scholarly journals Model-Based Growth Comparisons between Loblolly and Slash Pine and between Silvicultural Intensities in East Texas

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1611
Author(s):  
Yuhui Weng ◽  
Jason Grogan ◽  
Bilawal Cheema ◽  
Jing Tao ◽  
Xiongwei Lou ◽  
...  

Growth differences between key commercial species and between silvicultural intensities (phases) within a species in a region are of great interest to foresters. This study used modeling methods to investigate these differences in east Texas. Datasets collected from loblolly and slash pine plots installed in extensively managed plantations (Phase I) and loblolly pine plots installed in intensively managed plantations (Phase II) were used. Species and silvicultural phase growth differences were determined by comparing their height–age, diameter–age, and height–diameter relationships. Slash and loblolly pine had significantly different parameter estimates for the Chapman and Richards function-based height– and diameter–age models. Slash pine grew faster than loblolly pine, with the superiority in height increasing while that of diameter growth decreased slightly with age. Slash and loblolly pine differed also in all parameter estimates of the exponential function-based height-diameter model. Loblolly pine was taller than the slash for small size (DBH ≤ 18 cm) trees, but thereafter, slash pine outperformed loblolly. While these results may encourage planting slash pine in the region, more studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be made. The differences in the height–age models for loblolly pine Phase I and II plots suggest that intensive management significantly enhanced tree height growth. However, this enhancement did not substantially change the maximum height; instead, trees reached the maximum height younger, thus effectively shortening the rotation age.

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. David Lenhart ◽  
Gary D. Kronrad ◽  
Michael S. Fountain

Abstract The performance of young (less than 10 yr) loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) and slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) pine trees was compared on planted sites in southeast Texas. Performance was compared for: total tree height; tree diameter; height to live tree crown; tree volume index,; incidenceof fusiform rust (Cronartium quercuum [Berk.] Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme); crookedness of stems; and survival rates. For these young trees, slash pine tended to perform better in southeast Texas than loblolly pine in total tree height, tree diameter, stem size, height to first livebranch and stem straightness. However, loblolly pine was less susceptible to fusiform rust than slash pine, and its mortality rate was lower than slash pine. However, based on the performance of these young plantations, a recommendation on the preferred pine species to plant in southeast Texasmight be premature. South. J. Appl. For. 17(1):26-31.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. David Lenhart ◽  
W. Thomas McGrath ◽  
Terry L. Hackett

Abstract Five surveys of pine plantations in East Texas over an 18-year period (1969-1987) indicated that fusiform rust (Cronartium quercuum [Berk.] Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme Birdsall and Snow) infection rates have increased to current levels of about 50% on slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and are continuing to increase on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) to 10-15% levels. South. J. Appl. For. 12(4):259-261.


1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. David Lenhart ◽  
Ellis V. Hunt ◽  
Jock A. Blackard

Abstract Equations to estimate site index (index age 25 years) for plantations of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) on non-old-fields in East Texas have been developed. The height-prediction curves were based on the Richards' growth function and track well within the range of the data (1-17 years). South. J. Appl. For. 10:109-112, May 1986.


2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean W. Coble

Abstract A new compatible whole-stand growth-and-yield model to predict total tree cubic-foot volume per acre yield (outside and inside bark) was developed for unmanaged loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations in East Texas. This model was compared with the noncompatible whole-stand model of Lenhart (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15-2127">Lenhart, 1996</xref>, Total and partial stand-level yield prediction for loblolly and slash pine plantations in east Texas, South. J. Appl. For. 20(1):36–41) and the <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B15-2127">Lenhart (1996)</xref> model refit to current data. For the two species, all three models were evaluated with independent observed data. The model developed in this study outperformed both Lenhart models in prediction of future yield and basal area per acre for all age classes combined and by 5-year age classes. The Lenhart models consistently overestimated yield and basal area per acre. All three models predicted surviving trees per acre similarly. An example is also provided to show users how to use the new whole-stand model.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micky G. Allen ◽  
Dean W. Coble ◽  
Quang V. Cao ◽  
Jimmie Yeiser ◽  
I-Kuai Hung

