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Three herbaceous regimes were established, using herbicides, to examine the effects of interference on growth and biomass partitioning in loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.). Trees were sampled near Auburn and Tallassee, AL. Trees at the Auburn site grown with low weed interference (LWI) had 4, 10, 10, 8, and 4 times greater total aboveground biomass than did trees with high weed interference (HWI) for ages one through five, respectively. Medium weed interference (MWI, Auburn site only) resulted in three times greater biomass the first 4 yr and two times greater total biomass by the fifth year compared to trees grown with HWI. Trees growing with LWI were 5, 8, 10, and 6 times larger than those with HWI for ages one through four, respectively, at the Tallassee site. At all levels of interference, the percentage of total biomass in foliage decreased, and stem and branch components increased, with increasing tree size at both sites. Trees growing with HWI had a lower percentage of total biomass in foliage and a greater percentage of total biomass in stem than those growing with LWI when compared over a common size. Growth efficiency per tree, expressed as annual increase in stem biomass per unit leaf area (g m−2), was slightly greater for trees growing with LWI compared to HWI when leaf area index (LAI3, total surface) was less than 0.2. For LAI values greater than 0.2 the relationship was reversed. The latter contradicts the idea that growth efficiency can be used as a measure of vigor for young loblolly pine. Changes in carbon partitioning to the development of leaf area are suggested to be driving the accelerated growth responses associated with a reduction of weed interference.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the practical feasibility of adopting a Quality Circle Financial Accounting System (QCFAS) for analyzing the performance of 5‐S teams.Design/methodology/approachFirst the literature was surveyed to study the state of the art of 5‐S. This study revealed the importance of analyzing the financial performance of 5‐S. Since, 5‐S contains tangible and intangible activities, it was decided to adopt the QCFAS to financially account it. The practical validity of this preposition was tested by conducting an implementation study in a unit of a multinational abrasive manufacturing company operating in IndiaFindingsThe literature review led to the finding that 5‐S could be used as an interweaving device for conglomerating world class paradigms such as total quality management (TQM) and quality circles (QCs). The practical implementation study revealed the compatibility of employing QCFAS for financially accounting 5‐S teams.Research limitations/implicationsThe implementation study was conducted in a Indian Company. This limited study threatens the general validity of QCFAS in financially accounting 5‐S. However, this threat is not expected to be severe because the company is a multinational company and the working atmospheres prevailing in it mimic those of companies situated in various parts of the world.Originality/valueThough 5‐S has been popular for some time, the research on it has been minimal. Further no research has examined the financial accountability of 5‐S. Hence, the contributions of this paper are original and valuable in helping to overcome a general reluctance to implement 5‐S.

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