Proportional basal area method for implementing selection silviculture systems in longleaf pine forests

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 977-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale G. Brockway ◽  
Edward F. Loewenstein ◽  
Kenneth W. Outcalt
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Selection Systems ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Single Tree Selection ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Specific Species

Proportional basal area (Pro-B) was developed as an accurate, easy-to-use method for making uneven-aged silviculture a practical management option. Following less than 3 h of training, forest staff from a range of professional backgrounds used Pro-B in an operational-scale field study to apply single-tree selection and group selection systems in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stands. Field crews achieved precision levels often within 3%–5% of the 11.5 m2·ha−1 target residual basal area. By aggregating many diameter classes into only three diameter-class groups, Pro-B improves efficiency by requiring tree markers to remember only three fractions, while making a single pass through the stand. Trees of large size, specific species and with good form, broad crowns and cavities can be retained, while adjusting spacing to release residuals. Systematic quantification of marking trees for removal enables different individuals to obtain similar results. Early observations revealed encouraging levels of pine regeneration and stand development, along with continuing good volume growth rates of 3% per year. Although less certain until one or more cutting cycles are completed, these early tests indicate that a stable mature forest structure should develop, which is characterized by the presence of large trees and natural regeneration.

Volume Growth Loss: A Hidden Cost of Periodic Prescribed Burning in Longleaf Pine?

1987 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Boyer
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Treatment ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Hidden Cost ◽  
Growth Loss

Abstract The influence of understory hardwood control treatments, including periodic prescribed burning, on the growth of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) was monitored over a 10-yr period. Treatments, established in 14-yr-old sapling stands thinned to 500 trees/ac, included biennial prescribedburns in (1) winter, (2) spring, (3) summer, and (4) an unburned check. Each of these was combined with three supplemental treatments: (1) initial chemical treatment of all hardwood stems, (2) repeated handclearing of all woody stems, and (3) no treatment. All measures of pine growth weresignificantly reduced by the burns. Pine volume growth over the first 7 years on unburned plots exceeded the average on burned plots by 23% (24 ft³/ac/ yr). During the next 3 years, volume growth on unburned plots exceeded the average on burned plots even more—by 33% (44 ft³/ac/yr).Supplemental treatments did not affect pine growth, even though plots without these treatments developed hardwood stands (>l.5-in. dbh) ranging from 4.0 ft³ basal area/ac with summer burns to 11.6 ft² on unburned plots. South. J. Appl. For. 11(3):154-157.

The effect of spatially variable overstory on the understory light environment of an open-canopied longleaf pine forest

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1984-1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Battaglia ◽  
Pu Mou ◽  
Brian Palik ◽  
Robert J Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Large Group ◽  
The Relationship

Spatial aggregation of forest structure strongly regulates understory light and its spatial variation in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest ecosystems. Previous studies have demonstrated that light availability strongly influences longleaf pine seedling growth. In this study, the relationship between spatial structure of a longleaf pine forest and spatial pattern of understory light availability were investigated by comparing three retention harvest treatments: single-tree, small-group, large-group, and an uncut control. The harvests retained similar residual basal area but the spatial patterns of the residual trees differed. Hemispherical photographs were taken at 300 stations to calculate gap light index (GLI), an estimate of understory light availability. Stand-level mean, variation, and spatial distribution of GLI were determined for each treatment. By aggregating residual trees, stand mean GLI increased by 20%, as well as its spatial variation. Spatial autocorrelation of GLI increased as the size of the canopy gaps increased and the gaps were better defined; thus, the predictability of GLI was enhanced. The ranges of detrended semivariograms were increased from the control to the large-group harvest indicating the spatial patterns of understory GLI became coarser textured. Our results demonstrated that aggregated canopy structure of longleaf pine forest will facilitate longleaf pine seedling regeneration.

Long-Term Effects of Early Pruning and Thinning Treatments on Growth of Natural Longleaf Pine

1980 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-79
Author(s):  
Robert C. Sparks ◽  
Norwin E. Linnartz ◽  
Harold E. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Natural Stand ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Pruning Intensity

Abstract Pruning and thinning a young natural stand of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) in southwest Louisiana had little influence on height. However, diameter growth was reduced substantially as pruning intensity or stocking rate increased up to 25-percent live crown and 200 stems per acre, respectively. Improved diameter growth at lower stocking rates was not sufficient to equal the total basal area increment of 200 trees per acre.

