Woody competition during mid-rotation limits available nutrients to crop species. Mid-rotation competition control was evaluated to determine if applications would result in significant increase in growth. Two studies were initiated using herbicides and prescribed burning on mid-rotation loblolly pine plantations. The first study contained afforested stands in Mississippi. Combination of imazapyr and burn was applied. The second study contained reforested sites in Mississippi. Treatments consisted of imazapyr and burn, imazapyr only, burn only, and a control. Five-year post-treatment measurements for the first study showed no significant treatment differences in height, diameter, basal area, or volume growth. Nine-year post-treatment measurements for the second study showed no significant differences in growth using the same measurements. Although previous research has documented significant growth responses to mid-rotation competition control, results from this study demonstrate that increased growth does not always result from mid-rotation competition control, suggesting initial site conditions may dictate degree of response.

Hurricane Katrina damaged 1.4 million hectares of forestland in Mississippi. Hardwood timber accounted for 40 percent of the damage. A cost-effective method of artificial regeneration is necessary to restore this resource. Bareroot, containerized, and EKOgrown® seedlings of Quercus shumardii and Quercus nuttallii were planted on two sites for evaluation of survival and growth. Survival was recorded monthly during the first growing season, and at the end of each growing season. Growth was measured at the end of each growing season. Survival was extremely low in 2014. Containerized seedlings suffered a total loss due to freezing at the nursery, and a large flood occurred on one site. After the two growing seasons monitored in this study, bareroot seedlings provided similar or greater growth, greater survival, and were remarkably cheaper than EKOgrown® seedlings. Consequently, bareroot seedlings are recommended as the most cost-effective method of artificial oak reforestation.

This project evaluates the survival and initial growth response of oak seedlings produced under special nursery protocols (?enhanced? seedlings) compared to nursery-run oak seedlings of the same species, and the influence of various cultural practices on these same nursery stocks. Survival did not differ significantly between nursery stocks. Significant differences in survival among competition control treatments did occur. Intensive competition control regimes using glyphosate can negatively impact seedling survival if seedlings come in contact with herbicide spray drift.Nursery-run seedlings had significantly greater growth and many were larger than enhanced seedlings after two growing seasons. Height growth was typically greater with seedlings receiving less intensive competition control, while groundline diameter (GLD) growth was greatest with seedlings receiving more intensive competition control. Subsoil and auger planting typically resulted in greater growth than normal hand planting. Fertilization improved growth in certain areas, but the effects diminished after the first growing season.