Annual Brush Control Increases Early Growth of Loblolly Pine

Abstract Hardwoods and herbaceous vegetation quickly invaded a north Louisiana loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) site following chopping and planting. In the sixth year, more than 20,000 stems per acre were competing with the pines. Where hardwoods were cut down annually, loblolly volume at age 6 was 49 percent higher than on untreated areas. Annually cutting and grubbing-out hardwood roots resulted in a larger increase in volume, but not significantly greater than topping alone.