Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Artificially regenerating longleaf pine on wet sites: preliminary analysis of effects of site preparation treatments on early survival and growth

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Our study, conducted over two years on poorly drained, sandy sites in Onslow County, NC, compared the effects of eight common site preparation treatments on early survival and growth of planted longleaf pine seedlings. Through two growing seasons, we found survival to be similar across all treatments (p = 0.8806), but root collar diameter was greatest with combinations of mounding and herbicides or bedding and herbicides (p < 0.0001). After the first growing season, treatments that included herbicides resulted in the greatest reduction in abundance of surrounding vegetation (p < 0.0001), but by the second growing season mounding treatments provided the best vegetation control (p < 0.0001). Mounding and bedding treatments reduced soil moisture when compared to fl at planting in both growing seasons (p < 0.0001). When used properly, site preparation treatments that reduce competition from surrounding vegetation and relieve excess soil moisture will help improve early growth rates of artificially regenerated longleaf pine on wet sites.

Parent Publication

Citation

Knapp, Benjamin O.; Wang, G. Geoff; Walker, Joan L. 2010. Artificially regenerating longleaf pine on wet sites: preliminary analysis of effects of site preparation treatments on early survival and growth. In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 247-251.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/35747