Correlating climate and longleaf pine cone crops: Is there a connection?

Abstract

The physiological development of longleaf pine seed from flower through cone to seed is a lengthy process, extending over three calendar years. The duration of this process may be the main reason why longleaf pine produces infrequent seed crops with which to regenerate itself. Adequate crops occur every 5-7 years, on average, causing problems for those interested in natural regeneration of longleaf pine. Longleaf pine seed crops have been monitored on the Escambia Experimental Forest in Brewton; AL since 1955: The period from the mid-l960’s to the mid-l980s produced few cone crops considered satisfactory for longleaf pine regeneration. Since the mid-1980’s, adequate crops have become more frequent with the 1996 crop as one of the largest on record. Using weather data from the National Climatic Data Center and cone crop data from the Escambia Experimental Forest, the relationship between longleaf pine cone production and climate will be examined.

Citation

Pederson, Neil; Kush, John S.; Meldahl, Ralph S. 1998. Correlating climate and longleaf pine cone crops: Is there a connection?. In: Proceedings of the 2^nd Longleaf Alliance Conference; 1998 November 17-19; Charleston, SC. Longleaf Alliance Report No. 4. Auburn University, AL Longleaf Alliance: 140-143.