Effects of site preparation treatments on early growth and survival of planted longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings in North Carolina

Relating the survival and growth of planted longleaf pine seedlings to microsite conditions altered by site preparation treatments

“…It is important to note that our study was conducted on poorly drained sites, where we would expect soil moisture levels to be relatively high. Despite significant reductions in soil moisture caused by mounding and bedding treatments, we previously reported no significant treatment effects on survival at 12 months (Knapp et al, 2006). A high degree of withintreatment variability in seedling mortality may have masked some treatment effects; inconsistent depths to the hardpan affecting local drainage patterns likely resulted in drier conditions in some areas within plots.…”

“…In this paper, the treatments are often referred to by their initials as follows: flat or check (F), chopping and flat (CF), herbicide and flat (HF), chopping and mounding (CM), herbicide and mounding (HM), chopping and bedding (CB), herbicide and bedding (HB), and chopping, herbicide, and bedding (CHB). Details on treatment application are given in Knapp et al (2006), and all treatments were applied before planting.…”

“…The sample interval was based on the number of rows per plot and approximate number of seedlings per row. This sub-sample of seedlings was used to monitor seedling survival and growth throughout the 2004 and 2005 growing seasons (Knapp et al, 2006). Microsite conditions measured during 2004 and 2005 included soil moisture at a 6 cm depth, soil temperature at a 15 cm depth, soil surface temperature, percent full sunlight at the seedling level, and percent cover of vegetation surrounding selected seedlings.…”

Nursery response of container Pinus palustris seedlings to nitrogen supply and subsequent effects on outplanting performance

“…Outplanted longleaf pine seedlings are fairly resilient in terms of survival regardless of site preparation (Haywood, 2000(Haywood, , 2005Ramsey et al, 2003;Ramsey and Jose, 2004;Knapp et al, 2006). Therefore, research focuses on reducing residence time in the grass stage by applying weed control, including mulching, herbicides, controlled burning, and fertilization.…”

Vegetative Response to Weed Control in Forest Restoration

“…Field research on the Coastal Plain indicated that mechanical weed control treatments were inferior to chemical weed control in terms of enhancing longleaf pine seedling survival and growth (Knapp et al, 2006). Chemical weed control with herbicide has proven effective in several longleaf pine restoration studies on the Coastal Plain (Brockway & Outcalt, 2000;Ramsay et al, 2003;Knapp et al, 2006;Haywood, 2007;Freeman & Shibu, 2009;Shibu et al, 2010). Longleaf pine is native to the Coastal Plain, but also occurs naturally in the mountainous regions further inland, and across the Piedmont Region.…”