William D. Boyer

Effect of burning and brush treatments on nutrient and soil physical properties in young longleaf pine stands

Abstract Over a period of 16 years, unburned longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) pole stands grew an average of 27% more volume than similar stands regularly burned. Treatments included biennial burns in winter, spring, and summer plus an unburned check, each of which was combined with three supplemental treatments, namely, initial herbicide injection of all hardwoods, repeated handclearing of all woody stems, and no treatment. All unburned and winter-burned plots were paired to study this growth reduction relative to treatments. The status of nitrogen, phosphorus, available moisture holding capacity, bulk density, and macropore space was determined in both surface and subsurface soils. Foliage from pines on sampled plots was analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn. Burning did not significantly affect either soil N and P or foliar nutrients. However, burning reduced available moisture holding capacity and macropore space and increased the bulk density of surface soils, and also reduced the moisture-holding capacity of subsurface soils. The results from this and other studies suggest that growth losses are due, at least in part, to increased moisture stress associated with changes in soil physical properties.

Longleaf pine regeneration ecology and methods

Regenerating longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is key to its long-term sustainable production of forest resources and its perpetuation as the dominant tree species in a variety of important ecosystems ranging from xeric to mesic to hydric site conditions. Early regeneration to problems and the subsequent efforts to overcome these are significant features of the continuing longleaf pine saga. This chapter discusses recent restoration relevant to longleaf pine regeneration, disturbance dynamics including fire as an ecological process and describes the uniqueness of longleaf pines regeneration environment.

Restoring a legacy: longleaf pine research at the Forest Service Escambia Experimental Forest

Longleaf pine ecosystems are a distinct part of the forest landscape in the southeastern USA. These biologically diverse ecosystems, the native habitat of numerous federally listed species, once dominated more than 36.4 million ha but now occupy only 1.4 million ha of forested land in the region. The Escambia Experimental Forest was established in 1947 through a 99-year lease with the T.R. Miller Mill Company of Brewton, AL, to explore all aspects of longleaf pine management. The 1,214-ha tract in southwest Alabama constitutes a unique example of longleaf pine ecosystems in all stages of development. Long-term studies and demonstrations include stand management alternatives, growth and yield of even-aged natural stands, cone production, and fire ecology.

Overhead shading and growth of young longleaf pine

A study to determine the effects of environmental conditions on the growth of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) was initiated in 1969 on the Escambia Experimental Forest near Brewton, Alabama, USA. This study sample consisted of forty young naturally regenerated, even aged longleaf pine seedlings evenly divided between two soil types. At the beginning of the study, the seedlings were 14 years from seed and ranged in height from 0.8 to 1.5 m. From 1969 to 1970, height and diameter measurements were recorded once to four times weekly during the growing seasons and once a month during the dormant seasons. To test the effects of shading on growth, cheesecloth was suspended over 10 randomly selected seedlings from each soil type only during the first growing season, from March 28 to September 24, 1969. This study provides data from the only known in-field shading experiment with longleaf pine seedlings of this size. The effects of the shading treatment and soil type were evaluated for height and diameter growth. The shading treatment did not have a significant effect on either height or diameter growth, but soil type had a significant effect on diameter growth.