Reforestation of Orchard Stands and Savannahs on Pennsylvania's Allegheny Plateau

Publisher： Society of American Foresters

ISSN： 0742-6348

Source： Northern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol.2, Iss.1, 1985-03, pp. : 22-26

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Abstract

Orchard stands and savannahs are forest openings that failed to regenerate after turn-of-the-century logging and have been dominated by dense herbaceous plant growth for 50 or more years. The effectiveness of herbicide application, mechanical site preparation, and fertilization on survival and growth of five species of seedlings was tested over a 6-year period. Neither site preparation nor fertilization significantly increased survival of any species above the control during the first 2 years after planting. Residues of picloram, one of the herbicides used during site preparation, reduced survival of all species, except white ash, below that of the control. Fertilization reduced survival of all species. Black cherry was the only species that grew better as a result of the treatments. Weed removal significantly increased black cherry seedling growth, but much of this increased growth was in branches, rather than the terminal shoot. Mechanical site preparation plus herbicide did not increase growth of black cherry seedlings above that of herbicide alone during the first 2 years and had the disadvantage of stimulating reinvasion by grass. Deer which penetrated the protective fence interfered with evaluation of growth after the second year. North J. Appl. For. 2:22-26, Mar. 1985.