Abstract
I studied establishment process of Monarch birch based on height growth and sprouting trait under the effect of weeding and salvage cutting. As no sprout came from the birch stumps, the mortality of the birch during the yearly weeding period was higher than other hardwoods. However, since they had lateral branches in low position in this period, 6, 900/ha seedlings were still alive at the time point one year after weeding was completed. Mean annual height growth rates in 5 years after weeding completed were 63 cm/yr for the birch and 31 cm/yr for the other hardwoods, and thus the birch occupied upper layer than the other hardwoods. The height of birch caught up with the Japanese cedar in ten years and became to suppressed it, to require salvage cutting for Japanese cedar. The mean bole height of the birch was 169 cm at that time, and salvage cutting at this time point would cause high mortality of birch. Thus the long term continuity of weeding or salvage cuttings would reduce the stand density of birch. The practice not to reduce birch must be considered particularly in the unsuccessful plantation of the cedar to compensate the forest growth.
