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Response of timber growth and avian communities to quality vegetation management in mid-rotation crp pine plantations

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill gave Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) participants greater flexibility to implement mid-contract management activities that encourage wildlife habitat improvement and timber production. Quality Vegetation Management (QVM) is one such technique that utilizes the selective herbicide Imazapyr and prescribed burning. Timber growth (d.b.h., total/merchantable heights, and cubic foot volume per acre) and summer avian community responses (relative abundance, species richness, and total conservation value) to the QVM treatment are being evaluated in mid-rotation CRP loblolly pine plantations in two physiographic regions of Mississippi. By 2-years post-treatment, significant increases in the relative abundance of six early successional bird species were detected on treated sites. Although not significant, mean pine growth increment increases were slightly greater on treated plots than on control plots.

Parent Publication

Citation

Sladek, Brandon G.; Munn, Ian A.; Burder, L. Wes; Roberts, Scott D. 2006. Response of timber growth and avian communities to quality vegetation management in mid-rotation crp pine plantations. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-92. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 30-33
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/23298