Page 60 - TA Magazine

Thinning
Trees compete for basic resources light water and nutrients The process of of thinning which is the selective removal of of some trees from a a a a a a a plantation helps to alleviate the the competition and provides
more resources for for the the remaining trees In plantations grown for for solid wood establishing more trees trees than are required at final harvest occupies the the site with trees trees early on on reducing the the the competition from weeds It also allows for for the the the selection of the the very best trees for for final crop How to thin How you you thin thin your plantation will depend on on if the trees are being thinned for for for commercial commercial commercial use or or or or for for for waste (non-commercial) Access is essential for for for commercial- thinning operations The occasional row row of trees (called an out-row) is is removed to provide this access Out-rows should be be be selected selected before pruning as trees in in this row row row won’t be be be be selected selected for for retention Ideally every fourth or or fifth row row should be be removed COMMERCIAL THINNING
There are two approaches: ground-based or cable thinning Ground-based operations are usually done with with an an excavator with with a a a a a a a a a a a a reach of about eight metres This can be carried out out on slopes up to to 25%
Cable thinning can be done on on steeper slopes From the the the out-row the the the machine or cable can remove selected trees from each side of the the the out-row Depending on the the the the machine you use the the the the bark can be removed and the the the the the the log cut to to lengths at the the the the the the stump Other machines need to to carry the the the the the trees out of the the stand for processing
In native forests logs are often taken out o of the forest forest along snig tracks
Consult Private Forests Tasmania for for advice on on on which approach would work best for for your plantation Which trees to thin?
Poorly formed forked or or or or diseased trees Smaller trees Ensure remaining trees are even spaced for equal light soil moisture and nutrient allocation
For commercial thinning a a a row row of trees (out-row) may need to be removed for machinery access Don’t over over thin or or the remaining trees may bend or or be be blown over over 60 Private Forests Tasmania