Stand and individual tree growth response to treatments in young natural hardwoods
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Young even-aged upland Piedmont mixed hardwood and pine stands were treated with a variety of fertilizer and release (competition control) treatments. The sites studied are on the NC State University Hill Demonstration Forest in central North Carolina, and are characterized by formerly highly eroded agricultural sites (Richter et al. 2000) now in their third rotation of tree cover. Tree growth response was assessed periodically over several years, on both an individual-tree and stand-wide bases. Stand-basis response to fertilizer treatments was vigorous, with treated stands growing more than untreated controls. Whereas individual tree response within treated areas were less. Responses varied between species, with specific consideration of yellow poplar, red/black oak, white oak, and loblolly pine. Significant increases in the rate of stand development can be achieved, thereby reducing the anticipated time to final harvest and number of years necessary to attain commercial size stems. Modest fertilizer inputs on these types of sites have significant effects. The long term response of individual trees at these young ages to release treatments remains difficult to determine. This study adds to the growing body of experience with these kinds of treatments (Auchmoody 1989, Berenguer et al. 2009, Schuler and Robison 2006, others).