The response of two very young naturally regenerated upland hardwood stands to weed control and fertilization

Two newly regenerated hardwood forest stands in the Piedmont of North Carolina were examined to determine the potential to accelerate productivity in young stands. Factorial combinations of fertilization and vegetation control treatments were applied to 1-year-old and 3-year-old stands. After three growing seasons, fertilization improved growth rates at both sites. The collective species response to NPK fertilization was a doubling of individual seedling volume. Weeding failed to significantly increase growth over nonweeded seedlings, and the combined weeding and fertilization effects were additive (no interaction). Stem densities declined markedly after 3 years. Mortality at the lower end of the initial height distribution was increased on the fertilize-only plots, suggesting that the substantial increase in height in the fertilization treatment was not completely attributable to enhanced growth rates alone. These results highlight that young stands may not be performing up to their potential, and that early stand intervention can be a viable management strategy.