Use of Prescribed Fire and Hexazinone (Velpar) to Thin Understory Shortleaf Pine in an Oklahoma Pine-Hardwood Stand

Author： Nickles J. K. Tauer C. G. Stritzke J. F.

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0148-4419

Source： Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol.5, Iss.3, 1981-08, pp. : 124-127

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Abstract

The use of hexazinone and/or prescribed fire in an uneven-aged overstocked stand of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and mixed hardwoods reduced the number of seedling and sapling size pines by 50 to 72 percent, depending on treatment. Hexazinone not only resulted in hardwood control, but also reduced pine survival by increasing fire intensity. Increased fire intensity was thought to result from the increased litter buildup from the hardwood defoliation caused by hexazinone. Most of the increased pine thinning resulted from the killing of small trees. No seedling- or sapling-size pines less than 1.1 inches in diameter and 7 feet in height survived the fire on the hexazinone-treated plots, while on the control plots (fire only) 18 percent of the pine in this size class survived.