Recovery and Development of Understocked Loblolly-Shortleaf Pine Stands

Abstract Plots in two uneven-aged loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda L.-P. echinata Mill.) stands were cut back to stocking levels of approximately 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% to simulate cutover, understocked stands. One stand was on a good site (SI = 90 ft at age 50), the other on a medium site(SI = 75 ft at age 50). As a rehabilitation treatment, all hardwoods 1-in. or larger in groundline diameter were injected with Tordon 101®. Two and 5 years later, the plots were reinventoried to determine stand growth and development. During the 5-year rehabilitation period the understockedstands changed dramatically, and because of the rapid growth of the pines left in the residual stands, stocking levels, basal areas, and tree volumes increased markedly. Average increases in stocking level, basal area, pulpwood, and sawlog volume were 40, 155, 160, and 355%, respectively,for the good site and 35, 110, 125, and 220% for the medium site. Projections of the time required for understocked stands to reach an acceptable stocking level of 60% (based on number and size of trees), or 45 ft² of basal area per acre, indicate that stands having at least 15 to 25%stocking, or 5 ft² of basal area per acre, can reach an acceptable stocking level in 15 years or less at a rehabilitation cost of $45 to $50 per acre. South. J. Appl. For. 13(3):132-139.