Comparative growth and yield performance of sweet chestnut in high forest and coppice systems in young plantations

In Portugal, sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Mill is predominantly found in inland mountain areas in the North and Center of the country Patrício et al 2022 covering an estimated area of over 48 000 hectares (ICNF, 2015), including orchards and forest woodlands. Chestnut forests have been managed for wood production in both coppice and high forest systems, with coppice offering flexibility in producing wood of various calibers to meet market demands. However, extensive areas of healthy coppices remain unmanaged or lack clear technical and economic objectives, resulting in reduced forest health and productivity. Comparing the growth patterns of coppice and high forest systems during the juvenile phase is essential, as coppice shows higher initial productivity but faces limited market demand for small sized chestnut material. Exploring management alternatives to enhance long term rotation and utilize juvenile biomass can incentivize the recovery of abandoned areas and improve the quality and value of chestnut timber for long lived products for a more sustainable management. Main Objective: compare growth and yield of young chestnut stands, up to 24 years of age, in coppice and high forest systems from mountain areas of Northern Portugal

Comparative growth and yield performance of sweet chestnut in high forest and coppice systems in young plantations Artigo de Conferência