Postthinning growth and yield of row-thinned and selectively thinned loblolly and slash pine plantations

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. C. Baldwin Jr. ◽  
D. P. Feduccia ◽  
J. D. Haywood

This study compared growth responses in planted loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) and slash pine (P. elliottii Engelm.) stands thinned by using three row-felling methods and at the same density levels, three selective felling methods. The study plots were in six plantations, aged 15–22 years, located in central Louisiana. Growth was measured 5 and 10 years after plot installation. Site index varied from 19.5 to 31.7 m (base age 50) and initial planting densities ranged from 1993 to 2989 trees/ha. Study results show there will likely be less diameter increment and less net basal area and cubic-metre volume per unit area growth and yield, and the growth will be in smaller-sized trees, if row thinning is used rather than selective thinning from below. These differences will probably be greater in slash pine plantations than in loblolly pine plantations.

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean W. Coble

Abstract A new compatible whole-stand growth-and-yield model to predict total tree cubic-foot volume per acre yield (outside and inside bark) was developed for unmanaged loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations in East Texas. This model was compared with the noncompatible whole-stand model of Lenhart (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15-2127">Lenhart, 1996</xref>, Total and partial stand-level yield prediction for loblolly and slash pine plantations in east Texas, South. J. Appl. For. 20(1):36–41) and the <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15-2127">Lenhart (1996)</xref> model refit to current data. For the two species, all three models were evaluated with independent observed data. The model developed in this study outperformed both Lenhart models in prediction of future yield and basal area per acre for all age classes combined and by 5-year age classes. The Lenhart models consistently overestimated yield and basal area per acre. All three models predicted surviving trees per acre similarly. An example is also provided to show users how to use the new whole-stand model.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1471-1482
Author(s):  
Woongsoon Jang ◽  
Bianca N.I. Eskelson ◽  
Louise de Montigny ◽  
Catherine A. Bealle Statland ◽  
Derek F. Sattler ◽  
...  

This study was conducted to quantify growth responses of three major commercial conifer species (lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Watson), interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco), and spruce (white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and hybrid spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex. Engelm. × Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carrière))) to various fertilizer blends in interior British Columbia, Canada. Over 25 years, growth-response data were repeatedly collected across 46 installations. The fertilizer blends were classified into three groups: nitrogen only; nitrogen and sulfur combined; and nitrogen, sulfur, and boron combined. The growth responses for stand volume, basal area, and top height were calculated through absolute and relative growth rate ratios relative to a controlled group. Fertilizer blend, inverse years since fertilization, site index, stand density at fertilization, and their interactions with the fertilizer blend were used as explanatory variables. The magnitude and significance of volume and basal area growth responses to fertilization differed by species, fertilizer-blend groups, and stand-condition variables (i.e., site index and stand density). In contrast, the response in top height growth did not differ among fertilization blends, with the exception of the nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer subgroup for lodgepole pine. The models developed in this study will be incorporated into the current growth and yield fertilization module (i.e., Table Interpolation Program for Stand Yields (TIPSY)), thereby supporting guidance of fertilization applications in interior forests in British Columbia.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Blinn ◽  
Al Lyons ◽  
Edward R. Buckner

Abstract Color aerial photography was used to assess crown color classes in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations. Three distinct Munsell color classes were delineated on the resulting photographs. Foliar N levels and, to a lesser degree, foliar K levels were directly related to color. Significant relationships between color and site index and color and basal area were shown. Application of color aerial photography, combined with Munsell color coding, could expedite land classification and also make possible more efficient use of fertilizers. South J. Appl. For. 12(4):270-273.


2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Miller ◽  
Bruce R. Zutter ◽  
Shepard M. Zedaker ◽  
M. Boyd Edwards ◽  
Ray A. Newbold

Abstract Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations were studied across 13 southeastern sites grown for 15 yr with near-complete control of woody, herbaceous, and woody plus herbaceous components during the first 3–5 yr. This multiple objective experiment (the COMProject) documents stand dynamics at the extreme corners of the response surface that encompasses most competition conditions common to pine plantations. This is the second of two companion reports. Merchantable pine volume after 15 yr with early, near complete competition control reached 2,350–4,415 ft3/ac by site compared to 1,132–2,965 ft3/ac on the no controls. With control of both woody and herbaceous competition, 15 yr volumes were increased by 23–121% and gains increased as hardwoods and shrubs increased on the no controls. Early woody control increased merchantable pine volume on 11 sites by 14–118%, while herbaceous control yielded somewhat less on average, a 17–50% increase on ten sites. No gains and some volume losses occurred when control of one component released severe competition from an enhanced remaining component, otherwise gains were generally additive for control of both components. Pine volume was decreased by about 1% for each 1 ft2/ac of hardwood basal area (BA) present at age 15. Annual measurements determined that culmination of current annual increment (CAI) with control of both competition components occurred in yr 8–11 at 250–470 ft3/ac/yr. CAIs for pine height, BA, and volume were decreased by about 5–27% when growing season rainfall (March–October) was less than 36 in. Mean annual increment had not culminated for any treatment at any location by yr 15 and ranged from 195–250 ft3/ac/yr with both woody and herbaceous control. Fusiform rust mainstem galls [Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme (Hedge. & Hunt) Burdsall & Snow] in high severity areas increased additively with control of both components, more so with herb control. Contrary to the widespread assumption that hardwood out-compete pine, the hardwood proportion of stand BA decreased from yr 5–15 on sites where hardwood BA in yr 5 exceeded 10 ft2. South. J. Appl. For. 27(4):237–252.


