Loblolly Pine Saplings Affected By Hurricane Hugo Retained Growth

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of staking upright Hurricane Hugo impacted, 3-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) saplings. Three replications of four combinations of site preparation and seedling-release treatments were installed in two clearcut areas in coastal South Carolina. Shortly after Hugo, saplings in a subplot within each treatment plot were staked upright, and the remaining saplings were not staked. The groundline diameter, diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), and total height were measured on unstaked trees between the eighth and ninth growing season following Hugo, and staked trees were measured during June and August of the ninth growing season after Hugo. Paired t-tests indicated that groundline diameter and d.b.h. were not significantly different between staked and unstaked saplings in any site preparation/release treatment in either area. The height of staked trees in plots site prepared by one-pass bedding in one area was significantly greater than unstaked trees in similar plots.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 12th biennial southern silvicultural research conference

Citation

Gresham, Charles A. 2004. Loblolly Pine Saplings Affected By Hurricane Hugo Retained Growth. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–71. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 196-198