Wrdwood Control Using Pelleted

Treatments using combinations of pelletized herbicides with prescribe burning were tested for planting site preparation on steep terrain (>35% slopes) in the Alabama Piedmont. Mixed forests of southern pines, oaks, and hickories occupied areas before logging. Three burning treatments (no-burn, preand post-harvest) were applied randomly among three 4-acre major plots at each of three study locations or blocks. Each major plot was split into seven half-acre minor-plots with buffer strips for testing herbicides. Herbicide treatments, randomly assigned among minor-plots, were: picloram (Tordon 10K) at 2.5 and 5 lb se/a; tebuthiuron (Spike 2OP) at 2 and 4 lb ai/a; hexazinone (Velpar Gridball (2cc)) at 1.5 and 3 lb ai/a; and a no:treatment check. Overatory topkill, after two growing seasons, was complete with both rates of tebuthiuron and also the 3 lb rate of hexazinone when followed by a post-harvest burn. Hexazinone at 1.5 lb and both picloram rates were most effective in combination with pre-harvest burning. Sprouts and other small stems were best controlled with preharvest burning and the high rate of tebuthiuron. All herbicides showed promise as site preparation treatments fcr steep sites except for the low rate of picloram, ineffective unless burned.