Select or Not? Comparing the Impact of Selective and Schematic Thinning on Scots Pine Tree Growth and Stand Structure

The first commercial thinning usually entails a high cost in harvest operations and low resulting income. From practical forestry perspective, schematic spatial selection might be more efficient than selective approach. Therefore, this study aimed to compare basal area, total standing volumes, periodic annual increment (PAI), as well stand structure, between different designs (selective thinning) strategies (thinning once or once) over long-term monitoring period of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations Sweden. We also evaluated the relevancy distance-dependent competition indices (CIs) individual tree growth models by comparing model predictions with use distance-independent CIs. Despite higher heterogeneity schematically thinned stands, there were no significant differences volumes (m3·ha−1) among treatments short long term. Although inclusion CI improved slightly, predicted diameter just effectively. Schematic could viable option for one-time if, at least, one is included management plan, if motivating interest mainly volume.