Long-Term Development of Regeneration Under Longleaf Pine Seedtree and Shelterwood Stands

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Boyer
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Distribution Characteristic ◽  
Volume Increment ◽  
Potential Impact

Abstract Well-stocked mature longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stands were cut to five residual basal areas in 1957, namely 9, 18, 27, 36, and 45 ft² per ac, to observe the effect of stand density on seed production and seedling establishment. Seedlings, mainly from the 1955 or 1961seed crops, were established in treated stands. All pines on net 0.9 ac plots were remeasured in 1991 to determine the effect of residual pine density on development of the regeneration. Even the lightest residual overstory converted the structure of 29- to 35- yr-old ingrowth into the reverse-Jdiameter class distribution characteristic of uneven-aged stands. Four or six residual trees, now comprising 7 to 10 ft² basal area (ba)/ac, reduced ingrowth basal area to about half that of same-aged stands released from overstory competition. Merchantable volume of ingrowth under theselow residual densities averaged 40% of that in released stands. Mean annual per ac volume increment of ingrowth averaged 21 to 22 ft³ under the 9 ft² density but did not exceed 7 ft³ under any residual density above this. The potential impact of significant growth reductionsshould be taken into account when considering uneven-aged management methods for longleaf pine. South. J. Appl. For. 17(1):10-15.

A 10-Year Evaluation of Prescribed Winter Burns in Uneven-Aged Stands of Pinus-Taeda L and P. Echinata Mill - Woody Understorey Vegetation Response

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
MD Cain
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Taeda ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Vegetation Response ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Single Tree Selection ◽  
Pinus Taeda L

The effects of burning cycles and pine basal area levels were assessed on natural pine regeneration and hardwood development in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines (Pinus taeda L. and P. echinata Mill.). The treatments included an unburned control and prescribed winter burns at 3-, 6-, and 9-yr intervals. Basal area treatments were 9, 14, 18, and 23 m2 ha-1 for the merchantable-pine component and were maintained on a 6-yr cutting cycle using single-tree selection. Ten years after the study was initiated, density and quadrat stocking of pine regeneration were negatively correlated with overstorey basal area. The 6-yr burning cycle had higher pine density and better quadrat stocking of pine regeneration compared with any other bum treatment mainly because the 6-yr burning cycle coincided with a bumper pine seedcrop and the 6-yr cutting cycle. Recurring fires tended to result in reduced size of hardwood competition but had less impact on hardwood density. When considering a prescribed burning program in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines, more attention should be given to density, quadrat stocking, and size of established pine regeneration and to expected seedcrops rather than to the prosecution of rigid burning schedules.

Container-Grown Longleaf Pine Regeneration Costs in the Sandhills

1982 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39
Author(s):  
Richard W. Guldin
Keyword(s):  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Planting longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings grown in containers is a biologically feasible and cost-effective regeneration method for sandhill sites. Considering the cost of replanting sites where regeneration efforts fail, using container-grown seedlings can result in a lower total regeneration cost. A method of analysis is outlined for specific sites.

scholarly journals Using Forest Inventory Data with Landsat 8 Imagery to Map Longleaf Pine Forest Characteristics in Georgia, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hogland ◽  
Nathaniel Anderson ◽  
David L. R. Affleck ◽  
Joseph St. Peter
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Forest Inventory ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Inventory Data ◽  
Forest Inventory Data

This study improved on previous efforts to map longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) over large areas in the southeastern United States of America by developing new methods that integrate forest inventory data, aerial photography and Landsat 8 imagery to model forest characteristics. Spatial, statistical and machine learning algorithms were used to relate United States Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) field plot data to relatively normalized Landsat 8 imagery based texture. Modeling algorithms employed include softmax neural networks and multiple hurdle models that combine softmax neural network predictions with linear regression models to estimate key forest characteristics across 2.3 million ha in Georgia, USA. Forest metrics include forest type, basal area and stand density. Results show strong relationships between Landsat 8 imagery based texture and field data (map accuracy > 0.80; square root basal area per ha residual standard errors < 1; natural log transformed trees per ha < 1.081). Model estimates depicting spatially explicit, fine resolution raster surfaces of forest characteristics for multiple coniferous and deciduous species across the study area were created and made available to the public in an online raster database. These products can be integrated with existing tabular, vector and raster databases already being used to guide longleaf pine conservation and restoration in the region.

