Description of Vegetation in Several Periodically Burned Longleaf Pine Forests on the Kisatchie National Forest

Abstract

Abstract - In January 1993, the Kisatchie National Forest and Southern Research Station began a cooperative project on two Ranger Districts to monitor how prescribed burning affects tree, shrub, and herbaceous vegetation in upland longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests in Louisiana. Longleaf pine is the dominant species on all four sites and represents 81 to 99 percent of the total stand basal area. On all four sites, the most frequently occurring herbaceous plants were pinehill bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium var. divergens [Hack.] Gould), swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius L.), and grassleaf goldaster (Heterotheca graminifolia [Michx.] Shinners). Despite repeated prescribed burning, canopy cover and regrowth of woody vegetation reduced the productivity and occurrence of herbaceous plants.

Citation

Haywood, James D.; Harris, Finis L. 1999. Description of Vegetation in Several Periodically Burned Longleaf Pine Forests on the Kisatchie National Forest. USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, General Technical Report SRS-030, Proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, pp. 217-222.