Initial Pinustaeda seedling height relationships with early survival and growth
Initial planting height of loblolly pine (Pinustaeda L.) seedlings from several nurseries and seed sources was related to survival and height growth on "good" and "poor" planting chances in Alabama. A planting chance was classified as poor if 2-year survival was less than 75% and total 2-year height growth was less than 75 cm. Seedling height (measured immediately following planting) was negatively related to survival, and the slope of the regression was four times greater when the planting chance was classified as poor than when it was classified as good. Initial height was also negatively related to 2-year height growth on poor planting chances, with shorter seedlings at planting reaching the same total height as taller ones after two seasons. As a result, initial field height on poor planting chances had little impact on total seedling height after two growing seasons. Therefore, there was no height growth advantage gained by planting seedlings taller than 20 cm when survival was less than 75%. Planting seedlings with heights of 20–34 cm was less of a problem when the planting chance was good. The use of shorter seedlings on planting chances where low survival may be expected may significantly increase loblolly pine seedling survival in the southern United States.