Soil and pine foliage nutrient responses 15 years after competing-vegetation control and their correlation with growth for 13 loblolly pine plantations in the southern United States

Influences of competition-control treatments on long-term soil and foliar nutrition were examined using a regional data set (the Competition Omission Monitoring Project) that documents loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation development for 15 years after early intensive woody and (or) herbaceous control. Examined were trends for macro nutrients in soils sampled at years 0 and 15 and in pine foliage at years 2, 6, and 15 and their correlations with one another and with pine growth. Early control treatments resulted in distinct plantation successional patterns with contrasting herbaceous and woody components, all under pine-dominated canopies. There was an overall decrease in soil nutrient concentrations after 15 years of pine-plantation management, while C, N, and Ca decreased most after vegetation control. Early herbaceous treatments resulted in significantly less foliar N and K at year 15 as well. Foliar nutrient contents and fascicle mass at year 2 tended to be better correlated with year-15 pine volume than values at year 6 or year 15. Year-15 P concentrations had the strongest correlations between soil and foliar nutrient levels (r = 0.71–0.77). By year 15, intensive pine culture and vegetation control had placed demands on soil nutrient supplies to support enhanced growth that have not yet been replaced.

Download Full-text

Characterization of Foliar Macro- and Micronutrient Concentrations and Ratios in Loblolly Pine Plantations in the Southeastern United States

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/34.2.53 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 53-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Janine M. Albaugh ◽

Leandra Blevins ◽

H. Lee Allen ◽

Timothy J. Albaugh ◽

Thomas R. Fox ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Large Data ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Concentration Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Frequency Distributions ◽

Variable Element ◽

Foliar Nutrient

Abstract Foliar nutrient concentration data collected from pretreatment foliage samples in regional trials extending across the southeastern United States provided a large data set useful for characterizing baseline loblolly pine nutrition for the native range of this species. The range and distribution of the foliar nutrient concentrations and their ratios to nitrogen (N) were characterized using descriptive statistics and frequency distributions. Data were collected from a total of 2,663 measurement plots from 110 studies. Manganese (Mn) was the most variable element (coefficient of variation [CV] = 52%), and N exhibited the least variability (CV = 11%). Nitrogen, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), copper (Cu), and the ratios P:N, K:N, calcium (Ca):N, Mg:N, S:N, and zinc (Zn):N were normally distributed. Calcium, Mn, Zn, boron (B), and the ratios Mn:N, B:N, and Cu:N were significantly non-normal, with positively skewed distributions. Baseline N, P, and S concentrations and the P:N and S:N ratios were considered potentially limiting to growth, as only the upper quartile of studies achieved the currently accepted adequate values for loblolly pine. Boron could be interpreted as being in sufficient supply or potentially limiting to growth, depending on the adequate value used for comparison. The remaining elements and their ratios to N were within the range of sufficiency reported for other conifers. Target concentrations for S and B and their ratios to N require further investigation, as the recommended values for loblolly pine may be too high.

Download Full-text

Fascicle nutrient and biomass responses of young loblolly pine to control of woody and herbaceous competitors

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x99-041 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 917-925 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

B R Zutter ◽

J H Miller ◽

H L Allen ◽

S M Zedaker ◽

M B Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Loblolly Pine ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Competition Study ◽

Foliar Nutrient ◽

K Concentration ◽

Herbaceous Weed Control ◽

Pinus Taeda L ◽

Positive Effect

Individual fascicle mass and foliar nutrient content and concentration of young loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were evaluated on 13 locations of a regionwide competition study in the southeastern United States. The study included a factorial combination of two levels of herbaceous weed control treatment (none, treated) and two levels of woody treatment (none, treated) following site preparation. At pine age 2 years, herbaceous treatment (HT) and woody treatment (WT) had a positive effect on individual fascicle biomass and content of N, P, and K at nearly all and at least half of the locations, respectively. In general, these effects mirrored responses noted for seedling diameter and height. N concentration increased and P concentration decreased at about half of the locations, while Ca and Mg concentrations decreased on nearly all locations with HT. By age 6 years, effects of HT and WT on fascicle mass and nutrient concentrations and contents became neutral or more neutral across the locations. This is attributed in part to the greater nutrient demand of larger crop pines and associated competition components. A notable exception from neutral effects at age 6, typically occurring on sites with high levels of woody vegetation, was the positive response in K concentration or content and negative response in Ca and Mg concentrations with WT.

