Gaps in a gappy forest: plant resources, longleaf pine regeneration, and understory response to tree removal in longleaf pine savannas

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P McGuire ◽  
Robert J Mitchell ◽  
E Barry Moser ◽  
Stephen D Pecot ◽  
Dean H Gjerstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Tree Removal

Resource availability and planted longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedling and understory vegetation response within and among three sizes of experimentally created canopy gaps (0.11, 0.41, 1.63 ha) in a mature longleaf pine savanna were investigated for 2 years. Longleaf pine seedlings and understory vegetation showed increased growth in gaps created by tree removal. Longleaf pine seedling growth within gaps was maximized approximately 18 m from the uncut savanna. Increased longleaf pine seedling survival under the uncut savanna canopy observed after the first year suggests that the overstory may facilitate establishment of longleaf pine seedlings rather than reduce survival through competition. Despite the relative openness of the uncut longleaf pine forest, light quantity was increased by tree removal. Light was also the resource most strongly correlated with seedling and understory vegetation growth. Although net N mineralization was correlated to seedling response, the amount of variation explained was low relative to light. Belowground (root) gaps were not strong, in part because of non-pine understory roots increasing in biomass following tree removal. These results suggest that regeneration of longleaf pine may be maximized within gap sizes as small as approximately 0.10 ha, due largely to increases in light availability.

Competitive responses of seedlings and understory plants in longleaf pine woodlands: separating canopy influences above and below ground

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 634-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Pecot ◽  
Robert J. Mitchell ◽  
Brian J. Palik ◽  
E. Barry Moser ◽  
J. Kevin Hiers
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Light Level ◽  
Belowground Competition ◽  
Understory Plants ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Single Tree Selection ◽  
Below Ground

A trenching study was used to investigate above- and below-ground competition in a longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris P. Mill.) woodland. Trenched and nontrenched plots were replicated in the woodland matrix, at gap edges, and in gap centers representing a range of overstory stocking. One-half of each plot received a herbicide treatment to remove the understory. We monitored pine survival and growth, understory productivity, light level (gap fraction), and soil resources. The overstory facilitated pine seedling survival. Pine seedling growth was reduced as overstory stocking increased. Reduced growth of seedlings was also observed in gaps when the understory was left intact. Understory plants competed with seedlings by filling the root gaps that developed as a result of overstory disturbance. Hardwood growth increased in gaps, owing to decreased belowground competition with adult pines, while growth of herbaceous plants and pine seedlings increased with light availability. Large overstory gaps are not required to initiate regeneration in longleaf pine woodlands. Retaining overstory dispersed throughout the stand but variable in density, through single-tree selection approaches, may be an alternative to gap-based approaches. This approach would allow for the fuel continuity needed to sustain the frequent fire required to maintain the diversity characteristic of this type of woodland.

Using silvicultural practices to regulate competition, resource availability, and growing conditions for Pinus palustris seedlings underplanted in Pinus taeda forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 902-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin O. Knapp ◽  
G. Geoff Wang ◽  
Joan L. Walker ◽  
Huifeng Hu
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Growing Conditions

In the southeastern United States, many forest managers are interested in restoring longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) to upland sites that currently support loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). We quantified the effects of four canopy treatments (uncut Control; MedBA, harvest to 9 m2·ha−1; LowBA, harvest to 5 m2·ha−1; and Clearcut) and three cultural treatments (NT, no treatment; H, herbicide release of longleaf pine seedlings; and H+F, herbicide release plus fertilization) on resource availability and growing conditions in relation to longleaf pine seedling response for 3 years. Harvesting treatments reduced competition from canopy trees but resulted in greater abundance of understory vegetation. Harvesting shifted the interception of light from the canopy to the subcanopy vegetation layer; however, total light availability at the forest floor increased with the intensity of canopy removal. Soil moisture was not affected by harvesting or by the cultural treatments. Foliar nutrient concentrations (N, P, and K) of longleaf pine seedlings generally increased with the intensity of the harvest treatment. Of the plant resources measured, we found that light was most strongly correlated with longleaf pine seedling growth and that incorporating the interception of light by subcanopy vegetation improved the relationship over that of canopy light transmittance alone.

May Burning Favors Survival and Early Height Growth of Longleaf Pine Seedlings

1983 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold E. Grelen
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
The Other ◽  
Seedling Height ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Grass Stage ◽  
Better Than

Abstract After seven annual May burns, grass-stage longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedling survival averaged 71 percent, significantly higher than survival on a biennial May burn, an annual or biennial March burn, or an unburned control. Seedling height growth on the annual May burn was no better than that on the biennial May burn, but both May burns significantly exceeded the other treatments in height growth. The annual May burn also provided greatest survival and growth for longleaf seedlings that had begun height growth before the study began.

