**3. Survival of planted seedlings**

Survival of longleaf pine seedlings was assessed post-treatment, twice in the first growing season, and annually thereafter. Survival over the year immediately following the first treatment (herbicide and mechanical) was highest following chemical control of competing

Vegetative Response to Weed Control in Forest Restoration 369

competing vegetation in the second growing season (H2) enhanced survival, whereas survival declined in the mechanically-treated areas where competing vegetation was rapidly

Fig. 2. Survival of planted longleaf pine seedlings from the time of application of the first series of weed control treatments: herbicide applied once in year 1 (H1), herbicide applied twice (H2), mechanical weed control (M), and no-treatment control (C). Sample size: n=627

Rapid restoration of longleaf pine forest requires that seedlings emerge from the grass stage and sustain a higher rate of height growth than adjacent competing vegetation (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Longleaf pine seedlings in grass stage (left) and emerged from grass stage (right). *Photo credit: David Combs, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, Athens, GA.*

recovering from mowing (Fig. 2).

(H2: n=157, H1: n=145, M: n=159, C: n=166).

**4. Growth of planted seedlings** 

Fig. 1. Study sites at Hitchiti Experimental Forest in the first spring after broadcast burning and planting of longleaf pine seedlings (A), close-up of newly-planted seedling (B), middle of first growing season, before treatment (C) and immediately following mechanical treatment (D), herbicide spots at end of first growing season (E), and no-treatment control at end of first growing season. *Photo credit: J-P. Berrill (A-D) & Rex Dagley (E, F)*.

vegetation (treatments H1 & H2), intermediate following mowing of competing vegetation (M), and lowest in the no-treatment control (C). The repeat application of herbicide to

**A B**

**C D**

**E F**

Fig. 1. Study sites at Hitchiti Experimental Forest in the first spring after broadcast burning and planting of longleaf pine seedlings (A), close-up of newly-planted seedling (B), middle of first growing season, before treatment (C) and immediately following mechanical

treatment (D), herbicide spots at end of first growing season (E), and no-treatment control at

vegetation (treatments H1 & H2), intermediate following mowing of competing vegetation (M), and lowest in the no-treatment control (C). The repeat application of herbicide to

end of first growing season. *Photo credit: J-P. Berrill (A-D) & Rex Dagley (E, F)*.

competing vegetation in the second growing season (H2) enhanced survival, whereas survival declined in the mechanically-treated areas where competing vegetation was rapidly recovering from mowing (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Survival of planted longleaf pine seedlings from the time of application of the first series of weed control treatments: herbicide applied once in year 1 (H1), herbicide applied twice (H2), mechanical weed control (M), and no-treatment control (C). Sample size: n=627 (H2: n=157, H1: n=145, M: n=159, C: n=166).
