Assessment of frequent cutting as a plant-community management technique in power-line corridors

• Published in: Environmental management (New York) 1991-05, Vol.15 (3), p.381-388
• Main Authors: LUKEN, J. O, HINTON, A. C, BAKER, D. G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Demecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Plants and fungi
• ISSN: 0364-152X; 1432-1009
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02393884

Repeated cutting of vegetation at or near ground level in power-line corridors is a common practice for inhibiting tree growth and regeneration. However, few data exist on long-term community responses. In this study, we sampled 20 northern Kentucky power-line corridors and compared their seedling and sapling communities to the edges and interiors of adjacent undisturbed forests. Mean seedling and sapling density in corridors was roughly twice that of adjacent undisturbed forest interiors, suggesting that repeated cutting is not a viable method of inhibiting tree regeneration. Corridor communities were dominated by Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) and Fraxinus americana (white ash), but ordinations indicated strong similarities among communities in corridors and adjacent forests. Many of the tree species found in adjacent forests, with the exception of a few shade-tolerant species, had highest seedling and sapling densities in corridors.