Date of First Thinning in a Very High-Density Eucalyptus Plantation in the Pointe-Noire Region (Republic of Congo)

Management of the Pointe-Noire Forest requires high-performance tools for simulating tree and stand growth and assessing the sustainability of plantations. Modelling the dynamics of even-aged and mono-species stands is a very active research topic. The approaches adopted by researchers vary according to the objectives and species considered: dendrometrical, Eco physiological or architectural. Thanks to the particular nature of these plantations and the trial set-up, it will be possible to explore the various aspects of production, clearly separating the part linked to genetics (three clones tested) from the part linked to the environment (via fertilisation) and the part associated with competition between trees (via planting densities and thinning regimes). This study will make a major contribution to the applicability of the self-thinning line and the RDI (Reineke Density Index) (Reineke, 1933) to fast-growing plantations. This research work will contribute to two points: 1) product diversification, which is a way of coping with international variations in timber markets, and 2) understanding how ecosystems function in exceptionally poor conditions, which will then enable the environmental impacts of the various recommended silvicultural itineraries to be assessed. The results obtained show that competition between trees in a stand of eucalyptus at very high density (10,000 stems/ha) and in two environments of very contrasting fertility is different depending on the clone. The decision on the date of the first thinning with a view to silviculture for timber and energy wood, which aims to ensure sustained and sustainable production of eucalyptus wood in these soils, should be taken between 12 and 14 months. The competition band is strong between 14 and 17 months, when the RDI = 0.8 is double that observed at 12 months.

Study on the Establishment of Demonstration Site for Peatland Conservation through Integrated Management and Sustainable Utilization of Non-timber Forest Products(NTFPs)

A participatory action research was conducted in 2022,with the“Establishment of Demonstration Site for Peatland Conservation through Integrated Management and Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs)”to give recommendation on the development of guidelines on Sustainable Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products(NTFPs)and peatland conservation.According to the peat soil assessment,it was found that peat soil content was very low and top soil was thin under the mangrove forest,and Payena paralleloneura-Kan Zaw bearing forest in March 2022.Organic material might be pressed by trespasser to collect Kan Zaw seed,to conduct horticulture and mining near the Kan Zaw bearing forest,or organic material might be damaged by burning with controlled fire in the previous years,under Kan Zaw trees to collect seeds.Organic material might have been carried to the downwards with running water due to the heavy rainfall,with 4,700 mm/year.Mangrove forest and Kan Zaw bearing evergreen forest can be assumed as“the major source of coastal peatland formation,with peat deposits eroded seawards”.It is assumed that the organic material will accumulate on top of the sands and it will lead to the formation of the peatland at coastal zone.It can be assumed that the accumulation of organic material found in mangrove forest and evergreen forests will promote the soil carbon storage,if we can adopt the ASEAN Policy on Zero Burning,which reflect ASEAN's commitment to controlling fires and haze,offering techniques,benefits,requirements,and challenges for implementing zero burning practices[1].Sustainable utilization of NTFP including peat and Kan Zaw-Payena paralleloneura Kurz seed was studied at demonstration sites,and it is recommended to make a trial on silvicultural system at mangrove forest and apply suitable silvicultural system such as Clear-Felling(in blocks or in alternate strips)system,Selection System,and Shelter Wood System to ensure the sustainable utilization of NTFP from mangrove forest[2].Gap planting and assisted natural regeneration are also recommended for mangrove forest and Kan Zaw-bearing forest.

Silviculture of Pteroceltis tatarinowii Plantations:A Review

Pteroceltis tatarinowii is one of the native precious tree species of China and the bark is the main raw material for manufacturing Xuan paper. Based on the introduction of resource distribution and ecological characteristics of P. tatarinowii, this paper summarized current and advanced science and technology of the studies and management of this species in recent 20 years, which include the relationship between bark quality of P. tatarinowii and Xuan Paper, the key techniques related to improving seedling production and plantation productivity, and establishment of optimum silviculture patterns of P. tatarinowii. The development potential and further required study of P. tatarinowii plantations were also discussed and prospected. The paper will provide some bases for directive silviculture of P. tatarinowii plantation and sustainable development of Xuan Paper production.

