scholarly journals Evaluating Forest Biomass Recovery in South Central Alabama Pine Plantations

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-410
Author(s):  
J Mcfero Grace ◽  
J F Klepac ◽  
Steve E Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Forest Biomass ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Pine Plantation ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Southern Pine ◽  
Temporal Effects ◽  
South Central ◽  
Biomass Recovery ◽  
The Impact

AbstractImproved use of forest biomass has been presented as a viable option to satisfy a portion of the demand for sustainable alternative sources of energy. Yet, there are considerable gaps in our understanding related to the efficiencies of current state-of-the-art forest biomass recovery systems. Southern pine plantation biomass stands typically exhibit higher stand densities and smaller-diameter trees than conventional stands, which, in turn, may result in reduced recovery efficiencies. In this study, the impact of new harvest systems for biomass recovery was investigated in typical southern pine plantation biomass harvests. Specifically, spatial and temporal effects on residue distribution were examined following biomass harvest of 14- and 24-year-old loblolly pine plantations. Preharvest total standing biomass for the younger site at 90 t ac–1 (220 t hectare–1) was half that of the older site at 160 t ac–1 (390 t hectare–1). Although the analysis detected no significant temporal effects on residue distributions, the preharvest condition exhibited 100 percent ground cover, whereas postharvest conditions had nearly 20 percent of the area designated as bare. Two of the five residue classifications, light debris and litter-herbaceous, were found to have a significantly higher incidence of occurrence than the other residue classifications on the sites based on a multinomial regression. In general, we found recovery efficiencies for both sites of 80 percent or greater for both methods of determination, by destructive sampling and based on load tickets.

Effect of plantation clearcutting on carnivore presence in industrial forest landscapes in south-central Chile

Mammalia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Sandra P. Escudero-Páez ◽  
Esteban Botero-Delgadillo ◽  
Cristián F. Estades
Keyword(s):  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
South Central ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Information on how wildlife is affected by pine plantation clearcutting is relevant for designing management strategies to promote biodiversity conservation in productive systems. By comparing the number of records of carnivores in a mosaic of pine plantations and native forest remnants before and after pine harvesting, we assessed the effect of plantation clearcutting on carnivore presence in ten sampling areas in Central Chile. We also included a number of covariates to account for their potential confounding effects, for example, the distance between each site and the nearesting human settlement and vegetation cover. A total of 10 species were observed, but no negative effect of clearcutting on carnivore presence was detected. Only the culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) responded positively to the harvesting of pine plantations. The threatened kodkod (Leopardus guigna) was absent in clearcut areas and the number of records increased in forests or plantations with a dense understorey. The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) responded positively to human settlements and seems to prefer more open areas. The number of records for the Puma (Puma concolor) and the domestic cat (Felis silvestris catus) was too few, and hence, we could not make any inference regarding these two species. The other species recorded showed different responses to one or more of the included covariates. Although our results showed that the recording of some species could change in the short term after pine harvesting, future studies should assess the impact of clearcutting at a much higher scale, both in terms of space and time.

scholarly journals Dual-Cropping Loblolly Pine for Biomass Energy and Conventional Wood Products

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Andrew Scott ◽  
Allan Tiarks
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Pine Plantation ◽  
Southern Pine ◽  
Small Diameter Trees ◽  
Viable Method

Abstract Southern pine stands have the potential to provide significant feedstocks for the growing biomass energy and biofuel markets. Although initial feedstocks likely will come from low-value small-diameter trees, understory vegetation, and slash, a sustainable and continuous supply of biomass is necessary to support and grow a wood bioenergy market. As long as solidwood products are more valuable, bioenergy production will not be the primary market for southern pine. A study exploring a dual-cropping system for southern pine bioenergy and solidwood products was begun in 1982 in Louisiana to determine the phosphorus (P) nutritional requirements of the system. Fertilization of 60 kg ha−1 of P was required to produce 90% of the maximum volume at the age of 22 years. Direct-seeding pine in the interrows of a traditional pine plantation produced about 10.2 Mg ha−1 of biomass for energy at the age of 5 years but had no lasting effect on the planted pine height, diameter, or standing volume. The system is a viable method to produce both bioenergy and solidwood products. Herbaceous competition control and nitrogen (N) fertilization likely would make the system even more productive and profitable.

Economic Evaluation of Initial Spacing for a 30-Year-Old Unthinned Loblolly Pine Plantation

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. William Conrad ◽  
Thomas J. Straka ◽  
William F. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Joint Production ◽  
Pine Plantation ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Rates Of Return ◽  
North Central ◽  
Multiple Products ◽  
Initial Spacing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Actual Price

Abstract Three initial spacings from a 30-year-old unthinned loblolly pine plantation were evaluated to estimate the historical returns achieved at various rotation lengths and for the impact of single and multiple products. The plantation was established on a well-drained interior flatwoods clay site in North Central Mississippi. Historic rates of return using actual price and cost data are reported. Generally, the optimum pulpwood rotation was 20 yr, and optimum sawtimber rotation was 30 yr. Wider spacings produced higher returns for both pulpwood and sawtimber rotations. When multiple products were considered (joint production of sawtimber, chip-n-saw, and pulpwood), greater returns than the single product rotations were obtained, and wider spacings consistently produced higher economic returns. South. J. Appl. For. 16(2):89-93.

