• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.74-77
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of thinning intensity on the growth of large diameter trees in Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis S. et Z.) plantation. Eight thinning plots were analyzed by categorizing into heavy thinning, light thinning, no thinning (control) according to thinning intensity. As a result, average DBH increased more in heavy thinning plots than in light thinning or unthinned plots. The number of large trees (DBH>25 cm) were obviously shown the most in heavy thinning plots. It is considered that heavy thinning is needed for the production of the large diameter trees.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2020

This study aimed to figure out and compare the increment of biomass by thinning intensity focused on the plantation of the two major coniferous species (Larix kaempferi and Pinus koraiensis) of South Korea. The inventory interval was three years under the effects of three types of thinning treatments; control (no thinning), light (20% thinning) and heavy (40% thinning). The results showed standing biomass increment of both species decreased as thinning intensity increased (heavylight>control). Meanwhile, the lowest of on-site biomass changes occurred in the control plot, and the greatest was in the heavy thinning plot because thinning was involved with leaving the felling residual biomass (leaves, branches and roots) on the site. According to the results from this short-term study, unthinned stands is preferable for maximizing standing biomass as well as carbon sequestration. However long-term investigation should be considered in order to see more clear results.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.721-729
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• 2015

Wood properties depend on not only environmental factors such as soil, climate change, or forest stand characteristics, but also silviculture practices such as thinning, regeneration, or selection. This study report influences of the extent of thinning intensity from no thinning, moderate and heavy thinning to the wood property of Quercus acuta forest stands in Wan-do arboretum, Jeollanam-do Province. The results showed that there were close relationships between thinning intensity and anatomical, physical or mechanical properties of Quercus acuta wood. Especially, there are close relationships between thinning intensity and ring width or mechanical properties of wood. As a result, this study showed high correlations between Quercus acuta wood properties and thinning intensity of Quercus acuta forest stand. These findings are expected to be very useful as fundamental data for the implementation of silviculture practices of this specie to produce timber.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2022

Background: Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis) is a major commercial species, and the importance of the oak trees (Quercus spp.) is increasing due to various factors such as environmental and ecological values. However, more information is required to clearly understand the growth characteristics of these species especially regarding thinning intensity. This study was performed to provide the basic information to develop the silvicultural guideline and field manual by analyzing tree and stand characteristics in line with thinning intensity in the Korean white pine plantation and oak-dominated natural deciduous forest. Results: Diameter at breast height (DBH) and volume changes by the thinning intensity in the Korean white pine plantation were significantly different from those in the oak-dominated deciduous natural forest. In particular, DBH distribution in the pine stand appeared that there were more large diameter trees as the thinning intensity was higher. DBH periodic annual increment (PAI) of the pine stand was higher as the thinning intensity was stronger and the growth period was shorter. This trend was similarly shown in the natural deciduous forest, but the amount of PAI was smaller than in pine stand. The volume PAI after thinning was not decreased over time. In each stand type, the PAI tended to be lower as stand density was higher. The volume PAI in the pine stand was significantly higher than that in the oak-dominated natural deciduous forest. Dead trees occurred the most in the unthinned plots of each stand type, and those were higher in the natural deciduous forest. Ingrowth trees were observed only in the natural deciduous forest, and its distribution was the lowest in unthinned plots; Korean white pine as ingrowth occurred the most frequently among many tree species. Conclusions: Different effects of thinning treatment on DBH and volume PAI, mortality, and ingrowth were observed for each stand. With respect to forest growth, Korean white pine plantation was superior to the oak-dominated natural deciduous forest. The results of this study offer fundamental information for the development of silvicultural guidelines for Korean white pine plantations and oak-dominated natural deciduous forests in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.150-164
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• 2022

This study was conducted to provide basic information for the development of silvicultural guidelines and manuals. This was achieved through analysis of tree and stand characteristics according to the first and second thinning in Korean white pine plantations. Data were collected from permanent plots installed at Korean white pine plantations according to thinning intensity, and residual tree and stand variables, including diameter at breast height (DBH), volume, and mortality at age 19-43, were analyzed using data repeatedly collected in 4-5 measurements by experiments. According to one-way variance of analysis, tree DBH and volume were significantly different according to thinning intensity (p<0.05). DBH distribution was skewed to the left side over time as thinning intensity was heavier. Thus, tree DBH values were larger in heavy thinning plots with increased age. The periodic annual increment (PAI) of DBH was higher with heavier thinning intensity and fewer years after thinning. The PAI range by thinning intensity was 0.48-0.95 cm/year at age 19-24. In addition, the PAI increased in heavy thinning plots after the second thinning; The PAI range by thinning intensity was 0.29-0.67 cm/year after the second thinning at age 37-42. The PAI of tree volume differed according to thinning intensity, and the PAI value did not decrease obviously, in contrast to the pattern of the DBH PAI. Stand volume was generally higher in high-density stands, and the PAI of stand volume was high in unthinned and light thinning plots. Mortality was highest in unthinned plots, and the differences in mortality according to thinning intensity increased over time. Consequently, the growth of DBH and tree volume was lower as stand density increased, but this growth was facilitated with appropriate first and second thinning operations.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.321-324
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• 2008

