| A unit of Lasting Forests
evolving since March 30, 1999 |
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A Total Forest Management Plan
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pico or 10-12 or one-trillionth
This report is based on field form inputs of county or whether area is judged to be within a piedmont or coastal plain county, then sections of the following are printed based on the entries. The section is under development and suggested future development is within "Cold Fusion" softwaare.
One recent analysis noted that of the 160 million of acres in souther US forests, over 8 million acres are bare or poorly stocked and must be planted to pine and another 16 million acres are ready for conversion from low-grade hardwoods to pines (McClurkinn and Duffy 1975:315).
Pines comprise an important habitat for many species. They may be the key producing element for some areas, thus browsing wildlife may detract from commercially-oriented production.
Pine stands near roads may be much sought for firewood and other products, thus disturbing wildlife there. Wildlife distributes mychorrizal innoculants and thus improves the root performance of pines in withdrawing soil moisture and nutrients. Pines provide wind, visual and other cover for many forms of wildlife. They radiate useful energy to wild animals on cold winter nights.
Knowledge of plant biomass is useful in making comparisons among stands and in correlating plant-with annual-biomass. In South Carolina, (comparable to some areas in Virginia), average total forest biomass averages 81.1 tons per acre. Comparable pine green-wood weights are
In Florida the comparable data are 30.8 tons per acre
Specific gravity information is available (also see Clark (1982:4). .
The efforts to make the conversions to pine lands involve root-raking, discing, chopping, bedding, prescribed fire, fertilizers, herbicides, nad combinations of these. The sets of practices may significantly change soil and water quality on any tract ... virtually on 15% of the forest land of the southern US. The potential effects include:
If coastal plain then print:
Prescribed fires, even repeatedly used, do not substantially damage the physical soil properties. (Severe wildfires, as opposed to prescribed burns, can be expected to increase soil erosion significantly.
Forest fertilization can:
If plants are present (from field data sheet)
If plants are absent
Surface Water Quality
If Coastal Plain Concentrates of N and P in water leaving undisturbed pine plantations on steep areas may be from 0.08 ppm NO3 - N and 0.011 ppm of P. In complex forested and cropped watersheds, the concentrations are 0.16 to 0.24 ppm NO3 - N and 0.033 to 0.045 ppm P. (McC and D 1975)
Sediment
If Coastal Plain
Sediment yields from severely-eroded watersheds stabilized by planted pines are only 67 kg / ha and rarely exceed 224 kg / ha.
Conversion of low-value hardwoods to pine forests by extensive cultural practices increases yields from 167 to 324 kg / ha. By comparison, agricultural soil losses may be 11,000 kg / ha annually. Small terraced watersheds with grassed waterways may lose 13,500 kg / ha.
White pine planting may be appropriate for sites greater than site index 60 for reasons other than timber production (recreational, wildlife considerations, reforestation of abandoned farmlands, etc.). Conversely, sites below site index 60 may not be planted to pine to achieve certain objectives such as aesthetics or mast production.
All sites proposed for hardwood planting are to be field checked, since soil depth, presence or absence of a fragipan, and seasonal water levels are critical to the success of hardwood plantations.
If oak "fill-in" planting is proven to be a feasible technique for increasing the oak component in a naturally regenerated stand, this technique should be used.
Pine composition objectives in goals do not preclude pine planting in excess of goal objectives in transition where necessary to protect the soil, to improve the site, and permit hardwood establishment, or permit better dispersion of conifer type in steady-state (after some existing conifers are converted to hardwoods) .
As site conditions permit, major mast-producing hardwood species, such as oak, may be planted in addition to other high-value timber species. Planting of major mast species will be on a test basis until knowledge is adequate to confidently plant such species on a commercial scale.
Establish new permanent wildlife openings and leave wildlife openings unplanted as site opportunities permit and as necessary to meet the goal objectives for wildlife openings.
Consider positioning wildlife openings near boundaries of planting areas to avoid perpetuating geometric shapes of old fields.
Consider interplanting nitrogen-fixing species, such as black locust ,with planned pine plantations.
Meet the assigned visual quality objectives in the foreground of roads and trails when planting.
Avoid abrupt changes between hardwoods and conifers such as straight line boundaries
Reduce the planted row effect as seen from roads and trails.
To increase visual variety, consider planting solid stands of pine, as well as mixed pine and hardwood.
Continuous pine plantings over 1/4 mile long on roads and 1/8 mile long on trails should be avoided. Leave openings, undulate edge, plant mixed species, and random plant trees to create a more natural appearing scene.
Vines, including grape, bittersweet, Virginia creeper, poison ivy, and trumpet vine, will be controlled only on better sites (black oak site index 70+), and only if they are a threat to the survival or straightness of crop trees.
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Last revision July 8, 2004.