Download Full-text

Loblolly Pine—Pushing the Limits of Growth

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/25.2.69 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 69-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Bruce E. Borders ◽

Robert L. Bailey

Keyword(s):

Loblolly Pine ◽

Annual Increment ◽

Complete Control ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Mechanical Site Preparation ◽

Yield Production ◽

The World ◽

Intensively Managed ◽

Pinus Taeda L ◽

Production Areas

Abstract With mean annual increments up to 5.4 cords/ac/yr, six loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) research sites in Georgia produced yields on par with other results from intensively managed loblolly plantations around the world. Cultural treatments in the Georgia study include complete control of vegetation other than the planted pines with multiple applications of herbicide, annual fertilization, the combination of complete vegetation control and annual fertilization, and an intensive mechanical site preparation treatment. Complete vegetation control resulted in higher yield production at ages 10 to 12 yr than the intensive mechanical treatment at all locations. This regime also resulted in higher yield production than the annual fertilization treatment at four of six locations. Volume mean annual increment for 10- to 12-yr-old plantations with the combination treatment of complete vegetation control and annual fertilization ranged from 325 to 490 ft3/ac, growth rates comparable to those obtained at other high biomass production areas throughout the world. Our economic evaluation based on these results shows that 8 to 12% real rates of return are feasible from investments in intensive loblolly pine plantations in the southeastern United States. South. J. Appl. For. 25(2):69–74.

Download Full-text

Loblolly pine growth response to herbaceous vegetation control at different planting densities

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x99-069 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 960-967 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Harold Quicke ◽

Glenn Glover ◽

Ralph S Meldahl

Keyword(s):

Loblolly Pine ◽

Basal Area ◽

Planting Density ◽

Herbaceous Vegetation ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Volume Yield ◽

Volume Response ◽

Adjustment Term ◽

Pinus Taeda L ◽

Positive Effect

Growth of Pinus taeda L., with and without control of competing herbaceous vegetation, was evaluated over 15 years at planting densities ranging from 747 to 2990 trees/ha. A height response to vegetation control of 0.9 m at age 5 decreased to 0.3 m at age 15. Convergence in the cumulative height between treated and untreated stands did not translate into converging basal area and volume yield. For 1500 and 2200 trees/ha, volume response to early vegetation control increased to age 15. For 800 trees/ha volume gains increased to age 12 and were stable between ages 12 and 15. Higher densities apparently captured more of the site resources made available through vegetation control. Age-15 volume gains for 2200, 1500, and 800 trees/ha were 71 (23%), 48 (17%), and 19 m3·ha-1 (8%), respectively. A separate adjustment term in height and basal-area models captured the short-term positive effect of vegetation control on height growth and longer term basal-area responses. Previously published height and basal-area models were modified to account for planting-density effects.

Download Full-text

Accuracy of Genomic Selection Methods in a Standard Data Set of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.)

Genetics ◽

10.1534/genetics.111.137026 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 190 (4) ◽

pp. 1503-1510 ◽

Cited By ~ 236

Author(s):

M. F. R. Resende ◽

P. Muñoz ◽

M. D. V. Resende ◽

D. J. Garrick ◽

R. L. Fernando ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genomic Selection ◽

Pinus Taeda ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Selection Methods ◽

Data Set ◽

Standard Data ◽

Pinus Taeda L

Download Full-text

Prescribed Burning and Nutrient Cycling Relationships in Young Loblolly Pine Plantations

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/4.3.118 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 118-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. E. Kodama ◽

D. H. Van Lear

Keyword(s):

South Carolina ◽

Pinus Taeda ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Prescribed Fire ◽

Prescribed Burning ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Nutrient Transfer ◽

