Developing Mid Story Treatments to Promote Oak and Pine Forest Regeneration

This proposal supports Phase I of a two-phase collaborative project between the University of Kentucky, the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, and the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The goal of Phase I is to evaluate the effectiveness of non-chemical treatments for controlling midstory shade-tolerant competitors such as red maple (Acer rubrum) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia), to promote regeneration of economically and ecologically valuable species like northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Managers across the eastern U.S. are increasingly employing non-chemical techniques due to constraints on herbicide use and prescribed fire, but there is limited empirical data on their effectiveness. Phase I will assess treatment impacts on stem mortality and resprouting capacity of midstory competitors, generating critical information to inform future management decisions. Findings from this phase will guide future operational-scale evaluations (Phase II) and contribute to efforts to sustain oak and pine forests important for timber, wildlife, and local economies.