ARS | Publication request: COMPETITION CONTROL INFLUENCES SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF SOUTHERN PINES PLANTED IN FESCUE, FESCUE-LEGUME AND BERMUDAGRASS PASTURES

Submitted to: National Convention of the Society of American Foresters
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 13, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Competition control is critical in attaining a satisfactory level of pine seedling survival and growth, especially in pastures where some forage species are known to exhibit allelopathic influence on woody plants. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of various competition control methods on southern pine establishment with different pasture types. Competition control treatments (herbicide, mow/mulch, and cultivate) significantly increased pine height growth over the controls during the first four years. The cultivate treatment caused the highest survival rate in all the species. With respect to species, longleaf pine survival rate (29%) was significantly lower than loblolly and shortleaf pine survival rates (81% for both). Forage production was unaffected by competition control treatments but it did decline during the time of pine establishment.