Floristic diversity, stand structure, and composition 11 years after herbicide site preparation

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1073-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H Miller ◽  
Robert S Boyd ◽  
M Boyd Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Total Species

This study tested for effects of site preparation herbicides applied at high labeled rates 11 years earlier on plant species richness, diversity, and stand structure and composition. Four study sites in three physiographic provinces were established in central Georgia in 1984. Six herbicide treatments were included on each site: hexazinone liquid, hexazinone pellets, glyphosate, triclopyr, picloram, and a mixture of dicamba and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Herbicide and untreated plots were prescribed-burned and planted to loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Eleven years after treatment, 177 total species were identified in these dense pine plantations; 99 species were forbs and grasses-grasslikes. Treated and check plots did not differ in species richness or diversity. Structurally, the total basal area of the tree canopy was not significantly altered, but the proportion of pine to hardwoods and shrub stem density were influenced by treatment. Latent effects were detected in the abundance and frequency of Pinus taeda, Prunus serotina Ehrh., Quercus stellata Wangenh., Diospyros virginiana L., Vaccinium stamineum L., Vitis rotundifolia Michx., and Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. Most are potential mast producers for wildlife. Herbicide site preparation had little influence on total species numbers or their diversity 11 years after treatment but affected composition by altering perennial species abundance.

Secondary forest succession in a tropical dry forest: patterns of development across a 50-year chronosequence in lowland Bolivia

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEBORAH K. KENNARD
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Mature Forest

Stand structure, species richness and population structures of tree species were characterized in 12 stands representing 50 y of succession following slash-and-burn agriculture in a tropical dry forest in lowland Bolivia. Estimates of tree species richness, canopy cover and basal area reached or surpassed 75% of mature forest levels in the 5-, 8-, and 23-y-old stands respectively. Total stem density of the 50-y-old stand was almost twice that of the mature forest stand. This rapid recovery may be due to a high percentage of sprouting tree species, potentially high seed fall into abandoned fields, or the disturbance history of the mature stand. The even-aged size-class structures, dominance of long-lived pioneers, and presence of charcoal and pottery shards in soils of the mature forest stand suggest it formed after a severe disturbance, possibly fire of anthropogenic origin.

Loblolly pine and mixed hardwood stand dynamics for 27 years following chemical, mechanical, and manual site preparation

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2126-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn R. Glover ◽  
Bruce R. Zutter
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Growth Yield ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Fayette County ◽  
Stand Basal Area

A site-preparation study installed in 1959 in Fayette County, Alabama, U.S.A., provides data to evaluate long-term effects of varying densities of hardwood on loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) plantation growth, yield, and stand structure. Six treatments (hand girdle; bulldoze scarification; herbicide applied to axe frill, chain frill, and with an injector; and an untreated check) were installed as a randomized complete block with five replications. Periodic measurements of pine and hardwood size and density show that higher hardwood densities existing early in the pine plantation had a substantial negative effect on loblolly pine survival and basal area yield, with the bulldoze and herbicide treatments having less hardwood and higher survival and stand basal area. Pine total height and diameter at breast height were reduced by increasing hardwood density early in the life of the plantation, but size of surviving trees differed little among treatments at later ages, except on plots where most pine trees were suppressed by hardwoods. Strong relationships between pine basal area per hectare at age 27 and both number of hardwood stems at age 3 and percentage of stand basal area in hardwood at age 6 were noted. These relationships indicate promise for predicting long-term growth and yield of loblolly pine plantations from early measures of hardwood interference.

Stand Structure and Yield Relationships in a 20-Year-Old Loblolly Pine Spacing Study

1981 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Harms ◽  
F. Thomas Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pinus Taeda L

Abstract A loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) spacing study on a Piedmont site (SI 75, base age 25) had at age 20 a maximum yield of 49 cords per acre with a near maximum basal area of 187 square feet at a spacing of 8 x 8 feet. Comparative yields on the other spacings tested were: 6 x 6, 188 ft² and 43 cords; 10 x 10, 166 ft² and 45 cords; 12 x 12, 152 ft² and 43 cords. Sawtimber volume in trees larger than 9.5 inches in diameter rose from zero at 6 x 6 feet to almost 10,000 board feet per acre at 12 x 12 feet. Survival on the 6 x 6 plots was 71 percent; 8 x 8, 87 percent; 10 by 10, 92 percent; and 12 x 12, 93 percent.

scholarly journals Competition Effects on Growth and Crown Dimensions of Shortleaf and Loblolly Pine in Mature, Natural-Origin, Pine–Hardwood Mixtures of the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, USA: A Neighborhood Analysis

