Relationship between herbaceous layer, stand, and site variables in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama

This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.

Download
(PDF; 120829)
Cite
Feedback
  • Authors: Zak, Joel C.; Dimov, Luben D.; Schweitzer, Callie Jo; Clark, Stacy L.
  • Publication Year: 2010
  • Publication Series: General Technical Report (GTR)
  • Source: In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 95-99.

Abstract

We studied herbaceous layer richness, diversity and cover in stands on the southern Cumberland Plateau. The stands are mixed pine-hardwoods dominated by 25-40-year-old planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Scheduled future treatments combining thinning and fire are designed to restore the hardwood component, particularly oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) species, and to increase herbaceous diversity. We related pretreatment herbaceous layer (vegetation < 1.4 m height) richness, diversity, and cover to basal area and site variables on 125 plots in 25 stands. Our models showed significant but weak relationships. Slope, broadleaf litter cover, and basal area accounted for 14 percent of the herbaceous layer richness. Models for species diversity and cover had lower coefficients of determination. The measured stand and site variables were not reliable predictors of pretreatment herbaceous layer variation.

  • Citation: Zak, Joel C.; Dimov, Luben D.; Schweitzer, Callie Jo; Clark, Stacy L. 2010. Relationship between herbaceous layer, stand, and site variables in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama. In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 95-99.
  • Posted Date: July 6, 2010
  • Modified Date: September 9, 2010

    • Requesting Print Publications

    Publication requests are subject to availability. Fiscal responsibility limits the hardcopies of publications we produce and distribute. Electronic versions of publications may be downloaded, distributed and printed.

    Please make any requests at pubrequest@fs.fed.us.

    Publication Notes

    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
    • Our online publications are scanned and captured using Adobe Acrobat. During the capture process some typographical errors may occur. Please contact the SRS webmaster if you notice any errors which make this publication unusable.
    • To view this article, download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.