trees. WISCONSIN WOODLANDS ________________________________________________________________________________________ Clearcut Cord DBH A harvesting and regeneration tech- A stack of round or split wood con- The tree diameter at breast height nique which removes all the trees taining 128 cubic feet. A standard (41Ú2 feet above the ground). (regardless of size) on an area in one cord measures 4 feet x 4 feet x 8 feet. operation. Clear-cutting is most In Wisconsin, pulpwood cords are 4 Deciduous tree used with species like aspen which feet x 4 feet x 100 inches to allow for A tree which loses all its leaves at require full sunlight to reproduce loss of wood at ends of bolts during some time during the year (in and grow well. Produces an even- tumble debarking. A face or short Wisconsin, during the winter). aged forest stand. cord is 4 feet x 8 feet of any length Deck, log wood less than 4 feet. Climax ecosystem A pile of logs ready for loading onto The final stage of plant community Crop tree truck or train. development in which species com- A tree identified to be grown to Defect position remains relatively stable. maturity and for final harvest cut. Usually selected on the basis of its That portion of a tree or log unus- Commercial cut location to other trees and its quality. able for the intended product and, A cut that yields a net income therefore, not measured. Defects (product sale receipts exceed cutting Crown include such things as rot, crooked- cost). The branches and foliage of a tree. ness, cavities, excessive limbiness, or other undesirable traits. Competition Cruise The struggle between plants for A survey of forest land to locate Dendrology available light, nutrients, moisture timber and estimate its quantity by The study of the identification, and growing space. species, products, size, quality or habits and distribution of trees. other characteristics; the estimate Crown: Competition above ground Diameter obtained in such a survey. for light, heat, carbon dioxide and Tree diameter is usually measured perhaps oxygen. 1 Cubic foot 4 Ú2 feet above ground level (see Root: Competition for soil, water A wood volume measurement con- DBH). nutrients, oxygen and perhaps taining 1,728 cubic inches, such as a DIB (or d.i.b.) space. piece of wood measuring 1 foot on a side. A cubic foot of wood contains Diameter inside the bark. Used in Conifer approximately 6 to 10 usable board log scaling. A tree belonging to the order of feet of lumber rather than 12 board Coniferales, usually evergreen, cone DOB (or d.o.b.) feet because of wood lost as sawdust bearing and with needles, awl or Diameter outside the bark. Used in and shavings during processing. scalelike leaves such as pine, estimating a standing treeÕs volume. spruces, firs, cedars, tamarack; often Cull Ecosystem called Òsoftwoods.Ó A tree or log of merchantable size An interacting system of living rendered useless for all but firewood Conservation organisms (plants and/or animals), because of shape, disease, insect The protection, improvement and soil and climatic factors. Foresters infestation or injury. wise use of natural resources to consider a forest an ecosystem. assure the attainment of their Cutting cycle Entomology, forest highest economic and social values The planned time interval between The science that deals with insects in in perpetuity. major harvesting operations in the their relation to forests and forest same stand, usually in uneven-aged products. stands. For example, a cutting cycle of 10 years in a northern hardwood stand means a harvest every 10 years. 2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________FORESTRY TERMS Environment Forest type Hardwood The prevailing conditions reflecting A group of tree species which, A term describing broadleaf, usually the combined influence of climate, because of their environmental deciduous, trees such as oaks, soil, topography and biology (other requirements and tolerances, com- maples, ashes, elms, etc. Not neces- plants and animals) in an area. monly grow together. Three exam- sarily the hardness of the wood. Environmental factors determine ples of forest types are the beech- how well a particular species will sugar maple type, the jack pine type, Harvesting methods grow in a given area. and the aspen-paper birch type. See clearcut, seed-tree, selection and shelterwood. Even-aged forest Forestry A forest of even-aged timber stands. The science, art and practice of man- Height, breast The trees in each stand are essentially aging trees and forest and their asso- See diameter. the same age (within 10 to 20 years). ciated resources for human benefit. Height, merchantable Even-aged forest management Forty Tree height (or length of its trunk) Forest management with periodic A square land tract of 40 acres, up to which a particular product harvest of all trees on part of the 1Ú4 mile on a side. may be obtained. For example, if the forest at one time or in several cut- minimum usable diameter of pulp- tings over a short time to produce Girdling wood sticks is 4 inches, the mer- stands containing trees all the same Mechanical, insect or disease chantable height of a straight pine or nearly the same age. In Wisconsin, damage which completely encircles tree would be its height up to a this type of management is com- the tree trunk, severs the bark and trunk diameter of 4 inches. If 8-inch monly applied to conifers and cambium (active growing layers of minimum diameter sawlogs were aspen. cells), and usually penetrates the being cut from the same tree, its sapwood to kill the tree by prevent- merchantable height for sawlogs Evergreen tree ing the conduction of nutrients. would be its height up to a trunk A tree which retains some or all of diameter of 8 inches. Note, the its leaves through the year. Grading product being cut determines mer- Evaluating and sorting trees, logs or chantable height. Forest lumber, according to quality. A plant community with trees and Height, total other woody plants dominating. Habitat Tree height from ground level to top. The local environment of a plant or Forest management animal. Herbicide a. Giving the forest proper care so that Chemicals, including phytocides it remains healthy and vigorous and Harvest and silvicides, that kill plants. provides the products and amenities a. In general use, removing all or por- the landowner desires tions of the trees on an area. Increment borer A hollow auger-like instrument used b. Technical definition: Applying tech- b. Technical definition: Removing to bore into the tree trunk to remove nical forestry principles, practices trees on an area to: a cylindrical cross section of a treeÕs and business techniques (account- 1) obtain income; growth rings. ing, benefit-cost analysis, etc.) to 2) develop the environment neces- forest activities. sary to regenerate the forest; and Intermediate cut on occasions, Removing immature trees from the forest sometime between establish- 3) to achieve some special objec- ment and major harvest to improve tives such as the development of the quality or maintain the growth special wildlife habitat needs or rate of the remaining forest stand. contrast with intermediate Contrast with harvest cut. An inter- cuttings. mediate cut may generate income (commercial cutting), or may cost the forest landowner more than income realized (a non-commercial cutting). 3 WISCONSIN WOODLANDS ________________________________________________________________________________________ Liberation cutting Mensuration Preservation See release cutting.