Scheduling the first thinning in young cork oak stands is an important decision in management that is usually subjectively defined by each manager. An analysis of competition in cork oak plantations is extremely relevant as a support for this important decision. This study aimed to understand the relationship between stand characteristics and tree growth efficiency, and subsequently help identify the presence or absence of an inter-tree competition pattern in cork oak stands that were never debarked. The inter-tree competition was assessed by looking to several stand characteristics: (1) comparison with the self-thinning line; (2) stand density measures, such as stand spacing coefficient and relative spacing; (3) stand structure measures evaluated through the skewness and variability; and (4) tree relative growth rate pattern over tree size. Data used for this analysis were gathered from permanent plots that were established in even-aged stands located across the cork oak distribution area in Portugal. The study shows that the most common stand densities on young cork oak plantations might not lead to serious inter-tree competition before the first cork extraction. This information is relevant to support the potential timing and severity of the first thinning in order to retain more trees until the second cork extraction when cork quality can be taken into account in the selection of the trees to be removed.

中文翻译：

---

未剥皮的软木橡树人工林的树间竞争分析作为葡萄牙管理的辅助工具

计划在年轻的软木栎林中进行第一次疏伐是管理中的一个重要决定，通常由每个管理者主观定义。对软木栎种植园竞争的分析对这一重要决定的支持极为重要。这项研究旨在了解林分特征与树木生长效率之间的关系，并随后帮助确定从未剥皮的软木栎林中是否存在树间竞争模式。通过观察以下几种林分特征来评估树间竞争：（1）与自我稀疏线的比较；（2）林分密度测量，如林分间距系数和相对间距；（3）通过偏度和变异性评估林分结构措施；（4）树木相对生长率随树木大小的变化。用于此分析的数据是从永久性地块中收集的，该永久性地块位于葡萄牙软木橡树分布区的均匀年龄林中。研究表明，在第一次软木塞提取之前，年轻的软木栎林最常见的林分密度可能不会导致严重的树间竞争。此信息与支持第一次疏伐的潜在时间和严重性有关，以便保留更多的树木，直到第二次进行软木拔除，此时可以在选择要移除的树木时考虑软木质量。研究表明，在第一次软木塞提取之前，年轻的软木栎林最常见的林分密度可能不会导致严重的树间竞争。此信息与支持第一次疏伐的潜在时间和严重性有关，以便保留更多的树木，直到第二次进行软木拔除，此时可以在选择要移除的树木时考虑软木质量。研究表明，在第一次软木塞提取之前，年轻的软木栎林最常见的林分密度可能不会导致严重的树间竞争。此信息与支持第一次疏伐的潜在时间和严重性有关，以便保留更多的树木，直到第二次进行软木拔除，此时可以在选择要移除的树木时考虑软木质量。