Treesearch

Severe winter storms cause serious damage to trees, timber, power lines, and transportation systems each year. In the Ouachita Mountains, historical records of these storms extend back only 117 years, and many of them are of low-quality or have missing data.

Chinese tallow [Triadica sebifera (L.) Small, formerly Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.] is a non-native invader moving through the southeastern United States. Tallow can invade a multitude of habitats, from coastal prairies to closed-canopy forests, forming monospecific stands and driving out native flora and fauna (Bruce and others 1997). Tallow has large impacts, both economically and ecologically, and is a growing concern among ecologists, landowners, and the public alike. An understanding of the ecology and biology of tallow, along with its effects on forest alteration, is necessary for...

The southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, has a history as an extremely damaging pest to southern pine forests (Coulson and Klepzig 2011).

The impact of climate change on temperature and precipitation patterns in the southeastern United States are likely to have important effects on southern pine systems. A 2009 summary from the U.S. Global Change Research Program indicated that the southeastern U.S. will experience an increase in average temperature of 2.5 to 5 °C by the 2080s.

Competing woody vegetation negatively affects the growth of planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees by seizing site resources that otherwise would be used by the planted trees (Burkhart and Sprinz 1984).

A total of 13 treatments were applied at four sites (two in Mississippi and two in Texas) to evaluate the efficacy of flazasulfuron applied alone or in mixtures for providing control of herbaceous weeds. All sites were newly established loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations. Plots were evaluated monthly until 180 days after treatment. No phytotoxicity on pine seedlings was observed. Overall, flazasulfuron has potential for use in forestry herbaceous weed control applications but only in mixtures with other products.

Long-term effects of site preparation, as well as effects of application timing with the new formulation, were unknown, and the information was needed for operational decisions.

Renewed efforts in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem restoration has increased interest in the commercial production of understory herbaceous species. Successful establishment of understory herbaceous species is enhanced when using quality nursery-grown plants that have a better chance of survival after outplanting. Nursery growing practices have not been clearly identified for propagating longleaf pine understory herbaceous species, especially for controlling weeds that can reduce plant growth in containers. To identify potential herbicides that could safely be applied...

Seedling survival in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation establishment is often mentioned as a justification for herbaceous weed control (HWC). However, the effects of HWC treatment during drought have been difficult to find. Sometimes this research was proprietary in nature. Also, since weather patterns vary from year to year, drought may not have coincided with a research study.In the spring of 2007, a demonstration for a HWC comparison was installed on retired pasture at the North Branch Station near Holly Springs, MS. Second-generation loblolly seedlings from Weyerhaeuser were...