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A 1.97 acre stand (Snake
Hill #04) of decadent plantation Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)
was clearcut by the PSU Forestland Management Office in 2002. The
harvesting operation was fully mechanized and very little residual
woody material remained on the site. The site was hand planted the
following spring with 2-0 Pitlolly
Pine (Pinus rigida x taeda) seedlings. Forest stands
adjacent to the clearcut are the result of agricultural land abandonment
of the 1930s. The majority of the stands have a substantial population
of invasive species in the mid- and under-story. The clearcut did
not receive a site prep or release chemical treatment.
PSU Forestland Management
Office staff observed heavy herbaceous residue in the site during
the dormant season of 2004. Pitlolly Pine seedlings were overtopped
by the residue vegetation and deformities in form were common. BASF
Vegetative Specialist, Mike Fleming was contacted to seek expertise
on how to chemically control the herbaceous vegetation. A site visit
between Brent Harding, PSU Forester, and Mike Fleming produced a
target species and a chemical recommendation. The species, Japanese
Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum) and the chemical,
Arsenal
AC with a surfactant of Induce.
A 5 gallon Solo 485 backpack
sprayer mixed with 6 2/3 ounces of Arsenal AC, 1 2/3 ounces of Induce
with the remaining volume in water was applied to the stand on 5/11/05
by PSU Forestland Management Office staff. A swath of chemical was
sprayed around pine seedlings that were being out competed by the
Japanese Stilt Grass. The Stilt Grass and the Pitlolly Pine were
just coming out of dormancy on 5/11/05. A small portion of the 1.97
acre stand could not be treated due to extreme rubus colonization.
The picture to the right
depicts a Pitlolly Pine seedling in its fifth year of growth (two
years at the nursery and three years in the ground). Seedlings that
had their competition chemically controlled experienced height increases
of 9" to 20". Please note that these seedlings are susceptible
to deer browse.
The stand will continue
to be monitored and findings will be reported back to BASF.
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