Impacts of Pine Bluestem Restoration on Nutrient Regimes of Shortleaf Pine-Hardwood Stands in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas (2004)Liechty, H. O., Luckow, K. R., & Guldin, J. M. (2004). Impacts of Pine Bluestem Restoration on Nutrient Regimes of Shortleaf Pine-Hardwood Stands in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Proceedings, 14th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2004 March 16-19; Wooster, OH. Northeastern Research Station, General Technical Report NE-316. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/technical_reports/pdfs/2004/316papers/LeichtyGTR316.pdf The current forest and vegetative communities of the Ouachita Mountains reflects fire suppression that followed removal of the virgin forests during the late 19th and early 20th century (Bukenhofer and Hedrick 1997). Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill) still dominates the overstory of these second growth forests but current forests contain a much higher density of hardwoods than did the frequently burned, virgin shortleaf pine forests (Foti and Glenn 1991). Woody understory vegetation, rather than the forbs and grasses that occurred in the more open grown virgin forest, dominate the understories of these second growth forests. In an effort to provide habitat for red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) and other biota, the Ouachita National Forest is currently restoring shortleaf pine-bluestem grass (SPBG) ecosystems to a portion of this region (Bukenhofer and Hedrick 1997). Restoration includes harvesting and competition control to reduce pine and hardwood basal areas to approximately 13-14 and 2-3 m2 /ha respectively. In addition prescribe fires are performed on a 3-5 year interval during the dormant season to reduce understory woody vegetation (Masters et al. 1996). To better quantify the effects of long-term shortleaf pine bluestem restoration activities on nutrient availability, we compared mineral surface soil chemistry and foliar nutrient concentrations in stands that had experienced SPBG restoration activities for 17-21 years to those in unrestored stands. We feel that results from this study may be applicable to land managers who are converting dense mixed hardwood stands to more open oak woodlands, since both practices significantly reduces stand density, initially adds large amounts of hardwood woody debris to the forest floor, and utilizes repeated prescribed fires to control unwanted vegetation and alter understory composition
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