Forest fire danger rate of thinning area was lower than that of non thinning area, because height rate of leewardside in burned stem of tree, damage rate of crown and mortality of tree in thinning area were 30.8%, 37% and 48.4% lower than that in non-thinning area, respectively. Intensity of forest fire varied depending upon topographical condition up slope, down slope, aspect, location as well as species, breast height diameter and forest tree density. Especially, a mountaintop area was burned down when forest fire was spread to up slope ridge of mountain.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 2019

This study examines the effect of thinning in terms of changes in the growth characteristics of Chamaecyparis obtusa stands after they were thinned with varying intensity in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, Korea. Thinning was carried out in 2000 on Chamaecyparis obtusa stands (22 years old), and the stands were categorized in terms of the thinning intensity in the experiment: very heavy, heavy, medium, light, and control. The results of monitoring up to 2018 revealed that the diameter at breast height and the growth rate of individual trees after thinning had a positive correlation with the thinning intensity, whereas the stand volume showed a negative correlation. The height to diameter (H/D) ratio decreased by up to 70-80 due to the increased diameter at breast height after thinning and thereby resulted in better quality. The relative yield index right after the first thinning was between 0.75 and 0.95, which suggests the best timing for the first thinning had been missed. This study's findings are expected to serve as a basic reference in establishing the thinning system for Chamaecyparis obtusa forests.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.385-392
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of plantation thinning on physical and mechanical properties of Larix kaempferi. Tree samples were obtained from unthinned, moderately, heavily thinned plantations where located in Kwangryung forest research stand. The effects of different thinning methods on the bending and parallel to grain compressive strengths of Larix kaempferi were explored. Average latewood ratio with various thinning treatments revealed the trend of unthinning < moderate thinning < heavy thinning treatment. Average annual ring width with various thinning treatments showed the trend of unthinning < moderate thinning or heavy thinning treatment. Average bending and parallel to grain compressive strengths with various thinning treatments revealed the trend of unthinning > moderate thinning > heavy thinning treatment. This indicates that thinning treatment reduces average bending and parallel to grain compressive strength properties.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2016

Background: As the decomposition of lignocellulosic compounds is a rate-limiting stage in the nutrient mineralization from organic matters, elucidation of the changes in soil enzyme activity can provide insight into the nutrient dynamics and ecosystem functioning. The current study aimed to assess the effect of thinning intensities on soil conditions. Un-thinned control, 20 % thinning, and 30 % thinning treatments were applied to a Larix kaempferi forest, and total carbon and nitrogen, total carbon to total nitrogen ratio, extractable nutrients (inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium), and enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, ${\beta}$-glucosaminidase) were investigated. Results: Total carbon and nitrogen concentrations were significantly increased in the 30 % thinning treatment, whereas both the 20 and 30 % thinning treatments did not change total carbon to total nitrogen ratio. Inorganic nitrogen and extractable calcium and magnesium concentrations were significantly increased in the 20 % thinning treatment; however, no significant changes were found for extractable phosphorus and potassium concentrations either in the 20 or the 30 % thinning treatment. However, the applied thinning intensities had no significant influences on acid phosphatase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-xylosidase, and ${\beta}$-glucosaminidase activities. Conclusions: These results indicated that thinning can elevate soil organic matter quantity and nutrient availability, and different thinning intensities may affect extractable soil nutrients inconsistently. The results also demonstrated that such inconsistent patterns in extractable nutrient concentrations after thinning might not be fully explained by the shifts in the enzyme-mediated nutrient mineralization.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.02a
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• pp.153-156
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• 2008

Comparative analysis of forest fire danger rating on the forest characteristics of thinning area and non-thinning area on forest fire burnt area was studied in this work. To investigate the effect of thinning slash in forest fire, Gangneung-si Wangsan-myeon, Ulgin-gun Wonnam-Myeon, Samchok-si Gagok-Myeon, in which forest fire broke out, were selected. As a result that investigated forest fire danger ratio between thinning slash and non-thinning slash, leeward scorching ratio(36%), crown damage ratio(29%), mortality of branch at the former are higher than those at the latter, leeward scorching ratio of tree, where thinning slash is around, is 10%-20% higher than that of independent tree. So I estimate that thinning slash has a some effect on the intensity of forest fire. And the result to investigate damage of forest fire according to tree species shows that leeward scorching ratio of conifer is 5% higher than that of non-conifer, and mortality of branch of the former is 19% higher than that of the latter. It is considered that forest fire may affect directly to a tree trunk if it diffuse to piled thinning tree because there was no space between thinning trees and trees. Furthermore, it was found that re-ignition had a chance to occur due to lots of piled thinning trees.