SRIC Tour and Demonstration

Scott Paper Company has committed itself to an environmentally responsible program of natural resource management and conservation. On this stop, we saw an example of this commitment at the Elberta Forest Tree Nursery. At the nursery, bare root seedlings are prepared for reforestation, wetland reclamation, and ornamental planting. Pine seedlings and over 25 hardwood species are grown. Some of these species include genetically improved loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), dogwood (Cornus florida), water oak (Quercus nigra), river birch (Betula nigra) and many others.

Because of inclement weather, no operations were scheduled for the day of the tour. Equipment used in planting, lifting, and packaging of seedlings, however, was on static display and an introduction to their use and development history was given by Sam Campbell.

The SRIC Management Stands viewed on the tour were part of a sycamore plantation consisting of 37 ha of former agricultural land, and 28 ha of former natural woodlands. The agricultural site consisted of 3-year-old sycamore in a 2 m x 3 m spacing. The woods site was newly planted with sycamore seedlings established in a 3 m x 3 m spacing. The site prep procedures, planting procedures, vegetation control, and fertilization information for the two sites were as follows:

Site Prep Procedures

Woods Sites: Shear, rake, double disk, 1 t lime/acre applied

Agricultural Sites: Disk and rip with farm tractor, no lime is applied

Planting Procedures

Seedlings are grown in Scott's nursery in Elberta from seed stock provided by Scott's seed orchard at Wildfork

Woods Sites: Machine planted

Agricultural Sites: Hand planted

Vegetation Control

Woods Sites: Atrazine/Oust tank mix (3 qt. & 2 oz. respectively) during year of establishment and year 2, to be applied early spring by aerial spray.

Agricultural Sites: Atrazine/Oust tank mix (3 qt. & 2 oz. respectively) during year of establishment and early spring of year 2 by farm tractor.

Atrazine is effective on pre-emergent broad leaves. Oust is effective on pre- and post- emergent grasses. Subsequent application of glyphosate (Roundup) are applied to control post-emergent and broadleaf vines. 2, 4D-glyphosate (Campaign) is also used to control post-emergent morning glories (Ipomoea sp.).

To control competition from broadleaf weeds and vines, these plantations are occasionally bush-hogged during the year of establishment and in year 2, depending on severity of competition.

Fertilization

Woods Sites: Fertilizer applied in the year of establishment and every year after as needed according to foliage and soil samples.

Agricultural Lands: Fertilizer is not applied in the year of establishment, but in the following year and every year after that as needed according to foliage and soil samples.

The harvesting demonstration featured several types of equipment typical of southern logging operations used in harvesting short rotation sycamore. Specialized equipment, such as Texas A&I's biomass harvester, a flail delimber/chipper and a tubgrinder, were also shown.

Scott Paper Company produces whole-tree chips for fiber using 4-wheel feller-bunchers, skidders, and chippers. An alternative felling system, a 3-wheel feller-buncher from Morbark, was also demonstrated. Morbark also showed a chain flail delimber/debarker for production of clean chips. A tubgrinder, also provided by Morbark, was on site for comminution of residues.

File posted on March 5, 1996; Date Modified: February 21, 1999