Abstract
Advance regeneration, sprouts and seeds are sources of reproduction in the regeneration of mixed hardwood stands following harvest. The control of undesirable, non-commercial, competing vegetation is a common technique in site preparation to promote the establishment and growth of desirable species. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of pre- and post-harvest site preparation treatments in the regeneration of an upland hardwood stand near Oak Ridge, TN. Four site preparation treatments (pre- and post-harvest slashing, with and without herbicide stump treatment) and a control (no slashing or herbicide treatment) were implemented. Each set of five treatments was replicated six times. The regeneration harvest was conducted during the winter of 1996-1997. After ten growing seasons, there was little statistical difference in species composition between treatments. Even though many undesirable existing stems were controlled by the pre- and post-harvest site preparation treatments, the proliferation of light-seeded species, primarily yellow-poplar (
Liriodendron tulipifera), red maple (
Acer rubrum), black cherry (
Prunus serotina), and Virginia pine (
Pinus virginiana) overcompensated for the various site preparation treatments.
Parent Publication
Citation
Clatterbuck, Wayne K.; Schubert, Martin R. 2010. Effects of pre- and post-harvest site preparation treatments on natural regeneration success in a mixed hardwood stand after 10 years. In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS 121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 451-454.
