Abstract
Abstract A study was established to examine the effects of herbaceous weed control (HWC) on the development of natural hardwood stands in southeastern West Virginia. In two Appalachian mixed hardwood stands, HWC treatments, consisting of Oust (4 oz/ac) or Oust (4 oz/ac) + Escort (1 oz/ac), were applied prior to budbreak during the first or second growing season after clearcutting. Fern and Rubus species dominated the herbaceous plant cover in the first 3 yr following treatment. Oust + Escort plots had significantly less total herbaceous plant cover than the check plots in the first 2 yr. Mean plot-level treatment effects were significant only in one of the two stands. Sixth-year average tree heights on HWC plots at one site were greater than those on the check plots, and ranged from 11.4 ft (Oust + Escort) to 9.2 ft (check). Six-year heights of tagged stems were greater for Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri Walt.) on HWC plots. Although black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) had the greatest extent of crown damage from the herbicide treatments initially, average heights of tagged black cherry stems in both stands ranked higher on the HWC plots than on the check plots.
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