John J. Stransky

Data are presented on the survival and growth response of planted 1-0 sawtooth oak seedlings to 4 site preparation treatments on loamy and sandy soils following clearcutting of the residual forest stands. The 4 site treatments were: (1) control, (2) burn, (3) chopping with a Marden chopper, and (4) KG blading followed by disking. In early April 1975, 12 sawtooth oaks were planted in each treatment plot. In October 1980, 6 growing seasons after planting, the average tree survival dropped from 76% in 1978 to 68% on the sandy soil, but remained at 84% on the loamy soil Average tree height was...

Total forage yield (TFY) on a pine-hardwood forest site in east Texas was sampled before and I growing season after clearcutting (1972 and 1973), also I and 3 growing seasons after planting site preparation by burning, choping, or KG blading (1974 and 1976). Total forage yield was only 359 kg/ ha in the uncut forest, but 2217 kg/ ha after clearcutting. On control plots (no site preparation), TFY peaked in the first growing season after clearcutting with 2917 kg/ ha, but by 1976 decreased to 1983 kg/ ha. On burned plots, TFY peaked the first growing season after burning (3540 kg/ ha) and...

Pine planting sites prepared by burning yielded 120 kg/ha of browse fruits thethird growing season after site treatment. Control plots yielded 74, KG-bladed plots 57,and chopped plots 41 kg/ha, Blackberries, American beautyberry, sumac, Sebastian bush,muscadine grape, blueberries, and southern wax-myrtle were the principal species. Mostfruit was available in summer and fall, but some persisted through winter and spring.Fruit production was related to the number and average height of the fruiting browse species.

An east Texas pine-hardwood forest was clearcut in 1972, and selected sites were burned, chopped, KG bladed, or left untreated in the winter of 1973-1974. Crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus content in leaves and twigs of four browse species were measured in April, September, and November after site preparation. Among site treatments, burning usually resulted in highest nutrient contents, followed by chopping, control, and KG blading. The levels of crude protein and phosphorus in all browse were highest in April, but declined in deciduous plants as the seasons advanced; evergreens held...

Burning reduced the dense growth between 3-year-old Japanese honeysuckle plants and prevented the resprouting of runners. Mowing removed the dense accumulation of vines, but the severed runners resprouted to create a uniformly dense carpet. Crude protein of foliage was highest on the burned plots, but neither calcium nor phosphorus were significantly affected by the treatments.

Most forest land acreage in the South is in small holdings. Much-needed hunting land, and income for rural landowners, could be provided by combining small forest holdings into large units and leasing the hunting rights.