Midstory hardwood species respond differently to chainsaw girdle method and herbicide treatment

Abstract

Foresters in the Central Hardwoods Region commonly fell or girdle interfering trees and apply herbicide to the cut surface when performing intermediate silvicultural treatments. The objective of this study was to compare the use of single and double chainsaw girdle methods in combination with a herbicide treatment and, within the double girdle method, compare herbicide placement in upper, lower, or both cuts. Triclopyr amine (Garlon® 3A) was applied to girdle cuts to blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.), hickory (Carya spp.), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) trees. After three growing seasons, sugar maple was killed by all methods tested, with the single girdle without herbicide treatment recommended as the most cost-effective method of control. In hickory, all girdle treatments, with or without herbicide, resulted in almost complete top kill. However, the single girdle produced higher sprout frequency (50%) and lower tree mortality (40%) than other treatments. Blackgum was difficult to kill with any treatment. Girdle treatments using herbicide top killed from 89 to 95 percent of blackgum stems; those not using herbicide killed only 21 to 29 percent. Most treated blackgum bole- or root-sprouted regardless of treatment, with herbicide treatments resulting in slightly lower numbers of trees sprouting. Placement of herbicide within the double girdle treatments had no impacts on mortality or sprouting for any species. These results allow foresters to refine their timber stand improvement methods to save herbicide and labor cost.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 18th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Rathfon, Ronald A.; Saunders, Michael R. 2013. Midstory hardwood species respond differently to chainsaw girdle method and herbicide treatment. In: Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Brooks, John R.; Grushecky, Shawn T.; Spong, Ben D.; Rentch, James S., eds. Proceedings, 18th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2012 March 26-28; Morgantown, WV; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-117. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 411-419.