Applying a crop-tree release in small-sawtimber white oak stands

Small-sawtimber white oak crop trees in Kentucky were released by a crown-touching technique.In two cutting treatments, 20 and 34 crop trees were released per acre at a total cost of $35 and $42, respectively.Both treatments yielded commercial volumes of cut material.Total mean merchantable volume (> 5.0 inches d.b.h.) in cut trees was 693 cubic feetlacre, with approximately 2,400 board feetiacre in sawtimber ( 2 11.0 inches d.b.h.).On the basis of early crop-tree stem response, the released trees are growing 0.16 inchlyear compared with 0.13 inch/year for the unreleased trees.