Sub-stand diameter distribution types vary along an old-growth Douglas-fir chronosequence into the horizontal diversification development stage

Managing mature Douglas-fir[Pseudotsuga menziesii(Mirb.)Franco]stands to emulate the structural complexity of natural old-growth forest requires identifying structural targets at the sub-stand level at which neighborhood dynamics and patchy disturbance shape structure.We therefore sought to describe the archetypal shapes of predominant sub-stand diameter distribution types(DDTs)observed in natural tree neighborhoods in stands comprising a chronosequence(ca.120-450+yrs)encompassing mature,vertical diversification,and horizontal diversification development stages.The ten 1.0 ha stands are located in the southcentral Oregon Cascades,USA.Building on the known spatial position of each tree,natural tree neighborhoods were identified using the floating neighborhood approach based on spatial tessellation connecting neighboring trees at the first-(mean 61 m2)through fifth-(mean 2058 m2)order scales.Cluster analysis was then used to objectively identify the most predominant DDTs among the relative tree size distributions observed in the trans-scale neighborhoods within each stand.Repeated measures regression was used to classify each DDT to one of six observed archetypal shapes:negative exponential,unimodal,rotated sigmoid,bimodal,concave,or multi-modal.Only three of the 81 observed DDTs deviated by<10%from the stand average,while every stand had at least one DDT that deviated by>50%(maximum 83%).Within each stand,five to ten predominant DDTs were observed,which deviated from the stand average by 30-48%and were characterized by two to five different archetypal shapes.Consequently,in some stands the majority of tree neighborhoods were best characterized by a different shape from that assigned at the stand level.Deviation from the stand average increased from the youngest stand in the mature development stage through the middle stands in the vertical diversification stage to the oldest stands in the horizontal diversification stage.The complexity of DDT shapes tended to increase along the chronosequence(from negative exponential and uniform toward concave and multi-modal),with shape richness highest mid-sequence and evenness peaking in the oldest stands.The high diversity of sub-stand structural complexity reduces the utility of standlevel diameter distributions as old-growth restoration targets.However,the presence in early-sequence stands of sub-stand diameter distributions common to later-sequence stands may facilitate active management at the neighborhood level to promote future old-growth condition.Restoration of substand diameter structures would likely require combining spatial perspectives,such as by augmenting tree-level croptree management with diameter distribution targets for the resulting tree neighborhoods.

Words apart:Standardizing forestry terms and definitions across European biodiversity studies

Forest biodiversity studies conducted across Europe use a multitude of forestry terms,often inconsistently.This hinders the comparability across studies and makes the assessment of the impacts of forest management on biodiversity highly context-dependent.Recent attempts to standardize forestry and stand description terminology mostly used a top-down approach that did not account for the perspectives and approaches of forest biodiversity experts.This work aims to establish common standards for silvicultural and vegetation definitions,creating a shared conceptual framework for a consistent study on the effects of forest management on biodiversity.We have identified both strengths and weaknesses of the silvicultural and vegetation information provided in forest biodiversity studies.While quantitative data on forest biomass and dominant tree species are frequently included,information on silvicultural activities and vegetation composition is often lacking,shallow,or based on broad and heterogeneous classifications.We discuss the existing classifications and their use in European forest biodiversity studies through a novel bottom-up and top-driven review process,and ultimately propose a common framework.This will enhance the comparability of forest biodiversity studies in Europe,and puts the basis for effective implementation and monitoring of sustainable forest management policies.The standards here proposed are potentially adaptable and applicable to other geographical areas and could be extended to other forest interventions.

Eight decades of compositional change in a managed northern hardwood landscape

We analyzed over 8 decades of change in forest composition(represented by species proportion of basal area)and size class from more than 400 permanent plots located on the Bartlett Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.These data represent one of the longest-term landscape-scale records of forest change based on permanent plots in North America.We analyzed the plots based on elevation class,land type indicating assumed successional direction(grouped into coniferous and deciduous),and inventory period within managed and unmanaged portions of the forest.An ongoing shift from small-to large-diameter stems is clear across all species,in response to the overall aging of the forest following exploitative harvesting in the 19th century.Major compositional changes include a continuing decline in shade-intolerant species(paper birch and aspen),along with the mid-tolerant yellow birch.An increase in red maple abundance through the early 1990s has leveled off or reversed.Among shade-tolerant species,increases in beech and red spruce were largely consistent with assumed land type on unmanaged plots,but heavy marking against diseased beech on managed plots restricted increase of that species.Sugar maple declined in abundance except where silvicultural intervention helped maintain it.By contrast,eastern hemlock showed a continuing expansion at all elevations below 600 m.The data continue to show little or no evidence of upward migration of species,despite evidence of recent regional change in climate.However,the BEF is poised for substantial changes when emerald ash borer and hemlock woolly adelgid,both of which are known to infest nearby areas,do arrive.

