Does prescribed burning have a place in regenerating uneven-aged loblolly-shortleaf pine stands?

Before the 1981 growing season, a study was installed in southeastern Arkansas to examine the effects of three dormant-season burn intervals (low, moderate, and high frequency) and an unburned treatment on natural regeneration in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines (Pinus taeda and P. echinata, respectively). Merchantable pine basal areas were maintained by harvesting on a 5 or 6 yr cutting cycle. When the study began, hardwoods greater than I in. dbh were injected with herbicide on all plots. During the next 19 yr, there were eight high frequency, four moderate frequency, and three low frequency prescribed bums. In 1991, the unburned plots received a single, broadcast-herbicide treatment. Single-tree selection harvests were conducted in 1982,1987,1992, and 1997. Through 1999 (19yr), herbicides applied at 10 yr intervals were more effective than dormant-season burns for enhancing the growth of submerchantable pines. Although recurring winter bums tended to stop the progression of both pines and hardwoods from seedling to sapling size classes, the data suggest that properly timed dormant-season burns might be used to secure natural pine regeneration in selection management.