EPICORMIC BRANCHING ON CENTRAL APPALACHIAN HARDWOODS 10 YEARS AFTER DEFERMENT CUTTING

Epicormic branching was monitored over a 10-year period following defe rment cutting in four central Appalachian hardwood stands in West Virg inia. Data from 545 codominant residual trees indicated that the avera ge number of epicormic branches on the butt and second 16-foot log sec tions increased significantly for the first 2 years after treatment. F or upper log sections of basswood, northern red oak, and black cherry, significant increases continued from the second to the tenth year. Th e net effect on quality was that 11 percent of residual trees exhibite d a reduction in butt-log grade due to epicormic branching. Of the few grade reductions observed, white oak, northern red oak, and black che rry were the most susceptible. Less than 1 percent of yellow-poplar tr ees had lower grades due to epicormic branching.