A regional framework of early growth response for loblolly pine relative to herbaceous, woody, and complete competition control: the COMProject

Abstract

A common study design has been installed at 13 locations throughout the South to track the growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations established with 4 different competition control treatments: no control (only chopping-burning), woody control for 5 years, herbaceous control for 4 years, and total control after site preparation. This regionwide investigation is known as the Competition Omission Monitoring Project (COMB), a coordinated study with the Auburn University Silvicultural Herbicide Cooperative (Study HB-4F). Data summaries for each location are presented for loblolly pine growth and competition intensities for the first 8 years. Approximately 10,990 loblolly pine seedlings have been measured annually. Responses from this network of studies should be useful in assessing and reporting relative growth of loblolly pines for other studies and operational plantings. These data sets should be useful also for future forest growth modeling efforts.