Eucalypts in China:Research History,Present Situation and Future Prospect

Silviculture is the major procedures in forest research.Silviculture is traditionally focused on various aspects of tree planting,such as tree selection,site preparation,irrigation and fertilization and so on,and the role of silviculture at that time is to manage forests scientifically for continuous production of goods and services while meeting biological and economic requirements.During the past three decades,an increase in research on silviculture has improved Eucalyptus productivity and on wood properties.But,very little information about this procedure on the review of Eucalyptus grown in China has been published even though this species was introduced many years.This paper reviews the available information regarding research history and progress of silviculture under Chinese ecological conditions and to outline some suggestions to them.

Optimizing any-aged management of mixed boreal forest under residual basal area constraints

The current trend of forest management in many countries is reduced use of clear-felling and planting, and increased use of continuous cover management. In Finland, the new forest act of 2014 made all types of cuttings equally allowable on the condition that if the post-cutting residual stand basal area is too low, the stand must be regenerated within certain time frame. Forest landowner can freely choose between even-and uneven-aged management. This study developed a method for opti-mizing the timing and type of cuttings without the need to categorize the management system as either even-aged or uneven-aged. A management system that does not set any requirements on the sequence of post-cutting diameter distributions is called any-aged management. Planting or sow-ing was used when stand basal area fell below the required minimum basal area and the amount of advance regeneration was less than required in the regulations. When the cuttings of 200 stands managed earlier with even-aged silviculture were optimized with the developed system, final felling followed by artificial regeneration was selected for almost 50%of stands. Reduction of the minimum basal area limit greatly decreased the use of artificial regeneration but improved profitability, suggesting that the truly optimal management would be to use natural regeneration in financially mature stands. The optimal type of thinning was high thinning in 97-99%of cases. It was calculated that the minimum basal area re-quirement reduced the mean net present value of the stands by 12-16%when discount rate was 3-5%.

Nonlinear versus linearised model on stand density model fitting and stand density index calculation: analysis of coefficients estimation via simulation

The stand density index,one of the most important metrics for managing site occupancy,is generally calculated from empirical data by means of a coefficient derived from the“self-thinning rule”or stand density model.I undertook an exploratory analysis of model fitting based on simulated data.I discuss the use of the logarithmic transformation(i.e.,linearisation)of the relationship between the total number of trees per hectare(N)and the quadratic mean diameter of the stand(QMD).I compare the classic method used by Reineke(J Agric Res 46:627–638,1933),i.e.,linear OLS model fitting after logarithmic transformation of data,with the“pure”powerlaw model,which represents the native mathematical structure of this relationship.I evaluated the results according to the correlation between N and QMD.Linear OLS and nonlinear fitting agreed in the estimation of coefficients only for highly correlated(between-1 and-0.85)or poorly correlated([-0.39)datasets.At average correlation values(i.e.,between-0.75 and-0.4),it is probable that for practical applications,the differences were relevant,especially concerning the key coefficient for Reineke’s stand density index calculation.This introduced a non-negligible bias in SDI calculation.The linearised log–log model always estimated a lower slope term than did the exponent of the nonlinear function except at the extremes of the correlation range.While the logarithmic transformation is mathematically correct and always equivalent to a nonlinear model in case of prediction of the dependent variable,the difference detected in my studies between the two methods(i.e.,coefficient estimation)was directly related to the correlation between N and QMD in each simulated/disturbed dataset.In general,given the power law as the“natural”structure of the N versus QMD relationship,the nonlinear model is preferred,with a logarithmic transformation used only in the case of violation of parametric assumptions(e.g.data distributed non-normally).

