Mr. Hall
122 Yow Building
khall@abac.edu

 

FRSC 2265
SILVICULTURE
(4 Semester Hours)

COURSE
OBJECTIVE:        To acquaint students with the major silvicultural concepts, theories, and practices. 
                          Southern yellow pine, pine/hardwood, and bottomland hardwood management
                           regimes will be emphasized, but will be compared to and contrasted with manage-
                           ment practices in Appalachian hardwoods, Eastern spruce/fir, and some Western
                           conifers.

PREREQUISITES:    FRSC 1130 (WL) or 2230 (FOR); FRSC 1170 recommended

TEXT:                    The Practice of Silviculture (Smith et.al.) 9th edition

ATTENDANCE:        Students whose number of unexcused absences from class/lab
                            exceeds eight (8) will receive an "F" for the course.  Unexcused
                            absences less than the maximum allowable will result in fractional
                            participation deduction from the final grade.  For example, one
                            unexcused absence out of eight (8) maximum results in 12.5%
                            participation penalty.  Students should advise the instructor of
                            anticipated absences in advance when possible; informative
                            messages may be left at (229)391-4800.  All excused absences
                            must be accompanied by written documentation; final evaluation
                            of excuse legitimacy resides with the instructor.

TARDINESS:            A student entering class late will be considered absent for that day.  It is the sole
                            responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of his/her tardiness so that
                            absences are not inadvertently recorded.  Chronic tardiness will result in class
                            participation penalty.

CHEATING:            Automatic "F" for the course.

POLICY:                Students will not be permitted to review their hourly exams at any time other than
                            the in-class review session (usually the next class period):  Hourly exams will NOT
                            be available prior to finals.  Short notes may be taken during class review of exams.

GRADING
SCALE:                    90-100% = A
                              80-89% =   B
                              70-79% =   C
                              65-69% =   D
                              less than 65 = F

GRADE BASE:            Three (3) hourly exams                            40%
                                  Lowest hourly score will be dropped
                                FINAL EXAM (cumulative)                         35%
                                Quizzes/lab projects                               20%
                                Participation, attitude, attendance            5%

NOTE:    Missed hourlies may not be made-up.  Missed exam score will be the score dropped.  No early or late final exams.  Final exam scores and course grades will not be posted.  Projects will not be accepted late.  Hourly exam dates and project due dates will be announced well in advance.  Exams may include TRUE/FALSE, multiple choice, completion, and short essay-type questions.  Most, if not all, quizzes will be unannounced.  Quiz questions will usually be derived from recent lectures or lab experiences.  Quizzes not surrendered to the professor when requested result in a grade of (0); tardy students may be excluded from the classroom.  No make-up quizzes.  A score of zero (0) is recorded for tardy or absent students.  A maximum of three (3) quiz scores may be dropped.  Chronic misbehavior in class may result in forfeiture of some or all five (5) participation percentage points.

OFFICE HOURS:        Posted at Room 122 or by chance.

 


SILVICULTURE
COURSE OUTLINE

I.    INTRODUCTION
      A.    Definitions/Economic Variables                                                                Chap. 1
      B.    Stand Structure

II.    SITE PREPARATION                                                                                        Chap. 8
       A.    Mechanical
       B.    Chemical
       C.    Fire
       D.    Role in Regeneration

III.    Site Quality Determination - Phytometers                                                        Chap. 9

IV.    Artificial Regeneration
        A.    Genetics                                                                                                Chap. 9
        B.    Nursery Practice, Seed Orchards, Seedling Production                                Chap. 9
        C.    Planting                                                                                                  Chap. 10
        D.    Direct Seeding                                                                                        Chap. 7, 10

V.    Release Operations                                                                                            Chap. 6
        A.    Cleaning/Weeding
        B.    Liberation
        C.    Application Methods
        D.    Use of Herbicides - Herbicide Selectivity, Safety and Public Opinion

VI.    Corrective Intermediate Operations                                                                    Chap. 19
        A.    Salvage Cuts
        B.    Sanitation treatments

VII.    Pruning                                                                                                            Chap. 3
        A.    Artificial
        B.    Natural

VIII.    Thinning                                                                                                            Chap. 4, 5
          A.    General Concepts
          B.    Effect on Growth and Yield (Langsaeter's Hypothesis)
          C.    Stand Dynamics
           D.    Methods
                   1.    Low
                   2.    Crown
                   3.    Selection
                    4.    Geometric
                    5.    Free
            E.    Stand Prescription (Case Studies)

IX.    Harvest/Regeneration Methods
        A.    Clearcutting                                                                                                Chap. 12, 13
        B.    Seed-tree                                                                                                    Chap. 14
        C.    Shelterwood
        D.    Selection                                                                                                     Chap. 15

***All-day field trip - Brender Demonstration Forest

        All students in attendance the full day will receive four (4) bonus points to be added to the FINAL
        EXAM score.

Updated:  08/05


 

SILVICULTURE
STATEMENT OF SAFETY PROCEDURES

1.    Students are expected to wear field clothes (long pants, heavy shoes) to all lab exercises.

2.    Proper use of forest herbicide application equipment will be reviewed prior to student participation.

3.    Proper use of the drip torch will be discussed and demonstrated prior to student participation in prescribed burning activities; items will include fuel mixing, proper ignition techniques, flow regulation, and handling procedures.

 

SILVICULTURE LABS

- Crown Class/Stand Structure Exercise
- Mech. Site Prep/Intro. Concepts (slides), Prescribed burning (slides), Burning Benefits Wildlife (video), fuel and       weather evaluation
- Hardwood Log-Grading Exercise
- Prescribed Burning Exercise
- Seed Orchard/Nursery Mgmt (slides, field trip?)
- Hand/Machine Planting Exercise (and video)
- Site Quality Determination
- Crop Tree Management Demo/video
- Thin Marking Exercise OR - Basal Area Determination Exercise
- Brender Demonstration Forest Field Trip
- Thinning/Intermediate Trtmts (slides)
- Regeneration Systems (slides); Fell, Burn, and Plant (video)
- Succession and Stand Dynamics (slides); Stand Prescription (Case Studies)