Stem Sinuosity, Tree Size, and Pest Injury of Machine-Planted Tress with and without Bent Taproots: A Comparison of Loblolly and Slash Pine

Abstract

Twenty-four maohine-planted stands each of slash (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) (between ages 3 to 10 years) were randomly selected in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of Georgia, respectively. Ten points per site were located along a transect and two planted trees within a 10-m radius of each point were selected to best represent high and low levels of stem sinuosity (240 pairs per species). All trees were measured for size, pest injury, and a visual index of stem sinuosity. Three pairs were excavated to characterize taproot shape. When comparing trees with high versus low levels of sinuosity, paired t-tests revealed.trees from both species were slightly smaller in size and pest injury was greater for loblolly pine. Levels of stem sinuosity were medium to high for 73 percent and 77 percent of slash and loblolly pine with bent taproots, respectively.

Citation

Gatch, Jason A.; Harrington, Timothy B.; Price, Terry S.; Edwards, M. Boyd. 1999. Stem Sinuosity, Tree Size, and Pest Injury of Machine-Planted Tress with and without Bent Taproots: A Comparison of Loblolly and Slash Pine. Paper presented at the Tenth Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, Shreveport, LA, February 16-18, 1999