Growth of Red Pine Planted on a Northern Hardwood Site

Abstract

A red pine conversion planting was established on a cutover northern hardwood site in 1929. Competing hardwoods were conrolled on half the area by cleaning during the first 10 years after planting. After 46 growing seasons pine survival was 70 percent on the cleaned plot, and 25 percent on that not cleaned; mean annual increment was 2.37 cords(190 ft3), and .91 cords (73 ft3) per acre respectively. Merchantable volume of pine was 109 and 42 cords per acre. These data demonstrate the inability of red pine to compete with maple on medium textured soils, and illustrate the growth potential of the species if hardwood competition is controlled during plantation establishment. Results indicate that merchantable volume production on some well drained northern hardwood sites could be doubled by intensive management of red pine.

Citation

Stone, Douglas M. 1976. Growth of Red Pine Planted on a Northern Hardwood Site. Research Note NC-210. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station