Improving Tree Growth in CRP CP31: Crop Tree Release in a 30 Year Old Plantation

Crop tree release in a 30-year-old CRP CP31 tree plantation, focused on improving pecan, bur oak, swamp white oak, and American sycamore through practical timber (forest) stand improvement (TSI/FSI).

This field walkthrough shows how to evaluate a CRP tree planting and select crop trees based on crown position, vigor, spacing, species value, and long-term goals for wildlife habitat, timber quality, and stand health. You will see how competing trees are identified and removed from the crop tree’s growing space so the best pecans and oaks can expand their crowns, gain diameter growth, and improve health and resilience.

This stand also has heavy boxelder competition, so part of the work is reducing boxelder to restore balance and light. There is also significant ash competition; most are already dead or declining due to the Emerald Ash Borer, so they are left in place rather than spending effort on removal.

Topics covered:
• Crop tree release basics for CRP CP31 tree plantations
• Timber stand improvement strategies for 25 to 35 year old plantings
• Selecting crop trees: pecan, bur oak, swamp white oak, sycamore, and associated hardwoods
• Reading stand structure: density, competition, canopy layers, and future spacing
• Evaluating tree canopies
• Releasing crowns to improve growth, mast production, and resilience
• Double-girdle technique and targeted felling for stand improvement

If you manage a CRP CP31 tree planting, a young hardwood plantation, or an overstocked stand that needs thinning, this is a practical example of crop tree release for landowners, foresters, and restoration practitioners.

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