Chemical site preparation is used to enhance the productivity of loblolly pine plantations; however, it is most often combined with other methods and/or chemical release, and has been studied little on its own. Our study, conducted in the Virginia piedmont, compares the effects of various site preparation applications of imazapyr and their timings (July 23rd, September 3rd, and October 1st 2005) against a year-two chemical release (September 12th 2007), and an untreated check, all following a site preparation burn (June 15, 2005). Testing for additive effects, site preparation treatments were conducted with and without, sulfometuron methyl (SMAX) which targets herbaceous vegetation. Half of all treatments, including the check and release, received a year-one weed control treatment (H) of imazapyr and SMAX. Pines were measured every few years, including the latest measurement in year 14 (2019). Competing hardwood vegetation basal area was measured in year 14. All site preparation treatments reduced competition levels compared to the check, and an inverse relationship exists between competition level and pine volume. Adding SMAX resulted in less effective competition control, but had little effect on pine volumes. Adding H decreased average competition levels, and increased pine volumes. H treatments had the most effect at improving early season (July) applications. September and October treatments generally had more effect than July and the year-two release at controlling competing vegetation, and also showed higher individual pine tree volumes than all other treatments. Chemical site preparation treatments, even performed alone, appear to be valid means of improving pine stands. / Master of Science / Competing vegetation has a negative effect on planted pine production. Areas are often prepared with herbicides or mechanical removal of vegetation before crop-trees are planted (site preparation), or receive herbicide treatments after planting (release), to reduce levels of competition. Our study focuses on pre-planting herbicide (imazapyr with and without sulfometuron methyl) use at different timings (July 23rd, September 3rd, and October 1st). A chemical that targets herbaceous vegetation (sulfometuron methyl) was included in half of the pre-planting treatments, and half of all treatments, including the otherwise untreated check and year-two release, received an added weed control treatment in year-one. This was done to test for potential additive effects of chemical vegetation control options on pine productivity. September and October treatments have a greater effect at controlling competition 14 years since treatment and increasing pine volumes than the July, year-two release, and check. The added herbaceous control increased competition levels on average, without having an effect on the planted pine volumes. The year-one weed control decreased competition levels, and increased pine productivity, particularly within the July treatments. Overall, preparing sites with herbicide is beneficial to the pine stand, even when performed alone. Adding the herbaceous vegetation control is likely not necessary, and the extra year-one weed control may provide a boost to herbicide treatments applied earlier in the season.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/103892 |
| Date | 16 June 2021 |
| Creators | Byers, Alexander M. |
| Contributors | Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Carter, David R., Strahm, Brian D., Cook, Rachel L. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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