Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

A Comparison of the Ecological Effects of Herbicide and Prescribed Fire in a Mature Longleaf Pine Forest: Response of Juvenile and Overstory Pine

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Prescribed fire may be removed as a forest management tool by regulatory agencies concerned about air quality issues. Herbicides have been proposed as substitutes for prescribed fires in southern pine forests, but we are aware of no studies that examine the effects of herbicide application in mature, fire maintained longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests. We compared the effects of prescribed fire (F), herbicide application (Velpar®L) (H), and a combination treatment (F+H) in a mature longleaf pine forest with a 60+ year history of prescribed fire. The responses of naturally regenerated juvenile longleaf pine and overstory trees were monitored for 3 years. Juveniles receiving the F+H treatment had the highest mortality; juveniles in the H treatment were the largest, with the highest percentage (134) growing into the sapling class. Growth response of the mature trees was not consistent among years. Overstory hardwood mortality was over 60 percent in the F+H and H treatments.

Parent Publication

Citation

Gagnon, Jennifer L.; Jack, Steven B. 2004. A Comparison of the Ecological Effects of Herbicide and Prescribed Fire in a Mature Longleaf Pine Forest: Response of Juvenile and Overstory Pine. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–71. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 304-308
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6677