The effect of spatially variable overstory on the understory light environment of an open-canopied longleaf pine forest

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1984-1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Battaglia ◽  
Pu Mou ◽  
Brian Palik ◽  
Robert J Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Large Group ◽  
The Relationship

Spatial aggregation of forest structure strongly regulates understory light and its spatial variation in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest ecosystems. Previous studies have demonstrated that light availability strongly influences longleaf pine seedling growth. In this study, the relationship between spatial structure of a longleaf pine forest and spatial pattern of understory light availability were investigated by comparing three retention harvest treatments: single-tree, small-group, large-group, and an uncut control. The harvests retained similar residual basal area but the spatial patterns of the residual trees differed. Hemispherical photographs were taken at 300 stations to calculate gap light index (GLI), an estimate of understory light availability. Stand-level mean, variation, and spatial distribution of GLI were determined for each treatment. By aggregating residual trees, stand mean GLI increased by 20%, as well as its spatial variation. Spatial autocorrelation of GLI increased as the size of the canopy gaps increased and the gaps were better defined; thus, the predictability of GLI was enhanced. The ranges of detrended semivariograms were increased from the control to the large-group harvest indicating the spatial patterns of understory GLI became coarser textured. Our results demonstrated that aggregated canopy structure of longleaf pine forest will facilitate longleaf pine seedling regeneration.

Pensacola Bahiagrass Can Be Used to Improve the Forage Resource when Regenerating Southern Pines

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 254-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford E. Lewis ◽  
Warren G. Manson ◽  
Richard J. Bonyata
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Paspalum Notatum ◽  
First Year ◽  
Forage Plants ◽  
Southern Pines ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Nutritional Qualities ◽  
Grass Stage

Abstract Many native forage plants in the South are low quality, poor producers, and unpalatable to cattle. Replacement of these plants with more desirable species would improve the forage resource. One approach is to seed grasses during site preparation when regenerating southern pines. Following site preparation by shearing and strip-disking, Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) was seeded at 15 pounds per acre in the spring and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) was row-seeded on 12-foot centers in December of the next year. The bahiagrass became established among the residual native plants and was heavily utilized by cattle grazing yearlong. A light application of fertilizer after 3 years tripled bahiagrass yields the first year and doubled it the next year compared to unfertilized plots. Fertilizer improved some nutritional qualities of bahiagrass but digestibility was lowered. Longleaf pine seedlings came out of the grass stage more rapidly and were 50% taller at age 9 with grazing than without it; and in spite of heavier mortality with grazing (36% vs. 21%), stocking was 967 trees per acre at age 11.

Container-Grown Longleaf Pine Regeneration Costs in the Sandhills

1982 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39
Author(s):  
Richard W. Guldin
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Planting longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings grown in containers is a biologically feasible and cost-effective regeneration method for sandhill sites. Considering the cost of replanting sites where regeneration efforts fail, using container-grown seedlings can result in a lower total regeneration cost. A method of analysis is outlined for specific sites.

scholarly journals Growth, Survival and Physiological Effects of Hexazinone and Sulfometuron Methyl Applied Overtop of Longleaf Pine Seedlings

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig L. Ramsey ◽  
Shibu Jose
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Old Field ◽  
Sulfometuron Methyl ◽  
Physiological Functions ◽  
Santa Rosa County

