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Alteration Of Nutrient Status By Manipulation Of Composition And Density In A Shortleaf Pine-Hardwood Stand

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Abstract - Uneven-aged management is used to promote adequate pine reproduction and control species composition of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.)-hardwood stands in the Interior Highlands of the southern United States. The modification of pine-hardwood composition in these stands has the potential to alter nutrient pools and availability since nutrient uptake, retranslocation, and/or cycling significantly differs in pines and hardwoods. Nutrient status and availability were monitored in a study investigating the effects of different residual pine and hardwood densities on pine reproduction in a mature shortleaf pine-hardwood stand located in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. In 1989 pine basal area was reduced to 13.8 m2/ha. and hardwood basal area was reduced to 0.0, 3.4, or 6.9 m2/ha using single-tree selection. A portion of the unaltered stand was used as a control. Nutrient contents of and concentrations in litterfall, forest floor, and soils were monitored 3 and 11 years after harvesting. Nutrient contents and concentrations were then compared among treatments using these data to determine short and long-term changes of nutrient status resulting from the alteration of pine-hardwood composition and density.

Citation

Liechty, Hal O.; Sawyer, Valerie L.; Shelton, Michael G. 2002. Alteration Of Nutrient Status By Manipulation Of Composition And Density In A Shortleaf Pine-Hardwood Stand. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–48. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp 10-14
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/3134