Timber Management Research 
Timber management research has accounted for the largest 
expenditures of Federal research funds at the southern 
experiment stations; these averaged about $8.2 million a year 
(1982 dollars) in the period 1977-86, or about one-third of 
the Federal research funding provided to the stations. 
Classifications of research by categories such as timber man- 
agement are only approximate, however, for a given re- 
search project may include studies on multiple aspects of 
forestry. 
The research in timber management has been concerned 
with such problems as forest regeneration, genetic improve- 
ment of forest trees, basic plant physiology, nutrient 
cycling, cultural practices such as control of unwanted 
vegetation by chemicals and prescribed burning, fertilization, 
thinning, pruning, and effects of timber harvesting 
methods. 
Early timber management studies at the Crossett Experimen- 
tal Forest in Arkansas, for example, demonstrated tech- 
niques and the economic feasibility of managing the young 
pine stands that were naturally regenerating on cutover and 
idle cropland and pasture in the South. Studies at Crossett 
and other experimental forests established by the Forest Ser- 
vice and universities over the South showed impressive rates 
of growth in volunteer stands of young pine timber. Un- 
doubtedly these findings gave strong impetus to both indus- 
trial forestry programs and efforts to assist other private 
owners, the ownership class that continues to hold most of 
the timberland in the South. 
Growth and yield tables developed by the Forest Service 
and university researchers for both natural stands and man- 
aged plantations have provided essential data for analysis 
of management alternatives and investments in timber 
growing. Other projects have developed practical methods 
of controlling undesirable vegetation by the use of herbi- 
cides and prescribed fire. Studies of the silvicultural effects 
of different timber-cutting methods have led to management 
guides for various forest types and owner objectives. 
Although management for pine timber has been primary in 
southern forestry programs, studies to guide management 
of hardwoods have also been important in many parts of the 
South. Hardwood types cover more than half the total tim- 
berland and produce valuable wood products as well as 
providing habitat for wildlife and sites for outdoor re- 
creation. Guidelines for regeneration and culture of various 
hardwood species have, therefore, been developed to aid 
forest managers, particularly for production of valuable spe- 
cies of bottomland hardwoods. 
Early research studies at the Crossett 
Experimental Forest in Arkansas 
demonstrated the techniques and economic 
feasibility of managing young pine stands 
that were regenerating on cutover lands in 
the South. This research gave strong 
impetus to both forest industry management 
programs and the efforts to assist the other 
private timber owners, who hold most of the 
timberland in the South. 
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