Nutrient Losses ◽

Moving Strip ◽

Pinus Taeda L

Abstract Prescribed burning of young unthinned plantations of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) in the South Carolina Piedmont significantly reduced the quantity of individual nutrients in the L layer, but not the F + H layers of the forest floor. Burning reduced the weight of the L layer by 60 percent but the weight of the combined F + H layers was unaffected by the relatively fast-moving strip-head fires. Nutrient losses by ash convection from the L layer during the prescribed fire ranged from 3.6 lbs/ac for P to 23.1 lbs/ac for N. Some impaction of nutrients released in burning on pine canopies was detected by analysis of throughfall and stemflow. However, quantities of nutrients intercepted and released by the canopy are small when compared to nutrient transfer by leaf fall and precipitation. The canopy and stems markedly altered the nutrient concentrations of intercepted precipitation.

Download Full-text

Intensive Forest Management Affects Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) Growth and Survival on Poorly Drained Sites in Southern Arkansas

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/sjaf/30.2.79 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 79-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M.S. Rahman ◽

M.G. Messina ◽

R.F. Fisher

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Pinus Taeda ◽

Loblolly Pine ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Vegetation Control ◽

Mechanical Site Preparation ◽

Intensive Forest Management ◽

Tree Survival ◽

Pinus Taeda L

Abstract We investigated if intensive forest management could enhance loblolly pine seedling growth and survival on West Gulf flatwoods where winter and spring waterlogging and frequent summer drought limit loblolly pine performance. Fertilization, chemical vegetation control, and mechanical site preparation (combined bedding and ripping) were tested in different combinations on six sites established in southern Arkansas in early 1999. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedling performance was monitored in the first two growing seasons (1999 and 2000) and fifth growing season (2003) after planting. Fertilization increased growth in all years. Mechanical site preparation affected only height and only until year 2. There was no effect of chemical vegetation control in any measurement year, although chemical vegetation control resulted in greater growth in combination with fertilization than did either treatment applied separately. Tree survival averaged 92% a few months after planting and then decreased significantly at year 1 (77%), and remained comparable until year 5, the last year data were collected. Tree survival was not affected by mechanical site preparation, fertilization, or chemical vegetation control. Intensive forest management can increase loblolly pine seedling growth and survival on poorly drained sites in the West Gulf.

Download Full-text

Foliar Mass and Nutrition of Abies concolor Christmas Trees following Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/27.1.28 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 28-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert A. Slesak ◽

Russell D. Briggs

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Nutrient Deficiency ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Abies Concolor ◽

Foliar Nutrition ◽

Nutrient Pools ◽

Christmas Trees ◽

Balanced Tree

Abstract Fertilization in Christmas tree production is common to increase tree growth and quality, with many recommendations focusing on N as a primary amendment. However, other nutrients may limit growth, or N application may induce deficiency of other nutrients. We applied fertilizer as either ammonium nitrate (AN) or chicken manure compost (CMC) to concolor fir (Abies concolor [Gord. and Glend.] Lindl.) at eight sites across central New York in 2003 and measured foliar mass and macronutrient response (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) to assess the potential for an inducible nutrient deficiency or nutrient limitation other than N. Foliage mass, N concentration, and N content increased following both fertilizer treatments, indicating that N limits growth at these sites. Macronutrient (P, K, Mg, Ca) concentrations were reduced following AN application because of nutrient dilution following increased growth. Compared with published sufficiency nutrient concentrations, concentrations of P and K were diluted to levels considered limiting to growth. In contrast, there was no reduction in macronutrient concentrations for P, Ca, and Mg in the CMC application, indicating the potential for this amendment to maintain balanced tree nutrition with increased growth. Foliar K content was increased in the CMC treatment, and needle mass (as the primary growth response variable), was correlated with foliar K concentration (r2 = 0.71, P < 0.01). The results indicate a strong possibility of K limitation in concolor fir across a variety of site conditions. With few exceptions, there were no apparent relationships between soil nutrient pools and foliar nutrition, demonstrating the limitation of soil tests as a guide to nutrient amendments.

Download Full-text