Situation #2: Herbaceous Release on Cutover Lands
The topic of herbaceous release on old fields is fairly straight forward. Since there are rarely any native ground cover plants to be concerned about in old fields and pastures, we focus our herbaceous release primarily on killing weeds. On cutover sites, however, the prescription for tree release becomes a little cloudier.
On these cutover sites, many landowners are equally as worried about those plant features that need protection as much as those that need removing. Like site preparation, herbaceous release can have a profound effect on the structure of the ground cover community. Similarly, the timing and degree of herbaceous release can effect longleaf pine growth. To date, the majority of research done by The Longleaf Alliance on herbaceous release has focused on tree establishment on cutover sites. The results of some of that research are as follows:
Critical Timing of Release Study
This study was initiated to examine the effects of different levels of competition control and timing of release from vegetative competition, on longleaf pine.
Operational Release = Tank mix of Velpar DF 10.67 ounces & 3 ounces of Oust/acre.
Complete Release = Operational release plus follow up directed applications of Roundup with a backpack sprayer.
This particular study site was a previously forested natural pine stand. Competition on the site is both woody and herbaceous. Some woody species on this site are yaupon, sweetgum, and oaks. Major herbaceous weeds on this site are broomsage, ragweed, fireweed, morning-glory, sicklepod, dogfennel, and trumpetcreeper.
This site was planted on December 12-13, 1995. Seedlings were bareroot stock from the Hauss nursery in Atmore, Alabama. Percent survival, number of seedlings starting height growth, average height, and average diameter were assessed in July, 2001 (after 5 ½ growing seasons).
Year #1 Treatment |
Year #2 Treatment |
% Survival |
% Starting Height Growth |
Average Height in Feet |
Average DBH in Inches |
Hyperlink to Picture |
Operational |
None |
63% |
97% |
13.6 |
2.25 |
see picture here |
Operational |
Operational |
66% |
97% |
14.2 |
2.43 |
see picture here |
Complete |
None |
67% |
98% |
14.8 |
2.57 |
see picture here |
Complete |
Operational |
67% |
98% |
17.1 |
3.07 |
see picture here |
None |
None |
66% |
87% |
9.3 |
1.45 |
see picture here |