Black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia L.)as a multi-purpose tree species in Hungary and Romania:a review

Black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia L.) was the first North-American tree species imported to Europe at the beginning of the seventeenth century. It is commonly planted worldwide because of its adaptability to environmental stresses, its valuable wood, easy propagation, frequent and abundant seed production, excellent coppicing,high seedling survival, and relatively high wood yield. In Europe, Romania and Hungary have the most highly-developed black locust growing techniques and experiences.As a result of increasing interest in black locust in many countries, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art site requirements, propagation, improvement and management(including growth and yield as well as use in energy plantations).

Canopy gap characteristics and spatial patterns in a subtropical forest of South China after ice storm damage

The divergent gap characteristics and spatial patterns of canopy gaps created by natural or artificial disturbances can exert a dominant influence on forest structure and composition.However,little research has been conducted on the effects of ice storm damage on canopy gaps in subtropical mature forests of South China.In this study,one semi-natural site was dominated by a broad-leaf forest and two managed sites were representative of plantations with coniferous forests.Based on airborne laser scanning data and field evidence across sites,statistical analyses were used to examine gap characteristics following ice storms of moderate severity.Generalized Ripley’s K-function analysis was applied to test gap spatial patterns at a range of scales,and spatial point pattern analysis was used to quantitate the relative importance of specific influences on patterns of gap occurrence.The results revealed that the average gap size was 75.7 m^2 and that 12.2 gaps occurred per hectare.Most gaps were single-tree fall events.In addition to more gaps,the mean gap size was smaller and the shape was more complex in the semi-natural site than in two managed sites.Large differences in gap characteristics were observed among snapped,uprooted,snag,and artificial gap damage types.Gaps generally showed a clustered distribution at large scales(e.g.70 m),whereas spatial patterns varied with gap damage types at different sites.The occurrence of gaps was strongly related to slope and topographic position at the semi-natural site,whereas slope,stem density,and human accessibility(proximity to pathways)were the most important factors affecting gap occurrence at the managed sites.We suggest that gap-based silvicultural treatments and natural disturbances regimes conjoin,highlighting interactions with other factors such as microsite conditions,non-tree vegetation and more.

Predicting Stem Windthrow Probability in a Northern Hardwood Forest Using a Wind Intensity Bio-Indicator Approach

Unlike fire or insect outbreaks, for which a suppression program can be implemented, it is impossible to prevent a windstorm event or stop it while it is occurring. Reducing stand susceptibility to windstorms requires a good understanding of the factors affecting this susceptibility. Distinct species- and size-related differences in stem windthrow susceptibility are difficult to obtain because it is impossible to distinguish their relative effects from those of wind intensity. Using a damage assessment database (60 20-metre radius plots) acquired after an exceptional wind storm in Western Quebec in 2007, we developed an approach in which proportions of windthrown sugar maple poles were used as bio-indicators of wind intensities affecting the plots. We distinguished between single and interactive effects of wind intensity, species, stem size, and local basal area on stem windthrow susceptibility. The best logistic regression model predicting stem windthrow included the wind intensity bio-indicator, species, basal area, and the species by diameter at breast height (DBH, 1.3 m) interaction. Stem windthrow probability generally increased with DBH and decreased with basal area. Species wind-firmness was ordered as: yellow birch > sugar maple = eastern hemlock = American beech > ironwood > basswood = other hardwoods = other softwoods. Our method remained an indirect method of measuring wind intensity and its real test would require a comparison with anemometer measurements during a windstorm. Despite its indirect nature, the method is both simple and ecologically sound. Hence, it opens the door to conducting similar windthrow studies in other ecosystems.

Thinning effects on walnut stem and crown diameter growth and fruiting in the walnut-fruit forests of Kyrgyzstan

The walnut-fruit forests （Juglans regia L.） in southern Kyrgyzstan are considered to be biodiversity hotspots and of considerable economic and ecological importance to local populations. The fruiting ability and stability of these forests are, however, decreasing because of infrequent silvicultural interventions and non-existent natural regeneration. Continuous inventories and walnut harvest measurements were carded out on 18 trial and control plots over the course of i3 year. Results showed that i） thinning had a positive influence on diameter at breast height （dbh） increase, ii） dbh growth and crown area increases are strongly and positively correlated, iii） large crowns enhanced the production of fruits, and iv） temperature conditions had a major influence on the production of fruits. The above-mentioned points are particularly relevant for young plantations but are also valid for relatively old plantations （〉 50 years）. We conclude that regular thinning substantially improves diameter growth, fruit production and ability of trees to withstand wind and snow damage in both young stands and in older walnut-fruit forests.

