Advance Regeneration in the Inland West: Considerations for Individual Tree and Forest Health

Advance conifer regeneration readily survives release from overs tory competition in the Inland West, but foresters are concerned about the ability of released trees to attain normal growth rates. There are also concerns about forest health issues associated with managing advance regeneration. The best pre-release predictors of post-release growth response are pre-release vigor and crown ratio at release. The fastest growing trees before release grow the fastest following release. A general recommendation is that at least a 0.50 crown ratio at release is necessary for good response to release. A 0.50 crown ratio means that trees will have the necessary photosyn­ thetic capability to respond to changes in stand conditions. The best time to release advance regeneration is after budset in the fall but before budburst in the spring. Release during this time period means needles that develop the first summer after release will be adapted to full sunlight. A conceptual framework of physiological response to release is presented.