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 935
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bataineh ◽  
Ethan Childs
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Echinata ◽  
Shortleaf Pine ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Pinus Taeda L ◽  
Crown Dimensions

The need for a comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of competition has never been more important as plants adapt to a changing environment and as forest management evolves to focus on maintaining and enhancing complexity. With the recent decline in shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) land area, it is critical to determine the effects of competition on shortleaf pine and its performance against loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), the preferred planted replacement. We evaluate differences in shortleaf and loblolly pine 10 year mean basal area increment (BAI) and crown dimensions across a gradient of neighborhoods. Linear mixed-effects regression models were developed using BAI and several crown metrics as responses and crowding, competitor species abundance and identity, and initial size and species identity of focal tree as predictors. Crowding of focal trees negatively impacted BAI and crown size (p < 0.001, respectively). Although loblolly pine had three times higher BAI as compared to shortleaf pine within similar neighborhoods, BAI was variable, and the crowding effect did not differ between shortleaf and loblolly pine (p ranged from 0.51–0.99). Competitive impacts on focal trees did not differ by competitor identity (p ranged from 0.07–0.70). Distance-independent competition indices better explained the variation in BAI and horizontal crown metrics, while distance-dependent size ratios were more effective at evaluating vertical crown metrics. These findings highlight shortleaf pine competitive potential in mature, natural-origin stands and provide support for the restoration of pine–hardwood and hardwood–pine stratified mixtures as well as management of shortleaf pine at long rotations.

scholarly journals Bedding and Fertilization Ameliorate Effects of Designated Wet-Weather Skid Trails after Four Years for Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Plantations

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 222-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Michael Aust ◽  
James A. Burger ◽  
William H. McKee ◽  
Gregory A. Scheerer ◽  
Mark D. Tippett
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Site Productivity ◽  
Mechanical Site Preparation ◽  
Wet Weather ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Wet-weather harvesting operations on wet pine fiats can cause soil disturbances that may reduce long-term site productivity. Site preparation and fertilization are often recommended as ameliorative practices for such disturbances, but few studies have actually quantified their effects on restoration. The purposes of this study were to quantify the effects of wet-weather harvest traffic in designated skid trails on soil properties and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) growth, and to evaluate the ameliorative effects of site preparation. Study sites were established on wet pine flats of the lower Coastal Plain within the Francis Marion National Forest (Berkeley County, SC). Treatments were arranged in a split-split plot within a randomized complete block design. Treatments were two levels of traffic (nontrafficked, trafficked), four levels of mechanical site preparation (none, disking, bedding, disking + bedding), and two levels of fertilization (none, 337 kg /ha of 10-10-10 fertilizer). initially, the trafficking increased soil bulk densities and reduced soil water movement and subsequent growth of loblolly pine (years 1 and 2). Bedding combined with fertilization restored site productivity to non trafficked levels within 4 yr, but disking or fertilization treatments alone were not effective at ameliorating the traffic effects. The effectiveness of the bedding and fertilization treatments for amelioration of traffic effects was probably facilitated by the relatively small area of disturbed skid trails (<10%) found on these sites. Areas having more severe disturbance or higher percentages of disturbance might not be ameliorated as rapidly. South. J. Appl. For. 22(4):222-226.

scholarly journals Four Site-Preparation Techniques for Regenerating Pine-Hardwood Mixtures in the Piedmont

1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 116-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Waldrop
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Southern Appalachian ◽  
Medium Quality ◽  
Pinus Taeda L ◽  
Preparation Techniques

Abstract Four variations of the fell-and-burn technique, a system developed to produce mixed pine-hardwood stands in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, were compared in the Piedmont region. All variations of this technique successfully improved the commercial value of low-quality hardwood stands by introducing a pine component. After six growing seasons, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) occupied the dominant crown position and oaks the codominant position in fell-and-burn treated stands on poor to medium quality sites. The precise timing of felling residual stems, as prescribed by the fell-and-burn technique, may be flexible because winter and spring felling produced similar results. Although summer site preparation burns reduced hardwood height growth by reducing the length of the first growing season, they did not improve pine survival or growth. Pines were as tall as hardwoods within four growing seasons in burned plots and within six growing seasons in unburned plots. Additional research is needed to determine the level or intensity of site preparation needed to establish pine-hardwood mixtures over a range of site conditions. South. J. Appl. For. 21(3):116-122.

