Zàlïtis, T. and Zàlïtis, P. 2007. Growth of Young Stands of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth.) Depending on Pre-Commercial Thinning Intensity.  Baltic Forestry 13 (1): 61-67

First pre-commercial thinnings at the average stand height of 3-6 m, leaving 1,500 - 2,000 trees ha¨¹ regardless of the stand density before thinning, are among the major tending practices in order to create highly productive stands. After the stand has reached the average height of 10 m, thinning from below has, for at least 12 years after thinning, no significant effect on the remaining stand. It is likely that self-pruning is a genetic particularity and has no bearing on the thinning intensity. The field data of 26 sample plots of the experiment on young birch stands thinned with varying intensities how the taper ratio to be of no significance for reducing the risk of snow damage. The assumption that the HD¨¹ ratio in stable stands should be below 1.0 is not confirmed.

Key words: pre-commercial thinning, young birch stands, Betula pendula Roth