Depending on a landowner’s objective, any tree can be a crop tree and any tree can be competition for that crop tree. Depending on which is the crop tree and characteristics of said tree, certain measures can be taken to ensure the crop tree is growing at its full potential. These measures always take into account the tree or trees that are competing with it. Control of competition is essential in having successful crop trees.
Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a tree that is used not only as food and shelter for wildlife but also can be used commercially for furniture and veneer. (Black cherry, In Silvics of North America) Black cherry is widely distributed throughout North America. It can be found along a majority of the east coast of Canada …show more content…
Boxelder is found throughout much of the United States and Canada. It is found primarily in central Canada and in the United States it can be found all the way to central Florida and as far east as Texas. It grows well on most soils and climates. (Boxelder, In Silvics of North America) These attributes can make it problematic as a competitor because it can grow in such a wide range of places. It was also found that when local N fertilization is high, the lifespan of the fine roots of boxelder was increased. (Tree Physiology 33 p. 340-348) This attribute can help boxelder stay at a site and can make it harder to control as a competitor. Most of the time boxelder will come in after a pioneer species but can be a pioneer species in some places. Stump and root sprouting is a common way boxelder can reproduce. This may prove to be a problem in that even in these trees are cut they can still regenerate well. In addition, boxelder is shade tolerant meaning it can grow well with little sunlight. When being a competitor, this can hinder growth by catching up to and surpassing a shade intolerant tree and affect its growth. DeWine and Cooper’s study of boxelder used to control invasive plants showed that boxelder has the ability to out compete a species. While this can be useful, when this happens to crop trees the boxelder then becomes the species that requires control. (Reforestation Ecology 18
Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a tree that is used not only as food and shelter for wildlife but also can be used commercially for furniture and veneer. (Black cherry, In Silvics of North America) Black cherry is widely distributed throughout North America. It can be found along a majority of the east coast of Canada …show more content…
Boxelder is found throughout much of the United States and Canada. It is found primarily in central Canada and in the United States it can be found all the way to central Florida and as far east as Texas. It grows well on most soils and climates. (Boxelder, In Silvics of North America) These attributes can make it problematic as a competitor because it can grow in such a wide range of places. It was also found that when local N fertilization is high, the lifespan of the fine roots of boxelder was increased. (Tree Physiology 33 p. 340-348) This attribute can help boxelder stay at a site and can make it harder to control as a competitor. Most of the time boxelder will come in after a pioneer species but can be a pioneer species in some places. Stump and root sprouting is a common way boxelder can reproduce. This may prove to be a problem in that even in these trees are cut they can still regenerate well. In addition, boxelder is shade tolerant meaning it can grow well with little sunlight. When being a competitor, this can hinder growth by catching up to and surpassing a shade intolerant tree and affect its growth. DeWine and Cooper’s study of boxelder used to control invasive plants showed that boxelder has the ability to out compete a species. While this can be useful, when this happens to crop trees the boxelder then becomes the species that requires control. (Reforestation Ecology 18