Abstract
Even-aged silvicultural methods have been successfully used to manage longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests for wood production; however, successful use of uneven-aged methods to manage this ecosystem is less well documented. In this study, the effects of varying levels of residual basal area (RBA) (9.2, 13.8, and 18.4 m2·ha-1) on longleaf pine germination and establishment under selection silviculture marked using the Proportional-B method were observed. In addition to RBA, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was measured, and the relationships between light penetration, germination, and growth were examined. The study found an inverse relationship between RBA and the number of germinants, but the mortality of germinants was not influenced by RBA. PAR also had a significant positive effect on germination, but, did not affect mortality of germinants. In addition, RBA and PAR had no effect on mortality or growth of planted seedlings. Continued monitoring of seedling recruitment into the stand will be required to determine the efficacy of the system. However, nothing in the first year data suggests that this approach will not be successful in sustaining an uneven-aged stand.
Highlights
The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem has historically been very important in the south eastern USA due to its extensive area and high biodiversity
We examine the effects of varying levels of residual basal area (RBA) (9.2, 13.8, and 18.4 m2∙ha−1) on longleaf pine germination and establishment under single-tree selection silviculture managed using the Proportional-B method (Loewenstein, 2005; Brockway et al, 2014)
Concern over the restoration of longleaf pine forests has increased in recent years, practical methods to accomplish this goal are still needed
Summary
The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem has historically been very important in the south eastern USA due to its extensive area and high biodiversity. These forests produce high quality timber and usually provide high quality wildlife habitat for many animal species (Brockway et al, 2005). It is thought to have occupied up to 38 million hectares in the south eastern USA prior to European settlement (Frost, 1993). Frequent disturbance across this region, especially fire, contributed this species’ dominance (Chapman, 1932), and created an irregular, uneven-aged structure across the landscape. The longleaf pine forest type is considered an ecosystem at high risk in the USA (Frost, 2006)
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