Site Preparation for Longleaf Pine Restoration on Hydric Sites: Stand Development and Ground Layer Responses 15 Years Following Planting
Abstract
Longleaf pine restoration is especially challenging on hydric soils of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Site preparation is commonly used to improve establishment of planted trees but may have negative impacts on the ground layer plant communities. This project provides results through 15 years from a manipulative field experiment that evaluates alternative site preparation treatment effects on planted trees and ground layer plant communities. More intensive site preparation treatments, including bedding and broadcast herbicide, provided the greatest benefit to planted longleaf pine trees. The herbicide treatment provided early control over woody vegetation, which recovered after 15 years to result in dominance of woody plants on those treatments. Herbicides also resulted in lasting reductions in wiregrass. In contrast, chopping as site preparation generally resulted in no different from the untreated control. Decisions on site preparation must be relative to management objectives, but our study shows long-term effects of these treatments on stand development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1189877
Entities
People
- Benjamin Knapp
- Connor Crouch
- Geoff Wang
- Joan Walker
Organizations
- University of Missouri System