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Effects of chemical site preparation on herbaceous vegetation prior to hardwood plantation establishment

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Chemical site preparation is sometimes prescribed when attempting hardwood afforestation in the South. However, adequate research has not been conducted regarding the efficacy of various herbicide treatments often recommended. For practical purposes, the question of whether chemical site preparation provides residual control of herbaceous vegetation in retired agricultural fields has not been answered. This study was performed near Port Barre, Louisiana. Four commonly used chemical site preparation treatments were applied during July 2004. Percent herbaceous coverage was estimated occularly May 2005 - August 2005. Herbaceous components were separated into grass/sedge or broadleaf categories and then further delineated into major species. Means separation was used to determine changes in herbaceous coverage percentages as the growing season progressed. Differences were found among average herbaceous coverage percentages among treatments and within individual treatments on a monthly basis. As the growing season progressed, an inverse relationship between grass/sedge and broadleaf categories was noted. Grass/sedge coverage decreased while broadleaf coverage increased in the treated areas.

Parent Publication

Citation

Self, Andrew B.; Ezell, Andrew W.; Londo, Andrew J.; Hodges, John D.; Alkire, Derek K. 2012. Effects of chemical site preparation on herbaceous vegetation prior to hardwood plantation establishment. In: Butnor, John R., ed. 2012. Proceedings of the 16th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-156. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 302-307.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/41511