Accession No:  0185538 Subfile: CRIS Project No: LAB03469 Agency: SAES LA.B Project Type: STATE  Project Status: NEW Start:  01 JUN 2000 Term: 31 MAY 2005

INVESTIGATOR: Clason, T. R.

IMPACT OF SILVICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOBLOLLY PINE PLANTATIONS

OBJECTIVES: 

1. Determine the effect of herbaceous weeds on long-term growth and development of loblolly
   pine plantations. 
2. Determine the effect of hardwood brush on long-term growth and development of loblolly
   pine plantations. 
3. Determine the effect of excessive pine stocking on long-term growth and development of
   loblolly pine plantations. 
4. Determine the interactive influence of herbaceous weeds, hardwood brush, and excessive pine stocking on the rotational growth and development of loblolly pine plantations. 
5. Determine the interactive influence of mid-rotation fertilization and vegetation management practices the growth and development of loblolly pine plantations.
6. Develop vegetation management regimes that will enhance the productivity of loblolly pine plantations. 
7. Determine the impact of vegetation management on the financial potential of loblolly pine plantations.

APPROACH: 
This project will include eight vegetation management studies by extending six studies already in
progress and establishing two new studies. Three existing studies will be used to determine the long-term
impact of herbaceous weeds, hardwood brush and excessive pine stocking as individual competing
components on loblolly pine plantation rotational growth and financial development. The three remaining studies will evaluate the interactive influence of the three vegetative competitors. New studies will evaluate 1) the interactive impact of fertilization and woody brush suppression in recently thinned loblolly pine plantation; 2) the growth response of planted loblolly pine to sequential silvicultural interventions during the seedling stage of plantation development. The long-term impact of competing vegetation on the financial development of loblolly pine plantations will be evaluated by combining actual and projected growth data derived from the eight studies with published cost and revenue data.

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: 
Previous Research involving unwanted vegetation management has focused on the short-term negative effect of the individual components. This project will evaluate biologic and financial response of sequentially applying vegetation management practices at various stages of stand development, and develop vegetation management regimes to enhance long-term pine plantation productivity.