Intensive Cleaning Increses Sapling Growth and Browse Production in the Southern Appalachians
Abstract
All woody stems except selected crop trees were cut in an 11-year-old mixed-hardwood sapling stand in the Southern Appalachians to determine the effect of intensive cleaning on crop-tree growth and deer-browse production. During the 6-year post-cleaning period, crop trees in uncleaned compartments produced significantly more basal area and grew more in diameter than did crop trees in uncleaned compartments. In addition, the intensive cleaning significantly increased browse production.