scholarly journals Rehabilitation of Understocked Loblolly-Shortleaf Pine Stands—I. Recently Cutover Natural Stands

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Baker ◽  
Michael G. Shelton

Abstract Two loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda L.-P. echinata Mill.) stands were cut to stocking levels of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% to simulate recently cutover, understocked, uneven-aged stands. Number of trees ranged from 38 per acre for 10% stocking to 213 per acre for 50% stocking; comparable total basal areas were 4 and 16 ft²/ac, respectively. One stand was on a good site (site index = 90 ft at age 50), the other on a medium site (site index = 75 ft at age 50). As a rehabilitation treatment, all hardwoods 1 in. groundline diameter and larger were injected with a herbicide. At 2, 5, 10, and 15 yr after treatment, the stands were inventoried to determine: (1) rate at which the understocked stands recovered, and (2) minimum stocking levels required for successful rehabilitation. During 15 yr of rehabilitation, the understocked stands changed dramatically, and because of rapid growth of residual pines, stocking levels, basal areas, and tree volumes increasedmarkedly. Stands having at least 20% residual stocking and 5 ft²/ac of pine basal area reached an acceptable stocking level of 60% (based on number and size of trees), or 45 ft²/ac of basal area within 15 yr. Stands at this minimum stocking threshold produced 4,600 bd ft(Doyle)/ac of sawtimber volume on the good site and 3,000 bd ft/ac of sawtimber volume on the medium site during the 15 yr period. The study indicates that recently cutover, or damaged, understocked stands with at least 20% to 30% stocking or 5 to 10 ft²/ac of pine basal area can be rehabilitated to produce respectable sawtimber volumes. This management strategy provides a low-cost alternative to establishing a new stand at considerable cost to the landowner. South. J. Appl. For. 22(1):35-40.

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Baker ◽  
Michael G. Shelton

Abstract Plots in an unmanaged loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda L.-P. echinata Mill.) stand that had been cutover 15 yr previously were established to represent five stocking levels: 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. The stand was on a good site (site indexLob = 90 ft at 50 yr) and had uneven-aged character. Two competition control treatments (none and individual tree release using herbicide) were also assigned. Three, five, and nine years later, the plots were reinventoried to determine: (1) the rate at which the understocked stands recovered, (2) the minimum stocking level required for successful rehabilitation, and (3) the effects of release on pine growth. The pine release treatment did not enhance stand development during the 9 yr rehabilitation period, primarily because only 18% of the pines (representing 5% of total pine basal area) were overtopped by hardwoods and were thus in need of release. However, results suggest that stands having an initial stocking of 20 to 30%, or a total basal area of 10 to 15 ft²/ac, can reach an acceptable stocking (levels of 60% for stocking, 45 ft²/ac for basal area, and 2,500 bd ft(Doyle)/ac for sawlog volume) within 15 yr or less. South. J. Appl. For. 22(1):47-52.


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 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Baker

Abstract Plots in two uneven-aged loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda L.-P. echinata Mill.) stands were cut back to stocking levels of approximately 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% to simulate cutover, understocked stands. One stand was on a good site (SI = 90 ft at age 50), the other on a medium site(SI = 75 ft at age 50). As a rehabilitation treatment, all hardwoods 1-in. or larger in groundline diameter were injected with Tordon 101®. Two and 5 years later, the plots were reinventoried to determine stand growth and development. During the 5-year rehabilitation period the understockedstands changed dramatically, and because of the rapid growth of the pines left in the residual stands, stocking levels, basal areas, and tree volumes increased markedly. Average increases in stocking level, basal area, pulpwood, and sawlog volume were 40, 155, 160, and 355%, respectively,for the good site and 35, 110, 125, and 220% for the medium site. Projections of the time required for understocked stands to reach an acceptable stocking level of 60% (based on number and size of trees), or 45 ft² of basal area per acre, indicate that stands having at least 15 to 25%stocking, or 5 ft² of basal area per acre, can reach an acceptable stocking level in 15 years or less at a rehabilitation cost of $45 to $50 per acre. South. J. Appl. For. 13(3):132-139.


