Project Listing

Science Spotlights

For the latest on current CFRU projects, go to the Science Spotlights listed below.

New		Cool and Clear: CFRU Studies Water Quality in the Maine Woods
		CFRU: Understanding Tomorrow's Forests Today

Current Projects

Silviculture

Improving forest productivity and the efficiency of forest management

Commercial Thinning Research Network

Over the past decade, partial cutting (which involves harvesting only some of the trees from any specific stand) has come to dominate over 95% of the forest harvests in the state of Maine. CFRU researchers and members recognized that a better understanding was needed about how the forest will respond to the various forms of partial cutting taking place across the Maine woods.

In response, the CFRU Commercial Thinning Research Network was established in 2000. The goal of the network, which consists of a dozen study sites across the state on CFRU member lands, is providing a better understanding about how spruce-fir stands respond to various forms of commercial thinning. Results from the network will be be used to improve growth and yield models for Maine's forest. Read more.

Growth Response and Economic Return from Forest Fertilization

The objective of this ongoing project is to evaluate whether nitrogen (N) fertilization following precommercial thinning (PCT) increases the productivity of spruce-fir stands. In late 2003, two CFRU fertilization studies (Weymouth Point and T30-31) established in the mid 1990s were remeasured. This pair of studies provides a unique opportunity to examine the effect of N fertilization just after PCT (two years) or about eight years after PCT when the stands are near crown closure. Read more.

Interfering Plants in the Hardwood Forest

Interference to hardwood regeneration is a major concern of Maine's land managers. The CFRU teamed up with Dr. Ralph Nyland of SUNY-ESF to research the ecological characteristics of competing hardwood vegetation with the goal of providing background information with which to begin to develop a suite of hardwood management techniques. Hardwood interference includes inter-specific competition with species like American beech, striped maple, hobblebush, etc., reducing resource availability for desired species. Read more.

How Herbicides and Precommercial Thinning Affect Long-Term Development of Spruce-Fir Stands

The Austin Pond Study is the CFRU's longest running research site and has provided one of the best opportunities to document the long-term effects of herbicide treatments and pre-commercial thinning (PCT) on spruce-fir stands in the region. The study was established in 1977 by the CFRU and originally included 12 aerially sprayed herbicide treatments and untreated control plots. In 1986 the original herbicide plots were subdivided and half of each plot was PCT to study the effects of density management on growth and yield. Results from Austin Pond continue to offer new insights about the long-term effects of intensive management on stand development. Read more.