The Influence of Initial Espacement on the Growth of a 27-year-old Sitka Spruce Plantation

This document investigates how the initial planting density, or espacement, affects the growth of a 27-year-old Sitka spruce plantation in British Columbia. The study examines various stand characteristics, including tree height, diameter, volume, and crown development across different planting densities ranging from 478 to 2990 stems per hectare. The core purpose is to provide foresters with data on optimizing stocking levels for Sitka spruce to enhance timber production and manage stand characteristics more effectively, suggesting a recommended range of 800 to 1400 stems per hectare for saw timber objectives. The findings highlight a trade-off: wider espacements produce larger individual trees and branches, while closer espacements yield a greater total volume per hectare when considering all trees in the stand.

Data and Materials

Organization

BC Ministry of Forests

No description provided

Additional Info

Field Value
Author J.C. Pollack, F. van Thienen, P. LePage
Publication Year 1990
Descriptive Location Skeena
License Other (Not open); Crown copyright (Province of British Columbia), all rights reserved
Last Updated October 9, 2025, 16:57 (UTC)
Created October 9, 2025, 03:46 (UTC)