Gaps in a gappy forest: plant resources, longleaf pine regeneration, and understory response to tree removal in longleaf pine savannas

2001 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P McGuire ◽  
Robert J Mitchell ◽  
E Barry Moser ◽  
Stephen D Pecot ◽  
Dean H Gjerstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Net N Mineralization ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Pine Seedlings ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Tree Removal

Resource availability and planted longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedling and understory vegetation response within and among three sizes of experimentally created canopy gaps (0.11, 0.41, 1.63 ha) in a mature longleaf pine savanna were investigated for 2 years. Longleaf pine seedlings and understory vegetation showed increased growth in gaps created by tree removal. Longleaf pine seedling growth within gaps was maximized approximately 18 m from the uncut savanna. Increased longleaf pine seedling survival under the uncut savanna canopy observed after the first year suggests that the overstory may facilitate establishment of longleaf pine seedlings rather than reduce survival through competition. Despite the relative openness of the uncut longleaf pine forest, light quantity was increased by tree removal. Light was also the resource most strongly correlated with seedling and understory vegetation growth. Although net N mineralization was correlated to seedling response, the amount of variation explained was low relative to light. Belowground (root) gaps were not strong, in part because of non-pine understory roots increasing in biomass following tree removal. These results suggest that regeneration of longleaf pine may be maximized within gap sizes as small as approximately 0.10 ha, due largely to increases in light availability.

scholarly journals Site Factors Influence on Herbaceous Understory Diversity in East Texas Pinus palustris savannas

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke McCalip ◽  
Brian P. Oswald ◽  
Kathryn R. Kidd ◽  
Yuhui Weng ◽  
Kenneth W. Farrish
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Longleaf Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Pinus Palustris ◽  
East Texas ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Understory Species ◽  
Solar Exposure ◽  
Site Characteristics ◽  
Study Sites

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas were once dominant across the southeastern U.S., including East Texas and parts of western and central Louisiana. The diverse understory associated with these historical savannas may occasionally be seen today, but not often in longleaf pine ecosystems. This project aimed to define east Texas site characteristics that are necessary to support these ecosystems with a dense and diverse herbaceous understory with little to no midstory cover. Fifty-nine plots across three study sites were established to evaluate the influence of overstory cover, basal area, aspect, elevation, and slope on the number of plant genera present. Forest structure and site characteristics had significant effects on the number of plant genera found. The number of genera increased with higher elevation and slope; as elevation increased, there was a decline in basal area and overstory cover, leading to a more diverse, understory layer. In order to re-establish and maintain a diverse, herbaceous understory in longleaf pine savannas, sites with more open canopies and on slopes with the most solar exposure should be given priority, particularly when planting desired understory species.

scholarly journals Ertragskundliche Aspekte und Strukturdynamik der Buchen-Lichtwuchsdurchforstung

2018 ◽  
Vol 169 (6) ◽  
pp. 332-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Klädtke
Keyword(s):  
Volume Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Maximum Volume ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Stand Productivity ◽  
Single Tree Selection ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Equilibrium Growth

Effects of heavy selective thinnings in beech stands with regard to stand productivity and structural diversity Based on thinning trials in beech stands initiated in the early 1970s, the effects of selective thinnings in favour of 100 to 120 future crop trees were analysed with regard to volume productivity and the stands' structural diversity. The results show that these kinds of thinnings reduce volume productivity by approximately 6% compared to the maximum volume growth. The reduction in volume growth is mostly caused by the fact that the strongly released crop trees have reduced their height growth for the benefit of a lateral crown expansion, while basal area growth was not affected. Calculations indicate that silvicultural systems working with only 50 future crop trees per hectare may decrease the maximum volume production by about 12%. Furthermore, the results show that the intense crown releases caused by selection thinnings increase the horizontal and vertical diversity of beech stands, since the trees in the understorey profit from better light conditions. The indices calculated for diameter and height diversity of the selection thinning plots approach the values being typical for single tree selection forests (“Plenterwälder”). Already after three to four consecutive selection thinnings, the beech stands' diameter distributions displayed an exponentionally decreasing shape typical for single tree selection forests close to equilibrium. Growth simulations revealed that it might even be possible to directly transform beech stands by selection thinnings into single tree selection structures. However, presumably negative effects on timber quality to be expected under single tree selection structures should be considered as a critical aspect with regard to theoretically possible transformation.

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