Hardwood Control Treatments to Enhance Natural Regeneration and Growth of Loblolly-shortleaf Pines in an Uneven-aged Stand: 12-year Results’

To facilitate natural regeneration of loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) and shortleaf pines (I? ecbinata Mill.) in an overstocked, uneven-aged pine stand in southeastern Arkansas, hardwoods were controlled by either basal injection of TordonQ 1 0 1 R . s o i l a p p l i c a t i o n o f Velpat@ L , o r r o t a r y m o w i n g f o l l o w e d b y a b r o a d c a s t s p r a y o f TordonB 1 0 1 a p p l i e d o v e r t h e h a r d w o o d s t u b b l e . A f t e r h a r d w o o d c o n t r o l , a n i m p r o v e m e n t c u t r e d u c e d m e r c h a n t a b l e p i n e b a s a l a r e a f r o m 9 7 t o 7 0 f? p e r a c r e , j u s t b e f o r e a b e t t e r t h a n a v e r a g e p i n e s e e d c r o p . T w o s u b s e q u e n t i m p r o v e m e n t c u t s i n J u l y 1 9 8 7 a n d J u n e 1 9 9 1 left 5 5 a n d 4 8 ft2 p e r a c r e , r e s p e c t i v e l y , i n m e r c h a n t a b l e p i n e b a s a l a r e a . T w e l v e y e a r s a f t e r h a r d w o o d c o n t r o l , a l l p l o t s h a d a n a d e q u a t e d e n s i t y o f p i n e r e g e n e r a t i o n f o r u n e v e n a g e d s t a n d s , b u t d o m i n a n t p i n e r e g e n e r a t i o n o n t r e a t e d p l o t s a v e r a g e d 1 6 f t t a l l e r a n d 2 . 2 i n . l a r g e r i n g r o u n d l i n e d i a m e t e r t h a n t h e d o m i n a n t s o n u n t r e a t e d p l o t s .