Individual Tree Release and Enrichment Planting in Young Natural Upland Hardwoods

Individual naturally regenerated trees of red oak, white oak, and yellow poplar in upland North Carolina Piedmont hardwood stands aged 1 to 13 were treated with mechanical clearing, herbicide of competition, and fertilization. These treatments produced significant changes in height and diameter growth 2 to 3 years posttreatment. Generally, height growth was negatively impacted by mechanical release alone, but diameter growth was enhanced by most treatments. Height growth partly compensated when mechanical release was coupled with herbicides or fertilization or both. On similar sites, with stands at age 1, red and white oak 1-0 bareroot seedlings were enrichment planted with weed mats and fertilization, and height and basal-diameter increment studied after 3 years. These seedlings planted into natural regeneration survived well and responded positively in height and basal-diameter increment growth. Implications of the findings for promoting desirable stocking of preferred species in even-aged natural hardwood systems are discussed.