Southern Pine Beetle: Factors Associated with Spot Occurrence and Spread in Young Plantations

1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Scott Cameron ◽  
Ronald F. Billings
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Pinus Elliottii ◽  
Slash Pine ◽  
Dendroctonus Frontalis ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Southern Pine Beetle ◽  
Southern Pine ◽  
Pine Beetle

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.

scholarly journals Landsat 8 Based Leaf Area Index Estimation in Loblolly Pine Plantations

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Blinn ◽  
Matthew House ◽  
Randolph Wynne ◽  
Valerie Thomas ◽  
Thomas Fox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Empirical Model ◽  
Vegetation Indices ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Surface Reflectance ◽  
Area Index ◽  
The Impact

Leaf area index (LAI) is an important biophysical parameter used to monitor, model, and manage loblolly pine plantations across the southeastern United States. Landsat provides forest scientists and managers the ability to obtain accurate and timely LAI estimates. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between loblolly pine LAI measured in situ (at both leaf area minimum and maximum through two growing seasons at two geographically disparate study areas) and vegetation indices calculated using data from Landsat 7 (ETM+) and Landsat 8 (OLI). Sub-objectives included examination of the impact of georegistration accuracy, comparison of top-of-atmosphere and surface reflectance, development of a new empirical model for the species and region, and comparison of the new empirical model with the current operational standard. Permanent plots for the collection of ground LAI measurements were established at two locations near Appomattox, Virginia and Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Each plot is thirty by thirty meters in size and is located at least thirty meters from a stand boundary. Plot LAI measurements were collected twice a year using the LI-COR LAI-2200 Plant Canopy Analyzer. Ground measurements were used as dependent variables in ordinary least squares regressions with ETM+ and OLI-derived vegetation indices. We conclude that accurately-located ground LAI estimates at minimum and maximum LAI in loblolly pine stands can be combined and modeled with Landsat-derived vegetation indices using surface reflectance, particularly simple ratio (SR) and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), across sites and sensors. The best resulting model (LAI = −0.00212 + 0.3329SR) appears not to saturate through an LAI of 5 and is an improvement over the current operational standard for loblolly pine monitoring, modeling, and management in this ecologically and economically important region.

A Simulation-Based Approach to Evaluating Commercial Thinning Decisions in Loblolly Pine Plantations

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. Reisinger
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Pine Plantations ◽  
Future Market ◽  
Simulation Techniques ◽  
Commercial Thinning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Computer simulation techniques are described which evaluate the impact of various stand conditions, management regimes, harvesting systems, and future market scenarios on current thinning decisions in pine plantations. Four simulation programs (PTAEDAR, PTAEDA, GENMAC, and HSS) were linked to predict tree growth/stand development and to model mechanized thinnings and final harvests. Simulation results were then combined with an investment analysis program to calculate the net present value of each strategy. An example analysis for a "typical" loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation is presented. As described here, simulation is a practical method of evaluating the profitability of a wide range of alternatives, including planting spacings, thinning regimes, and rotation ages for managing future plantations of loblolly pine.

Polysulfide-borohydride modification of southern pine alkaline pulping integrated with hydrothermal pre-extraction of hemicelluloses

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
SUNG-HOON YOON ◽  
HARRY CULLINAN ◽  
GOPAL A. KRISHNAGOPALAN
Keyword(s):  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Sodium Borohydride ◽  
Kraft Pulping ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Pulp Yield ◽  
Paper Strength ◽  
Southern Pine ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Simultaneous Treatment ◽  
Process Modification

We studied three process modifications to investigate their effects on the property and yield recovery capabilities of kraft pulping integrated with hemicellulose pre-extraction of southern pine. Loblolly pine chips were pre-extracted with hot water until the sugar extraction yield reached the targeted value of 10% and then subjected to conventional and modified kraft pulping. Modification included polysulfide pretreatment; polysulfide-sodium borohydride dual pretreatment, and polysulfide followed by polysulfide-sodium borohydride dual pretreatment two-stage pretreatments prior to kraft pulping. In the first modification, about 5% of the lost pulp yield (total 7%) caused by hemicellulose pre-extraction could be recovered with 15%-20% polysulfide pretreatment. Complete recovery (7%) was achieved with simultaneous pretreatment using 15% polysulfide and 0.5% sodium borohydride with 0.1% anthraquinone in polysulfide-sodium borohydride dual pretreatment. Two-stage pretreatment using recycled 15% polysulfide followed by simultaneous treatment of 6% polysulfide and 0.4%–0.5% sodium borohydride with 0.1% anthraquinone also achieved 100% yield recovery. Continuous recycling of 15% polysulfide employed in the two-stage process modification maintained its yield protection efficiency in a repeated recycling cycle. No significant changes in paper strength were found in handsheets prepared from the three process modifications, except for a minor reduction in tear strength.

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