Treesearch

Today’s landowners are faced with important decisions when establishing loblolly pine plantations in the Southeastern part of the United States with regards to planting dimensions and forest management techniques. Although recent studies are beginning to demonstrate the need for change from the old practices, suppressed biomass markets and prices are hindering the transition. This paper provided readers with an informational overview of the benefits of: incorporating an additional thinning regime for biomass, using alternate spacing methods such as FlexstandsTM and rectangularity, and using...

A conventional ground-based harvesting system was evaluated while implementing a shelterwood with reserves silvicultural prescription in a hardwood stand on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The 16.3 acre study unit consisted predominately of chestnut oak (Quercus montana), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), and white oak (Quercus alba). Trees 6 inches Diameter at breast height (Dbh) and larger were measured in two felling plots. The mean Dbh was 11.8 inches with an average of 154 trees per acre (TPA). Machines evaluated included a drive-to-tree feller-buncher equipped...

Transportation can account for half the cost to deliver wood to a mill. Contractors seek to maximize truck payload to increase productivity and minimize cost. One method to ensure a maximum payload is to utilize in-woods truck scales. In-woods scales allow the contractor to maximize payload while not exceeding legal limits. Additionally, measuring axle weights allows a contractor to determine whether alternative loading techniques would yield a larger load or avoid over/under axle loads. This paper reports on in-woods truck scales and a field evaluation of an onboard truck scale system.

Salinity levels are above historical levels in many New England watersheds.We investigated potential sources of salinity in the Pemigewasset River, a relatively undeveloped watershed in northern New England. We utilized a synoptic sampling approach on six occasions between April and September 2011 paired with a novel land use analysis that incorporated traditional watershed and riparian zones as well as a local contributing area. We established background specific conductivity (SC) and found that SC was above established background levels in both the mainstem of the river (peak of 172 μS...

Ecosystem budgets of water and elements can be difficult to estimate and are often unreplicated, making it challenging to provide confidence in estimates of ecosystem pools and fluxes. We conducted a survey to learn about current practices in reporting uncertainties in precipitation, streamflow, soils, and vegetation. Uncertainty derives from natural variation, which is commonly characterized by replicate samples, and from imperfect knowledge, which includes measurement error and model error (model fit and model selection). We asked questions about whether researchers report uncertainties...

We designed several treatments to directly control an invasive tree, Chinese tallow [Triadica sebifera (L.) Small] on Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot located in Beaufort, SC. We examined the response of the plant community to four treatment series: 1) control (C), 2) mastication (M), 3) fire (F), and 4) combination of mastication and fire (MF). We found that mastication significantly reduced midstory density of all species. However, without fire, midstory density increased to levels similar to those without mastication within 2 years. The MF treatment reduced midstory density over...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station is home to 19 Experimental Forests (EFs) that provide unique opportunities for long-term experimentation and demonstration on forest management practices (fig. 1). Numerous studies on silviculture practices, growth and yield, applied ecology, reforestation, and prescribed fire have originated on EFs and were possible because of partnerships with National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, and other stakeholders. Experimental Forests allow for demonstrations of innovative management practices built on...

Woody biomass is an excellent source of renewable energy in terms of cost-benefit and availability. Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) meet intensive wood demand due to their fast growth and ability to coppice. There are uncertainties related to the feasibility of harvesting multiple-stem coppice trees with current technology. In this study, we investigated the physical attributes of two SRWC species, 2 years after harvest. A logistic regression was fit in an attempt to determine whether the number of surviving stems per stump (2 or fewer; 3 or more) had a relationship with the damage...

Bridge inspection using a drone, also referred to as an unpiloted aircraft system, has gained more interest in recent years among bridge owners, researchers, and stakeholders because of its efficiency and effectiveness. In fact, numerous bridges classified as structurally deficient in the United States that require more attention and effort for maintenance activities can be inspected using drones in an efficient manner. The primary goal of this project was to evaluate drones as supplemental bridge inspection tools for bridges that present accessibility challenges for inspectors. To...

Between 1966 and 1969, Forest Service Plant Geneticist Hoy Grigsby installed the last of his tree improvement studies on the Crossett Experimental Forest (CEF). This research, a series of plus-tree progeny tests of full- and half-sib loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), was installed to compare the survival, form, vigor, fusiform rust resistance, and height growth of these families (and CEF “woods-run” sources). Due to a variety of reasons, this study was discontinued in the 1970s. Recently, we have started to investigate the remaining trees in this now 48- to 51-year-old superior pine progeny...