scholarly journals Competition Effects on Growth and Crown Dimensions of Shortleaf and Loblolly Pine in Mature, Natural-Origin, Pine–Hardwood Mixtures of the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, USA: A Neighborhood Analysis

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 935
Author(s):  
Mohammad Bataineh ◽  
Ethan Childs

The need for a comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of competition has never been more important as plants adapt to a changing environment and as forest management evolves to focus on maintaining and enhancing complexity. With the recent decline in shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) land area, it is critical to determine the effects of competition on shortleaf pine and its performance against loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), the preferred planted replacement. We evaluate differences in shortleaf and loblolly pine 10 year mean basal area increment (BAI) and crown dimensions across a gradient of neighborhoods. Linear mixed-effects regression models were developed using BAI and several crown metrics as responses and crowding, competitor species abundance and identity, and initial size and species identity of focal tree as predictors. Crowding of focal trees negatively impacted BAI and crown size (p < 0.001, respectively). Although loblolly pine had three times higher BAI as compared to shortleaf pine within similar neighborhoods, BAI was variable, and the crowding effect did not differ between shortleaf and loblolly pine (p ranged from 0.51–0.99). Competitive impacts on focal trees did not differ by competitor identity (p ranged from 0.07–0.70). Distance-independent competition indices better explained the variation in BAI and horizontal crown metrics, while distance-dependent size ratios were more effective at evaluating vertical crown metrics. These findings highlight shortleaf pine competitive potential in mature, natural-origin stands and provide support for the restoration of pine–hardwood and hardwood–pine stratified mixtures as well as management of shortleaf pine at long rotations.

1983 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Murphy ◽  
Robert M. Farrar

Abstract Equations are given to estimate current and projected sawtimber volumes and projected basal area of the sawtimber portion of uneven-aged loblolly-shortleaf (Pinus taeda L.-Pinus echinata Mill.) pine stands managed under the selection system. The independent variables are elapsed time, initial merchantable basal area, and the initial ratio of sawtimber basal area to merchantable basal area. The results should provide guidelines for the board-foot and cubic-foot production of sawtimber-sized trees in uneven-aged stands that occur on average sites (site index 90, loblolly pine) in the Coastal Plain.


1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Hansen ◽  
M. Victor Bilan

Abstract Age accounted for over 70% of the variation in tree height of 10- to 44-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantations established on deep sands, moderate sands, and nonsandy soils in the Northern Post-Oak Belt of Texas. Climatic and edaphicfactors, relating either directly or indirectly to the amount of moisture available for tree use, explained up to 17% of height growth variation. Height growth of the plantations was comparable to that of plantations growing in the pine-mixed hardwood forest cover type of East Texas. The NorthernPost-Oak Belt of Texas is an area approximately 50 to 100 miles wide located between the pine-mixed hard-wood forest type to the east and the black-land prairie to the west. Soils within the belt belong primarily to the Alfisol or Ultisol soil orders. The western-most areas of the belt receiveup to 20% less annual rain fall than the pine-mixed hardwood type of East Texas (U.S. Environmental Data and Information Service 1949-1982). The present forest of this area is dominated by post oak (Quercus stellata Wang.), black-jack oak (Quercus Marilandica Muench.), bluejack oak (Quercusincana Bartr.), and black hickory (Carya texana Buckl.) (Ward 1984). Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) occur naturally only in scattered locations (Wilson and Hacker 1986). South. j. Appl. For. 13(1):5-8.


1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Baker ◽  
Michael G. Shelton

Abstract Development of 86 intermediate and suppressed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees, that had been recently released from overtopping pines and hardwoods, was monitored over a 15 yr period. The trees were growing in natural stands on good sites (site index = 90 ft at 50 yr) that had been recently cut to stocking levels ranging from 10 to 50%. At time of release, the trees averaged 26 yr in age, 4.8 in. in dbh, and 37 ft in height. The trees had averaged only 0.5 in. in dbh growth the 5 yr prior to release (0.1 in./yr). After 15 yr, the 77 surviving trees averaged 59 ft in height and 12.9 in. in dbh, increasing 21 ft in height and 8.1 in. in dbh. During the 15 yr period, crown dimensions of the trees increased markedly as well. On average, crown lengths increased 11 ft (from 16 to 27 ft); crown widths nearly tripled from 9 to 25 ft; and crown volumes increased 11 fold from 608 to 6,700 ft³. The majority of the trees had good form and would produce high-quality sawtimber. Satisfactory response to release was best predicted by initial dbh and live-crown ratio. Results of the study suggest that trees with at least a 20% live-crown ratio should satisfactorily respond to release even though they had developed in lower crown positions of fully stocked uneven-aged stands for 10 to 50 yr. Responding trees rapidly expanded their crowns and accelerated in height and diameter growth. South. J. Appl. For. 22(1):41-46.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1364-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua C. Bradley ◽  
Rodney E. Will

