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Abstract
In 1951 a 30-acre mature stand of loblolly pine on Maryland's Eastern Shore was cut, leaving 10 pine seed trees per acre; and three different methods of seedbed preparation were tried on experimental plots within the stand. Besides a control plot, which was only logged, the plot treatments included: (a) pulling a stump with a small bulldozer before cutting, followed by a late-summer fire after cutting; (b) pulling a Ranger Pal plow with the same bulldozer before cutting; and (c) using a late-summer fire after cutting. Since tractor treatments (a and b above) were restricted to creating paths 6 to 10 feet apart, and since the fire was intense, the latter produced a better seedbed and greater reduction in competing vegetation (1).
Citation
Little, S.; Mohr, J. J. 1957. Seedbed treatment increases dominance of natural loblolly pine reproduction. Forest Research Note NE-76. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 4p.