Early Tending Alters Growth and Height-Diameter Relationship in Turkish Red Pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) Seedlings

Abstract

Early tending, involving the selective removal of competing seedlings to regulate density in young stands, is an important silvicultural practice for reducing competition, yet its short-term effects on growth dynamics of Pinus brutia seedlings are not well understood. Here, the impact of early tending was evaluated by comparing five treated and five control plots over 2.5 years, measuring seedling height and root-collar diameter. Tending reduced seedling density by approximately 89.7%, resulting in significantly accelerated growth; mean height and diameter in tended plots were 215 and 5.19 cm, respectively, compared to 111 and 2.51 cm in controls. Growth increments were about 3.7 and 3.6 times greater in tended plots. Additionally, tending altered the height–diameter relationship, indicating altered coordination between height and radial development. These findings demonstrate that early tending not only enhances growth magnitude but also reshapes growth trajectories in Pinus brutia seedlings, supporting its role as an effective silvicultural intervention to improve stand development under high competition.