Abstract A field study was conducted in Santa Rosa County, FL to evaluate the effects of two herbicides, hexazinone and sulfometuron methyl, on longleaf pine seedling (Pinus palustris Mill.) survival, growth, and physiological functions over a 2 yr period (2001–2002). An old-field site was planted with 1-yr-old container-grown seedlings in January 2001, and herbicides were band-applied overtop of the seedlings in April 2001. Hexazinone rates were 0.56 and 1.12 kg ai/ha, and the sulfometuron methyl rates were 0.21 and 0.42 kg ai/ha. Volumetric soil moisture was also measured in May, July, August, and October in each treatment. At the end of the first growing season (2001), survival was not improved by any of the herbicide applications. However, root collar diameter (RCD) increased for hexazinone applied at 0.56 and 1.12 kg ai/ha, and sulfometuron methyl applied at 0.42 kg ai/ha at the end of the first growing season compared to the control. At the end of the second growing season, RCD was 28.7, 30.9, 30.5, 32.1, and 33.3 mm for the control, sulfometuron methyl applied at 0.21 and 0.42 kg ai/ha, and hexazinone applied at 0.56 and 1.12 kg ai/ha, respectively. Also, the percentage of seedlings out of the grass stage at the end of the study was 72, 74, 79, 81, and 89% for the control, sulfometuron methyl applied at 0.21 and 0. 42 kg ai/ha, and hexazinone applied at 0.56 and 1.12 kg ai/ha, respectively. Foliar responses, such as net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration were measured in October 2001. There was no evidence of herbicide injury on foliar physiological functions relative to the control seedlings 6 months after treatment. During 2001, soil moisture was related to hexazinone and sulfometuron methyl application rates in May and July, but not in August or October. Averaged across May and July, soil moisture increased from 5.4% in the control to 7.6 and 7.5% in the highest hexazinone and sulfometuron methyl treatments, respectively. Based on seedling survival, growth, and herbicide costs, the most effective treatment was hexazinone applied at 0.56 kg ai/ha. South. J. Appl. For. 28(1):48–54.

Effects of Viterra® Root Dips and Benomyl on Root Growth Potential and Survival of Longleaf Pine Seedlings

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
David B. South ◽  
Nancy J. Loewenstein
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Active Ingredient ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Poor Survival ◽  
Root Growth Potential ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Clay Slurry

Abstract A mixture of clay and benomyl is registered for use on longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) to control diseases and increase outplanting survival. However, for one sandy site in Alabama, treating roots with a gel slurry of Viterra containing benomyl reduced survival of stored seedlings when compared to a clay slurry containing benomyl (2.5% active ingredient). Root growth potential for January-lifted seedlings was also reduced by adding benomyl to a Viterra gel. For this study, seedlings planted in January and mid-February had better survival than seedlings planted in December or March. Poor survival in December resulted when seedlings were planted 2 wk prior to a hard freeze. South. J. Appl. For. 18(1):19-23.

The Effects of Benomyl and Pisolithus Tinctorius Ectomycorrhizae on Survival and Growth of Longleaf Pine Seedlings

1981 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert G. Kais ◽  
Glenn A. Snow ◽  
Donald H. Marx
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Pisolithus Tinctorius ◽  
Brown Spot ◽  
Spot Disease ◽  
Brown Spot Disease ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Collar Diameter ◽  
Survival And Growth

Abstract Benomyl applied to roots of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings at planting significantly reduced brown-spot disease and increased survival, root collar diameter, and early height growth on two sites in Mississippi. Seedlings with half or more of all ectomycorrhizae formed by Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch in the nursery had significantly better survival and growth; Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae did not appreciably affect brown-spot disease. The benefits of benomyl and Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae were most obvious when combined. More than 75 percent of seedlings treated with benomyl and with more than half of all ectomycorrhizae formed by Pisolithus initiated height growth after 3 years. Forty-seven percent of seedlings with only Thelephora terrestris ectomycorrhizae and without benomyl exhibited height growth. The combined use of benomyl to control brown-spot disease and Pisolithus ectomycorrhizae to stimulate early height growth may overcome the major handicaps that have limited artificial regeneration of longleaf pine in the South.

Planted Longleaf Pine Seedlings Respond to Herbaceous Weed Control Using Herbicides

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry R. Nelson ◽  
Bruce R. Zutter ◽  
Dean H. Gjerstad
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Brown Spot ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Grass Stage ◽  
Herbaceous Weed Control ◽  
One Year ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Height initiation, and height and diameter growth of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seedlings were compared on plots receiving herbaceous weed control treatments and on unweeded check plots during the first 4 years after planting. Treatments initiated during the spring following planting included: broadcast weed control for 1 and 2 years, banded weed control in 5-foot bands for 1 and 2 years, and no weed control (check). Weed control had a positive effect on fourth-year height, groundline diameter, and the percentage of seedlings out of the grass stage, while survival was unaffected. The duration of weed control (2 years vs 1 year) had a similar effect on the same response variables, while the method of weed control (broadcast vs. band) had no effect. Trees on plots receiving 2 years of weed control were approximately 3 feet taller and 0.5 inch greater in groundline diameter than trees receiving no weed control. One year of weed control resulted in trees approximately 2 feet taller and 0.3 inch greater in groundline diameter than with no weed control. Weed control treatments shortened the time seedlings were in the grass stage by approximately 1 year, decreasing the time period during which a serious brown-spot needle blight infection could develop.¹

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