Eleventh-year response of loblolly pine and competing vegetation to woody and herbaceous plant control on a Georgia flatwoods site

Abstract

Through 11 growing seasons, growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) increased after control of herbaceous, woody, or both herbaceous and woody vegetation (total control) for the first 3 yr after planting on a bedded site in the Georgia coastal flatwoods. Gains in stand volume index from controlling either herbaceous or woody vegetation alone were approximately two-thirds that from controlling both types of vegetation. Pine response through age 11 was approximately equal for herbaceous control alone and woody control alone, whereas, response through age 5 was greater with control of only herbaceous vegetation. The impact of woody vegetation should continue to have a strong effect on pine growth through midrotation because of its continued development. This is in contrast to herbaceous weeds that have greatly decreased in abundance since age 6.