scholarly journals Fire Survival of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) Grass Stage Seedlings: The Role of Seedling Size, Root Collar Position, and Resprouting

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1070
Author(s):  
Songheng Jin ◽  
Brett Moule ◽  
Dapao Yu ◽  
G. Geoff Wang
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Current Frequency ◽  
Seedling Size ◽  
Grass Stage ◽  
Root Collar

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest is a well-known fire-dependent ecosystem. The historical dominance of longleaf pine in the southeast United States has been attributed to its adaptation known as the grass stage, which allows longleaf pine seedlings to survive under a frequent surface fire regime. However, factors affecting post-fire survival of grass stage seedlings are not well understood. In this study, we measured live and dead longleaf pine grass stage seedlings to quantify the role of seedling size, root collar position, and sprouting in seedling survival following a wildfire in the sandhills of South Carolina. We found that fire resulted in almost 50% mortality for longleaf pine grass stage seedlings. Fire survival rate increased with seedling size, but a size threshold for fire tolerance was not supported. Fire survival depended on the position of root collar relative to the mineral soil. Seedlings with protected root collars (i.e., buried in or at the level of mineral soil) experienced <21%, while seedlings with exposed root collars (i.e., elevated above mineral soil) suffered >90% post-fire mortality. Ability to resprout contributed to 45.6% of the total fire survival, with the small seedlings (root collar diameter (RCD) < 7.6 mm) almost exclusively depending on resprouting. Our findings had significant implications for fire management in longleaf pine ecosystems, and the current frequency of prescribed fire in sandhills might need to be lengthened to facilitate longleaf pine natural regeneration.

Long-Term Impact of Aerial Application of 2,4,5-T to Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)

Weed Science ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Michael
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Aerial Application ◽  
Tree Diameter ◽  
Grass Stage ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
And Control

Twenty years after aerial application of 2.24 kg ae/ha of the butoxy ethanol ester of 2,4,5-T [(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] to release grass stage longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings, stocking was the same for each of three treated and control 4-ha plots. Treated plots, however, had significantly greater tree diameter (10%), taller trees (17%), and more merchantable tree volume/ha (40%). Merchantable tree volume differences 20 yr after treatment represent an 8 yr growth advantage for treated plots.

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.

Multiscale modeling of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 2080-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Louise Loudermilk ◽  
Wendell P. Cropper
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Matrix Model ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Landis Model

There are few remaining longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems left in the southeastern coastal plain of the United States. Restoration and maintenance of these remaining habitats requires an understanding of ecosystem processes at multiple scales. The focus of this study was to develop and evaluate a modeling framework for analyzing longleaf pine dynamics at the spatially explicit landscape scale and at the spatially implicit population scale. The landscape disturbance and succession (LANDIS) model was used to simulate landscape fire dynamics in a managed forest in north-central Florida. We constructed a density-dependent longleaf pine population matrix model using data from a variety of studies across the southeastern United States to extend an existing model. Sensitivity analyses showed that the most sensitive parameters were those from the original pine model, which was based on extensive observations of individual trees. A hybrid approach integrated the two models: the fire frequencies output from the LANDIS model were input to the matrix model for specific longleaf pine populations. These simulations indicated that small isolated longleaf pine populations are more vulnerable to fire suppression and that landscape connectivity is a critical concern. A frequent prescribed fire regime is nonetheless necessary to maintain even large longleaf pine sandhill communities that have better landscape connectivity.

scholarly journals Growth of Longleaf and Loblolly Pine Planted on South Carolina Sandhill Sites

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Cram ◽  
Kenneth W. Outcalt ◽  
Stanley J. Zarnoch
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Surface Layers ◽  
Bareroot Seedlings

