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Chemical and Mechanical Site Preparation

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Forest Regeneration Manual

Part of the book series: Forestry Sciences ((FOSC,volume 36))

Abstract

Site-preparation operations before reforestation can (1) reduce woody competition in the following stand, (2) improve surficial drainage or adverse soil conditions, (3) clear harvest debris to facilitate planting, and (4) reduce future fire hazard. Planning is critical to meet financial and biological objectives of site preparation, particularly for preharvest treatments. Mechanical site preparation, often done in conjunction with burning, may employ a variety of equipment to reduce or rearrange the volume of standing live or downed debris to improve planting accessibility. Soil-manipulation treatments can have major impacts on soil physical and chemical properties that influence long-term site productivity; they also can correct problems created by earlier operations or improve drainage of naturally wet soils. Mechanical methods should be applied carefully on steep, highly erodible, or nutrient-poor soils. Chemical site preparation, on the increase with the recent availability of new herbicides, has little adverse impact on soils when used alone or with fire and effectively controls woody competition in the new plantation. As with mechanical techniques, considerable expertise is required for success. Site-preparation practices may differ by physiographic region and will vary according to management philosophy and expected product value.

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Authors
  1. Robert F. Lowery
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  2. Dean H. Gjerstad
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Mary L. Duryea

  2. School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Phillip M. Dougherty

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Lowery, R.F., Gjerstad, D.H. (1991). Chemical and Mechanical Site Preparation. In: Duryea, M.L., Dougherty, P.M. (eds) Forest Regeneration Manual. Forestry Sciences, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3800-0_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3800-0_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-0960-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-3800-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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