Abstract Four methodologies to project future trees per acre by diameter class were compared to develop a new modified stand table projection growth model for unmanaged loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantations in East Texas. The new models were fit to 92,882 observations from 153 permanent plots located in loblolly pine plantations and 33,792 observations from 71 permanent plots located in slash pine plantations throughout East Texas. The new models were validated with 12,750 observations from 22 permanent plots and 3,724 observations from 9 permanent plots located in loblolly and slash pine plantations, respectively. The validation data were used to select between the four methodologies. The results indicated which of the new models produced the best results, based on error indexes calculated for trees per acre and basal area per acre at the stand table and diameter class levels across a range of projection lengths. We recommend that this new model be used by forest managers for projecting stand tables in East Texas loblolly and slash pine plantations. An example is also provided to show users how to use the new modified stand table projection model.


1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis V. Hunt ◽  
J. David Lenhart

Abstract Four surveys of pine plantations in East Texas between 1969 and 1984 indicate that fusiform rust (Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme) infection rates are increasing on slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) and either decreasing or about constant on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Currently, stem infections occur on about 1 in 2 slash pines and 1 in 14 loblolly pines. South. J. Appl. For. 10:215-216, Nov. 1986.


1987 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. David Lenhart ◽  
Terry L. Hackett ◽  
Charlie J. Laman ◽  
Thomas J. Wiswell ◽  
Jock A. Blackard

Abstract Equations are presented to estimate total or partial stem content in cubic feet and pounds (green or dry) for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliotti Engelm.) trees planted on non-old-fields in East Texas. Equations are included to estimate the content of the completetree (stem and branches). In addition, a set of compatible stem taper functions are described. South. J. Appl. For. 11(3):147-151.


2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 178-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt H. Johnsen ◽  
John R. Butnor ◽  
John S. Kush ◽  
Ron C. Schmidtling ◽  
C. Dana Nelson

Abstract Some evidence suggests that longleaf pine might be more tolerant of high winds than either slash pine (Pinus elliotii Englem.) or loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). We studied wind damage to these three pine species in a common garden experiment in southeast Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina, a very large, Category 3 hurricane that directly affected the stand in August 2005. The experiment, a factorial arrangement of silvicultural treatments established in 1960, included 120 plots of 100 trees each, covering about 22 ha. Following the hurricane, dbh was measured on all trees, and each tree was rated with respect to mortality from wind damage. Longleaf pine suffered less mortality (7%) than the other two species (slash pine, 14%; loblolly pine, 26%), although the differences in mortality were statistically significant only between longleaf pine and loblolly pine. Longleaf pine lost significantly fewer stems per hectare and less basal area than the two other species. Differences in mortality among species were not a function of mean plot tree height or plot density. Our analyses indicate that longleaf pine is more resistant to wind damage than loblolly pine.


1988 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Scott Cameron ◽  
Ronald F. Billings

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.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy T Brawner ◽  
Douglas R Carter ◽  
Dudley A Huber ◽  
Timothy L White

Midrotation data from large block plots of resistant and susceptible slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were used in combination with the Georgia pine plantation simulator growth model to provide projected gains per hectare in volume and value generated by resistance to fusiform rust (Cronartium quercum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f.sp. fusiforme). The difference in the projected volume production between the resistant and susceptible planting stock of slash pine was larger than the difference between resistance levels in loblolly pine. The increases in projected volume and the reductions in percent infection of the resistant stock led to large differences in the value of the resistant and susceptible planting stock. At a 6% real discount rate, plantations of resistant slash pine were on average worth between 40.2 and 89.8% more than plantations of susceptible slash pine. Plantations of resistant loblolly were on average worth between 6.1 and 40.3% more than plantations of susceptible loblolly pine. However, the marginal value of rust resistance in loblolly was not significantly different from zero under the assumption that economic differences are only due to volume losses and not losses due to product degrade.


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