Abstract Performance of longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) were compared 15–19 years after outplanting on 10 different sites in the sandhills of South Carolina. The study was established from 1988 to 1992 with bareroot seedlings artificially inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) or naturally inoculated with mycorrhizae in the nursery. A containerized longleaf pine treatment with and without Pt inoculation was added to two sites in 1992. Effects of the Pt nursery treatment were mixed, with a decrease in survival of bareroot longleaf pine on two sites and an increase in survival on another site. The containerized longleaf pine treatment substantially increased survival, which led to greater volume compared with bareroot longleaf pine. Loblolly pine yielded more volume than longleaf pine on all sites but one, where survival was negatively affected by fire. Depth of sandy surface horizon affected mean annual height growth of both loblolly and longleaf pine. Height growth per year decreased with an increase in sand depth for both species. Multiple regression analysis of volume growth (ft3/ac per year) for both species indicated a strong relationship to depth of sandy soil and survival. After 15–19 years, loblolly pine has been more productive than longleaf pine, although longleaf pine productivity may be equal to or greater than that of loblolly pine on the soils with the deepest sandy surface layers over longer rotations.

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

scholarly journals Effect of Time Elapsed after Prescribed Burning in Longleaf Pine Stands on Potential Prey of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten C. New ◽  
James L. Hanula
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Picoides Borealis ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Arthropod Diversity ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Red Cockaded Woodpecker

Abstract The effects of dormant and growing season prescribed burns on the potential arthropod prey of the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) were studied in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stands on the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Sampling was conducted 0, 1, 2, or 3 yr post-burn. Stands were burned once during the winters of 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994 or in the summer of 1992. Four types of traps sampled arthropods in the litter layer, the herbaceous understory, and on the bole of pine trees. Woodpecker prey abundance and biomass were sampled continuously from June 30, 1993 to June 30, 1994. Overall arthropod diversity was sampled seasonally in June, October, January, and April of the same year. The different trap types had similar arthropod diversity and evenness, but most had low faunal overlap which indicates that they effectively sampled different parts of the arthropod community. When captures from all trap and prey types were combined for each plot no significant differences were found among winter burned plots or between winter and summer burned plots. However, certain prey types were affected by burning. Among stands burned in winter, spider abundance was highest in samples from the soil/litter layer of stands burned 3 yr prior to sampling. Comparison of stands burned in winter 1992 to those burned in the summer showed that the winter 1992 burns had higher spider and ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) biomass on the tree boles. Spiders appeared to be the only group affected by winter burning while spiders and ants were affected by the summer burning. In general, time elapsed after the prescribed burns were applied had little effect on the primary arthropod prey of the red-cockaded woodpecker. South. J. Appl. For. 22(3):175-183.

scholarly journals Seasonality of Biennial Burning Has No Adverse Effects on Mature Longleaf Pine Survival or Productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Willis ◽  
Ajay Sharma ◽  
John S. Kush
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Dormant Season

Emulating natural disturbance has become an increasingly important restoration strategy. In the fire-maintained woodlands of the southeastern United States, contemporary restoration efforts have focused on approximating the historical fire regime by burning at short intervals. Due to concerns over escape and damage to mature trees, most prescribed burning has occurred in the dormant season, which is inconsistent with the historical prevalence of lightning-initiated fire in the region. This discordance between contemporary prescribed burning and what is thought to be the historical fire regime has led some to question whether dormant season burning should remain the most common management practice; however, little is known about the long-term effects of repeated growing season burning on the health and productivity of desirable tree species. To address this question, we report on a long-term experiment comparing the effects of seasonal biennial burning (winter, spring, and summer) and no burning on the final survival status, height, diameter, and volume growth of 892 mature longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) over 23 years in three mature even-aged stands in southern Alabama, United States. Overall, longleaf pine survival across all treatments averaged 81 ± 2% [s.e]. Among seasonal burn treatments, survival was highest in the spring burns (82 ± 4%) but did not vary significantly from any other treatment (summer – 79 ± 4%, winter – 81 ± 4%, unburned – 84 ± 4%). However, survival was statistically influenced by initial diameter at breast height, as survival of trees in the largest size class (30 cm) was 40% higher than trees in the smallest size class (5 cm). Productivity of longleaf pine was not significantly different among treatment averages in terms of volume (38.9–44.1 ± 6.0 m3 ha–1), diameter (6.0–6.7 ± 0.3 cm), and height (2.5–3.4 ± 0.4 m) growth. Collectively, our results demonstrate that burning outside the dormant season will have little impact on mature longleaf pine survival and growth. This finding has important implications for the maintenance of restored southeastern woodlands, as interest in burning outside the dormant season continues to grow.