Effects of silvicultural treatments on mechanical properties of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica plantations

A study was conducted to determine the influences of initial planting densities, thinning intensities, exposures and slope sites on physical property （wood density） and mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity （MOE）, bending strength, impact strength, compression strength along grain and hardness） of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation in Mao＇ershan Forest Farm, Northeast China. Results show that the different initial planting densities （1.5 m×1.0 m, 1.5 m×2.0 m and 1.5 m×2.5 m） had significant effects on wood density and MOE, and the highest mean wood density and indexes of mechanical properties occurred in the stand with an initial planting density of 1.5 m×1.0 m. The indexes of mechanical properties such as hardness of end, bending strength, MOE and compression strength along grain of wood increased after mild thinning, but decreased after violent thinning. The exposures （sunny slope and shady slope） had a significant effect on MOE, and the highest mean MOE occurred on sunny slope. The slope sites （upper site and lower site） had a significant effect on wood density and main mechanical properties, except hardness. The highest mean wood density and mechanical properties occurred at lower site.

THE PROBLEMS AND MEDITATION OF PRACTICING NEWTAXATION SYSTEM PRACTICED IN FORESTRY

After the new taxation system was practiced, the burden of forestry taxation was increased generally. How to extricate oneself from a predicament, it needs to draft tax reduction by the government. The revenue of both forestry products and multiple management should be exempted from taxation, the timber products logs of forest industry shouldn’t be imposed added-value tax, 8 percent tax on special products of agriculture and forestry levied by enterprise acting for tax bureau should be is delayed to pratice, the fund of for silviculture shouldn’t be imposed duties as taxable service.

Exploratory analysis of structural diversity indicators at stand level in three Italian beech sites and implications for sustainable forest management

The present study introduces an exploratory data analysis based on structural indicators with the aim to assess the effect of silvicultural practices on tree stand structure. The study was carried out in three Italian beech forests of different ages with stand structures that originated from dissimilar regeneration and cultivation techniques(Cansiglio, northern Italy, Chiarano, central Italy,and Mongiana, southern Italy). Ten structural indicators were considered when investigating the latent multivariate relationship between stand structure attributes before and after thinning operations by using a multiway factor analysis(MFA). The MFA results identified the older stand at Cansiglio as more homogeneous for cultivation regimes,and more stable to practices when compared with the younger sites(Chiarano and Mongiana). Heterogeneous stands were sensitive to silvicultural practice thus suggesting their possible impact on forest attributes. The proposed approach proved to be an operational tool to evaluate comprehensively the response of forest structure to planned interventions.

Effects of stand types on recreational preferences of society in the Sub-Alpine Zone,northern Turkey

The main objective of this study was to examine how different stand types influenced the tendency of visitors for varying recreational activities(i.e.,hiking,trekking,camping and hunting)from 1993 to 2018 in the surrounding areas of Uluyayla Natural Recreation Site in Bart1n,northern Turkey.A total of 627 visitors were selected on a voluntary basis,and questioned in the form of questionnaire.Most of the participants were in the age of 21-40 years old,and they were mostly(62.4%)male.Most of the participants(82.7%)lived in cities,while 62.8%of them were tourists when visiting the site.In determining the preferences of the visitors regarding the stand types for different recreational activities,several images of each stand were shared with them,and they were asked which stand type they would prefer for a given recreation activity(i.e.,hiking,tracking,camping and hunting).A range of options from 1 to 5 in Likert's scale was used in evaluating the given responses.The degree of positive and negative effects was examined via trend analysis.It was found that stand type had influence on the preferences of visitors regarding the recreational activities.In general,unmanaged and moderately treated stands were more preferred by visitors for the recreational purposes,compared to the previously managed stands.On the other hand,visitors'preference for the activities were different during two periods(i.e.,1993-2005 and 2006-2018).For each recreational activity,there was an increasing trend from 1993 to 2018.There had been a continuous increase for hunting since 1996,and for trekking and camping after 1999.The increases between 1993-1996 and 1996-1999 were likely due to the increasing awareness of the society as a result of the training and consciousness raising activities for nature conservation.The demand on the recreational activities continuously increased in unmanaged and moderately treated stands,while no significant changes were examined in the previously managed stands.The study points out that forest planning and management should consider different needs of visitors for recreational infrastructure.

