Effects of release cutting on the development of young natural lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich) stands of western Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Release cutting is ecologically and economically one of the most important silvicultural treatments for establishing a new stand. The study was designed to determine the suitable silvicultural treatments of different spacing of thinning for release cutting on young natural lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich) stands at the thicket stage. Studies were carried out at Bucak and Gölhisar forest districts in the Western Mediterranean region of Turkey between the years of 1999-2005. Results showed that release cutting treatment had a positive effect on diameter growth for individual trees with the 1.5 m x 3 m spacing and positively correlated with spacing of thinning. However there was not significant effect of the thinning application on height growth of young natural Lebanon cedar stands.