Hybridization between shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) has dramatically increased and may threaten the genetic integrity of shortleaf pine. Shortleaf pine is presumed to be more drought tolerant than loblolly pine, but the drought hardiness of the hybrid pine is not known. We determined biomass partitioning in response to water stress and measured whole-plant transpiration of shortleaf, loblolly, and hybrid pine seedlings. Water stress decreased total seedling biomass, increased biomass partitioning to foliage, and decreased biomass partitioning to coarse roots. Shortleaf pine seedlings partitioned more biomass to coarse roots than loblolly pine, and hybrid pine was intermediate between the parent species. We found no differences in the level of soil moisture at which seedlings of different species began to limit transpiration. Our results suggest that the transpiration response of shortleaf pine and hybrid pine is similar to that of loblolly pine when exposed to water stress. However, greater partitioning to coarse root may allow shortleaf and hybrid pines to better withstand drought due to greater potential belowground carbohydrate supply.


1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-146
Author(s):  
David B. South

Abstract Tolerance to applications of prodiamine was examined in field experiments with loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var elliottii), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.), and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.)seedlings at nine southern nurseries in 1979 and at six nurseries in 1980. No significant injury was observed when 0.5 kg ai/ha (7.1 oz ai/ac) was applied after sowing (preemergence) or 4 to 6 wk after sowing (postemergence). When applied just after sowing at 1.0 kg ai/ha (13.3 oz. ai/ac),a reduction in emergence was observed with loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, and eastern white pine. Tolerance of various hardwoods was also examined. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) was sensitive, and seedling production was reduced with both preemergence and early postemergence applications.Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.), and two species of oaks (Quercus alba L. and Q. nigra L./Q. phellos L.) tolerated rates as high as 1.0 kg ai/ha. South. J. Appl. For. 16(3):142-146


1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Williston

Abstract Unthinned loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) planted near Abbeville, Mississippi in a creek bottom with a site index of 122 had a yield of 6,925 cubic feet per acre at age 26. Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) planted beside the loblolly pine had a site index of 108 and a yield of 4,120 cubic feet per acre.


1997 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-145
Author(s):  
David B. South

Abstract Tolerance of southern pines to preemergence applications of fomesafen was examined at eight nursery experiments in 1984. When sown on coarse textured soils, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var elliottii), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) were tolerant to 0.5 kg ai/ha applied after sowing. However, a reduction in loblolly pine seedling production was observed with one test on a silt loam soil in Louisiana. The risk of injury from a preemergence application may be related to soil texture. Pine tolerance to a single postemergence treatment was tested at seven nurseries in 1985. No significant injury was observed when 0.5 kg ai/ha was applied 3 to 8 weeks after sowing loblolly pine or shortleaf pine, and no injury was observed on fall-sown eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). When applied 1 or 2 months after sowing, loblolly pine appears tolerant to fomesafen even on silt loam soils. Injury has been observed from postemergence applications when a surfactant was used in combination with fomesafen. Preemergence applications of fomesafen are now an operational practice at several southern pine nurseries. South. J. Appl. For. 21(3):143-145.


1982 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Benson ◽  
R. E. Schoenike ◽  
D. H. Van Lear

Abstract Progeny of presumed natural hybrids of shortleaf (Pinus echinata Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) growing in the Piedmont of South Carolina were found to have height and diameter growth rates between that of the two species. Survival of these trees was less than loblolly but no differences were found between them and shortleaf pine. Incidence of fusiform rust was low with the putalive hybrid having a infection rate 3 to 11 percent lower than loblolly pine. These putative hybrids, perhaps natural hybrids of loblolly and shortleaf pines, also offer potential resistance to littleleaf disease and would be a planting alternative to shortleaf pine in certain areas.


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