Á propos des plantations mélangées de Chêne sessile, Pin laricio de Corse et Pin sylvestre

In 2006, a study of fourteen uneven-aged stands of sessile oak, Corsican Laricio pine and Scots pine planted on former, fairly fertile farmland in the centre region of France, made an initial silvicultural and economic assessment. At 25 years, when oaks are 12 m high, competition between the outer lines of oaks and the pine lines reaches a critical point. If not steps are taken, the development of the oaks is challenged. For the entire duration of the oak production cycle (100 years), this management system theoretically generates an annual income of 200 g/ha, before tax or subsidies. But due to the low initial density, 80% of overall income is earned from the sales of oaks at final felling. Planting of oak and pine in narrow strips presents a range of ecological and environmental benefits, but mechanical thinning is more difficult. Furthermore, optimal distances for oak to foster continuous crown deployment, even and sustained bole growth and in the longer term good quality products are harder to achieve. If oaks are to be given sufficient space, pines must be felled at the latest at 55 years thereby impeding their regeneration. On the sandy loam soils of central France, where social forest species compatible with sessile oak are uncommon, this study’s findings should encourage testing of new species and different experimental plots.