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.

scholarly journals Successful Reforestation of South Carolina Sandhills is not influenced by Seedling Inoculation with Pisolithus tinctorius in the Nursery

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Cram ◽  
John G. Mexal ◽  
Ray Souter
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Pisolithus Tinctorius ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Seedling Inoculation ◽  
River Site

Abstract Longleaf (Pinus palustris) and loblolly pine (P. taeda) nursery beds were treated with either vegetative inoculum of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) or allowed to become inoculated with natural ectomycorrhizae (NI) from 1987 to 1991. The resulting Pt and NI seedlings were outplanted on 2 sites per year (1988-1992) for a total of 10 demonstration plantings on the Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina. After 4 yr (5 yr for Site 5) the presence of Pt on bareroot longleaf pine at the time of planting did not improve seedling diameter or height growth. Longleaf pine survival was increased with the presence of Pt only on one site, while NI seedlings had greater survival on five sites and greater growth on two sites. The presence of Pt on the containerized longleaf pine had no effect on survival or diameter growth after 4 yr. Inoculation of bareroot loblolly pine with Pt resulted in larger diameter seedlings at the time of planting for four of eight sites. However, these differences in diameter were not maintained in three of the sites after 4 yr. The use of Pt as an artificial inoculant of bareroot longleaf and loblolly pine seedlings does not increase survival or growth response of reforestation plantings on the sandhills of South Carolina after 4 (5) yr. South. J. Appl. For. 23(1):46-52.

scholarly journals Effects of overstory structure and fire regime upon diversity and abundance of selected understory species in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests in southeastern Georgia

2012 ◽  
Vol 49 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 395-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Keith Moser ◽  
Yu Chui Kwan
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Fire Return Interval ◽  
Return Interval

We examined the impacts of variation in overstory structure and burning regime on understory vegetation in the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Georgia, U.S.A. On sandy upland sites surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp and on islands, we established five randomly-located 0.04-ha plots within each of six study areas. The plots varied in overstory density, past management and fire regime. We measured overstory tree size of longleaf pines in the 0.04-ha plots and percent cover of ground cover species in five 1-m2 subplots nested within each 0.04-ha plot. We also calculated diversity indices for the ground cover species. There was no significant relationship between overstory basal area and any diversity measure. Even at the subplot level, there was no significant relationship observed between the diversity measures and distance to the nearest tree, presumably a surrogate for overstory density. The diameter (DBH) of the nearest tree exhibited a slight influence over the Shannon Index, and the nearest tree&rsquo;s height was significantly related to evenness in each subplot. There were varied relationships between individual species and fire regime or nearest tree measurements. There was a definite, but statistically insignificant, trend of decreasing diversity with increasing years since the last burn. Height of the nearest tree positively influen&shy;ced evenness, probably reflecting the influence of stochasticity and amount of needle deposition (influencing fire behavior) over a wide area. Within the generally equal fire-return interval across sites, individual fire-events and site-specific behavior apparently influence understory diversity. It is not surprising that the last burn would affect species richness, even more so than the number of growing-season burns, other studies support this observation. The presence of obligate seeding and (clonal) sprouting as dominants in the ground cover suggests that the fire-return interval is not regular. The cycling of fire-return intervals, even within the manage&shy;ment-prescribed 2- to 4-year range, and the variation by microsite appear to provide sufficient variability of disturbance to create diversity in the ground-level cohort. Site-specific relationships between particular species and the nearest tree suggest that even a narrowly-prescribed fire management regime can provide sufficient diversity.

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