Regeneration Status

Diameter distributions of the
Good Forty and the Poor Forty
on the Crossett Experimental
Forest in the first 35 years
of the demonstration

The importance of regeneration in these demonstrations is poorly documented for two reasons. First, there is no record of regeneration development in the 20- to 40-year period between the initial high-grading and demonstration establishment. Second, because regeneration was so abundant, the scientists who established the demonstrations paid little attention to it.

Reynolds (1959, 1969) reported that pine regeneration was established as a result of removal of poorer hardwoods of large and medium size, continuing fire protection, and control of small hardwood stems. He also noted that pine seedlings, saplings, and poles typically are found in small openings and often directly under high-crowned larger stems. This is apparent in the diameter distributions of the Good and Poor Forties during the first 20 years of management. The continued ingrowth into the 10-cm (4-inch) class during this period resulted from recruitment of saplings from the smaller diameter classes.

Thus obtaining regeneration and promoting its development through the seedling and sapling classes are critical for successful uneven-aged management (Shelton and Cain 2000). The initial cohort of reproduction should be established or released at the first cutting-cycle harvest in order to meet two goals: (1) the need for reproduction cutting to result in regeneration, and (2) the need to establish three or more distinct age classes in the uneven-aged stand (Helms 1998). If the establishment of the initial regeneration cohort is delayed, the conversion period will be correspondingly lengthened.