Partial cutting reduces species richness of fungi on woody debris in oak-rich forests

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1807-1816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Nordén ◽  
Frank Götmark ◽  
Martin Ryberg ◽  
Heidi Paltto ◽  
Johan Allmér
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Fruiting Bodies ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Closed Canopy ◽  
And Control ◽  
Total Species

Partial cutting is increasingly applied in European temperate oak-dominated forests for biofuel harvesting, and to counteract succession in protected stands. Effects on biodiversity of these measures need to be carefully evaluated, and species-rich but neglected taxa such as fungi should be considered. We studied the effects of partial cutting on fungal fruiting bodies on woody debris. In 21 closed canopy forests rich in large oaks in Sweden, on average 25%–30% of the basal area was cut. Fruiting bodies were counted and some were collected in treated and control plots before and after treatment. We found 334 basidiomycete and 47 ascomycete species. Species richness of basidiomycetes declined significantly more in treated plots (on average 26%) than in control plots (on average 13%) between seasons. Species richness of ascomycetes increased by 17% in control plots and decreased by 2% in treated plots. Total species richness was significantly reduced on fine woody debris (1–10 cm in diameter), but not on coarse woody debris (>10 cm). Overall species composition did not change significantly as a result of partial cutting, but red-listed species tended to decrease more in treated plots. We suggest that approximately 30% of the stands should not be thinned, and dead stems and fallen branches should not be removed, to favor saproxylic fungi and their associated fauna.

scholarly journals Thinning Response and Potential Basal Area in a Mixed Sub-humid Low-elevation Oak-Hornbeam Forest

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Neumann ◽  
Hubert Hasenauer
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Growing Stock ◽  
A Site ◽  
Water Nutrients ◽  
Related Mortality

Abstract Competition for resources (light, water, nutrients, etc.) limits the size and abundance of alive trees a site can support. This carrying capacity determines the potential carbon sequestration in alive trees as well as the maximum growing stock. Lower stocking through thinning can change growth and mortality. We were interested in the relations between stand structure, increment and mortality using a long-unmanaged oak-hornbeam forest near Vienna, Austria, as case study. We expected lower increment for heavy thinned compared to unmanaged stands. We tested the thinning response using three permanent growth plots, whereas two were thinned (50% and 70% basal area removed) and one remained unmanaged. We calculated stand structure (basal area, stem density, diameter distribution) and increment and mortality of single trees. The heavy thinned stand had over ten years similar increment as the moderate thinned and unthinned stands. Basal area of the unthinned stand remained constant and stem density decreased due to competition-related mortality. The studied oak-hornbeam stands responded well even to late and heavy thinning suggesting a broad “plateau” of stocking and increment for these forest types. Lower stem density for thinned stands lead to much larger tree increment of single trees, compared to the unthinned reference. The findings of this study need verification for other soil and climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Tree Mortality Following Mixed-Severity Prescribed Fire Dramatically Alters the Structure of a Developing Pinus taeda Forest on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain

Fire ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Ray ◽  
Deborah Landau
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Atlantic Coastal Plain ◽  
Relative Reduction ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Horizontal Structure

This case study documents the aftermath of a mixed-severity prescribed fire conducted during the growing season in a young loblolly pine forest. The specific management objective involved killing a substantial proportion of the overstory trees and creating an open-canopy habitat. The burn generated canopy openings across 26% of the 25-ha burn block, substantially altering the horizontal structure. Mortality of pines was high and stems throughout the size distribution were impacted; stem density was reduced by 60% and basal area and aboveground biomass (AGB) by ~30% at the end of the first growing season. A nonlinear regression model fit to plot data portrays a positive relationship between high stocking (i.e., relative density > 0.60) and postburn mortality. Survival of individual trees was reliably modeled with logistic regression, including variables describing the relative reduction in the size of tree crowns following the burn. Total AGB recovered rapidly, on average exceeding levels at the time of the burn by 23% after six growing seasons. Intentional mixed-severity burning effectively created persistent canopy openings in a young fire-tolerant precommercial-sized pine forest, meeting our objectives of structural alteration for habitat restoration.

A Habitat Suitability Index for White-Tailed Deer in the Piedmont

1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hewlette S. Crawford ◽  
R. Larry Marchinton
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Habitat Suitability Index ◽  
Suitability Index ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Abstract A habitat suitability index based on winter foods was designed to evaluate habitat changes affecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States. Habitat components incorporated in the index were (1) the standing crop of availableherbaceous vegetation and leaves of woody plants remaining green during late autumn and winter, (2) basal area of oak (Quercus spp.) 10" dbh and larger, (3) number of oak species in the stand ≥5% of total basal area, (4) site index of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) or mixed oak, (5) percentageof agricultural land, and (6) distance from agricultural land to forest or shrub cover. The rationale for inclusion of each component of the index is given, and methods for sampling each habitat component are described. The index should be useful on private small landownerships as well ason larger private and public holdings. South. J. Appl. For. 13(1):12-16

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