| Although analyses have been conducted to determine the optimal management regimes that maximize financial return for even aged monocultures of trees, they have not been conducted for mixed stands. This study was designed to devise a method for combining two species into an even-aged mixed species forest under an optimal thinning and harvesting schedule that maximizes net revenue from timber production. The two species used for this case study were loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and cherrybark oak ( Quercus pagoda Raf.). Each species was managed on a percent cover basis under the optimal forest management thinning and harvesting schedule of the other species. A range of cover percentages, from 10% to 90%, were analyzed for each species. Results indicate that higher site indexes with lower ARRs support forest management optimizing return from cherrybark oak. Conversely, lower site indexes with higher ARRs support forest management optimizing return from loblolly pine. |
