Hardwood Eradication Improves Productivity of Thinned Loblolly Pine Stands

Abstract

Abstract A single hardwood eradication treatment in a 7-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stand along with pine stocking control increased growth and yield over a 10-year period. Herbaceous vegetation control had no detectable effect at ages 12 and 17. Treated plots had smaller stems, which could be controlled more readily by fire, although the number of understory stems was similar for all treatments. Mean annual radial and merchantable volume growth on treated plots surpassed controls by 30%. Future stand values were enhanced by removing hardwood competition. Residual stand sawtimber volumes on the treated plots were twice that of the control.