Growth Response to Competition and Prescribed Fire in Planted Shortleaf Pine

Abstract

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is an economically and ecologically important species that was once prevalent across the Southeastern United States, and there is growing interest in its restoration throughout its former range. One challenge with restoring shortleaf pine is competition from hardwoods. This study used tree-ring analysis to study growth response of shortleaf pines planted following a 2002 tornado in two stands with different known histories of management activities, specifically prescribed burning and mechanical release, across a range of competition levels. Early release was effective in increasing radial growth of shortleaf pine in this study, and competition, especially from hardwoods, caused decreased annual growth. There was only minimal evidence for direct reductions in shortleaf growth following burning, and fire seemed to effectively control hardwood competition in the midstory. These findings provide insight into the roles of prescribed fire and hardwood competition on growth of planted shortleaf pine throughout its early life.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 22nd Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference

Citation

Fillingim, Hope M.; Knapp, Benjamin O.; Dey, Daniel C.; Stambaugh, Michael C.; Kabrick, John M.; Elliott, Grant P. 2024. Growth Response to Competition and Prescribed Fire in Planted Shortleaf Pine. In: Bragg, Don C.; Oswald, Brian P.; Koerth, Nancy E., eds. Proceedings of the 22nd biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-274. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 138–145. https://doi.org/10.2737/SRS-GTR-274-Pap24.