In this method, the stand is clear felled except for a few seed trees, which are left standing singly or in groups to produce seeds for regeneration. After a new crop is established, these seed trees are removed or left indefinitely. The chief distinction from shelter wood system is that the seed trees are retained only for seed production and not enough to provide shelter. Seed Trees should have wind firm, seed producing ability with dominant crown and age of producing abundant seeds.
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| Seed tree |
Number and distribution of seed trees depend on following factors:
- Amount of seed produced/tree
- The no. of seed required
- Seed dissemination
- Number of viable seed produced
- Seed germination
- Seedling establishment
Advantage: Ample opportunity for phenotypic selection, suitable for light demanding species.
Disadvantage: Under stocking, over stocking, damage by forest and drought.
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| Seed tree system |
Kinds of Seed Tree System
- Uniform seed tree system: In uniform seed tree system, individual trees are more or less uniformly distributed throughout the block.
- Group seed tree system: In a group seed tree system, seed trees are left in the block in small patches. These patches may be arranged in irregular groups or in strips.
