Wisconsin Woodlands: Forestry Terms R-08-97-2M-100

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. Traditionally, that phase of forestry a. As applied to wood, treating wood dealing with the measurement of products with chemicals to prevent Log present and future volume, growth damage by insects or decay a. A piece of the woody stem (trunk or and development of individual trees organisms. limb) of a tree. and stands and their timber prod- b. With respect to land, maintaining a b. The trunk portion of a tree. ucts; also measurement of forest natural environment undisturbed by lands. c. In the East, a tree stem section the influence or activities of humans. exactly 16.3 feet in length, including Multiple use Pruning trim allowance. Land management for more than Removing live or dead branches Logger one purpose, such as wood produc- from standing trees. With forest tion, water, wildlife, recreation, An individual whose occupation is trees, pruning is generally done forage, aesthetics and climate harvesting timber. along the trunk to remove the lower moderation. branches (which cause knots in the Log sale wood) to produce a higher quality Natural forest stand See sale, log. (knot-free) wood. See plantation. Lop Pulpwood Non-commercial cutting To chop or saw branches, tops or Wood cut primarily to be converted A cutting which does not yield a net small trees after felling, leaving the into wood pulp for the manufacture income, usually because the trees cut slash on the ground. of paper, fiberboard or other wood are too small, poor quality or not fiber products. Lump-sum sale marketable. See sale, lump-sum. Reforestation Pathology, forest Reestablishing a forest on an area The science that deals with diseases Log rule where forest vegetation has been of forest trees, stands and products. A device, usually in tabular form, removed. which expresses log volume content Phytocides based on log diameter (inside the Release cutting Chemicals that kill plants (herbi- bark of the small end) and length. A cutting operation to release young cides and silvicides). The Scribner Rule is the standard trees (seedlings or saplings) from rule in Wisconsin and is most often Plantation competition with other trees of the used. An artificially reforested or same size (a cleaning) or larger and overtopping trees (a liberation cut). Log yard afforested area established by plant- ing or direct seeding. Contrast with See yard, log. Reproduction a forest stand established naturally. a. Young trees which will grow to Management Pole saw become the older trees in the future See forest management. A saw attached to a long pole for forest. Mature tree pruning without using a ladder. b. The process of forest replacement or A tree that has reached the desired renewal. This may be done artifi- Pole stand size or age for its intended use. Size cially by seeding or planting or nat- A stand of trees with diameters or age will vary considerably urally by sprouting or natural ranging from 4 inches to approxi- depending on the species and seeding. mately 10 inches. intended use.

MBF Thousand board feet.

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Roots Sawlog Selection harvest That portion of the tree, generally A log large enough to produce a Harvesting individual trees or small underground, which absorbs nutri- sawn productÑusually at least 10 to groups of trees at periodic intervals ents, anchors the tree and stores 12 inches in diameter at the small (usually 8Ð15 years) based on their food and waste products. General end. physical condition or degree of types of roots include: maturity. Produces an uneven-aged Sale, log Tap rootÑA strong central descend- stand. A method of selling timber in which ing root with lateral roots branching the log volume is determined after Shelterwood harvest off horizontally. Typical of black trees are cut and payment is made Removing trees from a harvest area walnut, white oak and some pines. based upon a previously agreed in a series of two or more cuttings so Heart-shaped rootÑSeveral large price. Price depends on potential use new seedlings can establish and roots descending at various angles such as sawlogs, veneer or ties. grow in the partial shade and pro- into the soil with smaller roots tection of older trees. Produces an branching from these. Produces a Sale, lump sum even-aged stand. heart-shaped root mass broadest Standing designated trees, usually near the soil surface but penetrating constituting a specified volume, are Shrub deeper into the soil. Typical of beech sold at a previously agreed upon A low-growing perennial plant with and maple. total price. a woody stem and low branching Flat rootÑSeveral large roots which habit. Scale stick extend out nearly horizontally with A flat stick, similar to a yardstick, Silviculture smaller roots branching from these. calibrated so log volumes can be The art, science and practice of Produces broad, flat, shallow root read directly when the stick is establishing, tending and reproduc- systems. Typical of spruce, hemlock placed on the small end of the log of ing forest stands of desired charac- and trees growing in poorly drained known length. teristics based on knowledge of soils or soils where the water table is species characteristics and environ- close to the soil surface. Second growth mental requirements. Rotation Forests that originate naturally after removal of a previous, usually Site The number of years required to virgin stand by cutting, fire or other a. A tract of land with reasonably establish and grow trees to a speci- cause. uniform soil and climatic factors. fied size, product or condition of b. An area evaluated as to its capacity maturity. Seed-tree harvest cutting to produce a particular forest or Removing all trees from the harvest Roundwood other vegetation based on a combi- area at one time except for a few Wood products that are round such nation of biological, climatic and soil selected trees left to provide seed to as pulpwood, posts, piling, poles, factors. establish a new forest stand. firewood and timber. Site index Seedling Salvage cut An expression of forest site quality a. A tree, usually less than 2 inches in Harvesting dead trees or those in based on the height of the dominant DBH, which has grown from a seed danger of being killed (by insects, trees at a specified age (usually 50 (in contrast to a sprout). disease or the environment) to save years in the eastern United States). their economic value. b. Nursery grown trees which have not been lifted and replanted in the Site preparation Sanitation cut nursery (see transplant). Preparing an area of land for forest Harvesting or killing trees infected establishment, including clearing, or highly susceptible to insects or Seed year chemical vegetation control or diseases to protect the rest of the A year in which a given species pro- burning. forest stand. duces (over a considerable area) a large seed crop. Usually applied to Sapling trees of irregular or infrequent seed A small tree, usually between 2 and production. 4 inches DBH.

