SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS FOR SOUTHERN BOTTOMLAND HARDWOOD FORESTS

Silvicultural systems integrate both regeneration and intermediate ope rations in an orderly process for managing forest stands. The clearcut ting method of regeneration favors the development of species that are moderately intolerant to intolerant of shade. In fact, clearcutting i s the most proven and widely used method of successfully regenerating bottomland oak species in the South. The seed-tree method of regenerat ion favors the establishment of light-seeded species, Mechanical soil scarification may be necessary if the desired species requires bare mi neral soil for establishment. The shelterwood method of regeneration c an provide for the development of heavy-seeded species, but has produc ed highly variable results with southern bottomland oaks. The single-t ree selection method of regeneration favors the development of shade-t olerant species, When single-tree selection is applied repeatedly to s tands containing commercially valuable shade-intolerant species, compo sition will gradually shift to less-valuable, more-tolerant species. C onsequently, the single-tree selection method of regeneration is not r ecommended for any commercially valuable bottomland hardwood tree spec ies. Group selection, in its strictest application, creates only small openings that usually fail to allow sufficient light to the forest fl oor for satisfactory establishment and development of shade-intolerant bottomland species. Patch cutting, a combination of uneven-aged (grou p selection) and even-aged (clearcutting) silviculture, designed to cr eate larger openings, has been successfully used to produce an uneven- aged stand that consists of many small, irregularly shaped, even-aged groups. Silvicultural systems should include a planned program of inte rmediate operations designed to enhance the growth and development of those species favored during the regeneration process. Improvement cut ting and commercial thinning are increasingly common in southern botto mland hardwood forests. Other partial cuttings employed today in botto mland hardwood forests typically involve some form of crop-tree releas e, Specific recommendations for the selection of silvicultural systems are presented for the eight most important species groups found in so uthern bottomland hardwood forests.