Results

Thinning can be used to readjust structure and composition of the midstory and overstory layers of longleaf communities of the Gulf Coastal Plains region. These stands can be treated with growing season burns soon after thinning to dispose of slash and help control hardwood and woody shrub growth. This requires some movement of logging slash and the burns will be more spotty but still successful with proper planning and execution. The additional costs for slash moving and burning must be viewed against the minimal damage and mortality to the remaining stand. Once the stand has readjusted to growing season burns, costs will be more typical. The cover of understory shrubs can be reduced by both thinning and burning. Burning, however does not effectively reduce midstory hardwoods with a single burn. Although the combination thinning and burning treatment will be more costly it is also the quickest method for restoring stand structure and overstory composition to these longleaf pine communities of the Gulf Coastal Plain.