LAUSR

ABSTRACT Three 21-year-old Appalachian hardwood stands were strip cut using three cutting widths (2.4-m, 3.7-m, and 4.9-m) and allowed to resprout. One year after strip cutting, we examined the vegetation response within the harvested strips relative to non-treated control areas, focusing on the sprouting ability of young hardwood stems and the herbaceous component for wildlife habitat. Results indicate the width of the strip cutting significantly affected the amount of biomass produced from stump sprouts (p = 0.042) and influenced species composition. Shade-intolerant species accounted for more of the biomass production within the wider cut strip widths, while shade-tolerant and shade-intermediate species were more prominent within the narrower cut strips. Cut strip width did not have a significant effect on the biomass of new seedlings germinating after the cuttings. Herbaceous vegetation was greater within the 4.9-m cut strips than in the control plots (p = 0.046); however, the amount of herbaceous biomass produced did not vary among months during the first growing season. Overall, our initial results suggest that strip cutting can provide benefits to wildlife and can possibly provide for additional biomass as the regrowth is harvested in the future.