Site quality and intensive early stand management practices affect growth dominance, structural complexity, and tree growth in ponderosa pine plantations

•Size-symmetric growth dominance was predominant.•Growth dominance did not consistently vary with treatment or site quality.•Structural complexity was lower on higher quality sites and under herbicide.•Structural complexity increased with fertilization on metasedimentary soils.•Growth of small-medium sized trees was lower on more structurally complex plots.