(7) Shortleaf Pine Regeneration Following Prescribed Fire at Piney Point

     Historically, shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) was found in pure and mixed stands in all the southeastern states, and in the past 100 years, its range has diminished in size due to overharvesting and the elimination of... [ view full abstract ]

     Historically, shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) was found in pure and mixed stands in all the southeastern states, and in the past 100 years, its range has diminished in size due to overharvesting and the elimination of fire on the landscape. The reduction of shortleaf throughout its native range has resulted in the creation of a regional shortleaf pine initiative based at the University of Tennessee, and shortleaf pine restoration is now an important component of ecological forestry in our region. Pure stands of shortleaf are now very rare on the Cumberland Plateau, and there is increased interest regarding this species’ regeneration and ecology (Barlow 2016). In 2014, there was a prescribed burn at Piney Point in Sewanee in an initial effort to create conditions favorable for shortleaf regeneration. The goal of this study was to look at the growth rates (DBH and tree height) and regeneration of shortleaf pine in permanent plots established at Piney Point. Data was initially gathered in 2014, therefore we examined two years of tree growth and changes in tree seedling densities. We hypothesized that the shortleaf pine populations would respond positively to the reintroduction of fire in the area; as they are a fire dependent species. Since 2014, all but one of the 50 mature shortleaf trees survived, with a mortality rate of 2%. The last burn at this site was in 2014, and there were no seedlings present at that time.  In the fall of 2016 there was an average of 3,953 shortleaf seedlings / ha.  Due to this rapid increase it can be inferred that fall 2014 was a big mast year for shortleaf pine. Based on our t-test, there was a statistically higher number of shortleaf seedlings in 2016 compared to 2014 (p= 0.08). In addition to a surge in shortleaf seedlings, oak seedlings also increased.  In 2014, there was an average of 2,305/ acre and in the fall of 2016 there was an average of 13,228/ha.  Based on our t-test, the number of oak seedlings in 2016 was statistically higher than 2014 (p = 0.05).