1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey W. Martin ◽  
Robert L. Bailey ◽  
Eric J. Jokela

Abstract We present a new system of equations for slash pine plantations (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) that express the combined effects of CRIFF (Cooperative Research in Forest Fertilization Program) soil group and mid-rotation nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization on survival, basal area growth or yield, dominant height growth and the stand diameter distribution. A diameter growth model that accepts an initial diameter distribution (or tree list)provides the ability to predict future diameter distributions. Predictor variables include combinations of three mid-rotation fertilizer treatments: (1) no fertilizer; (2) N only (150 lb/ac elemental), (3) N and P (150 lb/ac and 50 lb/ac elemental, respectively) and three CRIFF soil groups: (1) B soils (e.g., Arenic Paleaquult), (2) C soils (e.g., Ultic Haplaquod), and (3) D soils (e.g., Grossarenic Haplaquod). These models derive from analyses on data taken in 243 permanent sample plots, some having been remeasured up to 6 times at 2 yr intervals, located in slash pine plantations on prepared sites. The models predict that fertilization with N and P at age 15 will result in around 30% (462 ft3/ac) more cumulative merchantable growth by age 25 for a typical site-index-60 plantation growing on CRIFF soil group B. South. J. Appl. For. 23(1):39-45.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Scott Cameron ◽  
Ronald F. Billings

Abstract An inventory of 167,316 ac of 5- to 15-year-old plantations of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) or loblolly pine (P. taeda L.) or both in east Texas revealed that infestations (spots) of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm., occurred in plantations of all ages greater than 5 years. Infestation frequency ranged from 0.1 spots/1000 ac for 6-year-old plantations to 6 to 8 spots/1000 ac for 12- to 15-year-old plantations in 1985. Analyses of subsets of plantation inventories revealed that spots were more frequent in loblolly pine plantations than in slash pine plantations, and more frequent in plantations that had been prescribed-burned. An intensive study of 34 individual spots showed that spot initiation was often associated with stand disturbance but not with intraplantation variations in stand parameters. In turn, regression analyses revealed that the initial number of active trees (spot size) was directly correlated with pine basal area/ac. Rate of summer spot growth in uncontrolled infestations was most strongly correlated with number of active (brood) trees and weakly correlated with tree height and pine basal area/ac. Spots tended to grow faster in loblolly plantations than in those with slash pine. Mean spot growth rates were markedly less within young plantations than rates documented in earlier studies for natural pulpwood and sawtimber stands. A field guide for setting control priorities for beetle infestations in young plantations is provided. South. J. Appl. For. 12(3):208-214.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Boyd Edwards ◽  
Barry D. Shiver ◽  
Stephen R. Logan

Abstract Age 20 data from a designed experimental study installed on 24 plots at one location in the Lower Piedmont in Jones County, Georgia, were used to evaluate the effect of six silvicultural treatments on survival, growth, and yield of cutover site-prepared loblolly pine plantations in the Georgia Piedmont. The following silvicultural treatments were included in the study: (1) clearcut only, (2) clearcut with all residual trees greater than 1 inch dbh removed by chainsaw, (3) shear and chop, (4) shear, rootrake, burn, and disk, and (5) shear, rootrake, burn, disk, fertilize, and herbicide. Treatment significantly affected all tree and stand characteristics at age 20. The shear, rootrake, burn, disk, fertilize, and herbicide treatment ranked best in all categories with the exception of survival and basal area, which were highest for the shear, rootrake, burn, and disk treatment. The shear and chop treatment was not significantly lower than the most intensive treatment in any measured category. South. J. Appl. For. 28(1):35–40.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 556
Author(s):  
Mauricio Zapata-Cuartas ◽  
Bronson P. Bullock ◽  
Cristian R. Montes ◽  
Michael B. Kane

Intensive loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation management in the southeastern United States includes mid-rotation silvicultural practices (MRSP) like thinning, fertilization, competitive vegetation control, and their combinations. Consistent and well-designed long-term studies considering interactions of MRSP are required to produce accurate projections and evaluate management decisions. Here we use longitudinal data from the regional Mid-Rotation Treatment study established by the Plantation Management Research Cooperative (PMRC) at the University of Georgia across the southeast U.S. to fit and validate a new dynamic model system rooted in theoretical and biological principles. A Weibull pdf was used as a modifier function coupled with the basal area growth model. The growth model system and error projection functions were estimated simultaneously. The new formulation results in a compatible and consistent growth and yield system and provides temporal responses to treatment. The results indicated that the model projections reproduce the observed behavior of stand characteristics. The model has high predictive accuracy (the cross-validation variance explained was 96.2%, 99.7%, and 98.6%; and the prediction root mean square distance was 0.704 m, 19.1 trees ha−1, and 1.03 m2ha−1 for dominant height (DH), trees per hectare (N), and basal area (BA), respectively), and can be used to project the current stand attributes following combinations of MRSP and with different thinning intensities. Simulations across southern physiographic regions allow us to conclude that the most overall ranking of MRSP after thinning is fertilization + competitive vegetation control (Fert + CVC) > fertilization only (Fert) > competitive vegetation control only (CVC), and Fert + CVC show less than additive effect. Because of the model structure, the response to treatment changes with location, age of application, and dominant height growth as indicators of site quality. Therefore, the proposed model adequately represents regional growth conditions.


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