f harvesting and postharvest treatments ulk density , soil strength , and early f Pinus taeda in the Gulf Coastal Plain

ract: At four sites in the Gulf Coastal Plain, mechanical whole-tree harvesting (MWT) removed more biomass nutrients than hand-fell bole-only harvesting (HFBO). Soil compaction and loblolly pine (Pinus tae& L.) regeneraion growq varied among sites. At one location, MWT increased soil bulk density by 0.1 ~ g m ~ , from 1.14 to -24 ~ g m ~ , with no effect on kee growth. At a second location, where bulk density increased by 0.1 M ~ r n ~ , from 41 to 1.51 ~ g s r n ~ , pine growth was reduced significantly. Soil strength at 15-20 cm kcmastxi by 0.3-0.5 MB both locations. However, where MWT reduced pine gr&wth, herbace& weed control mitigated the effect. Fertilizan with N and P, where P was limiting, increased pine growth irrespective of other treatments. Where P was not limiting, addition of a complete fertilizer reduced the mitigating effect of weed control. Bedding reduced soil compaction thout improving early tree growth; however, bedding was not tested on the two sites where soil compaction appeared be at critical levels. Broadcast burning increased survival but reduced pine growth irrespective of harvesting method. r results suggest that the impact of intensive management on site productivity varies among sites, is potentially acmulative, and is subject to change ovet time.