Growth and nutrient accumulation of Brazil nut trees(Bertholletia excelsa) in agroforestry at different fertilizer levels

The Brazil nut tree（Bertholletia excelsa） is a frequent component of agroforestry systems in the Amazon because of its adaptation to nutrient-poor upland soils and multiple uses.We investigated the aboveground biomass production（kg dry weight）,nutrient uptake and requirements（N,P,Ca,Mg,K） of Brazil nut trees of different sizes grown under agroforestry conditions and fertilized at different levels.Eight of 70 experimental trees with different size were harvested and stem,branches and leaves were separated.Nutrient contents were determined for three trees of varying size.Average tree growth was fast,but variability was high,suggesting considerable potential for the improvement of this economically important species.The trees responded to increased levels of fertilizer and lime with significantly increased foliar nutrient contents and growth,probably because of the improved availability of Mg and Ca for which the species seems to have a relatively high demand.In contrast to Brazil nut trees grown in forest or dense plantations,the agroforestry trees invested a substantial part of their biomass and nutrients in large branches and developed spreading crowns.To improve stem form,reduce competition with associated crops for light and recycle nutrients,regular pruning of lower branches or planting arrangements that favor self-pruning are recommended.These measures would also increase the recycling of Ca and Mg,large quantities of which are contained in the branches.

Success factors for high-quality oak forest(Quercus robur, Q. petraea) regeneration

Background: Within the framework of close-to-nature forestry, oak forest(Quercus robur, Q. petraea) regeneration techniques that consider both silvicultural and nature conservation demands have become a very important issue.While there are many experimental and local studies that aim at disentangling the relationships between different environmental and silvicultural factors and the success of oak regeneration, systematic supra-regional studies at the greater landscape level are missing so far.Against this background, the first objective(a) of this study was to present an efficient and sufficiently accurate sampling scheme for supra-regional forest regrowth inventories, which we applied to young oaks stands. The second, and major, objective(b) was to identify the crucial success factors for high-quality oak forest regeneration in northwest Germany.Results: Objective(a): Factors that have been identified as potentially crucial for the success or failure of oak regeneration were either included in a field inventory procedure or extracted from forest inventory databases. We found that the collected data were suitable to be analyzed in a three-step success model, which was aimed at identifying the crucial success factors for high-quality oak forest regeneration.Objective(b): Our modeling procedure, which included a Bayesian estimation approach with spike-and-slab priors,revealed that competitive pressure from the secondary tree species was the most decisive success factor;no competition, or low competition by secondary tree species appeared to be particularly beneficial for the success of high-quality oak regeneration. Also fencing and the absence of competitive vegetation(weeds, grass, bracken)seemed to be beneficial factors for the success of oak regeneration.Conclusions: Trusting in biological automation was found to be mostly useless regarding economically viable oak forest regeneration. To efficiently organize oak regeneration planning and silvicultural decision-making within a forest enterprise, it is strongly recommended to initially evaluate the annual financial and personnel capacities for carrying out young growth tending or pre-commercial thinning and only then to decide on the extent of regenerated oak stands. Careful and adaptive regeneration planning is also indispensable to secure the long-term ecological continuity in oak forests. Oak regeneration should therefore preferably take place within the close vicinity of old oak stands or directly in them. The retention of habitat trees is urgently advised.

The effect of weeding frequency and schedule on weeding operation time: a simulation study on a sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) plantation in Japan

This study quantified the effect of weeding frequency and weeding schedules on weeding operation time in a sugi(Cryptomeria japonica)plantation stand.A weeding operation time estimation model was developed;then the cumulative weeding operation time after six growing seasons was simulated using the developed model.The developed model included weed height,relative height of weeds to sugi,and initial planting density.The simulated cumulative weeding operation time decreased approximately 6%for each one-treatment decrease in weeding frequency.Under a three-treatment weeding frequency scenario,the simulated cumulative operation time when weeding was conducted during non-consecutive years was longer than that when weeding was conducted during three consecutive years.The results suggest that carrying out weeding treatment during consecutive years is the more effective for reduction of weeding costs.We conclude that weeding schedule as well as weeding frequency must be considered for reduction of weeding operation time.