Relationship Between Initial Seedling Height and Survival and Growth of Loblolly Pine Seedlings Planted During a Droughty Year
Abstract Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedling height (measured immediately following planting) was significantly related to survival after two growing seasons. This relationship was negative on sites classified as adverse, with shorter seedlings having better survival than taller ones. Onnonadverse sites, taller seedlings survived as well or better than shorter seedlings. On all sites, initial height was inversely related to total seedling height growth during the first two seasons, permitting shorter seedlings at planting to reach the same total height as taller ones by agetwo. As a result, at age two, initial field height was not significantly related to total height. South. J. Appl. For. 11(3):139-143.