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Skidding h. Sawtimber. A stand with most trees b. Natural. A natural process whereby a Pulling logs from the stump to the large enough in diameter (usually 10 treeÕs branches or the trees them- skidway, landing or mill. to 12 inches DBH or larger) to be selves die as a result of root and/or sawn into lumber. crown competition. Slash i. Understocked. A stand with the c. Row. A plantation thinning with Residue left on the ground after growing space not effectively occu- specified rows removed regardless logging, pruning, or other forest pied by trees intended for harvest. of size. operations. Includes tree tops, d. Selection. A thinning with individual branches or bark. Stocking trees selected for removal. The number of trees in a forest Softwoods stand. Often, stocking level is com- See conifer. Tolerance pared to the desirable number of A treeÕs capacity to develop and Soil texture trees for best growth and manage- grow in the shade of, and in compe- The feel or composition of a soil ment, such as partially stocked, tition with, other trees. based on the proportion of sand, silt well-stocked or over stocked. and clay in the soil. Transplant Stumpage A seedling lifted from the seedbed Sprout Trees as they stand in the woods and replanted at wider spacing in A tree growing from the base, stump uncut (on-the-stump). the nursery to stimulate the devel- or root of another tree. opment of a more vigorous root Succession system. Stand The replacement of one plant com- An aggregation of trees occupying a munity by another until ecological Tree specific area and sufficiently stability is achieved. A woody plant having a well- uniform in composition (species), defined stem, more or less definitely Sucker age arrangement, and condition as formed crown and usually at least Synonymous with sprout. to be distinguishable from the forest 10 feet high. on adjoining areas. Sustained yield Tree injectors Management of forest land to Stand, timber (types of) Equipment specially designed to produce a relatively constant a. Fully stocked. A forest stand with all inject chemicals, usually phytocides, amount of timber and/or revenue growing space effectively occupied into a tree trunk. on a long-term basis. but having ample room for develop- Uneven-aged forest ing crop trees. TSI (timber stand improvement) A forest with trees of many ages b. Mixed. A stand having less than 80 Improving the growth and/or (technically, more than two age percent of the trees in the main species makeup by removing the classes) and considerable differences crown canopy of a single species. less desirable trees, vines and, occa- in the ages. Contrast with an Òeven- sionally, large shrubs. c. Old field. A stand on land once used agedÓ forest. for agricultural crops or for pasture. Thinning d. Overstocked. Overcrowding in a Uneven-aged forest Generally a cutting in an immature management stand leading to retarded growth. forest stand to reduce the tree Managing a forest by periodically density and concentrate the growth e. Pole-timber. A stand with most trees removing some trees from an potential on fewer, higher quality from 4 to 10 inches in diameter. uneven-aged stand while preserving trees resulting in larger trees that f. Pure. A stand with at least 80 percent its natural appearance. In Wisconsin, maintain a good growth rate. of the trees in the main crown this type of management is common canopy of a single species. a. Commercial. A thinning that pays for in Northern hardwood forests. See g. Residual. The stand remaining after itself and then provides a profit for selection harvest. any type of cutting. the owner.

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Volume table A table estimating volume of wood in a standing tree based on measure- ments of the tree, most commonly DBH and merchantable height.

Windfall, windthrow (blowdown) An area or group of trees blown over by high wind.

Wolf tree A tree occupying more space in the forest than its economic value justi- fies. Usually older, larger or more branched out than other trees in the stand.

Wood pulp Mechanically ground or chemically digested wood (composed primarily of wood fiber) used to manufacture paper or fiberboard.

Woodland management See forest management.

Yard A wintering ground used by animals during deep snow, where trampled paths afford access to browse food.

Yarding See skidding.

Yard, log A place where logs are assembled just prior to processing operations at a sawmill.

Yield table A tabulation of volume, basal area, number of trees, etc., per acre found in full stands on specified sites at specified ages.

7 Author: Jeff Martin is a professor of forestry with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin- Madison, and a forestry specialist with Cooperative Extension, University of Wisconsin-Extension. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of WisconsinÐExtension, Cooperative Extension. University of WisconsinÐExtension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. If you need this information in an alternative format, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programs or call Extension Publications at (608)262-2655. © 1996 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System doing business as the division of Cooperative Extension of the University of WisconsinÐExtension. Send inquiries about copyright permission to: Director, Cooperative Extension Publications, 201 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706. You can obtain copies of this publication from your Wisconsin county Extension office or from Cooperative Extension Publications, Room 170, 630 W. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703, (608)262-3346. Before publicizing, please check on this publicationÕs availability. G3018 Wisconsin Woodlands: Forestry Terms R-08-97-2M-100