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.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald H. Marx ◽  
Charles E. Cordell ◽  
Alexander Clark

Abstract Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L) seedlings with different initial amounts of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt) ectomycorrhizae (Pt index 0, 27, 46, 68, or 88) were planted on a good-quality site (site index 90 ft at age 50) in southwest Georgia. After 8 years and crown closure, trees with Pt indices of 88 and 68 had significantly better survival and greater heights, diameters, volumes, and green weights per tree and per ac than nursery-run, control seedlings (Pt index 0). Volume and weight yields per ac were over 50% greater and volume and weight yields per tree were over 20% greater for trees in the Pt index 88 treatment than they were for control trees. A special statistical analysis indicated that average per ac volume was positively correlated with initial Pt index values larger than 58. Tree-ring analyses showed that trees with a Pt index of 88 had significantly greater annual basal area growth than controls during growing seasons with water deficits of 8 to 13 in. Annual growth did not differ when water deficits were greater or less than these amounts. After 8 years, Pt basidiocarps were present throughout the study site. Mycorrhizal treatment integrity may have been lost after 3 or 4 years. South. J. Appl. For. 12(4):275-280


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.


1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 128-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Murphy ◽  
Michael G. Shelton

Abstract The effects of three levels of residual basal area (40, 60, and 80 ft2/ac), maximum dbh (12, 16, and 20 in.) and site index (< 81 ft, 81 to 90 ft, and >90 ft) on the growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands after 5 yr of uneven-aged silviculture were determined from plots located in south Arkansas and north Louisiana. Designated levels of basal area and maximum dbh were achieved by harvesting; a q factor of 1.2 (using 1 in. dbh classes) was imposed on all plots as closely as possible. Stand-level models were developed for annual per acre net volume growth (merchantable cubic feet, sawtimber cubic feet, and sawtimber board feet, Doyle rule) and annual per acre survivor growth, ingrowth, and mortality components of basal area growth. Growth for all volume measures increased with an increase in basal area. Site index did not significantly affect merchantable cubic-foot growth but had a positive effect on sawtimber growth in both cubic feet and board feet, Doyle. Increases in maximum dbh decreased merchantable and sawtimber cubic-foot growth but increased growth for board-foot volume, Doyle. South. J. Appl. For. 18(3): 128-132.


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.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. Guldin ◽  
James B. Baker

Abstract Empirical yields for a 36-year management period are presented for seven long-term studies on similar sites in loblolly-shortleaf pine (Pinus taeda L.-P. echinata Mill.) stands on the upper southern coastal plain of southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. Total merchantable cubic-foot yields are highest for conventionally managed even-aged plantations; sawtimber cubic-foot yields are highest for intensively managed even-aged plantations and intensively managed uneven-aged stands. However, uneven-aged stands have higher board-foot sawtimber yields than the most productive even-aged stands, particularly in comparisons using the Doyle log rule. It is hypothesized that the even-aged plantations have higher cubic-foot yields because they are more fully stocked with trees of merchantable size. Conversely, the uneven-aged stands have higher board-foot yields because of the greater proportion and continuous supply of sawtimber basal area, especially in stems of large size, which can be developed using the uneven-aged selection method. South J. Appl. For. 12(5):107-114


CERNE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulo Jorge Téo ◽  
Sebastião do Amaral Machado ◽  
Afonso Figueiredo Filho ◽  
Margarida Tomé

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to develop an equation with biological attributes and general applicability, to represent the height-diameter relationship for Pinus taeda L. stands, with and without thinning, in the Middle West region of Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The data came from 652 permanent plots, with 428 to 740 m2, located in forest stands with ages ranging from 4.6 to 35.2 years, in which the total heights of about 20% of the trees were measured, in addition to the dominant trees. The functions developed by Harrison, Michailoff, Prodan and Stoffels & Van Soest were fitted with their parameters linear function of stand variables, based on the Gauss-Newton algorithm. In general, the Harrison model, fitted with the parameter linear function of age (t), site index (S), coefficient of variation of the tree diameters in the plot (CV d ) and basal area of the plot (G), showed the best statistical performance to represent the height-diameter relationship, biological consistency and general applicability for stands of Pinus taeda.


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